Walt Disney Parks and Resorts are filled with gift shops. Exit Through the Gift Shop is not an expression it is a design feature. But for a seasoned Disney guest, a vacation to Walt Disney World is a gold mine of souvenirs that most would not think of. But these items, to a die hard fan, are vital for there collection. I follow a simple rule, “If They Didn’t Want You To Take It, They Wouldn’t Put Their Name On It”. It is covert advertising. Year after year I have narrowed the list to 5 Free Souvenirs That Disney Fans Take Home That Are Not Really Souvenirs.

1.Park Maps

The Park Maps are overlooked by most guest and usually found stuffed into the back pants pocket when unpacking at home. This is a Souvenir that should not be ignored. The maps come in multiple languages and are plentiful, so no need to feel bad about taking as many as you want.

Guide Maps are updated and printed on a regular basis to be relevant to the current ride, renovation and Holiday or Festivals. I try to keep a few from each park and Disney Springs in pristine condition for the trip home. Years from now you will look back with fond memories of how the park might have changed. Imagine having a Park Guide Map from Day 1 of your favorite park.

2.Celebration Buttons

Celebration Pins are a 3 inch pin, that is given out throughout the resorts and parks, guest relations, MK Town Hall and Resort Front Desks. Currently there are four pins from 6, after combining 3 events (Wedding, Anniversary, and Happily Ever After) down to 1 Happily Ever After Pin.

For a fee pin they are well made and hold up to a ton of abuse. They also help Cast Members recognize and help you in your celebration. Wearing a Birthday pin will get you a Happy Birthday by Cast Members.

Disney makes pins for just about everything and anything, that is coming or happening at the parks. These overlooked collectibles can be a new resort, or a ride, a park event. Never, ever overlook a free pin, they are great freebies.

I pulled out of a few of the free pins I have collected over the years, some astound me as far as what they are for and when I got them. I never would have thought about the Boardwalk Resort opening announcement pin back in the 90’s when I was handed it. Years from now I will look at the 2017 Mickey’s Birthday Pin like it is a treasured collectible, which in the future this free pin might be something, like Belloq said to Indiana Jones, “Look at this. It’s worthless – ten dollars from a vendor in the street. But I take it, I bury it in the sand for a thousand years, it becomes priceless. Like the Ark.”

3.Soap

Over the years Disney Soaps have changed from the Mickey Black Red Yellow Box to the Current H2O Collection. I am a huge fan of the Mickey Soap, I have been known to search eBay for them. The soaps has become so popular that a recent decision of Disney, to install liquid soap dispensers in rooms was met with an uproar on the internet. But non Dispenser soaps can be found still and I have them as back up in my closet. There is nothing more refreshing than using the Disney soap and inhaling the fragrance of Disney.

These are not your everyday hotel soaps, the new H2O line is actually a hi quality bed and bath product line.  Past years soaps have also been in hi demand not just for the nostalgic feeling, but are also a nice quality product…Unfortunately the days of raiding the Mousekeeping cart gets harder and harder, and in some resorts they have been reduced to soap dispensers in the room. But in the hi end resorts I can not see guest being pleased with that option, so I see a day of the haves and have notch of having the soap.

 

4.Resort Maps, Newsletters and Welcome Packet

The free souvenirs doesn’t end at the parks, your resort and room are full of them. From the Welcome Packet at he front desk, you will receive a Map of the resort and a guide to the resort activities for the upcoming week. Unfortunately my favorite park of the Welcome Packet has disappeared, the Dining Booklet. Prior to the internet, Disney used to include a small book listing all the restaurant on Walt Disney Property. Back in the room, you from time to time will find a very nice printed Disney Spring Magazine, if they want me to shop there I am keeping the magazine. After ruffling through my Disney box, I found a few new items that will need to be framed and displayed, i.e. Disney Worlds 25th Cake Castle Update Flyer.

5.Bags, Bags, and Bags

So you buy a piece of candy, you get a cute Walt Disney World bag, you but a hat you get a Walt Disney World bag, you buy a Sweatshirt, you guessed it you get a Walt Disney World bag. Most guest when they get back to he room throw the bag away. A seasoned Disney Guest, is trying to find room in their suitcase to fit the 20 or 30 bags they have been saving since they arrived. The bags are plain plastic bag, emblazoned with Cinderella’s Castle. To some it is just a plastic bag, to a Disney fan, it is a reminder of a place full of fun and joy. They also a really we made and can be reused for year. It is not crazy collecting it is environmental “REDUCE, REUSE, RECYLCLE.”

Don’t worry if you haven’t done this before, start your next trip and ten or twenty years from now sit down with your spouse and kids, open the box and relive the good  times.