3. Disney character name signs

Image: Ashley Varela

Should you prefer a bit more Disney magic with your art, swing by the letter brush kiosk across from the Matterhorn Bobsleds, where Disney artists will customize your name with select Disney characters of your choice. The customization options are nearly limitless, from favorite princesses to fairies, pirates, animals, castles and flowers, though artists are only allowed to offer seasonal characters — for instance, you won’t be able to request a villains character name sign in May or June, as the likes of Maleficent, Captain Hook, and the Queen of Hearts are only available during the fall.

Aside from the more conventional name signs, the artists can also render a full-size initial or create a one-of-a-kind family name sign, with the first letter of each name representing the family’s favorite Disney characters. Depending on the length of the name and the add-ons you choose, letter brush art can often take several hours to complete. It’s highly advisable to place your order early in the day and return to pick it up before you leave the park, as the 10x19 and 10x29 framed signs are too unwieldy to carry around the park and too large to be stuffed in a backpack or locker.

Prices vary by length of name and choice of matting and framing. Each letter starts at $12.50, bringing a five-letter name to $62.50 and a seven-letter name to $87.50. A standard mat costs an additional $12, or you can opt for a mat and frame combo for $52.

4. Character sketches

Image: HarshLight, Flickr (license)

In the fall of 1955, guests could wander through Tomorrowland to a little Parisian-themed store called the Art Corner. Merchandise varied between the practical (exclusive postcard sets, animation kits) to the whimsical and absurd (flip books, thaumatropes and gag gifts). One of the most invaluable products for sale were original celluloid drawings from Disney films, which could often be purchased for the bargain price of a dollar each. (With inflation, that would be just under $10 today — still a total steal!)

The Art Corner was officially relocated in 1966 to make way for a lengthy remodel of Tomorrowland, and the price of animation cels that rare have since skyrocketed, but today’s guests can still find some original work from Disney artists at Disneyana in Disneyland or Off the Page in Disney California Adventure. Here, artists sketch beloved Disney characters – from the obscure to the über-popular – as guests watch. Unlike letter brush artists and street caricaturists, you won’t find them at their desks 24/7, but you can ask a Cast Member for the day’s schedule or choose from a selection of pre-drawn and matted sketches. If, on the other hand, you’re confident in your own sketch abilities and want some free artwork, you can pop over to the Animation Academy in Disney California Adventure and sketch your own Disney character during a complimentary half-hour animation session.

Like the letter brush name signs, character sketches are among the pricier art pieces at the parks. You can request a sketch with as many as seven characters; a one-character sketch starts at $40 and a seven-character sketch tops out around $140. Limited personalization is available for each drawing, and discounts don’t apply to original artwork.

These are just a few of the gorgeous art pieces you can take home from the Disneyland Resort. If customizing your own art isn’t quite your style, there’s a beautiful gallery of professional paintings and mixed-media art for sale at Disneyana, painted parasols in New Orleans Square, sculpted Star Wars figures at Star Wars Launch Bay and a rotating showcase of Disney-inspired art at the WonderGround Gallery in Downtown Disney. Which Disney art has made your vacation the most memorable?