Oh, Disney souvenirs. You’re so enticing and, yet, often VERY expensive.

Disney is home to TONS of different types of souvenirs — apparel, ears, backpacks, Loungeflys, and so much more. Some of these are fantastic choices to commemmorate your trip! However, there are some things we might not recommend buying while you’re in the park because there’s a good chance they’ll just sit on your shelf for years to come. Take it from us — there are some Disney souvenirs that are just a WASTE of money.

Plushes

Listen, we’re firm believers that stuffed animals are amazing souvenirs, BUT buying too many of them can quickly create an overwhelming army of plushes. 

Many of our team members have tons of plushes in their houses, and while they’re as adorable as can be…most just sit around.

It’s great to have a spot in your house for stuffed animals to live. But you might not want to go overboard, or else you might end up suffocating in fluff. Put down the Mickey plush, people! You don’t need it.

Ears/Hats

Now, hold on before you get mad at us. We think owning a few Disney hats or ears is completely reasonable. But unless you have a clever way to display them, too many ears or hats can quickly become clutter.

These things aren’t cheap, either! Ears can run about $35 per pair, so unless you find them on sale, this can quickly become an expensive collection.

If you’re someone who loves fashion and matches ears or hats to each outfit you wear in the parks, having a ton of ears can be perfect. Otherwise, though, it might feel overwhelming and, again, become clutter. That said, if you simply can’t resist a new pair of ears on your next visit, you can check out this simple headband stand on Amazon — it makes a great Minnie ear organizer!

This headband stand can actually hold a LOT of Minnie ears! Plus, it’s pretty satisfying to display them all in rainbow order.

Lightsabers and Droids

Build-your-own lightsabers and Star Wars droids are such cool souvenirs in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (and Disneyland), but we’re here to guess that you or your child will play with your fancy Star Wars souvenir for a bit, and then it will get thrown into a closet.

One DFB team member has a lightsaber on display in their house, and that’s basically the best fate for these things.

Not only are these things expensive, but they’re made out of material that can be fragile, too. Not that it’s flimsy, but young kids may break it while swinging it around. If you’ve got a young Star Wars lover, we recommend staying away from these expensive options until they’re older and maybe grabbing a replica from Target or the Disney Store instead. Unless you’re a SUPER fan, these just aren’t worth it in the long-run.

Cute Home Decor/Cooking Supplies

We’re SUCKERS for adorable Disney home decor, but houses and apartments are only so big, and you only have a certain amount of walls to decorate.

And when it comes to cooking and baking, unless you’re making some delicious eats every single day, a lot of these appliances may go unused. And even if you are, your other pots and pans may be chosen ahead of your Disney ones.

Listen, we know they’re cute, but remember how much you already have in your cupboards and try to refrain!

Apparel

You knew it would be on here — apparel is a HUGE hit when it comes to souvenir buying because there are so many options! Spirit Jerseys, t-shirts, pajamas, pants, shorts — the list goes on.

However, we don’t know about you, but our closets are only so big, and we only wear one outfit a day. We love showing off our love for Disney in our everyday lives, but wearing a Disney outfit every single day would be A LOT.

Many of us have tons of Disney shirts, shoes, socks, and more, but they sit unused in our closets and drawers. It may feel like a great purchase at the moment, but if you don’t know EXACTLY what outfit you’d put it with…skip it.

How To Avoid This

So, how do you avoid this overconsumption and the stress that comes with looking at things you’ve bought at Disney and will never use? Here are a few tips for you (which we, too, are still trying to master):

• Think twice before buying! If you see something you like in the store, don’t buy it right away. Instead, carry it around with you for a little while in the store, wait it out, and see how you feel.
• Visit the stores first thing in the morning and see what you may want to buy. If you’re still thinking about it by the end of the day, that’s a pretty good sign it’s something you really want!
• Set a budget for yourself and REALLY stick to it. Better yet, put your budget on a Disney gift card and ONLY allow yourself to use that for souvenir purchases. Then, when it’s gone, it’s gone.
• Check to see if it’s online! If it is, don’t buy it in the parks and wait a few days after your trip to see if you’re still thinking about it, then purchase it online.
• When it comes to apparel, really visualize the outfit you’d put together with the item. If nothing comes to mind, it’s likely not a great choice.

We know it’s so hard to move past the love-at-first-sight feeling when it comes to Disney merchandise, but saving money can be really important when you’re on vacation so your future self doesn’t panic when you see your credit card statement.

We’re always here to help you save money and plan your next Disney vacation, so stay tuned to DFB!

Check out our ultimate guide to planning a Walt Disney World vacation here!

What’s your tip for not buying Disney merchandise you need? Tell us in the comments!