A trip to the most magical place on earth is a memorable experience, but Disneyland souvenirs can take a big chunk out of any vacationer’s budget.
Don’t let the high cost of mementos ruin your trip. With a little planning, even travelers on a budget can score memorable trinkets without breaking the bank.
Before going on your Disneyland trip, prioritize the importance of different aspects of your trip: Is your focus delicious meals, hotel accommodations or souvenirs? Prioritizing will help you allocate your funds while still getting what you want out of the trip.
Once you have your budget set, use these six practical tips for souvenir saving:
Before your trip, make a mental list of the desired souvenirs for each member of your family. This will help you avoid impulse buys and stick to items you really want.
To help maintain your budget, purchase Disney gift cards before your trip, which can be used at all in-park souvenir shops and restaurants. Some websites even sell the gift cards for less than face value, which means you’ll save even more.
Take advantage of free souvenirs available throughout the park, such as character autographs and pictures, buttons for special occasions, tickets, maps, restaurant coasters, drivers licenses from driving rides and more.
When in doubt, ask guest services, your hotel concierge, or your restaurant waiter for more information — you may be surprised what they will give you for free!
Many stores, including discount retailers like Walmart and Target, sell Disney merchandise for a fraction of the cost to buying it at Disneyland. Stock up on items beforehand and bring them on your trip to get your fix of Disney magic while often saving more than 50%.
You can also shop at your local Disney Store or Disney Store online to take advantage of coupon codes and sales. While you may miss out on items that are exclusive to inside the park, you’ll save lots of money overall.
Disneyland often prints coupons for 20% off your souvenir purchase on the bottom of receipts from other in-park purchases, including meals at park restaurants and gift shops.
Coupons tend to print randomly and are more prevalent during the offseason times, such as February and October.
Create your own Disney t-shirts, mugs, character autograph books, and more with the help of tutorials on the Internet.
Souvenirs can be created with your own crafting skills or using companies that make customized items. The supplies will be significantly cheaper, and making things yourself allows you to add a personal touch.
Official souvenirs from inside Disneyland rarely go on sale, but there are occasionally small clearance racks in the back of the store. Sale items are frequently out-of-season items, such as sweaters and gloves at the end of winter and sunglasses and swimsuits at the end of summer.
When in doubt, ask the sales associates about current sales and specials.
