Disney World souvenirs are both expensive, fantastic, and unavoidable, not necessarily in that order. If a sweat shirt is $10 at Target, when you slap a Mickey logo on the front, it’s now 50 Disney dollars. I walk into most any Disney gift shop, and suddenly I realize I need Mickey Mouse t-shirts, baseball hats, sweater vests, scarves, and flip-flops. I never knew I really needed these items until that moment. I suddenly need a coffee mug, and I do not drink coffee. My 6th grade son bought a Disney coffee mug last summer, and he has certainly never even sipped coffee. Suddenly I need Mickey-as-nerd reading glasses, and my eyes are fine. It’s the credit card in my wallet that needs some attention.
My all time favorite Disney souvenir for your Disney Princess or Pirate? The Disney key chain, and here’s three reasons why.
1. The Cuteness Factor
Disney key chains are good quality items and just as cute as can be. They come in all characters, all shapes, all sizes, but the price remains between about $8 to $10. They look good accessorizing your car keys. They look good hanging from your child’s back pack. They look good hanging on a nail in your kitchen, as a reminder of good times had or good times to come. They look good on your desk at work, or hanging from your purse. They look good anywhere, and they will take a beating and hang in there. Wait, this was supposed to be about gifts for Princesses, not you…
2. The Low(ish) Price
At $8 to $10 each, key chains are some of the more affordable, ever-adorable souvenirs found in any Disney gift shop. Compared with those sweat shirts starting at $49.95, a key chain looks like a real bargain. My beloved chocolate-covered caramel Mickey apples are at least $9, and they won’t be making the trip home.
3. The Ease of Availability
I have spent some lovely time in a lot of Disney gift shops. Window shopping is practically a sport in my house. Fantastically themed, air-conditioned, clean, the air full of Disney music and the isles full of happy customers, what better place to kill some time in-between rides. I can’t think of one gift shop where there hasn’t been a full rack of key chains just sitting by the door, luring me back to the counter, coaxing that Visa out of my wallet.
Headed back home from vacation? There’s a key chain display in the gift shop before you check out. Headed back to your resort? There are gift shops at every entrance/exit to the parks, just in case you need a last-minute gift. Hey, they make great gifts and last practically forever.
I felt compelled to include this little item, the Mickey Mouse hot plate.
Usually shelved with the Disney kitchen items, this hot plate is shiny metal and priced right at $10.95. Mine never made it into the kitchen, however, and it decorates a shelf in my living room. Does that really look like a hot plate? Not standing up, it doesn’t. Now…it’s a cool decoration. It serves as a constant, shiny reminder of vacations to come.
Now how many key chains does one Disney Princess need, especially since most families just have one or two cars, and maybe your Princess or Pirate doesn’t even drive yet? I have the solution. I’ve hung mine on a small Christmas tree that stays in my dining room all year, key chains a twinkling. Soft Christmas lights, Mickey shapes that remind my whole family of past and future vacations…it’s a win-win souvenir.
Those three DVC and Cruise line key chains pictured up top? I purchased those from eBay, at about $4.50 each including shipping, for a Disney cruise I will take six months from now. Why so early? I’m assuming that’s less than half the retail cost at Castaway Cay, and they stand as a promise of…you know it, vacation and good times to come.
So the next time you’re wandering the gift shop wonderland, take a closer peak at the key chains. Easy on the eyes, and a little easier on the wallet that many other Disney souvenirs. Your little Princess will thank you.
See ya soon!
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I got my Disney Cruise Line Keychain as a reward for being a member of the Castaway Club when I went on my second cruise last year. I also got a beach bag with it.
So if you have ever cruise with DCL before you will get some extras for going on more than one cruise 8(:-D
One may be all I can afford, but a Mouze can dream!! Thanks so much for stopping by! Amanda
I have the Mickey hot plate… I use it all the time. I also have the Chef Mickey canisters. They were not expensive (a set of 4) and the lids close tightly. Useful and cute.
I don’t cook, so it’s no wonder it never made it into the kitchen. I think they need more metal decorations this size. I’d buy them! Thanks for stopping by!! Amanda
I am going to buy one of the key chains on my cruise for sure!!!!!
Yours is coming up, right? Jealous!!! Mine is in December, which might as well be 2015. Thanks for stopping by!!! Hope that camera works out on the cruise. I’ve decided to wear mine 24/7 because it will probably be the only Disney cruise I can ever afford. We did Carnival last year and hated it…that’s for another blog!!
Amanda