Who wants to visit Mike and Sulley at Disney California Adventure?

The first thing a child will ask at Disneyland is to see Mickey Mouse. The second thing he will ask is to buy something! Give your wallet a rest by making a few plans and purchases before you ever step foot into the magic. You will save your budget and your sanity!

1. T-shirts — If you’re sure you’ll want a new T-shirt, try to find it before you go. T-shirts at Disneyland start at $25! I bought all six of the T-shirts (above) for my family at the Disney Outlet in Tempe for under $60. And I found ones that coordinated! Walmart has a surprisingly good selection of inexpensive shirts in child and adult sizes. Another place to try is a consignment store. If you’re crafty, you could try making your own custom Disney shirts. Or Google “tie dye Mickey shirts” for instructions on making colorful Mickey heads (great for keeping track of your kids!)

2. Shiny pennies to smash — Pressed pennies are, hands down, my favorite inexpensive souvenir. They are available almost anywhere you travel and make a great collection for a child. Collect sets of one penny and two quarters ahead of time, and you won’t be standing in line to get change from a store! Check the Internet for tips on using pantry ingredients like cola, vinegar, or ketchup to shine the pennies.

3. Pins to trade — Trading pins can be a fun experience, but the price can be overwhelming! If your goal is to trade with cast members rather than collect rare or exclusive pins, an assortment from eBay can reduce your cost to a dollar or two per pin. I’ve also had good luck buying grab bags of pins at Mouse Pins Online. Buy a lanyard along with the pins and you’ll be ready to trade with the first cast member you meet!

4. Autograph books — Every store at Disneyland will sell you a generic book to get a character’s signature. If you want something that stands out, make a cute custom autograph book from a spiral notebook! Karen has a great tutorial on making adorable Disney autograph books for her boys. If you’re lacking the time — or the crafty gene — plenty of Etsy sellers can make you the autograph book of your dreams. Don’t forget a big Sharpie for Mickey to hold!

5. Glow sticks and light-up toys – Every evening, Disneyland pulses with whirling lights, fiber optics, and glowing swords. Each tempting toy could be your child’s — for a hefty price tag. Target, Michael’s, and the dollar stores are good sources of inexpensive magic. They sell glowing wands, packages of glow sticks, and spinning toys for very little money. Watch your kids’ eyes light up when you pull them out while waiting for fireworks, World of Color, or Fantasmic!

6. Activity books — The car ride or plane trip can seem awfully long when you’re little. Create an activity book full of Disney coloring pages, activities, and games to keep kids busy on the way and at the hotel. Spoonful has an entire section of Disney-themed pages to print, or search the ‘Net for “Disney activity pages” or your favorite character. The booklet you make could be stapled together, or spiral-bound for more durability.

7. “Tinkerbell” gifts — Some parents coax good behavior by hinting that a certain fairy might leave an especially well-behaved child a little treat on her pillow. If you want to try this, buy small stocking stuffer-type items ahead of time from the Target Dollar Spot, party section, or dollar store.

None of these ideas mean that you won’t be purchasing some special souvenirs while you’re on your trip. But the budget savings are obvious; so is the time you won’t spend rushing around at first for autograph books, matching shirts, or lanyards. Additionally, I have been amazed at the difference in a child’s behavior when she walks into a theme park already wearing a crisp new T-shirt and holding a small treat. It’s magic you can make on your own!