Affordable Disney Souvenirs Available Close to Home

Enjoying a Disney vacation and interacting with beloved cartoon characters is a dream come true for most children. Unfortunately, the parks offer many tempting souvenirs, making it difficult to stay on budget. Purchasing souvenirs locally makes it possible to stretch your budget without skimping on the fun. There are more opportunities to compare prices and time to find a special souvenir without the pressure of rushing through a gift shop.

Save money by shopping for these three kinds of Disney souvenirs before going on vacation.

Disney Princess Pens
Disney souvenir shops sell a variety of chubby character pens ideal for collecting autographs in the Disney parks. While these pens cost approximately $6 each, the Disney website sometimes clearances select styles for much less. Shopping online, the Belle and Jasmine pens in the photo cost less than two dollars each. (Purchasing other gifts at the same time made it possible to take advantage of a free shipping promotion.) Compare prices and look for discount codes to find affordable, authentic souvenirs on the Disney website.

Many stores, including Family Dollar and Barnes and Noble, also sell Disney pens and pencils at low prices. Tinkerbell, "Cars" and "Toy Story" character pens and pencils are widely available. While these may not be well suited for getting character autographs, they are cute souvenirs children can use long after the vacation ends.

Autograph Books
Autograph books are popular souvenirs, but come in limited styles. However, gathering souvenirs at home makes it possible to craft custom creations. One budget-friendly idea is to buy a hardbound blank book and use stickers or scrapbook supplies to customize it. Small journals with acid-free, heavyweight paper are available at various stores, including bookstores and craft stores, for $5 to $10.

While going through the park, open the book and present a blank page for an autograph. Use the facing page for a photo of the autograph session. Depending on the size of the book, add journal entries and photos to fill it.

Disney Clothing and Accessories for Children and Adults
Dress the part for cute vacation photos. Disney apparel, costumes and accessories are available at many neighborhood stores, such as Kohl's, Target and JCPenney, and their respective websites.

Shop for clearance costumes after Halloween for greatest savings. Affordable princess dress-up sets, wands and crowns for little girls are available at toy stores and Walmart.

Wrap the souvenirs in tissue paper and present something special each day of the vacation. If possible, give children a modest allowance to purchase a special memento unique to the park.