Spending $ for WDW- Help! About This Page:

[statelady01]

We decided to spend the majority of our money on the luxury of staying at the Polynesian. Since I consider pictures the best souvenirs, I didn't really plan on a whole lot of spending $ but now as we hit the one week mark, I am starting to panic!

It's just DH and I and neither of us is really sure of what we might like to get but we aren't the big shoppers either- maybe a souvenir mug or hat here and there as well as a few gifts for the kids. He says $350 and this excludes TTC as well as tips, etc. Sounds fair to me.

Opinions please and also, I have 2 or 3 friends I would like to bring back something for- but it's gotta be inexpensive- any suggestions and what I might expect to pay?

Thanks!!
[img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[goofy4goofy]

I always spend way too much money on souveniers.

Are you renting a car? Consider driving to the Belz Outlets or Orlando Premium Outlets, which both have WDW outlets. Great deals!!! You can get t-shirts for $10, etc...

I spent about $20-$25 per t-shirt and polos ran about $35-$40. Child's tshirt around $15.00. The beach towel I bought, which I love, was $20. A 16 inch Donald Duck plush was $18.00. A WDW sweatshirt fleece blanket was $35.00 from Disney At Home store at DTD.

Some things I suggest for smaller gifts back home for friends/relatives:
1. Mickey or Goofy pasta (3.95)
2. Tins of lemonade or other juice ($6.00)--very cute tin!
3. Vanity set for little girls, the one I bought featured Minnie and had a mirror, comb and brush for $10.00
4. Mickey or Pooh lollipop bundles ($3.50)
5. Bath salts from The Basin at DTD. ($3.95). You create your own mix of salts in a clear plastic tube. Very cute!
6. Box of candy
7. Plush beanies. I bought a Chip and Dale for $11.00 each.

I hope some of this helps!
Kelly [img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img]

[statelady01]

It does Kelly, thanks a bunch!!

[img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[Dumbo]

I second going to the outlets.

Also, press pennies are nice as are Disney pins.

[Cinderbrella]

When we went to Disney in 2000 we saved most of our shopping for the end of our trip, and went to DD to the World of Mickey to get our 10% discount for the Disney Club. This saved us quite a bit. We tried to resist buying at the parks since they did not honor the DC discount. Happy spending!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Shell_of_the_South]

Outlets, outlets, outlets! I can't even begin to describe all the deals I've picked up there during our Orlando trips. I go to all the Disney outlets even though we're not visiting Disney just because I can get the kids clothes at a bargain price! This spring they had those beautiful snow globes that are about $75 for $20 - we got several for Christmas gifts. T-shirts can be as cheap as $3.99. They have mugs, cds, pins, toys, glasses, ornaments, you name it!

[michnash]

I like the cell phone accessories- they even have little tiny mickey attenae balls for your cell phone! (if your cell phone has an antennae-the new ones sometimes don't) Also, the real attenae balls (for your car) are nice-as well as, the sun-shades for the windshield. One other item that was popular with my friends was the ball point pen that had a light in it. It was in different characters, like Pooh, Minnie, etc. They were around $8 and we found them at the 3 R's store at DTD. Good luck!

[AKLRULZ]

Something we typically get for friends and family are Christmas ornaments with the year of visit. Disney Days of Christmas is my personal favorite store and an ornament typically gives the recipient something they'll have forever. For acquaintances - believe it or not - Disney pins have always been a big hit and you can't get much less expensive than $8! There is such a vast selection that you should be able to find something that suits the recipient - and if all else fails the American Flag Mickey pin is always a big hit!

Have fun!

[mattjs]

The little things we always get are: a new key chain (the little bottle opener style...love that thing), a christmas ornament (preferably from the resort with the year on it), a t-shirt each, a mickey head candle, a resort pin, a new pair of WDW sunglass croakies, and a couple of refillable mugs (which, while not technically a souvenir, are actually one of our favorite things of all). Gotta add a couple of Magical Moments pins every trip now too. I don't think we spent more than a couple hundred dollars last year.

My high price wish list [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] ...one of those ski sweaters in Norway...and one of those Swiss Army watches with the tiny Mickey head on the face.

[Belle*]

We usually get Mickey Toppers for friends. For each other, we each get to pick out one souvenir. We look at things every day and the last day of the trip we go to World of Disney and use our disney club discount to buy the thing we each liked best! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[PixieDustExpress]

Oh, Shopping!!! I ditto the Christmas Oranments, but I also look for the latest deck of cards. They make great, cheap gifts. Try to buy gifts which are "disposable" ie. candles, food, notepads, etc. Every time I visit I try to buy earrings, candle, choc. covered pretzels (mmmm!), resort pin where I'm staying, one ltd. ed. pin, and a clip magnet. I usually try to stay small since I'm flying, but this August my mom and I are driving, so who knows what I'll bring back!!

[WillCAD]

Ah, outlets! I love shopping the outlets!

Here's a link to a page on my website with maps, phone numbers, and links to the mall web sites for each of the four Disney outlet stores in teh WDW area:
Disney Outlets page on WillCAD OnLine

My favorite is the one in Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores. The selection there is not as good as at the other outlets, but the prices tend to be discounted much deeper, so when you do find something you likem it will be real cheap.

[statelady01]

Thanks you guys!

Some great ideas and I forgot that as a soon to be Annual Passholder I can get a discount on World of Disney stuff.

I'll be sure to include my bargain hunting in the trip report!

[img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[Luv2plan]

I can't wait to check out the outlets on our next trip after hearing about all the great sales!! I've never been to the Disney Outlets on any of our previous trips, but with Shopaholics #1 & #2 (my mom & I) on board this time out the rental car will surely find it's own way there [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[darthminnie]

The cheapest souveneers in Disney are the WDW pens you use to sign all your room charges. They are free......