Do you buy a lot of souvenirs when you visit Disney World? Can you just NOT help getting another pair of Minnie Ears, loads of pins, plushes, and other souvenirs?
SHOULD you be buying all that stuff during your trip? Well, we’re not going to judge you for it (how can we when we’re staring at our ears collection hanging on our walls?). But here’s the thing — we should stop buying so many Disney souvenirs, and we have some very good reasons for why!
Okay, now we know you’re about to call us out because we’re usually telling you about all the great souvenirs we find in Disney World, and it’s true there are some things you probably won’t ever regret buying. But there is a good reason to cut back on your souvenir spending AT Disney World, and we’re going to tell you why!
You Can Often Get Those Souvenirs Cheaper Online
Okay, so here’s the thing. Almost all the souvenirs you see in Disney World will also be available on shopDisney, and many times, those souvenirs will cost LESS online than they do in the parks. A prime example of that is Minnie Ears, with many pairs now costing $34.99 in the parks, but going for $29.99 online.
Here’s the other thing — you’re more likely going to get a discount on some of those souvenirs you were eying in the parks. You will have NO TROUBLE finding sales on Disney merchandise on shopDisney — new sales turn up ALL THE TIME.
So if you have a little patience, you could spend less money on those souvenirs you just gotta’ have. And if you were hoping to wear these items in the parks on your trip, just take a look at shopDisney before your vacation and order the items (at a discount, hopefully) beforehand!
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You Can Find Souvenirs At Other Retail Outlets
You want great deals on Disney merchandise? Well, you don’t have to shop at shopDisney. You can find a LOT of amazing stuff on Amazon (and you can save even more if you have Prime for that free shipping), Target (Target has partnered with Disney to offer a lot of merchandise in stores and online), and elsewhere. You can even find Disney merchandise at Walmart!
So if you’re itching to get your hands on some Disney stuff in the parks, just grab your phone and see if you can’t find the same thing (or something similar) at any other outlet (Again for cheaper, potentially).
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Will You Ever Find A Use For That Souvenir?
Something we always ask ourselves before we buy something in the parks is if we’ll ever actually use whatever it is we’re buying or if it will end up taking up space and collecting dust on a shelf somewhere. Usually, that means things like mugs, kitchen tools, and other useful items are a “yes” (although we’ll check to see if we can’t find it cheaper online).
Will you ever use that popcorn bucket again? Are you going to use that drink gauntlet at home? What are you going to do with all those plushes? These are the hard questions, of course, but it’s good to ask them. The good news is that with things like clothes, Loungefly bags, and even Minnie ears, you might actually wear them outside the parks (okay, maybe not the ears, but we’re giving ourselves a pass here).
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Spend Money On Experiences, Not Things
Okay, so there is a lot of research that suggests that people are much happier when they spend money on experiences, rather than things. Instead of buying more things, maybe think of spending the $$$ you save on something else — maybe a nice table service meal, tickets to the Cirque du Soleil show in Disney Springs, or even a special tour.
We would also count food items as experiences (and not things), because we love bringing foods home from Disney World to eat after our trip. This is a great way to make the experience last longer. So instead of buying more pairs of Minnie ears, stock up on bags of caramel popcorn from Karamell Kuche or fudge from Main Street Confectionery.
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So before you spend that money in Disney World, take a moment and really think about it first. Again, we won’t judge you for getting caught up in the moment (happens to us ALL the time) and buying the thing anyway, but at least putting some thought into it might free up some of your $$$ for other things! And you might have fewer things that you have to clean out during your next round of Spring cleaning.
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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Do you have any considerations you make before buying souvenirs in Disney World? Let us know in the comments!
Actually, Shop Disney is only an affordable option if you live in the US. For Canadians, Shop Disney charges exorbitant shipping fees that often exceed the cost of the items. Furthermore they insist upon shipping exclusively by UPS. UPS Canada is basically the organized crime of the shipping industry, notorious for altering paperwork and fraudulent upcharges. They did it to me twice, and they’re even worse with businesses. They last time, UPS admitted to overcharging me and said they’d gladly refund the $25 overcharge after I first pay a non refundable $50 investigation and paperwork fee. Even with the upcharges on eBay, I can get most things I want cheaper there, simply because of the savings on shipping and a choice of delivery method.