Gen Z Is Ruining an Iconic Souvenir Trend

When you visit Disney World, it can be hard to leave without purchasing a souvenir to bring home with you as a way to remember your trip.

We have all been guilty of using the iconic blue plastic castle bag as a carry-on to hold all the goodies we bought after our vacation. One of the most popular and iconic Disney souvenirs is Mickey and Minnie Ears, but is Gen Z ruining this trend?

Gen Z has been laying the foundation for Disney Parks fashion. Tennis skirts, tote bags, character plush keychains, and vintage t-shirts have taken over the parks, but one item seems to be missing from many Gen Z park outfits, and that is Minnie or Mickey ears. 

Disney has really stepped up the game with new collaborations and has constantly been refreshing the Minnie and Mickey ear inventory. We remember a time when you did not have a ton of ears to choose from, and they hardly came out with new ears. Now, Disney is releasing so many cute and new ears, but why is Gen Z not biting at the ear trend?

There are so many different pairs of ears, including the classic Mickey ear hats, solid Minnie ears, Minnie ears based on attractions and movies, and Minnie ears that take elements from our favorite Disney characters. Many Disney World gift shops even have ear walls to display all the ears you can buy. 

Now, we are not saying that Gen Z has completely abandoned wearing Minnie or Mickey ears in the parks, but we have seen fewer and fewer Gen Zers wearing ears. There could be a few reasons for this.

Minnie and Mickey ear prices have risen quite a bit over the past few years and now range between $34.99- $44.99. There are even some designer ears that cost hundreds of dollars. So it could be that Gen Z would rather spend their souvenir money on something that they can use outside of Disney World. For example, Disney has also stepped up their vintage merchandise game, pulling on nostalgia for what Gen Z remembers from Disney World when they were growing up. T-shirts and sweatshirts from Disney can be worn outside of the parks, whereas people don’t wear Minnie or Mickey ears as part of their day-to-day fashion.

It also seems that hats are rising in popularity, and Disney has also started to notice this. You can find baseball hats, bucket hats, and now even more character hats in Disney gift shops. 

Another reason Gen Z may be avoiding Minnie and Mickey ears is due to their hairstyle. Some people prefer to use claw clips, which is another trend that Disney has paid attention to, as you can find different character and Mickey-themed clips in gift shops. Some ears are also sparkly and can get caught in your hair. 

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It can also be a comfort thing; while some newer Minnie and Mickey ears have added padding on the headband, ears are not always super comfortable and can give you a headache. 

Maybe we are a bit old school, but many of our team members see ears as an essential to their park outfits, and like that Disney is continuously releasing new ears. Trends are constantly changing, and Gen Z likes to stay on top of trends, so Minnie and Mickey ears may be on their way out for now, but we would not be surprised to see them gain popularity once again.

We are always on the lookout for the latest Disney Parks fashion trends, so make sure to continue to follow along with us at AllEars. For style inspiration, you can follow @AllEarsStyle on Instagram!

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Do you like to wear Minnie or Mickey ears to the Disney parks? Let us know in the comments!

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