One of the best parts of taking a trip to Disneyland is finding that special something filled with memories to bring home with you. As a sentimental frog, I love to look around my home and see little reminders from an exciting trip. The big family trip to the parks, the first time Tad rode Space Mountain, when we all ate too much ice cream or the first time Lily met Mickey. When you buy a little piece of that moment to take home you never froget the time spent together. We love souvenirs that help us and our little ones feel connected to the magic even when we say "see ya real soon." But oh boy, can those little purchases add up! We're sharing our top tips for how to save money on souvenirs at Disneyland.
Overview
Shopping is half the fun at a Disney park! Merchandise comes in all forms from clothes and jewelry to plushies and interactive bots. It's constantly evolving and forever changing, so it's never dull to get lost exploring in the Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A. or Elias & Co on Buena Vista St. Not to mention the perfect spots to stop in for some air conditioning on those hot SoCal days! There are countless shops in Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney to peruse. Here are a few ways we like to manage the shopping bill and still meet the expectations of souvenirs for the entire family.
Planning Ahead
We like to do some planning before stepping foot on the property to set us up for success. Having an idea of what we're willing to spend and what everyone might be looking for is imperative for our low-cost Disney day.
Gift Cards
Loading up a gift card to use at Disneyland is a great way to save a few bucks and set expectations for how much each family member has to spend. Maybe it's gift money or money earned from extra chores. Either way, tadpoles love to have their own personal spending fund (don't we all!). Putting a price cap on the spending helps the understanding of what is available to purchase as well. They will keep an eye out for what they really want instead of jumping at the first plushy they see.
Sometimes you can find Disney gift cards on sale. Saving 5% on a gift card doesn't seem like much, but you'll be happy to have the few extra bucks while making those in-park purchases.
Matching Shirts
Who doesn't love a good matching family shirts moment? It's so fun to have a planned outfit with your group and it makes the day a little less stressful figuring out what to wear. There are many places you can find Disney T-shirts for under $20. We've had luck picking up all different sized shirts at Target and Walmart. Matching shirts is a great way to unite the group and easily spot your tadpoles.
And if you don't want to match exactly, you can always pick something different out for everyone! And if you're looking for something even more unique or even customizable there are endless Etsy shops to choose from. Every time you pull that shirt out of your closet you get to think about the wonderful day it was made for. Just make sure to snap some group pictures in your shirts as well!
DisneyStore
Using DisneyStore.com to your advantage is a frogtastic way to save money on souvenirs from the parks. If you can manage to plan out what your kiddos might want ahead of time you can purchase items during the site's many sales. This is, of course, a little tricky as littles have a tendency to get distracted by random shiny things in store. But if you are confident in your ability to lock down the plush or the spider-bot ahead of time, this is a great tool. You can also use it the opposite way and purchase souvenirs that are picked out after the fact. Just be careful to double-check that they are available online before going this route!
Inexpensive Souvenirs
While strolling through the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney, you might be a little surprised at the price tags on some of those hot ticket items. Here are some souvenirs you can purchase during your day at the parks without breaking the bank.
Autograph Book
Purchase an autograph book for around $10 in just about any of the stores at Disneyland or hit the dollar store before your trip for a small notebook and some pens. It is totally and completely free to get autographs from characters. It does, however, require a bit of work and planning. It's usually pretty easy to find roaming characters around Disneyland to stop and say hi to. Sometimes if you're looking for specific characters it can be tricky to track them down. Some characters only come out once a day and some only on random days in the week. Character attendants have information about which characters you might see where, so make sure to ask! You can always find Mickey and friends in Town Square, but you might have to wait in a bit of a line.
Although this is a great interactive souvenir that your littles can cherish, not every tadpole loves meeting Captain Hook. Some kids find characters a little scary and prefer to see them from farther away, so gauge if this is something your family is interested in before planning your day around it.
Pin Trading
Pin trading has become a huge trend over the years and is extremely popular across both coasts as well as international Disney parks. Pins are fun and interactive trinkets and for some even a great hobby! Rather than purchasing individual pins for $10-15, our family likes to buy the pin sets. The sets usually come with about 5-6 pins for around $30-35. Buy a batch of secondhand pins for cheap online that you can bring to the parks and trade with cast members and other guests (just make sure you're getting real Disney Parks pins and not fake ones).
At different locations throughout the parks, you'll see cork boards with pins displayed. These are the Pin Trading boards meant for guests to use! If you see one you like, ask a cast member to trade for one you currently have. Tad and Lily like to wear their pins on lanyards and fanny packs so everyone can see them.
Pressed Pennies
Although it's an old souvenir (all the way back from 1892!), pressed coins are still a frogtastic way to save money on souvenirs at Disneyland. There are over 150 different images that can be pressed onto a penny at Disneyland Resort. It's a fun and interactive souvenir for tadpoles because not only do they get to track down a machine and choose their design, but they get to help press the coin themselves with the crank handle.
Bubble Wands
Bubble wands at Disneyland ring in at about $25-30. Amazon has a plethora of Disney-themed bubble wands that come in closer to $15 that you can grab beforehand and surprise your magic seeking tadpoles with. This may just satisfy your kiddos when the cart full of glow items and bubbles for sale passes by before a parade. Bubble refills are some of the cheapest items in the park if you need more bubble solution!
Character Hats
Although hats can land on the pricier side (around $25-30), they are reusable for trips to come. Wearing a Donald, Pluto or Goofy hat might land you some special attention from said characters when you see them on Main Street, in Toontown or in a parade.
One way to make a Mickey ear hat extra special is to get it embroidered! The Mad Hatter in Fantasyland, The Mad Hatter on Main Street, U.S.A. and Pioneer Mercantile in Frontierland all do embroidery on Mickey ear hats. Just make sure your tags are still attached and you have your receipt in hand.
Off Property Souvenirs
Sometimes the cheaper or smaller souvenirs at Disneyland just aren't what someone in the family is searching for. Looking at items outside of the parks is a great idea to keep the cost low but the excitement high.
Plushies
Plushies at Disneyland can cost up to $40. With the Disney Stores mostly gone, some Target locations now have full Disney sections in store. Plush Disney characters at Target cost around $20, while at stores such as Kohl's and Walmart, they cost about $10. You can score even cheaper versions on Amazon! Just know you are always paying for the quality. But purchasing a huggable character beforehand and using it as a surprise when you arrive might just satisfy your young one's need for something new during your park day!
DIY and Small Shop Ears
Did you know you can make your own ears to wear to the parks? We've got a ton of Disney craft ideas for things you can wear or display for much less than what you'd pay in the parks.
If you don't want to make your own, you can pick up some inexpensive small shop ears online before your trip. Rather than purchasing the newest shiniest (most expensive) pair in the parks, pick some you know your tadpoles will love beforehand! Surprising the kids with ears when we get to the parks makes them feel special and like they've already gotten a parks souvenir. Even if they came from somewhere else.
Princess Dresses
The frilly girly tadpoles love the opportunity to play princess at Disneyland. Meeting the princess in the parks that they love while wearing her dress is an unforgettable memory. In the parks, the princess costumes are about $50. You can save up to $30 on similar costumes on Amazon or at Target.
If you have an upcoming trip at Disneyland, you’ll definitely want to hop over to save money on discounted multi-day tickets and nearby hotel stays through Undercover Tourist. You will be surprised how easy it is to save money at Disneyland by simply planning ahead, getting the best deal on tickets, setting a budget and making some smart choices. We hope you've found tips on how to save money on souvenirs at Disneyland hopful, but now it's your turn! Share your best tips in the comments below.
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Hoppy planning!
