You can spend a pretty penny at Disneyland or Disneyworld on Souvenirs that your kids “have-to” have. However, there are some free keepsakes that you can pick up on your Disney trips that won’t cost you anything more than admission.
Stickers – Many cast members will give out stickers. The Security guards have some cool ones!
Buttons – my kids love to get the free buttons. Simply visit Guest Services or the front desk of your Disney hotel to pick up a button for your celebration. Anniversaries, Birthday’s, I’m Celebrating, 1st Visit, Just Married, Just Graduated, etc. At Disneyland, the Character Meals give out buttons with your meal (or at least they did last time we were there). We also got Cars Land buttons – my kids collected each of the 8 colors. I am not certain they still do these buttons anymore. We’ve also just been walking through Epcot and gotten buttons from cast members handing them out. Even Aulani gives buttons! The lanyard that my kids keep their buttons on were actually free too – they got them during the “Year of a Million Dreams.” It was one item that we got lucky and were at the right place at the right time.
Kidcot – As you tour the World showcase, there are kidcot stations for your kids to stop at. Last time we were there, they had Duffy Bears and Agent P (one year, they had masks). They can color their Duffy/Agent P at each country – we tell our kid to choose one color at each country, so we can keep moving. They get a stamp at each stop – so they will have a stamp from each country when they are done. In Japan, China, and Morocco, the Cast Member can/will write their name in that language! How fun! Now, on our first couple of visits to Disneyworld, they would give you a poster if you got stamps from each country. Last time, they no longer gave out the poster 🙁
Special events – in the picture, you can see an Olaf fan. They were giving them out for the special Frozen Summer event. Many special events around Disney will give out free items that you can take home.
Birthday Cards – If you are staying at a Disney Resort or going to a Character Meal on your Birthday, you will often be given a birthday card, signed by lots of different characters. Since we often go on my kids birthday’s, they all have several of these cards!
Autopia License – When you ride Autopia, you get a free Driver’s License to take with you.
Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters Ride Photo – you can have the photo taken of you on the ride, including your score, emailed to any email address of your choosing
Autographs – You can create your own book or binder, bring a shirt, hat, or bag, and have the characters sign their names on it.
Innoventions: Inside Innoventions, there are random free souvenirs that you can get. It just depends on what is currently being featured. One year, we got lots of little robots that we made ourselves (my husband LOVED this!), or there are places to get your picture taken and have it emailed to yourself.
Disney Visa Cardholders pictures – if you have a Disney Visa, you can get a free Photopass photo, if you attend the special Cardmember meet and greets. There will be characters for you to meet and take pictures with, and you will receive a free photo to take home – usually with NO wait! In fact, the picture at the top of this blog, is from the visa meet and greet when we were in Epcot on our last trip.
Jedi Diploma – if your kids participate in the Jedi Training academy, they will receive a diploma at the end of their training!
Park Maps – It is fun to collect the maps from all our different trips and see how the parks have changed! You can also get beautiful keepsake ones from the Disneyworld website sent right to your home!
Wilderness Explorer Program – At the Animal Kingdom, they have a Wilderness Explorer program where your kids get a passport and complete activities through the park (this program is different each trip that we take).
Cheap Souvenirs:
Pressed Pennies: These aren’t Free, cut they are super cheap. My kids had the BEST time collecting them last time we were at Disney! Seriously, a souvenir for $.51 is hard to beat. Give you kids a certain amount of money, and they can choose pennies as they tour the parks.
Tip: Head to the Disney Store or the outlets (there are ones near both Disneyland and Disneyworld), to pick up your souvenirs before your trip to save money while in the parks!
Did I forget anything? Let me know and I’ll add it to the list!
