So, unfortunately, it’s time to come home from Walt Disney World.
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You’ve spent a week soaking up the magic, walking more than you ever thought possible, emptying the wallet at a dizzying rate and now it’s time to bring a little of the magic home. If you’re traveling in the next year or so, maybe you’ll be lucky enough to bring home one of “Disney’s Million Dreams.” If not, I’m sure you’re not leaving empty-handed.
So, what’s your pleasure?
My 7-year-old daughter, on her four trips to WDW so far, has made a habit out of adding to her pin collection and her glass Princess figurines. She’s doing pretty well so far.
Me? Personally, I’ve been trying to purchase a new die-cast vehicle each trip. Whether it’s the ride vehicles or the Disney busses, they make a welcome addition to my shelf at home.
Photo by Chris Barry
I’ve also got a decent classic character pin collection going.
Photo by Chris Barry
My wife has more expensive tastes and loves a certain Austrian blue crystal she purchased on our first trip there together. It’s only available in the US at the Arribas Brothers Stores in the Magic Kingdom, Downtown Disney and Germany in Epcot. That’s a special souvenir, for sure.
Photo by Chris Barry
Anyway, the point to this article is not to discuss the obvious souvenirs we all cart home with us. I’m not interested in mouse ears, t-shirts, character plushes or pins. I’m curious if any of you out there have discovered what I have. The fact that there’s free stuff available to the discerning Disney collector out there. What’s that? I said the word free in the same paragraph as the word Disney? You betcha.
Now, “free” is a loose term. Some of the things I consider “free” souvenirs, are actually items that come with other paid things or are included in on-property hotel rooms. But they’re still something that Disney doesn’t have to put out there, but does anyway, and I’m right there ready to take advantage of any generosity they offer.
For instance, the most obvious freebies are the Mickey shampoos and soaps that are found in Disney hotels. They could go generic with the bottles and packages, but might as well plaster Mickey on them, just in case you forget where you are.
Now, I realize that’s no big deal to most of you, but there’s just something about always having that little bottle of Mickey shampoo in my shower that brings a smile to my face each morning.
Photo by Chris Barry
It’s become a standing order in my circle of Disney-going friends to “bring Chris home some shampoo.” I stock up when I’m there myself. The housekeeping staff has never refused me as I pass by their carts on my way back to my room.
The Mickey soapboxes look cool stacked upon each other on the bathroom shelf.
Photo by Chris Barry
Let’s not forget to grab a few of those neat Mickey coasters from your room.
Photo by Chris Barry
Sometimes you have to order a drink to get a cool souvenir. Take these cocktail stirrers I got from Artist’s Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Hollywood and Vine at Disney-MGM Studios and San Angel Inn at Epcot. If the MGM name ever really does disappear, this will be a neat little reminder that didn’t cost me anything extra and the small green one has the old EPCOT Center moniker on it.
Photo by Chris Barry
If you look in the fish tank in my family room, you’ll find a “freebie” that came with my daughter’s drink at The Coral Reef restaurant in Epcot.
Photo by Chris Barry
I’ll never forget finishing a nice, refreshing vanilla shake on a sweltering August day, from Mrs. Potts’ Cupboard in the Magic Kingdom only to realize that the cup had an imprint of the castle and a Mickey balloon on it. My wife asked me where I was going and quickly answered her own question with a roll of her eyes, “You’re going to wash out that cup and take it home aren’t you?” She knows me well enough by now. My daughter still loves having her nightly snack of Cheerios in this shake cup. It’s some sort of tough indestructible plastic and has held up well through two years of use.
Photo by Chris Barry
Of course, my drawers are overflowing with various park maps, resort maps and other paper memories of our trips. Disney sells photo album kits, but we can and some day will fill our albums with souvenirs like this French Quarter postcard, free at the front desk…
Copyright 2000 Disney Enterprises, Inc.
or this unique note we received entering the Magic Kingdom two years ago.
Add those to the luggage tags, paper tickets, resort “keys to the world,” and happy birthday buttons and you’ve got a great collection of souvenirs.
Photo by Chris Barry
I realize you have to sort of pay for some of them, but some of them are just icing on the cake, so to speak. And, after all, isn’t that what a trip to Disney is all about, extra special, little details that you can’t find anywhere else?
In my house we have lots of Disney paraphernalia, but I’ve always appreciated these little extras, these so called “freebies” that bring back good memories of our time spent in the World.
Next time I see one of you in the restroom in Fantasyland washing out your shake cup and getting a good eye rolling from your loved ones, I’ll know I’m not alone. It’s a small price to pay for a lasting memory isn’t it?
So, let me know what I’m missing. What’s your favorite swag to bring home from your trip to Mickey’s house?