Tips about Saving and Souvenirs

Don't plan on mailing your vacation postcards from your gate at the Orlando airport -- there wasn't a mailbox anywhere near our gate. We had written a stack of postcards while we waited for our flight home, but we were subsequently informed that the only mailboxes were back near the check-in areas... meaning that they were on the other side of the airport monorail route and on the other side of the security checkpoint! We didn't have enough time before our flight to make this special trip, so we had to mail these postcards from our hometown. - Louis Rios

When traveling to my favorite place on earth, it's inevitable that I will hear from my family and friends: "Be sure to send me a postcard." Of course, not wanting to miss a moment of the magic that Disney has to offer, writing out postcards can be a bit of a chore... but to make it easier, I always compile a list of names and addresses of people that I am going to send postcards to and then simply do up a sheet of labels on my computer before the trip. I then pre-buy the stamps and pack them away with the address labels in my backpack that I will be taking to the parks. The day that I arrive at my resort, I buy all the postcards I need. Then during my vacation while I'm waiting in an attraction line, or for a show to begin, or in a restaurant, or on the resort bus, I simply apply my label and stamp to a postcard and write a quick note about my trip so far, as well as what I am about to do (e.g., "As I write this, I'm standing in the line-up to ride Rock 'n' Roller Coaster... you can't believe how my heart is pounding!!!"). It sure makes postcard writing a lot easier and faster, and when you get back home and see the postcards that you wrote to a friend or family member, you instantly relive the moment of what ride or attraction you were waiting upon. What a way to transport yourself back to the magic! - Shelly Theriault

If you are wanting to purchase fragile items like stemware or coffee mugs, consider ordering directly from The Disney Store online. They have many items that are available at the parks. This way they can ship it to you and it will be well-packaged with separate boxes for each item and bubble wrap. - Cindy Waters-Goodman

We all save the coins from our pockets and roll them when we have enough. In April 1999 I started collecting $1.00 bills as well as the coins. I pay for everything with $5's, 10's, 20's, etc. I don't touch my piles of 1's, which I bundle in $100 increments. By the end of 1999, I had saved in excess of $2000 which paid for all expenses at Disney for a week in Feb. This year I have been doing the same thing and have over $2000 saved so far. Make it a game and have fun with it - try to buy things that you will get back $4. at a time. Once at a pizza place, our bill was $21 and I gave the cashier a $100 bill. She gave me $79 in change. Cool huh? - Joe Marcus

I shopped for months before the trip and purchased little items that were from Disney. At tag sales I found little Disney items that were from Happy Meals. By saving Kodak UPC codes I got 4 puppets for the kids. I found Disney coloring books at a discount store. Before the trip, I wrapped up a package for the children to open each day. That way we did not have to buy gifts each day. We allowed them to buy one gift at the end of the trip. - Sally O'Brien

When we returned from our February 2000 trip to WDW we immediately decided to return in February 2001. So we were back to saving for another trip, in addition to our regular vacation savings we decided to start a "Mickey Jar". We took a big plastic container, the type that held pretzels, decorated it with different Mickey characters and put all of our spare change in the jar. Every time we go to a store, instead of parting with our change we give them a bill and throw all the change in the jar. So far in 8 months we have accumulated $175.00. I know it isn't much, but it will be put towards our souvenir money, and it is money we do not even miss. - Debbi Morasch of Connecticut

My family, like most others, books it's trip more than a year ahead of time. We begin stashing away $10 a week in Disney Gift Cards as soon as we make our vacation ressies. This in addition to whatever other money we budget or save. The Gift Carfd go in an envelope and remain there until trip time. Based on a 52 week calender year that gives you $520, enough to cover most of your meals budget and it's money you hardly even missed from your weekly budget!! - Barry Richard from Massachusetts

Since our daughter is almost 12 years old, she didn't want an autograph book or EPCOT passport this trip. We bought her the Pressed Penny book and set out to collect at least one penny from each place we visited. We found most of them, but then discovered that Guest Services and cast members in gift shops throughout EPCOT and MK have lists of where the machines are and what their pennies look like. This made it even easier for her to complete her collection! - Lisa Heisel, Succasunna, NJ

I love to collect the smashed pennies at Walt Disney World, but hated always fumbling through my wallet for the correct change (two quarters and one penny, preferably bright and shiny!). Now, a few months before my trip I start to put aside my quarters and pennies. I store them in empty film canisters and then just toss the canisters into my backpack. Now when I'm at the park I just pull out one of the little canisters of coins and have the change right at my finger tips with no searching. - KrisAnne Warren

When you see something you want at the parks/hotels, buy it - Too many times I said I'll buy it later and it was gone or I forgot where I saw it. - Anonymous

Save all your shopping at the World of Disney for one day. If you ship everything home, $8.95 for under $100 or $13.95 for anything over $100, you will save sales tax and not have to worry about packing everything in a suitcase!! This was a big plus for us. Discounts are sometimes available.

Suggest your child start a collection - whether it's key chains, postcards, or whatever. It may be a bit pricey (esp. key chains) but they can collect them or give them as presents. - Keely

Before you spend too much money in the gift shops in and around the world, I'd recommend checking out the character warehouse shop in the Beltz outlet mall. On our last trip, I found some identical items to the ones on sale in the world at 50 - 75% off! There was quite a variety of items, but as with most outlet mall shopping, you have to do some digging. Items available included themepark clothing, resort logo clothing, plush characters, pins, and lots of character themed clothing. - Boris Beckert

I just returned from Disney last week and I'd like to offer this tip. In the past, when I've visited the Disney outlets in the Belz factory stores, items also on sale in the parks were sold in the outlet at theme park prices. Not so this year. I bought sweatshirts, available for $58 in the Animal Kingdom Lodge, for only $25, and Pooh bear mask/whistles for half price. If you have a car, I recommend checking out both stores as they have slightly different merchandise. I was able to purchase several official Disney gifts that had a higher value than I could normally afford. - Sam

We have our "Mickey Money Jug" like everyone else for saving change to convert to Disney Gift Cards. I've found that it has another use, too. About two months before we leave for our Disney trips, I start throwing in all the one dollar bills I get. This way, we have plenty of singles for the tips without having to worry about them at the last minute! Even though seeing all those dollars may be tempting, I've instituted a penalty for taking anything out of the jug -- pay double back (take a $1, pay back $2, take 2 quarters, pay a dollar, etc.)! We always come out ahead! - DznyLvrs