Most Walt Disney World souvenirs are admittedly pricey, but you may be surprised to know that there are several things you can collect without spending a penny. These five items are available for free, and come in several varieties so you can collect them all. Though many will admittedly take a bit of persistence, you can make an impressive collection with them.
1. Transportation trading cards
There are three sets of transportation trading cards that you can collect – Bus, Boat, and Monorail. Ask the Cast Members operating these forms of transportation whether they have any trading cards on them and collect as many as you can during your stay. Cast Members get a limited number of cards each day, so they may not have any but it’s always worth it to ask.
2. Celebration buttons
Celebration buttons are available for all types of special events including birthdays, anniversaries, and family reunions. You can even get a button that says you’re just “Celebrating” to cover any other memorable event in your life. Many buttons feature a space for you to write a name or other details, so you can make each button you get unique and special. If you visit often, stop in and get a different button for each visit and you’ll have a collection commemorating all your Disney vacations over the years.
3. Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom cards
Image: Disney
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom cards are more than just a collectible. They’re also an important part of an interactive game. You use the cards to battle villains at interactive stations throughout the park. This is a particularly great collectible for annual passholders or other frequent visitors who are willing to dedicate a lot of time to the game.
You can get one free package of cards each day, and receive another free package when you successfully complete the game. Serious collectors can even invest in a special binder for storing and sorting these collectibles. In addition to the daily cards, you can also get special limited time versions at various times during the year, such as at the holiday parties.
4. Stickers
If you have children, you’ve probably received dozens of Mickey stickers in your time at the Disney parks and resorts. Mickey isn’t the only character available on these, however. It’s worth asking around to see if Cast Members have any of the rare stickers on hand as well. You can sometimes find stickers of Sonny Eclipse at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café at the Magic Kingdom, for example. Disney Vacation Club booths have stickers, too. These make a fun addition to your vacation scrapbooks and don’t cost a thing.
5. Autographs
Image: Disney
Though you do need an autograph book to collect autographs, there’s no rule that you have to buy a pricey one from Disney. Any book will do – it’s the autographs that are so much fun. Autographs are a particularly fun activity for young children who are too short or nervous for many park attractions. If you’re dedicated to it, you can find dozens of characters to collect autographs from. Don’t miss some of the rare finds at Rafiki’s Planet Watch, like Pocahontas and Jiminy Cricket. Many characters also appear in their own themed environments in the Magic Kingdom, like Merida or Ariel. See how may you can snag on your next visit.
If you want something special to take home with you from your Disney World vacation, these picks are great options that won’t kill your budget.
