8 Souvenirs to NOT Waste Your Money On at Disney World
Disney is really really really and I mean REALLY great at getting your money! This includes tons of limited edition merch and souvenirs that you feel like you HAVE to purchase on your vacation.
This may be unpopular opinion, but being realistic, these are 8 things you shouldn’t waste your money on while on your vacation.
POPCORN BUCKETS
I know, I know, they’re so cute and there can often be super exclusive ones that are only available for a holiday or special event. But let’s be real….. as soon as you get home, how often are you going to use that?
We received popcorn buckets that looked like tie fighters for a dessert party we attended. It was our first time going to Disney, so we didn’t understand the craze for them and we were bummed that we were given something that we would never really use. They sat and collected dust until we finally sold them in a garage sale.
These are totally a big collector item, just not the most practical which is why it made this list.
Photo Credit: AllEars.net
Souviner Cups/Bowls
This doesn’t mean all souvenir cups, there are definitely some that are great keepsakes that you can totally use on a regular basis. However, there are some like the Mickey Kitchen Sink Bowl that sure, it’s super fun to eat out of when you are at Disney.
Take a second to think before purchasing. Is this something you will realistically use again and again at home or is it just a one time thing? If the answer is the later, save yourself the super upcharge price and just get your food or drink without the souvenir container.
MAgic Bands
Shocked to see this on the list? This one also comes with some conditions. If this is your once in a lifetime trip to Disney and you don’t plan on returning, why spend your money on something you can literally only use at the parks?
Disney is actually adding more and more magicband feature to their My Disney Experience App so you can do pretty much all the same things, just without the band.
If you frequent Disney or you go fairly often, then it may not be a bad idea to purchase them. BUT they are slowly starting to phase away from them as seen by the fact that they are no longer complementary with your hotel stay. So be cautious with going overboard on purchasing these items.
Misting Fans
These things can honestly be a LIFESAVER on a hot Florida day, but ouch! That price tag is EXPENSIVE!
You can purchase something very similar (and sometimes better) on amazon or even at your local grocery store for way cheaper. We do recommend having one, but we don’t recommend spending an arm and a leg for them.
And again, these may only be something you use while at Disney, so why would you want to pay a small fortune for one?
You can also check out our video on tips to Beat the Heat at Disney:
Mickey Balloons
These are so cute and make for some really awesome souvenirs, but they are also kinda expensive and hard to get home. They are super tempting when you are walking down main street and you see them floating in their bright fun colors, but I urge you to resist!
Don’t worry! You can totally still get your instagram pics! If you kindly as the Cast Member selling them, they will allow you to hold onto the bundle of balloons for a picture. (They will still be holding onto the end of the strings so that it doesn’t accidentally blow away).
You get the best of both worlds! You get to take a super fun picture, but you also get to save some money too!
Ponchos
Unfortunately, you will probably need these at least once during your trip as it rains quite a bit in Florida. But again, this doesn’t mean you have to spend $10 or more on one in the parks!
Purchase some online for much cheaper BEFORE your trip and throw them in your park bag. They don’t take up much room and you will be glad that you have them!
Another option is to make sure you bring your rain jacket or umbrella with you if you aren’t much of a poncho person. Make sure you at least have some sort of rain protection, even if it doesn’t seem like it will rain! It seems like it only likes to rain when we forget to bring our rain gear with us!
Dated Merchandise
If you are someone who likes to collect dated merchandise to commemorate the years you visited, sweet! But if that isn’t your thing, maybe consider purchasing a tshirt or mug that isn’t date specific that you can easily enjoy for years to come.
Another tip is if you are planning on visiting towards the end of the year or shortly after the new year and you NEED that 2021 merch, it will usually be on sale since they are trying to get rid of it!
Photo Credit: Disney Food Blog
We do like to collect dated pins, and we were able to get a few for $5 each AND they were buy one get one free! Originally these pins were $15 EACH. It was way worth it to wait.
Light Up Toys for Nighttime Shows
Every night when the fireworks or nighttime shows are about to start, the super fun carts come out toting tons of glowing and light up toys. Sure! These are super fun for the kids to play with and they may play with them some when they get home, but once the batteries die…. well… you get the point.
Instead, consider purchasing some glowsticks from Amazon or your local dollar store and have a few in your park bag. Your kids will be so excited and you can even bring extras that they can share with other families around them.
I know some of these items are heart breaking for some to see on this list, but there are better ways to make memories on your Disney Vacation than spending money on less than useful things. Save that money instead for a nice dinner together or even an extra day of memories! But don’t forget to treat yourself too. You are on vacation after all!
