You've saved and planned and off you go to Disney. Of course, you must have souvenirs to commemorate your trip! Pictures are the absolute best souvenirs, and are free to boot, but the following five don't cost much and are an easy way to start a collection to remind you of great trips through the years.
Antenna Toppers
Those cute things you stick on your antenna are everywhere in the parks and new ones constantly show up. Maybe you don't even have an antenna or, like me, are tired of even super glued toppers disappearing, so have been passing these by. Don't! Bring them home and put the toppers on sticks of some sort to display as a stylish Disney bouquet.
Pressed Pennies
Although this should actually read 'Pressed Money' since you can now press quarters as well, this little goodie started out with pennies. You can find these machines tucked away in the corners of stores and in resorts, and it's fun to make your own souvenirs in just a few seconds. Some of these end up being limited as machines come and go featuring a year or character, so you never run out of new machines to discover. You may buy little folders to store your pennies, or come up with more creative ways to display them, such as drilling holes in them and joining them together in a bracelet.
Collector Pin
You can't throw a churro in a park without hitting a pin store, cart, or display, and those that are serious collectors would never utter that this was an economical hobby. However, if you commit to buying ONE special pin per trip, and not get sucked into the trading craze, you can turn the search for the perfect pin into a memory in itself.
Collector Park Packs
Who doesn't like grab bags? These little bags have three tiny figurines inside, and you don't know what you're going to get until you open them. They don't cost much to begin with, and I often see deals where you receive a savings if you buy multiple packs. Those who are old enough to remember Disneykins will have a sense of deja-vu and find themselves drawn to these tiny treasures.
Silhouettes
The winner and long time champion in this category remains the Silhouette. Hand snipped by artists on Main Street, one price gives you 2 silhouettes...one to keep and one to share. Make this an annual tradition or to highlight special events. I love these so much I did an entire blog piece on them. Find it here. http://magicfeathermemories.blogspot.com/2014/01/disneyland-silhouettes.html
Of course I've left out many other great choices, such as plush, Vinylmation, Ear Hats, Ornaments and so much more, but for me, these five squeak out on top.
Antenna Toppers
Those cute things you stick on your antenna are everywhere in the parks and new ones constantly show up. Maybe you don't even have an antenna or, like me, are tired of even super glued toppers disappearing, so have been passing these by. Don't! Bring them home and put the toppers on sticks of some sort to display as a stylish Disney bouquet.
Although this should actually read 'Pressed Money' since you can now press quarters as well, this little goodie started out with pennies. You can find these machines tucked away in the corners of stores and in resorts, and it's fun to make your own souvenirs in just a few seconds. Some of these end up being limited as machines come and go featuring a year or character, so you never run out of new machines to discover. You may buy little folders to store your pennies, or come up with more creative ways to display them, such as drilling holes in them and joining them together in a bracelet.
You can't throw a churro in a park without hitting a pin store, cart, or display, and those that are serious collectors would never utter that this was an economical hobby. However, if you commit to buying ONE special pin per trip, and not get sucked into the trading craze, you can turn the search for the perfect pin into a memory in itself.
Who doesn't like grab bags? These little bags have three tiny figurines inside, and you don't know what you're going to get until you open them. They don't cost much to begin with, and I often see deals where you receive a savings if you buy multiple packs. Those who are old enough to remember Disneykins will have a sense of deja-vu and find themselves drawn to these tiny treasures.
Silhouettes
The winner and long time champion in this category remains the Silhouette. Hand snipped by artists on Main Street, one price gives you 2 silhouettes...one to keep and one to share. Make this an annual tradition or to highlight special events. I love these so much I did an entire blog piece on them. Find it here. http://magicfeathermemories.blogspot.com/2014/01/disneyland-silhouettes.html
Of course I've left out many other great choices, such as plush, Vinylmation, Ear Hats, Ornaments and so much more, but for me, these five squeak out on top.