S.O.S (Saving On Souvenirs) at Disney
Jun 11 '00
So you’re going to Walt Disney World and you’ve decided that one of the places you can save some bucks on the trip is by limiting (or even eliminating) souvenir purchases? Well, good luck. Disney did not become a merchandising giant by letting travelers such as yourself walk out of the park without armloads of plush toys, silly hats and who-knows-what-else. Disney knows that parents like you are going to try to keep your kids away from the point-of-purchase. That’s why most rides exit into stores. You can’t keep Billy on “Pirates of the Caribbean” forever! Sooner or later, you’ve got to walk out and face the gift shop.
How can you combat this capitalistic onslaught? Just like those wishing to avoid long lines, families wishing to save money on souvenirs need to have a plan. They need to start working on that plan before they ever set foot in the parks. Simply telling yourself, “We just won’t buy anything,” isn’t enough. (Believe me, I speak from experience on that one! Maybe your willpower is better than mine, though.)
Here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way. Some I’ve used; some I have not, but they seem reasonable. I hope this helps you on your next visit.
“I COULD GET THAT AT HOME FOR HALF THE PRICE”
You’ll hear this phrase repeated over and over at Disney souvenir shops and kiosks. You’ll even say it a few times yourself. The trick is to think of this before you get to WDW, when you can still do something about it. Official Disney-licensed merchandise is available at discount stores across the nation (Wal-Mart and Target both have large selections, I know.) Plush toys, clothing, hats, jewelry, puzzles, you name it, it’s out there. If you think you can do a decent job of predicting your kids’ tastes, buy a few items while you’re at home, smuggle them in your luggage and give them out while you’re at Disney World.
How you present them to your kids is up to you. You could place them on the bed of your hotel room as you leave in the morning, so that when the kids come back in the afternoon for a nap, they discover them. Or you can take a plush toy with you in a backpack to the park and try to pull a pre-emptive strike – giving your daughter a stuffed Pooh as she exits the Dumbo ride first thing in the morning in the hopes it will limit her desire for other stuffed toys through the day.
THE DISNEY EXCLUSIVE … SORT OF
Granted, some items can’t be purchased – or even approximated – at discount stores. Many cool souvenirs are sold only in the parks … and on e-bay (www.ebay.com). Yes, thanks to the miracle of on-line auctions, you can usually find Disney World-exclusive items available without going to Orlando.
Here are three things to remember when buying at auctions:
1. Bid judiciously. Remember that your goal is to get the item at a discount, not to win the auction at all costs. If you don’t know how much an item costs in the parks, find out. This often can be done with an e-mail to the seller. If that fails, call the WDW merchandise department at 407-363-6200.
2. Remember to factor in shipping and handling as you place your bids. You’ve saved nothing if your bid was $1.50 under retail and shipping is $2.
3. Look for auctions without pictures. People tend to bid less when they can’t see the picture of the item. I’ve been able to purchase Disney trading pins (which sell for $6 in the parks) for $1.50 because the seller didn’t include a photo.
IS EVERYONE HAVING A BAD-HAIR DAY?
What’s with the hats? People buy the most amazing array of stupid hats at WDW. It started, of course, with the Mouse Ears. Those were (and still are) cool in their own sort of retro way. Then came the Goofy-ear hats, followed by the actual Goofy hats – tall, green, floppy things that look like a cross between a top hat and a popover. There are Minnie Ear hats (like the traditional Mouse Ear hat but with a polka-dot bow), a replica of Minnie’s actual hat – yellow and prim with a giant flower sticking out of it, Mickey’s wizard hat (complete with ears), Donald Duck-billed caps, and (good grief!) mouse-eared bridal veils and top hats: people buy all this stuff and wear it! One can only presume that when they get home and the “Disney Magic” has worn off, they scratch their heads and wonder what they were thinking. Granted, the sheer silliness of these hats delight people – kids in particular – and seeing Dad suddenly standing there dressed like Goofy is the sort of gut-busting memory that will last a lifetime for a child. That doesn’t mean you have to buy the hat, though. You’ve got a camera, don’t you? Troop the family into the hat shop, have everyone try on some of those silly toppers and snap lots of pictures. I guarantee you the pictures will last longer than the hats would have.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS, MAKE IT A LIFE LESSON
Despite all your best efforts, your kids (and quite possibly you, too) are going to want some of the great souvenirs available in the parks. You may want to use this as an opportunity to teach your kids about managing their money. Budget an amount per child for souvenirs and let them know it’s theirs to spend, but when it’s gone it’s gone.
One family submitted an excellent idea to Bob Sehlinger’s book, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. I wish I could claim it as my own, but it’s not. A year before their visit, the family informed grandparents and other relatives or friends who were in the habit of handing out money for birthdays, holidays, etc., that instead of U.S. currency, they would like to have the kids receive Disney Dollars. The parents also used the Disney bucks as gifts from the tooth fairy, rewards for special achievements, etc. Disney Dollars can be purchased at Disney stores or at the parks at a one-for-one exchange (i.e., $5 U.S. gets you 5 Disney Dollars). The Disney bucks can be spent or exchanged for U.S. currency in the parks or at the Disney store. By giving the kids money that, basically, couldn’t be spent until their vacation, they not only let their kids manage their own finances in the parks, but also taught them the value of saving.
I hope these ideas are helpful and that you thoroughly enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World.
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Member: Mike
Location: Indiana
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