No trip to Disneyland or California Adventure would be complete without a cuddly stuffed animal and a custom pair of Mickey Mouse ears. It would be perfectly fine and acceptable if it just stopped at those two things, but unfortunately, Disneyland has a way of getting money out of your wallet and into your cash registers faster than you can say “Bippity Boppity Boo.” However, there are a few ways you can keep spending on souvenirs to a minimum while delighting your kids with Disney shopping.

The main thing to remember is to stick with your budget. Keep a special envelope filled with cash on hand that will only be used as a souvenir and nothing else. Ignore your children’s pleas to buy more and more things. Have them pick out a super special gift (give the older ones a dollar amount not to exceed) and a smaller trinket. When you’re in a store like “Disney World” (yes, that’s the name … no kidding), steer your little ones away from the more expensive collectibles and into the cheaper, smaller t-shirts. size stuffed animals.

If you have a little princess of your own, you will no doubt be bombarded with shouts of joy as you enter Fantasy Faire Gifts complete with all the princess dresses, crowns and magic wands known to man. These dresses are outrageously expensive, so plan accordingly, or just steer clear of this store if possible! The same goes for any pirate lover in your home. Pieces of Eight features every sword, pirate hat, and buried treasure you can imagine that can make an eager pirate spend his own treasure on any of these fantastic things.

Disneyland offers many items for under $ 10. There are pencils, pens, erasers, stickers, small stuffed animals, plastic cups, candy, and other Disney memorabilia. These items are usually all in one place, so letting your kids go and letting them freak out in this area will allow them to think that you are spending a ton on them, when in reality you are spending just pennies!

One thing you should definitely splurge on is one of the many illuminated, battery-operated toys. These are perfect “entertainers” while sitting and waiting for parades or shows to start and look great at night when the sun has set. These fun items generally cost around $ 15.