Disneyland is full of many different types of souvenirs. It’s very easy to get swept up in the moment and purchase something simply because we’re in the parks and it seems like a good idea at the moment.
We opened the floor to our readers and asked them which Disneyland souvenirs they think are overrated and which ones they’d rather purchase instead. While everyone’s opinion varies based on their likes and interests, there were some well made points during the discussion.
In this article, I’ve taken the most common answers that our readers gave us and compiled a list. Follow along to see which souvenirs are considered overrated and what items you may want to consider purchasing instead on your next Disneyland vacation.
More often than not, the souvenirs that our readers deemed overrated were ones that had no lasting use to them. While they may be cute and fun to have at the park, these items don’t seem to be very useful once your Disneyland vacation comes to an end. The most common items that our readers stated are overrated are Popcorn Buckets, Balloons, and Ear Headbands.
Specialty popcorn buckets are very popular and common at Disneyland. These buckets come in many different designs and are made for specific lands, movies, characters, rides, holidays, and events. While our readers find them overrated, there is a large demand for these unique buckets as well as a following of collectors.
Since these buckets are very popular, why are they considered overrated? Many of our readers expressed that the size and lack of use once at home is why they pass on the Disneyland popcorn buckets. In our Facebook discussion, Brittany W.C. said this about the buckets. “Popcorn buckets are cute but overrated and take up space to not really be used.”
The popcorn buckets do tend to be very large and chunky. Not only that, their odd shape makes them hard to store. I personally have a lot of these buckets in my own home since my husband is a collector. However, since he purchases them specifically for collecting purposes, he displays them on shelves and does not use them. I can fully understand how these buckets would be a pain to store in a regular cupboard space.
Disneyland does offer “regular” popcorn buckets as an alternative to the more unique ones. Rachean M. shared, “I like the ‘regular' buckets & not the character shape buckets because the ‘regular' ones are easy to clean”. With their standard tub-like shape, these buckets are much more ideal and have a multitude of things that could be used for once at home.
While our readers did not mention this point, I feel like popcorn buckets may be overrated for the standard Disneyland parkgoer since refills are not available. The price of these buckets hovers around $20-$30. At Disney World, you are able to get your bucket refilled for less than $3. However, since this is not the case at Disneyland, it makes it a little harder to pay the price for these specialty buckets.
READ MORE – How Disneyland Creates New Foods To Go Viral on Social Media
When asked which souvenirs are overrated, Shane H. said, “Balloons are overrated no doubt”.
Many Guests, children and adults alike, enjoy seeing the colorful bunches of balloons bobbing in the air throughout the park. However, they are often considered an overrated purchase. Generally, children are the ones who desire this souvenir. As a mother who has purchased many Disney balloons over the years for my children, I can relate to both sides. While they are a simple way to spread joy, there are multiple cons to purchasing balloons at Disneyland. The downfall comes from the combination of their price, size, and longevity.
These balloons cost a whopping $20 each. In general, the balloons are pretty sturdy, with most designs including a protective orb around them. There’s also the perk that if your balloon happens to deflate or deform in any way throughout the day, you can exchange it for a brand new one. That being said, $20 is still a LOT for a balloon.
There’s then the issue of what to do with the balloon when it’s time to go home. As I mentioned, these balloons are very large. If you’re driving home, there’s less of an issue. However, many Guests fly to and from Disneyland. While I have seen a few Guests attempt to take their balloon back home on a flight, it’s not very common.
There is the option to have a Cast Member fully deflate your balloon for you. You can then take it home and inflate it in a convenient space. However, that fully relies on if and when you actually do that. We’ve brought home a deflated balloon before and it’s still sitting folded up in a closet. Not only do we not have the means to inflate it properly, it hasn't been a top priority.
If you don’t take your balloon home with you, you’re left with the option to abandon it at your hotel or regift it to someone else in the park. Regifting it is a wonderful way to continue spreading magic and cheer. However, no matter which option you choose, you’re still left with the fact that you spent $20 on a balloon for a very limited amount of use.
Ear headbands are another souvenir item that is extremely popular at Disneyland, but is considered overrated to our readers. Emily O. said, “Overrated the Mickey ears!”. Daniel H. agreed, saying, “Overrated: Mickey ears. Fun at the park, but not worn very often after visiting. Hard to pack and store”.
Like the popcorn buckets, ear headbands are available in many different colors and designs. Worn by women, men, and children, these ears are desired by many and often a must for Park Day outfits. However, even though they are extremely popular, they are thought to be overrated.
As our reader Daniel H. mentioned, the ears are fun in the parks, but they have no real purpose at home. While this is true, one of the great things about Disneyland is that you can express yourself in fun ways without the fear of being judged by others. No, the ear headbands may not be worn out and about when not at Disney, but Guests still enjoy purchasing and collecting them for when they are at the parks.
In regard to packing and storing these headbands, there are solutions available! When packing for your trip, you can safely and easily store your ears in a Mouse Ears Travel Case. For home storage, there are shelves, hooks, and organizers that are available for ear headbands. These are all great ways to keep your ears safe and out of the way.
The souvenirs that are best in our readers’ opinions are ones that are useful after your vacation comes to an end and ones that hold sentimental value. These souvenirs are ones that will last, can be used at home, and aren’t overpriced novelties.
At Disneyland, there is a wide variety of clothing options available. From socks, to shirts, pants, shoes, hats, dresses, and more, Disneyland has it all. Not only are there many styles and options available, you can find something for everyone! Clothing is available for babies, children, adults, and even pets!
Clothing was a very popular suggestion from our readers. Since clothing is practical, it comes as no surprise that it is considered a souvenir that’s worth the purchase. We specifically saw many comments calling out sweatshirts and Spirit Jerseys. Janet D. easily picked which souvenir is worth it to her, saying, “Their sweatshirts. I always buy one because they are thick and wear well”.
On my Disney trips throughout the years, I too have purchased many sweatshirts and Spirit Jerseys and can confirm that they are a good purchase to make. I have never experienced an issue with the quality, fit, or appearance.
More souvenirs that can be utilized after your Disneyland trip are mugs and tumblers. At Disneyland, you’ll be able to find mugs and tumblers at a variety of gift shops as well as Starbucks! The mugs and tumblers at Disneyland are designed around favorite movies, characters, lands, attractions, events, and holidays. At Starbucks, you’ll also be able to purchase the “Been There” series mugs and tumblers that are Disneyland specific.
Our readers love to purchase mugs and tumblers at Disneyland, because they are souvenirs that can be used day after day. They’re also a simple way to add a little bit of magic to your daily routine.
One souvenir that’s highly recommended by our readers is a hand cut silhouette. At Silhouette Studio, located on Main Street, U.S.A., you’ll be able to have a silhouette portrait created. These portraits can be silhouettes of one or multiple Guests. Bethany O. chose these silhouettes as her favorite souvenir, saying, “Hand cut silhouettes of my girls from Main St. are my favorite”.
To have a silhouette made, you will go into the studio, have a seat, and look forward as the artist goes to work. The most impressive part is that the artists complete these portraits in about 60 to 90 seconds!
Many of our readers specifically mentioned that they enjoy having these silhouettes made to commemorate first trips. Each time a family member visits for the first time, they have their portrait made, leaving them with a collection of very special memories. These souvenirs are so popular, that Disneyland is now testing a second location where Guests can have their silhouette portraits made!
Pressed pennies are one of the most affordable souvenirs that you can get at Disneyland. While these could easily be viewed as items that have no use to you at home, they are fun to create and collect.
In our discussion, Shane H. had a good reasoning for why these pennies are good souvenirs, saying, “The pressed Pennies are a great souvenir and collecting them is part of the adventure”. There are many penny pressing machines throughout Disneyland. The designs for the pennies are often based on the lands, attractions, and special events. Across Disneyland Resort, there are over 150 designs that you can collect! As our reader Shane mentioned, one of the best parts about the pressed pennies is the adventure that comes along with trying to secure different pennies for your collection.
Stephanie Q. added, “Pressed coins. Cheap and small and there’s a bunch.” Pressed penny books are available for purchase at Disneyland Resort. However, if you’d like to save some money, you could purchase a Penny Collector Book ahead of time to take with you!
If you plan to secure pressed pennies during your trip, please note that the machines no longer take coins as payment. You can, however, pay with cash, credit, or debit. Select machines accept Apple Pay as well.
Christmas is a very special time. When you combine it with Disney, it’s even more magical! One souvenir that can be used year after year is a Christmas ornament. On Main Street, U.S.A., there is a shop called Plaza Point that’s dedicated entirely to Christmas ornaments and decor.
At Plaza Point, you’ll be able to browse a large variety of Disney ornaments. Find the perfect ornament that captures a special occasion, your favorite movie, a can’t miss attraction, and so much more. The shop also has ornaments that are Disneyland specific, dated, and customizable.
If you’re not going to be at Disneyland at Christmas time, that’s ok! Plaza Point is open year round. Make it a fun tradition to purchase a new ornament every time you go on a vacation to Disneyland!
Disneyland has changed and evolved quite a lot since its opening in 1955. With the park's history comes an interesting past, including some things that we look back on today and find really weird…from real alligators in the Jungle Cruise to live mermaids in the lagoon of Submarine Voyage. See the 11 weird things we can't believe were once at Disneyland!
Disneyland is filled with a variety of excellent table-service and quick-service restaurants that have won over the hearts of fans. One particular restaurant stands out—its food may not look quite normal, but it's one of our favorite options with some really fun themed menu items. See the Disneyland restaurant with some of the wackiest foods at the resort that we love!
Planning a Disneyland Vacation?
Get exclusive access to prices on hotel & tickets just for Mickey Visit subscribers. Don't miss our travel hacks newsletter!
Overrated Souvenirs
More often than not, the souvenirs that our readers deemed overrated were ones that had no lasting use to them. While they may be cute and fun to have at the park, these items don’t seem to be very useful once your Disneyland vacation comes to an end. The most common items that our readers stated are overrated are Popcorn Buckets, Balloons, and Ear Headbands.
Popcorn Buckets
Specialty popcorn buckets are very popular and common at Disneyland. These buckets come in many different designs and are made for specific lands, movies, characters, rides, holidays, and events. While our readers find them overrated, there is a large demand for these unique buckets as well as a following of collectors.
Since these buckets are very popular, why are they considered overrated? Many of our readers expressed that the size and lack of use once at home is why they pass on the Disneyland popcorn buckets. In our Facebook discussion, Brittany W.C. said this about the buckets. “Popcorn buckets are cute but overrated and take up space to not really be used.”
The popcorn buckets do tend to be very large and chunky. Not only that, their odd shape makes them hard to store. I personally have a lot of these buckets in my own home since my husband is a collector. However, since he purchases them specifically for collecting purposes, he displays them on shelves and does not use them. I can fully understand how these buckets would be a pain to store in a regular cupboard space.
Disneyland does offer “regular” popcorn buckets as an alternative to the more unique ones. Rachean M. shared, “I like the ‘regular' buckets & not the character shape buckets because the ‘regular' ones are easy to clean”. With their standard tub-like shape, these buckets are much more ideal and have a multitude of things that could be used for once at home.
While our readers did not mention this point, I feel like popcorn buckets may be overrated for the standard Disneyland parkgoer since refills are not available. The price of these buckets hovers around $20-$30. At Disney World, you are able to get your bucket refilled for less than $3. However, since this is not the case at Disneyland, it makes it a little harder to pay the price for these specialty buckets.
Disney Balloons
READ MORE – How Disneyland Creates New Foods To Go Viral on Social Media
When asked which souvenirs are overrated, Shane H. said, “Balloons are overrated no doubt”.
Many Guests, children and adults alike, enjoy seeing the colorful bunches of balloons bobbing in the air throughout the park. However, they are often considered an overrated purchase. Generally, children are the ones who desire this souvenir. As a mother who has purchased many Disney balloons over the years for my children, I can relate to both sides. While they are a simple way to spread joy, there are multiple cons to purchasing balloons at Disneyland. The downfall comes from the combination of their price, size, and longevity.
Cons of Purchasing Disneyland Balloons
These balloons cost a whopping $20 each. In general, the balloons are pretty sturdy, with most designs including a protective orb around them. There’s also the perk that if your balloon happens to deflate or deform in any way throughout the day, you can exchange it for a brand new one. That being said, $20 is still a LOT for a balloon.
There’s then the issue of what to do with the balloon when it’s time to go home. As I mentioned, these balloons are very large. If you’re driving home, there’s less of an issue. However, many Guests fly to and from Disneyland. While I have seen a few Guests attempt to take their balloon back home on a flight, it’s not very common.
There is the option to have a Cast Member fully deflate your balloon for you. You can then take it home and inflate it in a convenient space. However, that fully relies on if and when you actually do that. We’ve brought home a deflated balloon before and it’s still sitting folded up in a closet. Not only do we not have the means to inflate it properly, it hasn't been a top priority.
If you don’t take your balloon home with you, you’re left with the option to abandon it at your hotel or regift it to someone else in the park. Regifting it is a wonderful way to continue spreading magic and cheer. However, no matter which option you choose, you’re still left with the fact that you spent $20 on a balloon for a very limited amount of use.
Ear Headbands
Ear headbands are another souvenir item that is extremely popular at Disneyland, but is considered overrated to our readers. Emily O. said, “Overrated the Mickey ears!”. Daniel H. agreed, saying, “Overrated: Mickey ears. Fun at the park, but not worn very often after visiting. Hard to pack and store”.
Like the popcorn buckets, ear headbands are available in many different colors and designs. Worn by women, men, and children, these ears are desired by many and often a must for Park Day outfits. However, even though they are extremely popular, they are thought to be overrated.
As our reader Daniel H. mentioned, the ears are fun in the parks, but they have no real purpose at home. While this is true, one of the great things about Disneyland is that you can express yourself in fun ways without the fear of being judged by others. No, the ear headbands may not be worn out and about when not at Disney, but Guests still enjoy purchasing and collecting them for when they are at the parks.
In regard to packing and storing these headbands, there are solutions available! When packing for your trip, you can safely and easily store your ears in a Mouse Ears Travel Case. For home storage, there are shelves, hooks, and organizers that are available for ear headbands. These are all great ways to keep your ears safe and out of the way.
Which Souvenirs You Should Get Instead
The souvenirs that are best in our readers’ opinions are ones that are useful after your vacation comes to an end and ones that hold sentimental value. These souvenirs are ones that will last, can be used at home, and aren’t overpriced novelties.
Clothing
At Disneyland, there is a wide variety of clothing options available. From socks, to shirts, pants, shoes, hats, dresses, and more, Disneyland has it all. Not only are there many styles and options available, you can find something for everyone! Clothing is available for babies, children, adults, and even pets!
Clothing was a very popular suggestion from our readers. Since clothing is practical, it comes as no surprise that it is considered a souvenir that’s worth the purchase. We specifically saw many comments calling out sweatshirts and Spirit Jerseys. Janet D. easily picked which souvenir is worth it to her, saying, “Their sweatshirts. I always buy one because they are thick and wear well”.
On my Disney trips throughout the years, I too have purchased many sweatshirts and Spirit Jerseys and can confirm that they are a good purchase to make. I have never experienced an issue with the quality, fit, or appearance.
Mugs & Tumblers
More souvenirs that can be utilized after your Disneyland trip are mugs and tumblers. At Disneyland, you’ll be able to find mugs and tumblers at a variety of gift shops as well as Starbucks! The mugs and tumblers at Disneyland are designed around favorite movies, characters, lands, attractions, events, and holidays. At Starbucks, you’ll also be able to purchase the “Been There” series mugs and tumblers that are Disneyland specific.
Our readers love to purchase mugs and tumblers at Disneyland, because they are souvenirs that can be used day after day. They’re also a simple way to add a little bit of magic to your daily routine.
Hand-Cut Silhouettes
One souvenir that’s highly recommended by our readers is a hand cut silhouette. At Silhouette Studio, located on Main Street, U.S.A., you’ll be able to have a silhouette portrait created. These portraits can be silhouettes of one or multiple Guests. Bethany O. chose these silhouettes as her favorite souvenir, saying, “Hand cut silhouettes of my girls from Main St. are my favorite”.
To have a silhouette made, you will go into the studio, have a seat, and look forward as the artist goes to work. The most impressive part is that the artists complete these portraits in about 60 to 90 seconds!
Many of our readers specifically mentioned that they enjoy having these silhouettes made to commemorate first trips. Each time a family member visits for the first time, they have their portrait made, leaving them with a collection of very special memories. These souvenirs are so popular, that Disneyland is now testing a second location where Guests can have their silhouette portraits made!
Pressed Pennies
Pressed pennies are one of the most affordable souvenirs that you can get at Disneyland. While these could easily be viewed as items that have no use to you at home, they are fun to create and collect.
In our discussion, Shane H. had a good reasoning for why these pennies are good souvenirs, saying, “The pressed Pennies are a great souvenir and collecting them is part of the adventure”. There are many penny pressing machines throughout Disneyland. The designs for the pennies are often based on the lands, attractions, and special events. Across Disneyland Resort, there are over 150 designs that you can collect! As our reader Shane mentioned, one of the best parts about the pressed pennies is the adventure that comes along with trying to secure different pennies for your collection.
Stephanie Q. added, “Pressed coins. Cheap and small and there’s a bunch.” Pressed penny books are available for purchase at Disneyland Resort. However, if you’d like to save some money, you could purchase a Penny Collector Book ahead of time to take with you!
If you plan to secure pressed pennies during your trip, please note that the machines no longer take coins as payment. You can, however, pay with cash, credit, or debit. Select machines accept Apple Pay as well.
Ornaments
Christmas is a very special time. When you combine it with Disney, it’s even more magical! One souvenir that can be used year after year is a Christmas ornament. On Main Street, U.S.A., there is a shop called Plaza Point that’s dedicated entirely to Christmas ornaments and decor.
At Plaza Point, you’ll be able to browse a large variety of Disney ornaments. Find the perfect ornament that captures a special occasion, your favorite movie, a can’t miss attraction, and so much more. The shop also has ornaments that are Disneyland specific, dated, and customizable.
If you’re not going to be at Disneyland at Christmas time, that’s ok! Plaza Point is open year round. Make it a fun tradition to purchase a new ornament every time you go on a vacation to Disneyland!
READ MORE – 11 Weird Things We Can’t Believe Were Once at Disneyland
Disneyland has changed and evolved quite a lot since its opening in 1955. With the park's history comes an interesting past, including some things that we look back on today and find really weird…from real alligators in the Jungle Cruise to live mermaids in the lagoon of Submarine Voyage. See the 11 weird things we can't believe were once at Disneyland!
READ MORE – This Disneyland Restaurant’s Food Doesn’t Look Quite Normal But We Consider It One of Our Favorites
Disneyland is filled with a variety of excellent table-service and quick-service restaurants that have won over the hearts of fans. One particular restaurant stands out—its food may not look quite normal, but it's one of our favorite options with some really fun themed menu items. See the Disneyland restaurant with some of the wackiest foods at the resort that we love!
Planning a Disney Vacation? Get Exclusive Discounts + Free Bonuses
In addition to exclusive discounts for Mickey Visit subscribers, get our free planning printable and guide to make your life SO much easier.
