If you’re visiting one of Florida’s world-famous theme parks, there’s a good chance you might want to take home a little something to remember your trip. There’s no shortage of mugs, shots glasses, t-shirts, and hats to take home, but we think there are few more souvenirs with an extra “cool factor” that you should take a look at. Here’s what we think are some of the best and most unique souvenirs from each Florida theme park that you keep for years.
Busch Gardens
A Nanocoaster of your favorite roller coaster
Busch Gardens is pretty much the roller coaster capital of Florida. So if you’re a roller coaster fan, you can bring home one of these little models of whichever one turns out to be your favorite. These little models are fun and easy to assemble and will look great sitting on your desk. You can even start a collection of them for every roller coaster you’ve ridden.
Price: $37.99
If roller coasters aren’t your thing, Busch Gardens check out Natures Kingdom where you can find all kinds of animal sculptures, African carvings, musical instruments, and African inspired home decor. Busch Gardens is also a great park for photography with a lot of opportunities to get up close and personal with the animals. A big print of your favorite animal that you shot yourself hanging on your wall is an excellent, and free, memento.
Magic Kingdom
Mickey or Minnie Ears
Simple, fairly cheap, maybe a little cliche, but also iconic. The Mickey Hat has become a ubiquitous symbol at Walt Disney World. You can buy these in every park and gift shop at Walt Disney World, but the purist in me says that the Magic Kingdom is the place to pick up your pair of ears. They now come in a huge variety to cover just about every character and movie franchise under Disney’s huge umbrella of intellectual properties. Wear it all day at the park, then take it home and leave it on display as a great little conversation starter and something to remember your magical trip.
Price: Varies by design, but most are in the $15 to $25 dollar range.
Epcot
An authentic keepsake from your favorite country
Yeah, I know this one is kind of cheating. “Just pick whatever you like from World Showcase!” does sound like a cop-out here. But Epcot is two theme parks pressed into one and is kind of a mish-mash of stuff, so there’s really no one iconic souvenir you’d take home from here that screams “Epcot!”. The World Showcase half of the park has some of the best variety of unique shops anywhere on Disney property, so that’s probably where you want to go souvenir hunting.
Some of the countries in World Showcase have some huge stores with a lot of variety. Japan’s store alone, Mitsukoshi, takes up a huge chunk of the pavilion and is jam-packed with cool stuff. Here are just some of the more unique things you could take home and put on display from each country:
Mexico: Oaxacan wood carvings & sombreros (good in the Florida sun too!)
Norway: Troll statues & Viking helmets
China: Tea sets, swords, Buddha’s, and dragon statues.
Germany: Cuckoo clocks & huge beer steins you can have engraved.
Italy: Blown glass art & Venetian masks
Japan: Pick-a-Pearl, one of the most unique gifts at Epcot. You choose a live oyster from a tank, and they open it for you to reveal either one or two real pearls inside. But this store is massive, and you’ll find all kinds of authentic Japenese knick-knacks here.
Morocco: A lot of cool little shops to explore here, but the Aladdin’s Lamps feel like something you need to take home. Also hookah pipes and cool tapestries.
France: Eiffel tower statues, perfume, and even bottles of wine.
United Kingdom: Family Crests, dragons, and more swords
Canada: The Canada pavilion at Epcot is a little light on unique merch, but you can find some wood totems, real maple syrup, and lots of Canada t-shirts & hockey jerseys.
Hollywood Studios
A Custom Lightsaber
These are pretty dang expensive, but also pretty dang awesome. A custom lightsaber at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios is more than just something you grab at the gift shop. Buying one of these is a full experience that involves you getting to choose and customize every piece of it, then activating it for the first time in a Jedi ceremony. This is an interactive show just as much as it’s something to take home and a goosebump-inducing experience that you’ll never forget.
These lightsabers are quite substantial. They’re heavy, high quality, and far more than all the toy lightsabers you’ve already seen at other gift shops at Hollywood Studios or anywhere else. These are one of the biggest must-haves for Star Wars obsessives.
Price: $199.99
If you’re looking for something a little cheaper at Galaxy’s Edge that’s also pretty awesome and unique, check out the Droid Depot. For $100 you can build your very own custom remote control droid. Rolling BB units and R2 units are available in a huge selection of colors and accessories.
Animal Kingdom
A shoulder Banshee
Within the Pandora: World of Avatar section of Animal Kingdom you can “adopt” your very own Banshee to take home. These cute little puppets come with a remote control that allows you to control the Banshee’s movements while sitting on your shoulder. You can make it flap its wings, open its mouth, and even let out a little Banshee cry.
These were a really hot item when they were first introduced, and Disney even had trouble keeping them in stock for a stint. Today you’ll see a lot of park guests walking around Animal Kingdom with their own little Banshee hitching a ride from one attraction to the next.
Price: $59.99
Legoland Florida
An exclusive Legoland Florida Lego set
Lego sets are available almost everywhere, but what you can’t find at any old Walmart are the sets that are exclusive only to Legoland. At Legoland Florida, you can take home one of their exclusive sets like Driving School, Ninjago World, or go big with the full Legoland Park set that includes over 1300 pieces so you build your very own Legoland park and favorite rides.
Price: $19.99 to $99.99 depending on the set
SeaWorld Orlando
See Rescue Plush Hoodie Animals
Depending on how you feel, the whale shows at SeaWorld are still a little controversial and slowly being phased out But we can all get behind saving animals. Stop into the SeaWorld Rescue store, where 5% of all proceeds go to wildlife charities and conservation efforts all around the world. The Manatee is pretty much one of Florida’s unofficial mascots, which makes a cute little stuffed manatee a great little memento of your trip to Florida. This little guy is also one of the most affordable Florida souvenirs on our list. If manatees aren’t quite your favorite, they also have dolphins, sea turtles, and sea lions.
Price: $15.95
Universal’s Islands of Adventure:
A magic wand from Ollivander’s in Hogsmeade
This item was pretty much the main inspiration for putting together this list. Apologies to the Mickey Ears, but there’s really isn’t a more must-have souvenir for hardcore Potterheads than a wand from the Wizard World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios. The wands are available at both Universal parks, but at the Island’s of Adventure location you can take a part in a short show where one guest is selected as “the Chosen One”. From there you are escorted into Ollivanders wand shop where you’ll find an enormous selection of wands. Wands are available from nearly every character in the movies and more. They feel really great in your hands, and it’s hard to resist the urge to wave them around at each other while shouting “Expelliarmus!”
Now comes the best part. All throughout both Wizarding Word’s at Universal are a bunch of interactive stations where you can cast spells with your wand that trigger different magical effects. There are wizards and witches of all ages trying out their new wands everywhere you go, and the experience is incredibly well done.
Price: $48
Universal Studios
Death Eater Mask from Borgin & Burkes in Diagon Alley
If you think of yourself as more of a Dark Wizard, you absolutely must check out Borgin & Burkes. This store hidden in a dark corner within Knockturn Alley specializes in items for dark witches and wizards, including Voldemorts faithful servants, the Death Eaters. Among the great collection of creepy collectibles in this store is one of the most eccentric items at the Wizarding World; an authentic Death Eater mask.
These aren’t cheap, but this isn’t just another mass-produced knick-knack. You won’t find anything else like these anywhere and is certain to become a helluva conversation starter and the crown of your Harry Potter memorabilia collection.
Price: $110
