Buying souvenirs is beyond tempting, but it’s almost always beyond expensive as well and requires some serious budgeting before your trip begins.

We’ve been there — you’re strict with yourself and have limited yourself to only buying one or two things in the parks, and then you step into the Emporium for the first time and that all goes out the window. If you’ve experienced that on far too many occasions and NEED something that will work, then we’re here to help — here are the tips and tricks we’ve learned are effective when you’re in the parks!

 

Purchase Souvenirs in Advance

One of the best ways to save money and cut down on the intense want to purchase the expensive souvenirs in the park is to purchase souvenirs before your trip even begins! Thanks to the Internet and the amount of stores around that carry Disney merchandise, you can find tons of Disney merchandise and order it to have on your trip.

This works really well for both adults and kids! The temptation as an adult to use your own money on that pin or plush that you have your eyes on is strong, and you make the final decision at the end of the day, but if you already treated yourself to cheaper souvenirs before the trip began, or you’re opening them throughout the trip to keep yourself in check, it’s a great strategy. Again, this also works great for kids — instead of buying those $20+ bubble wands, grab them a cheaper one from Amazon and surprise them with it when they start to ask for the one in the parks!

If you’re someone who always looks at apparel, we’ve got a selfish self-promo for you — check out our adorable options over on the DFBStore! We’ve got designs for everyone in your group, and our prices are much lower than what you’ll find in the parks.

We’re always putting out new designs, and we’ve got sizes for the youngest kiddo in your family all the way up to the oldest adult!

Check out the whole store right here!

Don’t ONLY Shop Disney

While the Disney Store website may be your number one stop for all things Disney, we’re here to tell you that it SHOULDN’T be! Oftentimes Disney merchandise is most expensive coming straight from their stores and sites, but there are plenty of other options out there.

You can check your local Target or Walmart for lower priced official Disney merchandise, and we’ve even seen some great additions arrive at even more budget-friendly stores like ALDI. If you’re looking for unique merchandise, you can also check out handmade items off websites like Etsy and find souvenirs you definitely won’t find anywhere else!

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Don’t Buy The Essentials IN Orlando

Yes, we said Orlando, not just Disney World. If you know you’re going to need essentials in the parks/while you’re on vacation such as sunscreen, diapers, deodorant, painkillers, etc. the price is going to be WAY higher in Disney World.

It’s best to purchase these items before you even make it to Orlando, and this INCLUDES simple bubble refill for those bubble wands! That stuff is majorly expensive in the parks, so if you’re not flying, bring some from home, or order Kroger Grocery Delivery to your hotel to save some cash!

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Gift Cards

One of the most effective ways we’ve gotten ourselves to stay on budget in Disney World is instead of using our credit or debit card, we’ll get ourselves a Disney gift card and place the amount we’re allowed to spend on souvenirs on it. 

This means that when that gift card runs out, that’s it! This is also especially helpful if you’re traveling with kiddos who have a souvenir budget and they really want to be in charge of it themselves. It’s a great way to teach them (and a reminder for ourselves, if we’re being honest) about pacing yourself and being selective with your money.

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Wait Until The End of The Day

Finally, time is a very valuable tool, especially in Disney World. In this case though, we recommend looking through some shops earlier in the day rather than later and getting an idea of what you’d like to buy. However, don’t purchase anything then! Instead, think about it throughout the day and revisit the store at the end of the day — anything you’ve forgotten about you’ll know isn’t a great choice, while something that stayed on your mind all day is likely a worthy souvenir to you!

We’ve tried each and every one of these ourselves, and while some work for some members of our team, other work for others! Whatever works for you and your vacation is the right choice for you — there is no wrong answer or choice here! We’re always here to help you plan your Disney World trip and ensure you’re as prepared as possible, so stay tuned to DFB!

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Do you have any additional tips you’d add? Tell us in the comments!

The post I’ve Tried Every Souvenir Hack for Disney World, and I’m Sharing My 5 Favorites first appeared on the disney food blog.