Even though it can be fun to shop for souvenirs in Disney shops, it’s no secret that the prices can add up pretty quickly. However, there are plenty of free keepsakes that can keep the magical memories alive while you are stuck at home.
1. Celebration Buttons- If you have ever been to a Disney park, you’ve most likely seen people walking around with these buttons on. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, family reunion, honeymoon, anniversary, engagement, first visit, or anything else, you can grab one of these free buttons to let the world know. They’re usually available at your Disney Resort’s check-in desk or at any one of the park’s Guest Service desks. Not only do you usually get special comments from cast members and regular guests, but you get a fun pin to bring home and display.
2. Character Drawings- If you have the chance to visit the Character Animation Academy in Hollywood Studios, I would definitely recommend doing so. There, you will learn how to draw a Disney character with the help of an animator, and you get to keep your drawing. Plus, at the end of the drawing lesson, you’ll get a chance to win the animator’s drawing by being the first person to answer a Disney trivia question. Even though my drawings don’t turn out so great, they’re still a fun souvenir to take home.
3. Leis and Mardi Gras Beads- If you’re staying at either the Polynesian Village Resort or the Port Orleans Resort, or just visiting either one, you’ll definitely want to pick up a flower lei or some Mardi Gras beads. The flower leis, found at the Polynesian, are fun to wear around the parks for a tropical look, while the Mardi Gras beads, found at Port Orleans, are the perfect thing to add some bling to your outfit. Both types of necklaces are found at their respective resort’s front desk and are completely free!
4. Notepads and Pens- Even though this might not seem like an exciting souvenir, the Walt Disney World pens and notepads found in your resort room are one of my favorite things to take home. Every time I write using the pen or jot some notes down on the paper I think of Disney, which adds some magic to an otherwise ordinary day.
5. Paper Products- Park maps, times guides, programs- if it’s paper and it’s free, you can bet I’ll be snatching it up. From the Wilderness Explorer Guides found in Animal Kingdom to the license you get after driving Tomorrowland Speedway in Magic Kingdom to the paper coasters left in resort rooms, I keep just about every paper that we get in Disney. Even though I might not know what I’m going to use them for, I like to keep them just in case I need them for scrapbooking, school projects, collages, or anything else that might come up. I may look like a nerd when I’m grabbing huge stacks of park maps as we’re walking out of the parks, but you never know when some crafty inspiration will hit!
