Tried and True Souvenir Hacks from Over 60 Disney World Experts

We love shopping for souvenirs at Disney World!

We are guilty of walking into a gift shop at Disney World empty-handed and then coming out with Disney bags in our hands. There is so much cute merchandise at Disney World that we can’t help ourselves sometimes! In the past, we have talked about what souvenirs are a skip for Disney fans, as well as what our team considers souvenirs to avoid. So now we have reached out to our Disney experts again (you, our awesome readers) to see what your tried and true hacks are for souvenirs at Disney World. 

Getting a souvenir at Disney World can be a great way to remember your trip., Over 60 Disney World experts responded with their Disney World souvenir hacks, and these are the top seven hacks mentioned. 

Ship Your Souvenirs Home

Did you want to buy the Monorail Play Set or maybe a giant Stitch Plush but have no idea how it will fit in your luggage? No worries! You can actually ship your merchandise home from the gift shop.

This hack came from one of our readers, Cathy. When you go to purchase  souvenirs, you can tell the Cast Member that you want to ship them home. They will ask you to fill out a small form with basic information like your name, address, and contact information. There is a fee to ship the souvenirs home, and once that is paid, you are all good to go! 

This hack is a great way to ensure you can buy what you want without having to worry about packing it. It is also great for more fragile items like plates and mugs, as Disney will wrap them before shipping them out. 

So go buy that Train Set or get yourself new dishes since you do not have to worry about taking them back home in your luggage!

Use a Slap Bracelet as an Ear Holder

Slap bracelets have made their comeback recently in the Disney World gift shops. While these are marketed towards children as toys/bracelets, they can be handy for another reason.

You can use slap bracelets as ear holders. If you don’t have room in your park bag or need to quickly remove your ears, an ear holder is a great way to store them. This hack came from our reader, Heidi. Simply wrap the bracelet around your ears and attach it to the handle on your bag!

This is especially great as a last-minute hack if you buy ears in the park or did not buy an ear holder beforehand. There are also so many fun designs you can choose from!

Have Kids Take Pictures of Souvenirs They Want Before Choosing

Sometimes, kids want everything they see, and we can’t blame them! There is so much fun merchandise at the Disney Parks, but we know it can get expensive, and you can’t always get every souvenir that you want.

It can be difficult to say no to something, and one of our readers, Vern, has a great hack that works for both kids and big kids. Every time you or a child sees something that they want, take a picture of it. On the last day, go through the photos and see what you or the child wants the most.

This is not only a great way to save money by narrowing down souvenirs, but it also means that you do not have to carry around the souvenirs that you bought all day; instead, you can pack them away since it is your last day.

Shop at the Character Warehouse

While Cast Members have a discount store called Cast Connections for Disney World merchandise, there are TWO discount stores in Orlando that anyone can shop at. Emily, one of our readers, goes to the Disney Character Warehouse to get her discounted souvenirs.

While it is off Disney World property, you can visit two Disney discount stores called Disney Character Warehouse. Both locations are in outlet malls in Orlando: the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets and the Orlando Outlet Marketplace. There is also a third location at the Sawgrass Mills mall near Fort Lauderdale.

These locations feature Disney merchandise that once was or sometimes still is in the parks for a discounted price! We have seen Stoney Clover Lane and Dooney and Burke bags at the Disney Character Warehouse for cheap! You can even find ears, pins, Spirit Jerseys, and Nuimos from time to time. If you have a car or rental car, it is definitely worth checking out.

Collect Freebies

While we know Disney World can get expensive, especially if you add merchandise on top of what you have already spent, not all souvenirs have to cost money. You can collect the freebies as souvenirs to remember your trip.

If you go to a restaurant at Disney World, some places have unique cardboard coasters. You can take one of these home from each restaurant you visit as a free souvenir. It can be fun to look back on your collection and remember the meals that you had. Monica, a reader, collects coasters and adds them to her collection.

You can even get free stickers! The most common sticker is the classic Mickey face sticker, but some shops and attractions have unique stickers themed to where they are located. For example, at Christmas time, you might be able to find a Christmas tree sticker that features some characters all dressed up for the holiday. You might also be able to get unique character stickers from Character Attendants.

These freebies are a great way to remember your trip without having to spend additional money for the keepsakes.

Buy a Postcard and Send it Home

Did you know you can wake-up call from the Mouse himself each morning at a Disney World hotel? That’s right!

While this is all exciting and can make your trip even more magical, what do you do when you get home? Your kids and maybe even you could be sad that your Disney World trip has come and gone.

One of our readers, Marlene, shared that she buys a postcard from Disney World, writes a thank-you note, and has the characters sign it. Once their trip ends, she sends the postcard home from Disney World. Once it comes in the mail, her kids are excited to see that Mickey and the Gang reached out after their trip to thank them for coming.

This hack can be a great way to bring the magic home and take away those vacation blues.

Use Your Disney Discounts

While Disney souvenirs can be expensive, you can soften the blow by using Disney discounts. If you have an Annual Pass, Disney Vacation Club Membership or are a Disney Visa Cardholder, you can receive particular discounts on merchandise and food. Our reader, Shawn, shared this hack. 

While there are certain restrictions on how much your discount is or when and where you can use it, it never hurts to ask! Sometimes discounts can increase, like last year during V.I. Passholder Days, when the Annual Pass merchandise discount increased from 20% to 30%. 

When you shop or dine at Disney World, make sure to ask if you can use your discount!

Use your Disney Vacation Club discount!The next time you shop at Disney World, remember these seven hacks to help you figure out what you should treat yourself to!

Wait? You can get Disney Souvenirs at Target?

Have you used these hacks before? Let us know in the comments!

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