Don’t Buy These Disney Souvenirs in the Theme Parks – We’ve Found Them for Less Right Here (2024)

Save yourself some cash and purchase these popular Disney Parks souvenirs before you head to Disney World (or after!)

As Disney experts who are always at Disney World and Disneyland, we definitely spend our fair share of cash on souvenirs. After all, you can never have too many ears… or tees, or hats, or even FuelRods! But we’ve learned over our many, many visits to Disney theme parks that often, the items you see at full price on your vacation are actually available at a lower price elsewhere.

Instead of spending hundreds of dollars in Disney Parks on seemingly “exclusive” souvenirs, we recommend shopping outside – online, specifically. We’ve rounded up some of the most popular Disney items and are sharing our favorite places to purchase them at a discount so you can get your favorite souvenirs for a fraction of the price.

Here’s where you can find the following Disney souvenirs for less.

Mickey Ear Hats and Minnie Ear Headbands

Photo by Judd Helms

Is there any souvenir more iconic than Mickey ear hats or Minnie ear headbands? These Disney essentials are among the most popular items purchased in the theme parks. And with new versions released regularly, it’s hard to visit without picking up the latest designs.

In the theme parks, a Minnie ear headband will run you $30 and up, depending on the design. Mickey ear hats can also run about the same (though infant and kid sizes tend to be cheaper.)

However, DisneyStore.com actually offers the very same ear hats and ear headbands you’d find in the theme parks online. And sometimes, you can catch the designs you love for less!

Portable Chargers and Backup Batteries

Okay, technically a portable charger isn’t a souvenir –but it often becomes one when your phone is rapidly losing power and you’re queuing up Lightning Lanes for the rest of your day. Most guests rely on FuelRods, which can be purchased right in Disney Parks.

FuelRods are the ultimate in convenient device recharging while you’re at Disney World or Disneyland theme parks. With kiosks scattered across the parks, you can easily buy one, swap it when you’ve recharged, and continue to swap as needed each and every time you visit.

But you are paying a higher price for that convenience. FuelRods can be purchased in the parks or online at Amazon –one FuelRod charger with two cables will run you $23, while two FuelRods and two chargers plus cables will cost $35.

That’s not a lot, but it is more than a typical portable charger or backup battery that you can’t exchange for a fully charged one.

Just take a look at the capacity you’re getting for the price. FuelRods have a 2600 mAh capacity, which is enough to offer one “substantial” charge for the typical smartphone.

However, an Anker Portable Power Bank will cost you $32 – and offers a whopping 20,000 mAh capacity, plus two charging ports. It’s also slim and lightweight, and you’ll have enough power to charge multiple devices multiple times.

For a few bucks less, you can pack an equally compact backup battery that delivers more power for your money. Don’t want to spend more than $30? You also opt for the Anker Nano Portable Charger, which is even tinier and priced at $26, or choose the extra-slim Anker 10,000 mAh Portable Power Bank for $22.

Any of these options will deliver more bang for your buck (and more charges) than the in-park alternative.

Bubble Wands

Photo by Laurie Sapp

Visit any Disney theme park, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by a storm of bubbles at some point during the day. That’s thanks to Disney’s notorious bubble wands, which allow kids to fill the air with a never-ending stream of bubbles (well, until the batteries or bubbles run out!)

Those bubble wands are beloved by kids of all ages and hotly debated by adult parkgoers, but one thing is certain: They’re expensive. You’ll spend $30 or more on a character-themed bubble wand at Disney World or Disneyland.

While that $30 delivers a solid amount of bubbles and fun in the theme parks, it’s quite a bit to spend on a kids’ souvenir that may not be used very frequently once you’re home. However, we’ve found you can save a few bucks if you buy your bubble wands before you get to Disney World or Disneyland.

Head to the Disney Store online, and you can shop the exact same bubble wands sold in the theme parks. Some may carry the same price as in the parks, but often, you can catch deals, discounts, and sales. For example, I picked up this Sorcerer Mickey Mouse Light-Up Bubble Wand for my son at Disneyland for $32 – but it’s sold online for $27.

That’s not huge savings, but it does add up! Other wands you can buy online and find in parks include:

Buzz Lightyear Light-Up Bubble Wand ($27)
Ariel Light and Sound Bubble Wand ($27)
Spider-Man Light-Up Talking Bubble Wand ($27)

Seasonal bubble wands in particular tend to see steep discounts; 2023’s holiday Mickey Mouse bubble wand was marked down to just $10 in December.

You can also check Amazon for these exact same Disney Parks bubble wands, which vary a bit in price. While most still run between $26 and $30 in price, Amazon products will often see discounts –which means you can sometimes find a steal of a price here.

Loungefly Backpacks, Bags, and More

If there’s one must-have piece of merch for every Disney fan when headed to Disney World or Disneyland, it’s a Loungefly mini backpack! Adored by Disney Parks guests for their mini backpacks as well as their other can’t-miss souvenirs like ear headbands, wallets, crossbody bags, and more, Loungefly accessories offer a totally unique way to blend your style and your favorite Disney fandoms.

But Loungefly’s popular accessories don’t come cheap –on average, a full-price mini backpack will cost you $90 (and that’s before tax.)

Instead of browsing the selection of Loungefly mini backpacks and other items like ear headbands at full price in Disney theme parks, shop online before your trip! You’ll find a wider selection of options and be able to save anywhere from a few bucks to as much as 50 percent –or more –off the original price.

Just a take look at some of the cheaper, deeply discounted Loungefly items you can shop right now below:

Disneyland Icons Loungefly Mini Backpack, $60 at DisneyStore.com
Robin Hood Vintage Lunchbox Crossbody Bag, $30 at Loungefly.com
Western Mickey Mouse Cosplay Mini Backpack, $56 at Loungefly.com
Loungefly Star Wars The Mandalorian Grogu Crab Mini Backpack, $64 at BoxLunch.com

Take the time to shop these cool Disney souvenirs online, and you’ll find something for your favorite characters at a much lower price!

Disney Mugs

For some Disney Parks fans, checking out the newest mugs is the highlight of shopping for merch and souvenirs. However, we’ve got a money-saving tip for you: Many of the mugs you’ll find inside Disney theme parks are also sold online at the Disney Store, where they often go on sale.

Head online to DisneyStore.com, and you can browse an entire selection of mugs. The product range includes everything from simple character mugs to mug and dipper sets. Best of all, when it comes to Disney souvenirs, you’ll also find park exclusives here – like the Orange Bird Mug with Citrus Juicer Mug from the 2024 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival (which is marked down to $17) and a Disneyland Resort Mug (discounted to just $10).

So, skip the mugs at Disney World and Disneyland theme parks and shop online instead! You can save money on the very same items from the parks, and you won’t have to worry about carefully packing them up in your luggage when you head home.

Disney Princess Costumes and Accessories

If your little one is enamored with the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and its assortment of gorgeous, glittering Disney Princess dresses and accessories, we’ve got great news: You don’t have to pay for a whole makeover in the parks.

The Disney Princess costumes, tiaras, shoes, and other accessories are all available online –and often, they’re cheaper than the in-park prices. Online, the Disney Store often has costumes year-round, and they will see sales on and off throughout the months. Halloween is peak princess costume season… but once November rolls around and demand cools down, you can often catch a great discount on the exact attire found at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

In fact, in June, we spotted Disney Princess costumes and accessories marked down by as much as 40 percent. Now that’s significant savings you won’t find in the theme parks or at the boutique!

If you don’t want to opt for the full, official Disney Princess getup, you can also find an array of budget-friendly options online. You can browse a selection of officially licensed princess attire from Disney (like this complete dress up trunk with 21 pieces) or choose something that’s more princess-inspired to keep kids comfy while at the parks.