Any trip to Disney World is unforgettable and every memory of each moment that you spend in the Disney parks and the resorts etches itself into your memory, ensuring that a small part of the Disney magic that you experienced and enjoyed while you were there lives on, somewhere inside you forevermore. These memories can also take on a physical form in the merchandise and souvenirs from Disney World that you brought home with you.
The 8 Best Souvenirs from Disney World
I think I’ve achieved the impossible and created the definitive list of must-have Walt Disney World souvenirs that includes some of the obvious must-haves and some hidden curiosities that you might miss if you don’t know where to look, or find them.
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So without further ado Mouseketeers, here’s my list of the essential, and best Disney World souvenirs…
1. Mickey and Minnie Mouse Ears
Without Mickey Mouse, there probably wouldn’t have been a Walt Disney Studios, and without the studios, there wouldn’t have been a Disneyland or a Walt Disney World.
Which is why I’ve always found it fitting to celebrate Mickey’s (he popped into Walt’s world after his creator lost the rights to the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and needed a new muse to help him forge onward) place in Disney history with a new pair of ears every time I get to go to the parks.
I know it sounds a little crass and even strange that an adult might want to wear a pair of mouse ears, but the minute that you walk through the gates of The Magic Kingdom, something comes over you, whether that’s the spirit of the Disney magic or something much more profound, and you won’t care what the rest of the world thinks about you.
All that matters is being there, at that moment, and celebrating and enjoying that feeling. And there’s no better way to do that than joining in the festivities with all of your fellow mouse fans and wearing a pair of ears while you’re there, and when you’re missing that magic when you get home.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a Minnie or a Mickey fan, in Walt Disney World there’s a pair of ears for everyone and one for every attraction and ride in every park.
Having said that, as I’m a traditionalist, I think there’s no better place to find your ears than on Main Street in The Magic Kingdom, the park that made everything else in Disney World possible.
And, you can wear them day in and day out, and the next time you head to Orlando, you’ll already be prepared for your Disney adventure with your very own pair of Mickey (or Minnie) ears. Sometimes you just can’t beat the classics…
2. Disney World Memory Maker Photos
Any trip to the Disney Parks and Walt Disney World is about the memories that you’ll make while you’re there with your friends and family and the perfect way to treasure and keep those memories alive is with Disney’s Memory Maker.
It used to be more commonly known as Photo Pass and is a way to link all of the photos that you can have taken by park photographers and while you’re on rides and attractions, together in your Disney account.
Memory Maker is linked to either your Disney World Magic Band, your pass, or your smartphone and makes sure that every photo taken of you in the Disney theme parks shows up in your online account, where you can download them whenever you feel like.
Or, if you’re so inclined, guest services can direct you to the store on Main Street where you can choose a set of photographs that they’ll print off for you, and mount in a Park specific frame of your choosing.
And best of all? If you decide to purchase Memory Maker (which you can, as part of your online booking) before you get to Walt Disney World, you’ll be ready to go the minute you walk through the gates and spot your first official photographer.
As I said, it’s all about making memories, and what better way is there to keep those memories alive than with a set of photographs that’ll last a lifetime?
3. Disney World Christmas Decorations
Christmas has always been a magical time when families and friends get together to enjoy each other’s company and make merry, which when you think about it is remarkably similar to the same spirit of joy and happiness that fills each and every one of us while we’re at Walt Disney World.
And I’m sure that it’s no coincidence that the busiest time of the year at WDW is during the festive season and that trying to get a ticket to get into the Disney Parks at Christmas can be almost impossible if you leave it too late.
That’s why every Disney fan needs a Christmas decoration that they can hang on their tree, so that if you can’t be there in person to enjoy a little Waly Disney World Christmas cheer, at least you can be there in spirit.
While you can purchase attraction specific ornaments that you hang from your tree at lots of the gift shops throughout WDW, if you want to be spoiled for choice then you need to pay a visit to Disney’s Days Of Christmas in Disney Springs, which has just about every Disney Christmas decoration you could imagine and more than you never dared to dream even existed. You can also find Ye olde Christmas Shoppe in Magic Kingdom which is full of decorations and Disney World souvenirs but it is not as big as Days of Christmas.
Best of all though? Days Of Christmas and Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe offers a unique personalization service, which means you can get your very own, one-of-a-kind Disney Christmas decoration while you’re in Walt Disney World.
Is there a more perfect souvenir from your visit to the parks than something that’s entirely unique that embraces and celebrates the magic of Disney and Christmas?
4. Disney World Trading Pins Galore
Walt Disney World is pin crazy and it’s difficult not to get sucked into the mania of pin collecting while you’re there. So, I say why fight it?
Go with the flow, and enjoy searching for the perfect pins and lanyard to wear them on while you’re there, and when you get home you can mount and frame them, and hang your own, individual piece of Disney art on the wall of your home.
There’s literally a pin for every character and every attraction and a seemingly unending combination of both in all the gift shops, so whatever your favorite ride or whoever your favorite character is, if you take a trip to Disney’s Pin Traders while you’re wandering around Disney Springs, you’ll find exactly what, and who you’re looking for.
And if you don’t find them there, you’ll find them at a gift store somewhere, and you’ll be able to fashion your own special Disney souvenir, and memento of the time you spent at the Disney parks.
However, I do feel that I need to warn you about the compulsive and addictive nature of pins and pin collecting and swapping, as it’s a wild ride that it’s sometimes difficult to get off after you’ve climbed on board.
Set yourself a pin limit, and whatever you do, stay on your chosen pin path and don’t venture from it, as it’s too easy to get hopelessly hooked on the crazy pin train.
5. Dress To Impress With Disney World Fashion
I almost feel silly mentioning it, but the perfect Disney souvenirs are in every store, attraction, and ride in Walt Disney World. I am, of course, talking about shirts, sweaters, and sweatshirts, of which there is a multitude.
Want to celebrate Mickey christening and opening Space Mountain? Or maybe you want to recall the time that the Hitchhiking Ghosts invited you to join the nine hundred and ninety-nine happy haunts that dwell in the Haunted Mansion? Or maybe you want to just wear a little Disney-centric fashion, and show the world that you’re proud to be a Mouseketeer?
Take a look at our Disney World T-Shirt Ideas for your vacation.
Whatever you want to wear, if it’s Disney-related the Disney Parks will have it, and every single time you slip your shirt or sweater on, you’ll remember your Walt Disney World adventure, and more importantly, you’ll look incredibly cool too.
And who doesn’t want that? I’ve got a wardrobe full of Disney shirts, and every time I wear one, I can never stop grinning. They remind me of how much fun I had while I was in Walt Disney World and how much fun I’ll have the next time I’m there.
6. Star Wars Souvenirs and Gifts (lots of them)
When Galaxy’s Edge opened in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it solidified Star Wars’ position in the Disney family and the canon of Walt Disney World.
It also opened the doors to a trio of unique gift and souvenir opportunities that weren’t, and aren’t available anywhere else in the world (well, apart from Disneyland), that will steal the hearts and minds of any and every fan of George Lucas’ creation.
An Elegant Weapon For A More Civilized Age – While venturing around the narrow, winding streets of Batuu, you could pay a visit to Savi’s Workshop and build your own, custom lightsaber that comes with its own case and Kyber crystal that’ll earn you your own place in the ranks of the Jedi.
Okay, so maybe you’re a little too tall to be a Jedi, but you have to admit that the thought of owning your own lightsaber that you’ll build yourself is more than a little tempting isn’t it?
These Are The Droids You’re Looking For – Even if you’re not tempted by the thought of a lightsaber, you’ve probably dreamed about owning your very own droid, and if that is the case, you could visit the Droid Depot and design and build your very own R class or BB unit droid, that comes with its very own remote control.
And if you want to add a little more sass to your droid, you can throw in a personality chip for good measure, but if your droid does get a little feisty when, and if you do, don’t say that I didn’t warn you.
Take a look at the best shopping locations at Disney World here.
We Do Serve Your Kind In Here – If you’re feeling a little thirsty you could satisfy your desire for a more adult beverage at Oga’s Cantina which serves two specialty beverages, the Yub Nub and the Cliff Dweller, which come with their very own Endor and Porg specialty mugs, both of which are ideal souvenirs for any Star Wars fan.
But the best-kept secret of Oga’s is the beer flight, which is served in a wooden tray and comes with four one hundred ounce servings of the specialty craft beers they brew on-site, all of which are served in shaped flight glasses made to resemble Rancor teeth. And when you’ve finished the flight? The glasses and the tray are yours to take with you.
Again, a word of warning: all of the souvenirs in Galaxy’s Edge, while unique and wonderful aren’t exactly the most affordable items in the parks and you’ll probably find yourself in the unenviable position of having to choose one rather than them all while you’re spending time on the Outer Rim.
7. Tiki Disney Mugs
As much as I love the singing birds and the show that they put on, the Tiki room where you can spend a little adult time relaxing with a mind-bending array of delicious and delightful cocktails is located a couple of monorail stops away from the Magic Kingdom in Disney’s Polynesian Village.
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is a wonderful escape capsule where you can spend a couple of hours sampling the hidden pleasures of its incredible menu.
It isn’t quiet, but it is a lot of fun, and they have their own range of Tiki mugs that you can either purchase separately when you’re ready to leave after your very own happy hour or as part of a mug and cocktail deal off the menu.
They’re a unique souvenir from one of Walt Disney World’s worst-kept secrets, and if you’re looking for something a little different that’s still imbued with that Disney magic, this Tiki twist might be exactly what you’re searching for.
There is one slight catch, Trader Sam’s is small, and out of the way but it is popular, so you’ll either have to book a table in advance or make a reservation when you get there (you’ll usually have to wait around an hour or so for a table), but if you do, don’t worry.
There’s plenty to see and do at the Polynesian Village, and you can even get a Dole Whip at Pineapple Lanai while you’re waiting for your table at Sam’s.
8. Disney World Refillable Popcorn Buckets
One of the most wonderful things about Walt Disney World is its never-ending range of Disney souvenir popcorn buckets that constantly changes.
They sell different buckets in different parks, everything from the Millennium Falcon to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and once you’ve bought a bucket and had it filled for the first time, refills are just two dollars a pop.
It’s a great Disney souvenir and an easy, affordable way to fill up on snacks throughout the day. Providing, of course, that you actually like popcorn.
Popcorn buckets are a Walt Disney World must-have and are ridiculously popular, so if you are going to get one, make sure you get it early as the vendors often sell out of them by lunchtime.
The Final Word On Disney Souvenirs from Disney World
Obviously, all the souvenirs I’ve talked about are the ones that my friends, family, and I love, but based solely on how quickly they often sell out and how other people seem to adore them just as much as I do, I’m pretty sure that they all tick all the Walt Disney World best souvenir boxes on everyone’s checklist.
But even if they don’t float your Jungle Cruise boat, I guarantee that you’ll find something in the Park gift shops that you will fall head over heels in love with.
You can find more Disney World essential accessories here.
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Thanks for stopping by.
Darren
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