September 24, 2016 - Best Disney World Souvenirs AND Best Universal Studios Souvenirs

Elisa's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 13 DAYS

A few of my favorite things to purchase at Disney World

HEY HEY HEY! (Who remembers, "What's Happenin;"  Oh gosh, I'm dating myself!

Anyhoo, here I am, yet again, in Riverhead, Long island, with my little Punkin, writing away.

This weekend of riding is super important for Gianna since she will be in her very first horse riding show next Sunday!  Today is all about practicing the course and working on her "right" and "left" lead with All-Star.

The poor kid is so nervous, but I'm convinced she will do amazingly.  Plus, just about all of her barn buds are going to be in this show, so there will be great moral support for one another.  

I am so excited for her!   I'll be snapping away next Sunday like nobody's business.  Just praying it doesn't rain.

Ok, but here is the kicker - we have to be at the barn by 5:30 AM - yes, that's right - 5:30 AM!!

Ugh, that is so not cool.  But, it is what it is.

Alrighty then, so let's move on to the topic of the day...

MY TOP 5 FAVORITE DISNEY WORLD SOUVENIRS

(disney.com)

Who doesn't enjoy shopping?? And I can tell you from first-hand experience, that one place that inspires shopping and purchases is Walt Disney World.

Every time I go (and I've been there well over a dozen times!), I find the need to buy stuff that,
a) I don't need and b) that I would not necessarily buy at home.

I mean, who "needs" Mickey merchandise?  

But, here's the thing folks...Disney does such an incredible job of merchandising - from the styles, the patterns, the colors, the creative products AND building a mood at the place "where dreams come true"...that it's virtually impossible not to get caught up in the buying frenzy.

So, while we all have our own personal likes, I'm going to list a few items that I think everyone should purchase at least once in Disney World.


​1. Mickey Mouse Ears Hat

(disneystore.com)

Why?  Just because!! Nothing says Disney more than a Mickey Mouse ears hat. Such fun to walk around the park and feeling festive!!

You can even have them embroidered with your name on it, which is totally fun for kids and a great memento of your trip.


​2. Autograph Book

Now we all know that the costume characters walking around the park are really people inside.  But, what fun is it to harp on such details and besides, kids don't know the difference!

One of my favorite memories of Disney World with my kiddies was watching as the various characters signed their autograph book (with their officially Disney pen -which at the time, cost me $4 btw).

Each character has their own signature and my kids would look through that autograph book over and over! 


3. Any Apparel Items!!

(pinterest.com)

This is really my weak spot. I am a t-shirt, sweatshirt, pajama, cap addict when it comes to traveling in general.

But, in Disney, I just want it all! The days of plain and simple t-shirts are gone.  Today, particularly at Disney World, not only are the apparel items so fashion forward in various styles and materials, but the design itself is so sophisticated that the last thing you feel like is a walking billboard.

You can be sure that on our upcoming trip, me and my girls will be getting a few new "things" that are wearable - either t-shirts, caps or hoodies!! I especially need to replace my cap collection, since one of my favorite Disney caps flew off my head on "Turbulence" at Adventureland last week.
You'll be in the loop of our purchases!


4. Disney Trading Pins

(wiki.com)

One thing I always regret is not getting started on my trading pin collection earlier.  I started collecting pins with the girls, but we haven't really kept up with it.  

Who doesn't love pins!! And some of them are totally cool. What's fun is that you can show them off walking around the park or at home. My kids have put theirs on their back packs too.


5. Disney Christmas Ornament

(yourwdw.com)

This, folks I can tell you, I have been very consistent with - I ALWAYS get a new ornament for my Christmas tree every trip I make to Disney.

The array they have is so extensive - The Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square (Magic Kingdom) is a store I can literally spend hours in!

(disney.com)

These make wonderful gifts as well!!

Of course, there are literally thousands of things to buy and bring home as keepsakes from your Disney World trip - food items, candy, jewelry - you name it - these were only a few of my favorites!

​
Today... Tanya is on her way to The Big Apple!!! That's right folks, the cousins will be re-united super soon!

Our plan is to see each other tomorrow (Sunday)and then again mid-week.

Travel Safe Cuzes!!

That's it for me.  See ya back here tomorrow!

-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS: TODAY

Great Souvenir Ideas to get from Universal Studios

Yup you read that correctly!

We are all checked in, our bags are packed, outfits organized, my nails are done...

And we are almost ready to go.
​
I say almost because the kids first have a performance at the Irvine Global Village Festival - which I actually scheduled this flight around.

Even before we (as a choir) were scheduled and before the event even had a calendar up, I had it on my schedule. Since knowing that we are booked each and every year, all I needed was the date and I worked everything else around that.

And this happens all the time with annual events that I enjoy attending. I'm always waaaay ahead of the schedulers/organizers and I'm ready to pop it into my calendar when the event itself doesn't have confirmed details about their upcoming event. As you can imagine this is rather frustrating for me. And I'm not the only one. A good friend of mine was in town recently and we were suppose to get together and hang out.
​Well obviously we are both idiots, because neither of us remembered to ink the dates into our calendars.

But that's not even the frustrating part...my friend will be back in town in November for a particular big event that is held in Los Angeles each year (he works the event). Well the dates for the event are up and listed for the public, but his working dates have yet to be confirmed. Ugh so frustrating!

​But now let's talk about something that you know I love - SHOPPING!!!

It's Shopping Saturday (as we like to call it ) and today the focus is on great souvenirs at Walt Disney World and at Universal Studios - since that is where we will be starting next week!!!

While Elisa has got it down for Disney and I can't wait to get my hand on some fun goodies and cool souvenirs over at Epcot...

On a side note - although Epcot is my favorite park, I haven't bought myself any souvenirs from there since my very first visit back in 1994! 
You might wonder why?    Well because once I walk into the main gift shop, there is just so much that I begin to want everything. I start picking items up with the intent to buy them, and then I get so overwhelmed by everything and feel the pressure to leave that I place everything down and walk out empty handed!!!

I've vowed NOT to do that this time around and to actually purchase a few cute things ;)

Back to what I was saying...Check out Elisa's side for some fun ideas as to what to buy at the Disney parks and I will give you some good ideas about what to look for and bring home from Universal Studios!

​​While some of you may be unaware, Universal Studios has become Harry Potter central and thus having some very cool and unique Harry Potter merchandise. My dear Cosette is a HUGE Harry Potter fan (as I know that there are many Worldwide fans or POTTERHEADS) and she has already put together a long list of items that she is looking forward to bringing home!

DID YOU KNOW: Harry Potter books have sold over 450 million copies. Making it the biggest franchise ever!

​Now what to buy??? Here's the TOP 5 (According to TravelandLeaisure.com)

1. Why a Wizard's Wand of course!!

(playbuzz.com)

Step into Ollivanders—with locations in both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley—and find yourself immersed in a world where the magic of a wizard’s wand actually feels real. A shopkeeper will demonstrate how a wand chooses a wizard, and then you’ll emerge into a store stacked sky-high with boxed wands. Make sure to choose one with gold detailing on the box; these are designed to activate spells throughout the Wizarding World, which makes for a day of great fun.

2. Every wizard needs a Magic Broomstick!

(pinterest.com)

You may not be a competitive Quidditch player just yet, but you can get started by picking up a riding broomstick, an essential element in any Quidditch match. Available at several locations, you can get a fiber optic toy version for under $40 or a beautifully detailed collector’s version beginning at $250.

3. You gotta be stylish and have Wizard's Robe

(polyvore.com)

No wardrobe of wizardwear is complete without an authentic wizard’s robe, available in your choice of Hogwarts houses. Choose from Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, each lined in the house’s main color and adorned with a patch of the house’s crest.

4. Add some pizazz to your outfit with a Wizard's Scarf

(thinkgeek.com)

Need a less expensive – or more practical – way to show your support for one of the four houses of Hogwarts? Go for a Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff scarf. These include each house’s colors and crests, and they’re a surprisingly stylish way to inject a bit of vacation memory into a chilly winter day back home.

​5. And everybody needs a Pygmy Puff!

(universalorlando.com)

​If you’ve read the Harry Potter books, you’ll know that Pygmy Puffs are small pets bred in the back of the Weasleys’ shop. Pick up a plush version of your own—in purple or pink—or under $15 at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes in Diagon Alley. Your puff will even get its own public naming ceremony (conducted right there in the shop!)

Now, I wonder if Cosette plans on bring all this stuff home?!

I dunno, but we'll need to make some room in our suitcases... Anyhow I've got to be off and running.

See y'all from NYC tomorrow,
​-T