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Sunday, March 24, 2013

Looking for Unique Disney World Souvenirs?

I believe there are a million different souvenirs (probably more!) you can buy at Disney World; however, I tried to gathered a few that separate themselves as unique.   

Mr. Potato Head Parts



You can fill up a container of Mr. Potato Head parts (many of them exclusive to Disney parks) for a set cost.

Locations: Once Upon a Toy in Downtown Disney
Price: $20 for the box, $50 for the large potato head container
Tips:

  1. Be sure to get several sets of extra arms as they’re the only ones that can hold the Disney stuff – regular Mr. Potato Head arms don’t hold his: Mickey ice cream bar, camera, autograph book, or Mickey balloon once you get home.
  2. Buy your actual Potato Heads at home. Space is at a premium and you don’t want to waste it with something you can get for next-to-nothing back home.
  3. Pack the big pieces first. Little pieces can be crammed wherever there’s room.
  4. Check your pieces to see if they’re a left/right set: arms, pirate ears w/earrings, Mickey gloves, etc. all have a left and right. 
  5. Little goes in big. Ticket fits inside the suitcase. Mickey gloves fit in the bottom of Mickey’s shoes. Eyes fit in the underside of hats.
  6. Don’t bother boxing the whopper pieces like the Dumbo ride elephant, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin ride car, Ariel’s tail, or the open Mary Poppins umbrella. They either won’t fit in your box or they’ll take up way too much room. You can pay about $2/piece or be sprinkled with pixie dust and get them for *Free.*
  7. Look for sets like Tinkerbell (shoes, wig, wings, & wand), Darth Vadar (mask, feet, arms, & body), Maleficent (hat, wand), Donald Duck (bill, hat), Pirates of the Caribbean (hat, boots, parrot, scarf).
Super Secret Spy Tip: you can ask a Cast Member for help to fill your box.  Take a shopping basket, go around the bin and choose one (or whatever #) of every piece you'd like. Then ask a CM, with Tetris puzzle-solving skills, to help you fit all those pieces in. 


Personalized Disney Ornaments 


Remember your family vacation by buying a Disney-themed ornament that you can even get personalized if you’d like.

Locations: Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Days of Christmas in Downtown Disney
Price: Varies
Tips: Go early in your trip in case it takes days to get the personalized ornaments finished. The Downtown Disney location has a much wider selection than the Magic Kingdom location.


Pick a Pearl



Pick a Pearl allows you to pick an oyster from a tank, a CM will cut it open and inside and then you’ll get a pearl, or 2!  The pearl is then measured and put into a baggie or you can choose to have it set in jewelry right at the store to be picked up later. 

Location: Mitsukoshi store in the Japan section of EPCOT’s World Showcase
Price: $15 (settings are separate)
Tips: Pick the hairiest, ugliest oyster to increase your chances of getting 2 pearls


Silhouettes

 

Have a silhouette drawn to remember your trip.   The artists can do these in as little as 60 seconds. Check out this video from Disneyland of how they do it.  http://www.viddler.com/v/d491ab0d

Locations: Downtown Disney, EPCOT near France, the Magic Kingdom on Main Street (a cart in an alley about halfway down on the right as you enter the park) and in Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom
Price: $9/each (you can get it framed as well for an additional cost)



Saturday, March 23, 2013

Healthy Snacks List

Healthy Snacks for Disney World bring fuel and hydration, but not artificial sugars.  They don’t need refrigeration, yet hold up well in the heat while rolling around in a back pack all day, being squished onto rides. J

Almonds

Frozen Grapes in Ziplock bags will gradually unthaw and taste perfect on a hot day.

Frozen Squeezable Fruit Sauce like GoGoSqueeze or Buddy Fruits

Granola /Protein Bars like Kashi or Nature Valley

Jif to Go peanut butter tubs paired with apple slices and/or celery sticks.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse All Natural Fruit Crisp are freeze dried fruit slices with no sugar added. They can be found in Walmart on the aisle with the dried fruit and trail mixes or ordered directly from Brothers-All-Natural http://www.brothersallnatural.com/disney-fruit-crisps/ where shipping is currently *Free* on all orders over $25 to all locations within the Continental USA, and to most US Military bases.

PB Crackers packed in sandwich-shaped Tupperware containers.  They’re small and flat enough to not take up a lot of room in your bag, but do a great job of keeping crackers from becoming crumbs.

Pretzels

Raisins

Trail Mix