Park map coasters

Instead of spending a fortune on licensed theme park coasters for your home, try making your own with park maps saves from your vacation. The Disney Parks Blog offers a smart tutorial that shows how easy this quick craft is. Just decoupage cutouts from your park maps onto ceramic tiles.

Customize yours to highlight your favorite features of the theme park. Center your cutouts on your family’s favorite attractions or restaurants. Consider adding a few stickers to personalize them with arrows, stars, circles, or your favorite Disney characters. Was hugging Belle the highlight of your daughter’s trip? Pop a sticker of Belle on the spot where you met her in Epcot and you’ll recall your fondest memories every time you use these.

Kidcot Duffy “bouquets”

Image: Sam Howzit, Flickr (license)

Kidcot Fun Stops are child-centered craft stations located throughout Epcot. Pick up a cardstock Duffy bear on a stick on at your first stop, and you can get a new stamp and signature for the back at each subsequent location. Each Kidcot Fun Stop also has a selection of markers so your child can decorate the front of his bear.

You’ll find these Fun Stops in:

• Mexico
• Norway
• China
• Germany
• Italy
• American Adventure
• Japan
• Morocco
• France
• United Kingdom
• Canada

Have each child color and collect stamps for his own Duffy bear. If you visit often, you might even want to collect a new Duffy on each visit to see how your kids’ coloring skills progress over the years. Stash these in a safe spot for the journey home and put them up as a special keepsake from your time in Epcot. Just fill a small flowerpot or can with tissue, yarn, or Styrofoam and pop your Duffy bears in for a colorful “bouquet” that will never wilt.

With a few well-preserved freebies, you can craft any number of souvenirs when you get home. These crafty Disney keepsakes will brighten up your home and make it easy to look back on trip every day.