What’s the best Disney souvenir YOU’VE ever bought?
While we’re always on the hunt for great Disney souvenirs, we still have a fondness for sentimental souvenirs that have stayed with us for decades. Whether you bought it at a Disney Park, got it as a gift, or stumbled upon it by chance, we all have those souvenirs that are more than just an item — they’re something truly special.
We’ve been thinking about our favorite souvenirs over the years, and we wanted to hear from YOU! We asked our readers on Facebook, “What’s the best Disney World souvenir you’ve ever bought, and why?” — and ya’ll gave us some really heartfelt answers.
We got A LOT of responses, but we wanted to cover a couple that stood out to other readers and us — starting with this one from Reader Kelly, which read, “When we were expecting our 1st child, my husband and I discovered we both purchased the same wall sized map of the Magic Kingdom in the 1970s. We framed one for the nursery. It now hangs in our son’s 1st apartment…“
A lot of Disney enthusiasts who have bought vintage and meaningful souvenirs over the years have them to this day, and the ability to pass these incredible pieces of history down from generation to generation is truly what it’s all about.
Reader Jonathan wrote, “Found My Pal Mickey in my basement. He still turns on when I put new batteries in and still tells jokes.”
Pal Mickey is a discontinued interactive plush that was sold at Disney World from 2003 to 2008 and was designed to act as a wearable, talking tour guide. It used infrared sensors to detect location and would deliver jokes, trivia, and attraction wait time tips. While it’s now mostly outdated, some readers have insisted that it still works at Disney World — albeit with some incorrect information. It’s still very cool, though!
Some of the best souvenirs are the ones we get for free! Reader Bob wrote, “I got a Sago palm seed from the Polynesian landscape by our rooms in 2007. It was free but now I have spent quite a few dollars on pots over the years it is now getting close to 4 foot tall. I also need to take it inside every winter here in PA. It is a beautiful plant now though.”
Taking home a literal piece of Disney World with you is extra special and definitely a rarity when it comes to Disney souvenirs.
Speaking of pieces of Disney World, Reader Lisa highlighted the beauty in simplicity, writing, “Sounds silly — but some white bathroom towels with hidden Mickey’s in them. I get reminded of the magic every day.”
Like Bob’s souvenir, we think this kind of memento is special. It’s the little things that make us smile the most!
Sometimes, the best souvenirs we’ve gotten have a lot of meaning behind them. Reader Rob wrote, “It wasn’t one that I bought. I met one of the doormen who wear the big Mickey hands at my hotel and we became fast friends. He actually worked some magic for me and got me into the dessert party at the Magic Kingdom so I could have a good seat for Happily Ever After on the last night of my trip. When I checked out, he gave me one of his Mickey hands that he’d signed and written a quote from ‘Brave’: ‘Our fate lives within us, you only have to be brave enough to see it’. It’s in a display case on my dresser, I see it every day, and if my house catches on fire, that’s one of the things I’m getting out. I’ll never forget that man.”
Sure, the souvenirs are cool, but what’s remembered most is the experience and the kindness shown by incredible Cast Members who want you to have the best vacation ever.
We got HUNDREDS of wonderful responses from folks sharing stories of their favorite souvenirs, ranging from pin lanyards, keychains with special engravings, first Mickey ears, park tickets, MagicBands, ground coffee, silhouettes, ornaments, and so much more! Share your favorite souvenir in the comments below, and continue to follow us here at AllEars for more fun polls and Disney updates!
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Tell us about your favorite Disney souvenir in the comments below!
We have a Pal Mickey. You used to be able to buy extra costumes for him, so we bought ours a pirate outfit. Now, instead of him going to the parks, we take him on Disney cruises and he attends the pirate nights on the ship with us.