6. Cast Member stickers

Image: Loren Javier, Flickr (license)

Did you know that cast members are carrying a secret? That’s right. Every cast member in Disney World parks and resorts carry around secret stickers.  You have to know about them and kindly ask a cast member for one in order to collect them. The stickers cost you no more than a smile. Put them anywhere you like and grab them often, because these stickers change all the time. They make for some really great scrapbook decorations.

7. Drink cubes

Image: Disney

If you have the pleasure of dining at a table service restaurant on Disney grounds, order a specialty drink and you can receive a free souvenir. Many locations serve these beverages with glowing ice cubes that you can take home and enjoy in the comfort of your home. Visit Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, La Cava De Tequila, Trader Sam’s, Kona Café (to name a few) to snag one of these fun and festive souvenirs. 

8. Transportation trading cards

Image: Disney

Transportation cards are a fun little collectable that can be procured from transportation cast members. There are 26 cards in all and they reflect the three forms of transportation on Disney property: buses, boats, and the monorail. These aren’t as easy to come by as the cast member stickers, which makes them that much more special.

9. Duffy cutouts

Image: Disney

If you have little ones, you don’t need to buy merchandise from the shops to bring home a souvenir. Located in the World Showcase at Epcot are the Kidcot Fun Stops. You can find these areas tucked away next to each world pavilion. There, children will be given to opportunity to decorate a cardboard cutout of Duffy, the Disney bear, in a theme that compliments each country. Stop by them all and you have 11 little international Duffys to bring back home – completely free of charge.

10. Wilderness Explorer badges

Image: Disney

At Animal Kingdom park lies another hidden gem called the Wilderness Explorers. Based on the movie Up, the Wilderness Explorers give guests the chance to discover nature and earn badges. All you have to do is go up to a Wilderness Explorer kiosk and tell them you want to join. You will then receive your first of 30 challenges. When you complete a challenge, you earn a “badge” (aka sticker). These badges are fun not only for a day at the park but make great keepsakes for the entire family.

11. Food and Wine and Flower and Garden passports

Image: Disney

Every fall, Epcot holds it’s Food and Wine Festival that spans from September to about mid November. The passports you get while attending are little booklets that you can stamp when traveling around the World Showcase sampling the foods and wines from the different countries. Once you fill up your booklet it makes a nice addition to your souvenirs from Disney and you can use it as a reference guide if you plan on returning for the festival the following year.

In the spring, the flowers bloom and the hedges of Disney are manicured to perfection. Disney gardeners import rare flowers from around the world and arrange them in stunning displays across Disney’s Epcot park. Similar to the Food and Wine Festival, the Flower and Garden Festival gives out free passport books that can be stamped at each location you visit.

12. Digital postcards

If you’ve been on Spaceship Earth, you may remember the part where you can choose what your future will look like and even see it as a video. What many don’t know is that you can actually keep this video for free. It’s called a “digital postcard” and at the ride’s exit, your postcard is available to be sent via email to anyone you choose – even yourself. When you get home, you can keep this video and replay it for friends and family or even save it as a keepsake.