As I wait impatiently for Nov/Dec room-only discounts, AK hours, show schedules, so I can actually plan the rest of my trip, I started thinking back to past trips - which were the most special - and out of all the stuff I bought or received over the years, which WDW item survived and is still treasured to this day. Then I started wondering the same thing about everyone here.
What's the one souvenir that has meant the most to you? And what's the backstory behind it? I know family photographs are priceless - that goes without saying - but I'm curious about a particular trinket or gift that captured your heart or reminds you of a special trip.
I'll go first - I'm cheating because I have 3 actually - sorry! In priority order:
#1 A custom piece of caricature art drawn by a Downtown Disney artist. They were only supposed to do set poses - you pick from a list of scenes. My DH had just proposed to me the night before in MK on the skyride during fireworks. We were strolling through DTD the next afternoon and when he saw the artist, he asked him if he could draw that scene so we had a keepsake of the memory - and he did! It's amazing - he drew the two of us in a skyride car, with DH presenting the ring and me examining it with a magnifying glass, with a skeptical look on my face - it was funny and touching at the same time. I had it matted/framed and treasured to this day.
#2 A oversized coffee mug my father in law bought me right outside the Hoop De Do Revue - he took the entire family to the HDDR every year for 10-15 years - it was tradition - man how he loved that show! Even as he got older and didn't go into the parks anymore, he would go just to camp in Fort Wilderness and treat the family to the HDDR. He was a sweet man and sadly just passed away last year. That mug always makes me smile and think about those wonderful dinners.
#3. This one's pure nostalgia: I have three "flip books" - longtime WDWers may remember these. They were tiny little booklets about the size of a credit card, with a bunch of pages you flipped through quickly to see how an animated drawing "comes to life'. I loved those silly little things - had a Donald, Mickey and I think a Pluto. They're packed away safely.
What about you guys - what's meant the most to you and stood the test of time?
What's the one souvenir that has meant the most to you? And what's the backstory behind it? I know family photographs are priceless - that goes without saying - but I'm curious about a particular trinket or gift that captured your heart or reminds you of a special trip.
I'll go first - I'm cheating because I have 3 actually - sorry! In priority order:
#1 A custom piece of caricature art drawn by a Downtown Disney artist. They were only supposed to do set poses - you pick from a list of scenes. My DH had just proposed to me the night before in MK on the skyride during fireworks. We were strolling through DTD the next afternoon and when he saw the artist, he asked him if he could draw that scene so we had a keepsake of the memory - and he did! It's amazing - he drew the two of us in a skyride car, with DH presenting the ring and me examining it with a magnifying glass, with a skeptical look on my face - it was funny and touching at the same time. I had it matted/framed and treasured to this day.
#2 A oversized coffee mug my father in law bought me right outside the Hoop De Do Revue - he took the entire family to the HDDR every year for 10-15 years - it was tradition - man how he loved that show! Even as he got older and didn't go into the parks anymore, he would go just to camp in Fort Wilderness and treat the family to the HDDR. He was a sweet man and sadly just passed away last year. That mug always makes me smile and think about those wonderful dinners.
#3. This one's pure nostalgia: I have three "flip books" - longtime WDWers may remember these. They were tiny little booklets about the size of a credit card, with a bunch of pages you flipped through quickly to see how an animated drawing "comes to life'. I loved those silly little things - had a Donald, Mickey and I think a Pluto. They're packed away safely.
What about you guys - what's meant the most to you and stood the test of time?
