What are Disney Refillable Mugs?

Refillable mugs are 16 oz hard plastic, insulated mugs sold at the Walt Disney World Resort. (Note: there is currently no refillable mug program at Disneyland – that’s been gone for awhile, so if you’re heading to California and not Florida, this program won’t be available to you.)

If you are travelling on the Disney Dining Plan, you get a free mug for each family member on the dining plan. If you’re not using the Disney Dining Plan, these mugs are available for purchase at $19.99 per mug at Refill stations that are located in food courts, quick service locations and pool bars at all Value/Moderate/Deluxe resorts.

These mugs entitle you to free refills of soda, hot chocolate, tea and coffee at all Disney resorts for 14 days or your length of stay but cannot be used at the parks, at Disney Springs or at the water parks. (However, the water parks have their own refillable mug program.)

The mugs also cannot be used for milk, fruit juices or alcoholic drinks or “specialty” coffees liked iced coffees or lattes.

How do Disney’s refillable mugs work?

All mugs have a RFID chip in them, which allows the soda machines to identify the mug. 

When you place the refillable mug on Disney’s refill stations underneath your beverage choice, the chip is identified and a little screen will pop up showing how many days you have left of your activation. You can then fill up your mug.

(Note that the new mugs have a 2-minute time delay between refills.)

The RFID chip is activated when you pay for the mug at the counter; if you are on one of the Disney Dining Plans then the mug is included in your package.  Simply  tell the person at the counter that you would like to redeem your free mug on the dining plan.

While the mug is supposed to only be active for the length of your stay (if under 14 days), a lot of cast members tend to activate for 14 days rather than look up your reservation.

• If your reservation is longer than 14 days, you can request a small extension but that is up to the cast member’s discretion.
• If you are doing a split stay at two or more resorts, be sure to mention that as the cast member may not notice and will only activate the mug for the length of the first resort stay.

Things You May Not Know

Each self-service, refillable mug location has a MUG WASH! That’s right — there’s a little sink right next to the drink dispensers that you can use to wash out your mug.

You can take your mug into the parks, but you cannot get your mug filled for FREE like at your resort.  However, you can often get kiosks to fill your refillable mug with ice water – or they will give you a cup and you can just pour it into your mug.

You can refill your mug at other resorts, so feel free to take your mug with you if you plan to eat at one of the quick service locations at another resort.

Anyone can purchase a refillable mug; you do not need to be staying on property to walk into a quick service resort location and purchase a refillable mug.  Many people love purchasing these for souvenirs and they really are made well and last much longer than most souvenirs.

You can bring your mug back on previous trips, but you will still need to pay the full $19.99 reactivation cost. I wouldn’t bother bringing back the plastic mugs, but if you paid for the upgrade of a stainless steel tumbler on a previous trip and prefer that model, then paying $19.99 for reactivation versus paying $29.99 for a new stainless steel mug is a bit of a budget saver.

The mugs are dishwasher-safe but not microwaveable.

Previously, you were able to purchase a refillable mug for a single day or for two days at a lower cost, but now the fee is the same regardless.

Covid Changes 

****Currently Disney World is not allowing anyone to refill refillable cups at the refillable stations themselves. A cast member will give you a disposable cup and you are able to fill your refillable cup if so desired. Disney World is also not offering the dining plan, so cups are available for purchase by themselves. Many of the Disney World Resorts are currently upgrading their fill stations to new touch-less fill stations. This will allow for guests to fill their refillable cups with no contact to the actual machine. 

Is Disney’s refillable mug program worth the cost?

This is where things tend to get heated! I think it depends on a few factors:

• how much of your vacation time will be spent at resorts
• how many meals you will be having in your resort cafeteria
• what your soda or coffee/tea drinking habits are
• and, whether or not you’ll be ordering a grocery delivery to your resort.

(Of course, if you are on the Disney Dining Program, the mug is free – so cost isn’t really a factor.)

A single soda purchase at the resorts is $4 and (drip) coffee/tea is $3 – you can get free refills during your meal, but once you’ve left the cafeteria or restaurant, you can’t refill your disposable cup again. So, if you’re probably going to purchase at least 6 fountain sodas or drip coffees (or tea/hot chocolate) at your resort, then this is an easy decision – because once you exceed 5 sodas or 6 coffees, the mug is saving you money.

However, you do have in-room coffee (either the standard Cuisinart coffee pod systems or a Keurig system, depending on your hotel and room type) and many local grocers offer free or discounted delivery to the resorts with a minimum order amount – so purchasing drinks at your resort isn’t your only option for refreshments. (Read more about ordering groceries to your Disney resort here.)

Personally, I rarely opt to purchase the refillable mug program – I tend to only take advantage of it when I’m on the dining plan.

They can be really convenient for pool days, especially compared to having to drag all of the drinks with you from your room – and also have them get warm while in the sun all day – or try to drag all the the kids back to the room in order to grab refills.

And they can be convenient if your room is located close to the cafeteria for grabbing a morning coffee or a late night hot chocolate.

If you have older kids who will be allowed to wander around the resort a bit, having the refillable mugs is a fun perk for them and they won’t be wasting their travel money on sodas. I’ve heard from a lot of parents that their teens found the refillable mugs to be the coolest thing about a resort stay – go figure!

For us, I tend to do a small grocery order of drinks, milk, breakfast items and snacks to have in our room and skip the refillable mugs if we’re not using the dining plan on our trip. (Read more about whether or not the Disney Dining Plan is right for you here.)

I’d rather purchase a milk to have in my mini fridge (since I don’t like the provided powdered creamer) and make coffee in my room – in my pjs – as we’re getting ready for the day rather than have to get dressed and trek all the way to the cafeteria before I can caffeinate. We save money by not eating in the resort’s cafeteria for breakfast – if we’re going to pay for breakfast, I want it to be a special one, not just a quick bite. (And if you do want to grab something from the cafeteria, you can always bring a coffee from your room with you.)

On pool days, I might have one or two Diet Cokes as a treat (which I bring from my room), but I prefer that the kids drink (free) ice water so that they stay hydrated while out in the sun. If they want something a bit more fun, we use single-serve lemonade or gatorade powder packets and mix them into the free ice water.

I don’t like carrying the empty mugs around for an entire day – which is what I’d have to do if I stopped by my resort’s cafeteria for an “on the go” coffee before heading to the parks. And if I’m craving an after-the-parks soda or hot cocoa, I don’t want to walk to my room, retrieve my mug, walk to the cafeteria for a refill (and I always tend to pick rooms that are the furthest possible distance from the cafeteria)… then back. I’d rather just have things in my room to enjoy when I want.

I hope this post answered any questions you might have about the Disney Refillable Mugs. Be sure to check out this post which discusses all of New Mugs Designs, too!

Are the refillable mugs on your MUST PURCHASE list? Tell us why! Join our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE! Want more information on the refillable mug? Check this blog out!

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Help Your Kids Choose Souvenirs At Disney World

If you are visiting any of the amazing stores inside Disney World, you will very quickly see how absolutely overwhelming it can be! I remember our first visit as we walked into the World of Disney in Disney Springs. My heart pounded and I felt like a little kid on Christmas morning! I couldn’t believe my eyes! Even though, I had no idea how to help my kids choose souvenirs at Disney World! There were so many things to choose from: housewares, Mickey or Minnie Ears, mugs, food, clothing, purses, stuffed animals, toys. You name it, it’s there. If I was overwhelmed as a thirty-something adult, can you imagine how my kids felt! And they were 3, 5 and 15 at the time.

The children are all older now, but every time I walk into a merchandise store in Disney World, I still get that giddy, excited feeling and I want to buy everything! I obviously can’t buy everything. However, I do find it a lot harder for my kids to pick and choose what they want to buy as their souvenir every time we go. So because of that, I have a few tips for you to help your kids choose what they want to bring home from the most Magical Place on Earth!

Set A Limit

I find it helps to give them a limit. We went and bought them gift cards before our trip when we went last time. Each child received $50.00 and we told them it was theirs to do as they pleased with it. We usually tell them to keep their eyes open in every store and keep a running list of things they may want to bring home. Then we make sure we save some time at the end of the trip to go back and get what they want if we need to. Sometimes things are found in many of the stores, but sometimes things are park specific and you can’t just find it anywhere. Although the more trips we take, I have learned that if there is something one of my kids expresses a real want for, we get it then. This way, if we are staying in a resort far from a park, it doesn’t become a hassle to go back and get it at the end of the trip.

Choose Souvenirs At Disney World That Leave Memories

I try to explain to them that there are things you can get anywhere and there are things that are great for sentimental value or just things that can be tied to great memories of your trip. Last trip we came home with several popcorn buckets. A great souvenir because well, who doesn’t love popcorn! And they can be played with. We got one from Galaxy’s Edge and it had wheels, therefore, keeping my son busy when we were waiting in lines or sitting around taking a water break. We also got one of the alien buckets from Toy Story and my daughter still plays with it a year later. She puts it on her back and puts stuffed animals in it, using it as a carrier. And they both still talk about the fun memories we had carrying these buckets through the parks and enjoying our popcorn. There will always be a memory attached to them and I think that’s great.

On one of our trips, my son wanted these plush dice. There was nothing “Disney” about them, you could probably find them anywhere. But he was little and he wanted them. So of course it being our first trip we said fine and got them. I don’t think he has any clue at this point in life that they came from Disney World. If I had known then, what I know now I would have encouraged him to get something else. Something he would have gotten more use out of. Or at least something Disney themed he could hang in his room. OK, OK, they DO have Mickey emblems on them, but still! LOL!

Special Experience Souvenirs

My kids love Star Wars, so on one trip we made our own Light Sabers, they loved it! They played with them in the hotel at night when we went back for the night. The light sabers are very sturdy and they lit up. They were able to personalize them with their own choices of colors and handles. They still have them 5+ years later. On our last trip we decided to splurge a little and we made Droids at the Droid Outpost in Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge. It was pricey but we were there for a while, and the kids did all the work. Walt Express has a great blog on our experience at BUILD YOUR OWN DROID!

If your kids are Star Wars fans, they are really great souvenirs. We were able to get ours into our luggage for the flight home, so that was really great too!

What Is Their Obsession?

Everyone has different things they love to bring home, I love buying mugs. So I always know that no matter what I am going home with a new mug. But the kids tend to be harder, but I like to remind them of things they like to use everyday. My daughter has an obsession with stuffed animals, so I know she is almost always going to choose one of those. My son likes things he can use, so he usually comes home with a new set of little figures to play with. So now that they are getting older and we have gone a few times it has gotten easier to help them pick what they want in the stores. I try to remind them that even though there are huge stores with tons of fun stuff to think about what they are going to love the most when we go home!

Be sure you know about any SURPRISE COSTS before you go!

What are your kids favorite souvenirs? We would love to see them! Join our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE! We also have friends over at WALT EXPRESS TRAVEL that would love to help you plan your next Disney World vacation!

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Save Money in the Disney Parks

1. KEEP YOUR WALLET HYDRATED-Yes, keep your WALLET hydrated by bringing in a cooler!! Take full advantage of the ability to bring a cooler into the Disney Parks. I don’t mean a cooler that will fit two refrigerators full of food, but one that will accommodate several bottles of water and some sandwiches and snacks. This one move will save you tons!! It will also help with the kiddos wanting one of everything they walk past! Our personal favorite is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Don’t be intimidated about bringing a cooler or backpack in a Disney World Park! It can save you a ton of money while visiting. It only takes just a few minutes longer to go through “bag check”, but with so much beautiful scenery around, who cares? BONUS TIP: Most Quick Service dining locations will give you a FREE cup of ice water if you ask nicely!
2. SWITCHEROO-Try a late lunch table service and then a quick service meal later for dinner. Usually prices are cheaper at lunch. You can also share a plate or order up a larger appetizer! 
3. GLOW STICKS/BUBBLES-When the sun sets anywhere in Disney World, the neon light rises! Be ready with your glow sticks and bracelets that you purchased from the Dollar Tree! Just sit back and smile when you see people handing out those $20’s for glow-in-the-dark items. 
4. PRESSED PENNIES-Kids LOVE getting “stuff” anywhere they see it and believe me, Disney World is FULL of cute stuff! They are also full of penny press machines! For .51, you can get a great souvenir in just about every corner of Walt Disney World. These change quite often, so that .51 may be worth a lot more some day!
5. PONCHOS/UMBRELLAS-This one is pretty simple. It rains in Orlando. A LOT! Buy those beforehand and stick in a backpack or even a back pocket. Again, Dollar Tree has them for $1.00 vs. $10.00 in the parks. Just throw them in the trash when you’re done with them!
6. STROLLERS/WHEELCHAIRS-Rent these prior to visiting. There are many vendors that will deliver to your resort and pick up when you are done. So easy and cheaper!
7. CHECK YOUR RECEIPTS-Sometimes, they will have discounts on them for another purchase!
8. After eating a meal, ask for a GO-DRINK. Don’t waste those free refills! 
9. CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES-If you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary, wedding, etc., let your resort know at check-in and they will give you a button. This will also work even if you are not staying on-site at Disney World Resort. Just let your server know! This alone can score you some FREE desserts and lots of sweet and magical wishes.
10. SIGN NAME HERE-No, not you, silly! For the characters! You don’t have to buy the “autograph book” at a hefty price. Yep, pick that up at the Dollar Tree too! It’s actually a journal with MORE pages and yes, they even have Disney character ones! Click this link for some pretty unique ways we like to collect autographs!

We truly hope you have a magical time in Disney World and that you will find these “10 Tips to Save Money Inside Walt Disney World Parks” useful on your next trip. Stay tuned for more great money and time saving tips and tricks! Until next time, may all of your dreams and wishes come true!

When you save money in the Disney Parks, you are just saving for another trip!

Check out the Disney Express Lane Facebook Group to discuss and learn about all things Disney!

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Disney Money Saving Tips

My family tends to travel by car to Disney World, so some of my tips involve packing more items. Not to fear! Most of these items are small to pack and will cut down on the number of items you will bring back with you from Disney World if you are traveling by plane. These Disney Money Saving Tips could save you a little cash!

Pre-purchase Disney Souvenirs For Your Children

Many discount stores offer a selection of Disney themed merchandise that will more than likely be cheaper than what you find in the park. As I am packing, I stash a few of these goodies in our suitcase. This keeps the “I WANT’s” down while in the parks. Take a peek at this blog for more cost efficient souvenir ideas!

Extras CAN ADD UP!

In addition to the extra gifts, these are the items that are best purchased outside of the park and brought with you “just in case.”

• Ponchos- Disposable ones can be found at the dollar store. We packed these for a rainy day (on this past trip it was at Hollywood Studios). They worked for that day and then we threw them away. No need to dry them out and repack them.
• Glow sticks and necklaces- Stock up on these for your kiddos at night. When you see the price tag on the park items, you will be glad! Those necklaces and other glow toys can cost upwards of $20 or more.
• Water bottles- Be sure to bring one (or more depending on how you feel about sharing water bottles in your family) that is leak proof in your backpack. You can refill these for free in the park.
• Character Signing Items– I have tried a few different ways to collect signatures and by far my favorite has been bringing a sturdy photo mat. We take that around with large sharpie pens for the characters to sign. Just make sure the mat will fit in your backpack. The large sharpie pens make it easy for the characters to sign (sometimes they have large gloves on) and it looks so colorful on the mat when your signatures are done. When you get home, you can hang it with one of your favorite character photos from the trip.

Dining Plan Or NO?

If you are someone who enjoys eating out on vacation or if you consider yourself a Disney foodie, then you may want to explore purchasing the meal plan with your stay at a Disney World Resort. When you pre-purchase the meal plan, you not only save a percentage of money overall on your meals, but you have already paid for them when you arrive. The stress of spending more money on food is gone! You will only need to provide tips/gratuities for your table service meals. For more info on the Disney Dining Plans, check out DISNEY DINING 101.

OR

Are you someone who does not like to spend a lot of money on food? Do you have a lot of light or picky eaters in your group? No worries! You can pack your food for the day in a backpack and take it with you to the parks. Or, you may be staying at a resort/hotel that offers a kitchen. This can be a HUGE money saver. Take some snack items in the parks and eat your main meals back at the resort.

Plan With A FREE Disney Travel Planner

Whether you are a new visitor to Disney World or a longtime fan, consider using a Disney Travel Planner to help you plan your next vacation. Did you know that planning a Disney vacation through a Disney Travel Planner is complimentary? That means it is FREE. It comes at no additional cost to you. A Disney Travel Planner knows how to help you find a discounted room or ticket package, as well as which restaurants offer character dining along with your meal to provide the best value and functionality for your trip. A Disney Travel Planner can also offer insight and provide research for your family’s needs.

These are just a few of my favorite Disney World Money Saving Tips. What are some tips from other Disney fans that you have found helpful? Let me know! I would love to hear from you! Join the Disney Express Lane Facebook Group to discuss this and many other Disney related topics.

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When most people think Disney World the word FREE does not even come to mind. Did you know that you can find quite a few freebies that can be fun souvenirs. Yes, you read that correctly: FREE. I don’t know about you, but I love freebies, especially freebies at Disney World! Let me share with you a few favorites that we have found in our adventures around Disney World.

Freebies At Disney World

Take a peek at these fun freebies at Disney World that my family just loves!

Disney Transport Official Collection Cards

In all my years of visiting the parks, I never knew that these fun little cards even existed until our recent trip. These cards can be collected from bus, monorail, tram, boat & Minnie Van transportation. They have been in circulation since 2006. I still can’t believe I did not know about these until now. It is kind of like a little hidden secret. You must ask a cast member that works in transportation for these cards, as they do not just freely hand them out. It is possible for a cast member not to have any left when you ask so don’t get disappointed. You will just have to keep asking at other stops during your travels. You may also get the same card more than once. In my experience, each cast member would smile then ask if I was looking for a specific card.

Fun facts and Did you Know questions/answers can be found on the back of each card as well as a tip on where to find hidden Mickey’s. It was so much fun to collect these as we traveled around the Disney World property. I was able to collect 10 different cards this trip and I am excited to see which ones I get the next time we visit.

Celebration Buttons

There is always something we can celebrate on a Disney World vacation! From Birthdays, Anniversaries, Honeymoon, life achievements or even just your very first visit.  These buttons can be found at any guest services location as well as in any of the gift shops throughout the entire Walt Disney World property. Ask any cast member for a celebration button to let them know what you are celebrating. They will give you the one you would like as well as make it extra special by writing your name on your button.

As you wear your buttons throughout your day don’t be surprised to hear a Happy Birthday or Congratulations from cast members and even from other park guests. While it is not a guarantee, there have been times that we were surprised with a fun treat such as a free cookie or milk shake. All because we were wearing our celebration buttons. This special kind of magic may not happen for everyone, but you never know! So grab your Celebration Button and wear it proudly.

Timon & Pumba Safety Cards

These cards have illustrations of Timon & Pumba demonstrating park safety. These are especially fun for little kiddos but are very educational. Disney World’s number one priority is guest safety and these little cards have great tips to keep you and your family safe. You can find these by asking for them at any Guest Services location and you will sometimes get them from Cast Members if they are out of the transportation cards. Such fun freebies at Disney World!

Park Maps

At the entry to each park or on the counters of the checkout inside the gift shops and guest services, you can pick up park maps. These maps can be seasonally depending on special events and new attractions. They make great souvenirs! By collecting them each time you visit, you can later look back to see how the parks have changed throughout the years.

Mickey Mouse Stickers

Kids love stickers! OK, who am I kidding, some adults love stickers too. Disney World hands out tons of Mickey Mouse stickers to park guests. Did you know you can ask for these stickers as well. Some of the spots you may them are from cast members, Disney Vacation Club stands, gift shop checkout counters. All of these usually keep rolls of stickers so next time you are in the parks remember to ask for some!

MORE Freebies At Disney World

Heading to Disney World during the holidays? Click this link to find freebies during the holidays!

I am sure that there are other freebies that can be found throughout the Walt Disney World property, but these are some of our favorites. Have you found any fun freebies at Disney World? We would love to hear about them. Come join our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE, and let us know!

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Have you visited a Disney Destination and been asked to donate to the Disney Conservation Fund? Did you know what it was? I am going to explain what the Disney Conservation Fund is and how you can HELP!

Disney Conservation Fund

On our last visit to Walt Disney World we visited Animal Kingdom. We made some souvenir purchases and at this time we were asked if we wanted to donate to the Disney Conservation Fund. My husband said sure and made a donation. We received a pin that said Disney Conservation Fund HERO on it. It is super cute! We donated twice at different locations so we could get a second pin for our other child. It had me wondering what the fund was for, so I decided to look into it.

Support Wildlife

The fund was established in 1995 and it’s goal is to help the environment by reducing waste, water conservation and supporting wildlife. In October of 2019, this Fund awarded six million dollars in grants to support the wildlife and environment. Disney has been working to reduce emissions, waste and water consumption by up to 60% by the year 2020. The Disney Conservation Fund also supports over two thousand conservation projects. 

The Conservation Fund also works with non-profit agencies to protect and help different species and their habitats, including animals at-risk such as apes, butterflies and even tigers. The Conservation Fund is geared towards protecting our planet for us now and also for our future.

This fund prides itself in not only donating grants towards groups who are working to protect our environment and wildlife but they also pride themselves in inspiring people and families to take the time to care for our planet and wildlife.

Disney World’s Animal Kingdom

Taking a trip to Disney World can be a great way to learn about many of the animals that are being cared for in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and a great way to start a discussion with your family on how important it is to care for animals that are endangered, or at-risk. Donating to the Conservation Fund is a wonderful way to do your part while on vacation!

How You Can Help The Disney Conservation Fund

Your donation is 100% matched by the Walt Disney Company! Now as for donating while visiting Disney World parks, you can donate at these merchant locations:

• Animal Kingdom: various merchant locations
• Epcot: Nemo and Friends and The Land Pavilion

Disney Resorts that accept donations are:

• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Old Key West Resort
• Wilderness Lodge

Are looking to donate and you aren’t currently visiting Disney World? I have some good news for you! There are several ways you can donate.

Other Disney Destinations accepting donations:

• Aulani Resort and Spa in Hawa’ii
• Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort
• Disney’s Vero Beach Resort
• You can donate at the merchant locations and guest services on Disney Cruise Lines.

Donations via check can also be mailed to: “The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund” and mailed to:  DWCF, c/o Disney Corporate Citizenship, Conservation Programs PO Box 10000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

If you are looking for more information on how to help, just click the link.

Have you donated to the Disney Conservation Fund? Did you receive a pin when you donated? We would love to see it! Head on over to our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE!

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gift shops located around Disney World property. Navigating the many options can be difficult, however we are here to give you some tips on shopping at Disney World!

Shopping At Disney World

There are SO many options for shopping at Disney World. It can be a bit overwhelming!

General Disney Merchandise

All of the theme parks have gift shops full of Disney merchandise just waiting to be bought. Some are specialized by theme while many are more generalized and sell everything from clothing and jewelry to kitchenware’s and picture frames. Most of the parks have these merchandise locations situated at the front of the park so you are tempted to enter right when you get there and then again as you leave. At Magic Kingdom it is the Emporium, Animal Kingdom has Island Mercantile and Disney Outfitters, Hollywood Studios has Mickey’s of Hollywood and Epcot has Mouse Gear. 

Smaller Shops 

In addition to these primary shops, each park has additional smaller gift shops and stands that will sell an assortment of what you will find within the larger stores.

World Of Disney 

World of Disney at Disney Springs has recently been updated with a new modern look and is the largest Disney store in the world. They have everything you could possibly want and the store is broken into sections based on age, gender and product type.

Specialized Items

Disney World also has a knack for specialized gift shops. They have stores dedicated entirely to Christmas décor at both Magic Kingdom and Disney Springs. They have a Pixar store at Hollywood Studios and others that focus on high end jewelry and brand collaborations. At each of the countries of the World Showcase at Epcot you can find items specifically from that country. This includes snacks, clothing and art. In Italy you can find Italian designer bags alongside t-shirts featuring your favorite Disney character with an Italian theme. When you walk into the Mexico Pavilion you feel as if you are in an open air market featuring hand made artisan pieces. So even if a character t-shirt or pair of Mickey Ears is not your style, there is definitely more subtle choices that may catch your eye!

Shopping At Disney World Tips

• Prior to going to Disney World, it is a good idea to include souvenirs in your budget. They will add up quickly and it is easy to just buy it without really considering the bottom line. To help keep you within budget consider getting Disney gift cards prior to your trip, especially if you are going with kids. Each kid gets a $25 gift card to use as they choose throughout the trip. Set a standard that everyone gets to buy one item and stick to it.
• Another tip and big perk of being a Disney World property resort guest is that when you buy something in a park or at Disney Springs they will send it to your hotel room for you. This is fantastic if you end up with a plush of Minnie Mouse and don’t want to lug it around all day. Even more so if you splurge on something that is fragile.
• Another idea is to start a traditional souvenir to get for each of trips when you visit. Maybe a Christmas ornament with the date or a specific style figurine? I love the Alex and Ani Disney bangles and I try to get one to commemorate my trip each time I go. It is a little reminder when I am home of that particular trip!

Some logistical things to keep in mind is that if you don’t see a specific item or size in the store always ask. Not only can they check their back stock but if they don’t have it they can find it across property. There was a spirit jersey I was looking at on my last trip. After looking in store after store and them not having my size, I finally asked. I found out that there were only 3 left on property which probably meant there were not any left. Had I asked on day one I may have started looking for something else.

Take-aways

The most important takeaway is to always ask a cast member if you have a question. They want to help and instead of wasting time searching for an item they can tell you if they have it and if not where to find it. Souvenirs and merchandise shouldn’t be the focus of your trip. Making memories is key but keep these points in mind going into your trip. It will help you keep your budget and gift expenses in line and everyone in the family happy. For a cost efficient souvenir, check out PRESSED PENNIES!

Are you a “shopper” or do you just browse as you are walking from place to place? Head over to our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE, and tell us about your shopping experience. We would love to hear about your favorite store on Disney World property!

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Since our first family trip to Disney World, I have wanted to find the perfect souvenir that my kids could keep and look at as they grew. After much searching, I found our Favorite Souvenirs: Disney World Autograph Books! This also is very helpful for Disneyland visitors.

Disney World Autograph Books

Character autographs are one of the neatest ways to remember your visits with your favorite characters, their signature is there for you to keep, and I like to add the picture of the meet and greet in so that the kids will be able to look back and see the details for themselves! One of the best things about autograph books? They are a FREE souvenir, and will probably be your child’s (or your) very favorite!

Getting Autographs At Disney World And Disneyland

Disney World and Disneyland both offer opportunities for you to meet your favorite characters and get their autographs! Both parks offer character dining where you can snag a signature when your favorite characters come to your table and take a picture too. Character meals are a great way to have interactions with your favorite characters that you won’t forget! Find out more about Disney World Character Dining here!

Meet and Greets are available at all Disney parks but they work a little differently at Disneyland than they do at Disney World. Characters at Disneyland are free roaming much of the time with no set ‘location’ where they do their Meet and Greets. Characters at Disney World Parks typically have a Meet and Greet location that remains the same from day today. Animal Kingdom has more free roaming characters than the other parks, but typically you can plan on where to see your favorite characters to get some autographs!

Personalize Your Autographs!

The best thing about gathering autographs as a souvenir is that you can make it your own! My family prefers a photo book for each kid so that we can customize it to be just them and their favorite characters. I make them myself using blank (unlined) 5 X 8 index cards and covers made from laminated card-stock. I take them to a place like FedEx Kinkos or another office supply store to bind them for me since I don’t have a binding machine. Once they’re bound, they’re ready for autographs!

Some people prefer to get signatures on one set of blank index cards and then scan them so that they can make a giant photo book that includes the pictures of their family and their favorite character autographs. I’ve also seen lots of families who take a blank photo frame like this one and have all of their autographs collected there. That way they can put their favorite family photo from their trip in the middle. Check out this article from Walt Express for more Creative Autographs ideas!

What Else Should I Know?

It is important that you have the right type of pen/marker for the characters to write with. Disney World and Disneyland both sells autograph pens that fit in characters hands really well so that they can sign. We normally buy one for each of our kids when we get to the parks so they can have the characters use them for their books. I also like to take a large retractable Sharpie marker just in case something happens to the pens.

Always remember to have your autograph books ready and open to where you want the signed. You don’t want to waste valuable character interaction time on trying to flip through your autograph book! And be sure to get autographs for kiddos who have fallen asleep. My middle daughter fell asleep right before our Meet and Greet with Rapunzel and Tiana on our last trip, and Tiana made a point to sign her book and include her in our picture even though she wasn’t awake for it. It’s a great memory and we all love to look back at those pictures!

Are you looking for more unique and fun Disney World ideas? We have a Facebook Group dedicated to ALL THINGS DISNEY and it’s DISNEY EXPRESS LANE! Just click that link and join us!

The post Favorite Souvenirs: Disney World & Disneyland Autograph Books appeared first on WaltExpress.com.

Every time we travel to Disney World, there is something our family loves to do: collect Disney World pressed coins. Making and collecting these flattened coins has been something I’ve loved to do since I was a kid and now love to do with my own kids. Pressed coins at Disney World is a fun, creative AND cheap souvenir!

I LOVE Collecting Disney World Pressed Coins

Pressed coin collecting is one of the most fun (and cheaper) souvenirs at Disney World. They are made especially fun by the fact that they do take some preparation that you can do together with your family before the trip. Once you get to Disney World, you can finish off the process by making and collecting your pressed coins!

How Do I Start Collecting Pressed Coins?

One of the first things we do is start collecting our change in a jar. My husband, mother-in-law, and I all contribute, and sometimes our kids do too. They love adding money to the ‘Disney jar’ and it makes things a little bit more special to them since they helped. You’ll probably want to focus on pennies and quarters since most of the machines require 51¢ to work: one penny to be pressed and two quarters to make the machine work. Pennies are the most frequently seen presses at Disney World, but there are also a limited number of dime and quarter presses!

How Do I Carry All Those Collectable Pressed Coins?

One of my favorite things that I learned for pressed coin collecting that has made my life so much easier: Mini M&M tubes are PERFECT for storing your coins! No more bags of coins to figure out how to fit in your bag, and it’s especially handy if you’re flying since you can just pull out the coin tubes if asked!

There are two sizes of Mini M&M Tubes. The smaller length ones are perfect for storing your pennies and dimes. The longer tubes are perfect for storing your quarters! You can fit about 72 quarters in a long tube, which is enough money to make 36 pressed pennies. 36 pennies and some dimes fit in the smaller tube with room to spare! I haven’t done the math per machine, but you won’t be able to make 36 pennies if you do a dime or quarter machine during your trip, but that’s not a big deal since having some of each just makes your collection more unique! In total you can have 36 little souvenirs for $18.36; talk about a bargain!!

How Do I Store Pressed Coins Once I’ve Made Them?

One of the biggest problems we’ve had with our pressed coins is storage. There are several options, but what’s worked best for us is an inexpensive coin collecting booklet. These are sometimes called “Penny Passports”, and Disney World sells a version as well. Basically, they are flat books that have slots to store your coins once they’re pressed. There are slots that will fit pennies and dimes and some slots that are big enough for other coins, such as quarters. They are a much better alternative to throwing your pennies into your pocket or your park bag since there’s a chance you won’t see those ever again (please don’t ask me how I know).

Why Pressed Coins?

I would have to say, why not? There is something really cool about using the ‘hand-crank’ models of pressed coin machines, and my kids love getting to have a hand in making them for themselves. There’s nothing wrong with the newer models because those are fun to watch as they work, but the hand-crank is just too cool! Of all of our souvenirs, these are normally a favorite next to autograph books! Pressed coins aren’t just a Disney Parks thing so you can collect them from other parks and museums all over the United States and add to your Disney coins.

Disney World Resorts and Disney Springs will also have pressed coin machines in various places, so even if you’re not spending a ton of time in the parks, you can still collect a few coins along the way. The best part of the pressed coins is that they are different at each machine and they change up to several times a year, so you are guaranteed to get something different every visit! There are lots of places that you can find pressed coin machines on property and some of them update as soon as new machines are added! I would say that even if you don’t want to be a full-time pressed coin collector it’s definitely still worth grabbing a few in the parks while you visit!

Are you looking for CHEAP EATS at Disney World? Click that link and find out one of our faves!

Do you love collecting pressed coins at Disney World? Head on over to our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE and show us your favorites! We would love to see them!

The post Favorite Souvenir: Disney World Pressed Coins appeared first on WaltExpress.com.

POPCORN at DISNEY PARKS

The famous Disney World POPCORN is a must for any family visiting the parks. The smell will hit your senses as soon as you arrive in any Disney World Park. Now, it’s even more economical and budget friendly. Simply go to any popcorn stand in the parks, order a souvenir bucket of popcorn. The price is $10.00. Now, here is the fun and “cheap” part! This bucket doubles as a great souvenir AND is refillable in ANY Disney Park for only $2.00. YES, $2.00 makes this one of the cheapest snacks available. There is no limit to how many times you can have it refilled. Believe me, we LOVE Disney popcorn and have FULLY tested this! You may have it refilled throughout your entire stay. Simply meaning, if you are visiting the parks for 10 days, you can have the popcorn bucket refilled as many times as you wish for $2.00  each time during those 10 days!

And yes, you can take your popcorn bucket to other parks and have it refilled there, no matter which park you originally purchased it in!

• Now available: Be sure to look for seasonal popcorn flavors such as maple, cheese, buffalo and many more!

Walt Express Tip

Notice the purple and white emblem in the below picture? That lets you know that it’s a SNACK CREDIT on the Disney Dining Plan! The popcorn refillable buckets are NOT on the Disney Dining Plan, but you can grab an individual serving as a snack credit!

The Buckets

Each park has it’s own “premium” popcorn bucket. These are more of a collector type bucket and are more pricey. However, they are refillable for $2.00, just like the regular buckets.

We have purchased several of these buckets over the years, so it’s always been a great value to us because we re-use the buckets. My kids use them for popcorn at home, to store toys in, beach toys and more! The uses are endless, making this popcorn bucket an exceptional value.

Now that they are refillable, it totally makes it an even better value.

***Bonus Tip: If you are bringing snacks home from your trip or have items that may break, these buckets make a fabulous storage container for your suitcase! Protecting all of your precious Disney items, a definite win-win!!

If Popcorn Is Your Thing…

Of course there are other delicious popcorn flavor options available in the stores around the resorts and parks that are already pre-packaged. This is where is gets fun! Check out those flavors below! Grab a few bags to take home and enjoy later.

For more Snacking Fun, check out: TOP 20 SNACKS IN DISNEY WORLD!

Please join us in our Facebook group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE, for more great Disney tips!

The post Cheap Eats And Souvenirs At Disney World Parks: POPCORN appeared first on WaltExpress.com.