Both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure are wonderful vacation destinations and a trip that you’ll never want to forget. What’s the best way to keep the memories fresh in your mind? There’s always photos, of course, but souvenirs should never be overlooked – and although they can be on the pricy side, there are plenty of great ones under $10 that will keep the memory alive (while also keeping the kids, who want something to take home, very happy). These also make great gifts for the relatives who weren’t able to come on the trip with you.
Want to see the parks’ hidden treasures just behind the t-shirts, stuffed animals, and jackets? Let’s count them down, BIG 5-style.
#5 – Homer’s donut
While it’s not exactly a souvenir, one of the best deals for under $10 is the Big Pink Donut sold in the Simpsons-themed Springfield USA. For just $5, you get a huge donut that can legitimately feed a family of six.
Top five souvenir deals for under $10.
It is large, delicious, fresh, and gooey – what can anyone else want in a donut? (I ordered one right before leaving the park for a flight and brought it back for my boyfriend. It was fresh the next day and, what’s more, still pretty good even 48 hours later!)
#4 – Small trinkets
Universal offers many small toy-like trinkets in their gift shops. Almost every store has a few, but my all-time favorite is sold in Hogsmeade and in the gift shop in Port of Entry at Islands of Adventure: a small dragon cracking out of its egg, resembling the scene right from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which sells for just over $7.00. It is a perfect gift for any Harry Potter or dragon fan and is a great memory of a trip to Universal.
Want some more suggestions? The Cat in the Hat gift shop features stretchy characters, including the Cat himself, for $5.95.
They also have a selection of baseballs, golf balls, and “water wigglers,” all for under $10.00. And just in case these aren’t quite your thing, small minions are featured in the Despicable Me store for $5.95.
Top five souvenir deals for under $10.
Top five souvenir deals for under $10.
Keep an eye out while walking through the gift shops – you’ll never know what you’ll find!
#3 – Magnetic photo frames
For just under $8.00, you can take home a memory to keep on your fridge for years to come. Featuring as many characters and movies that you can think of, Universal sells magnetic photo frames that fit approximately a 3.15 inch by 2.36 inch picture. The park offers generic ones, such as a movie clapperboard and the Universal logo, as well as character-specific frames, such as Betty Boop and Dr. Seuss.
Top five souvenir deals for under $10.
These are wonderful gifts for family members, as they feature the park while also featuring a family photo of your trip inside.
And if you’re not looking for a photo frame, Universal also sells magnets featuring some of their star characters, which range in price from $4.00 to $8.00.
#2 – Shot glasses
Generally ranging from $6.95 to $8.95, Universal Studios Florida offers a wide variety of shapes and sizes of shot glasses. They feature different characters, logos, catchphrases, and events that the park holds.
Top five souvenir deals for under $10.
These are great, as they hold a memory but also serve a purpose! Enjoy your favorite drink back home while remembering a relaxing trip to Universal Orlando.
#1 – Name bracelets
For $8.95, you can take home a themed bracelet featuring your name on it. These are sold throughout the park, but by far the most popular one is the minion-themed version sold in the Despicable Me gift shop you walk through while exiting the ride.
Top five souvenir deals for under $10.
They are made out a thick rubbery material and will hold up for a long time. The resort offers a variety of names and spellings, accommodating all guests.
Honorable mention – Super deals!
Two of the best steals are the penny machines and post cards.
Penny machines are all around both parks and CityWalk, and for just 51 cents, you can see your souvenir made right in front of your eyes! Put in two quarters and a nice, shiny penny (which will be pressed to create the final product), and, within a minute, you’ll have a penny with a great design of a favorite character and a memory to take home. If you decide to collect these, you can pick up a penny collector book (prices range throughout the resort, but you can also get them off-site) and make a collection.
Top five souvenir deals for under $10.
Post cards are sold at Universal for just 55 cents (before tax). They are small enough to be able to take home a good amount for friends and family (or send them out before you leave!) and feature great photos of different characters and memorable places throughout both parks. My favorite place to purchase one is in Hogsmeade, outside of Dervish & Banges, where you are able to get it stamped and postmarked from Hogwarts – at no additional cost!
Bonus – the holidays
Always check out the gift shops to see if they have holiday-themed merchandise. I was at Universal during Mardi Gras, and they were selling decked-out beads for three for $10. They had a wide variety – some featuring the event and the year, and some with Universal’s name on them.
Top five souvenir deals for under $10.
And one final extra tip: always check out the shops near both Universal Studios Florida’s and Islands of Adventure’s exits. While they look like the average shop, they often have special discount/sale racks with older or overstocked merchandise. You’ll never know what special items you’ll find there.
If you enjoyed this article, you can check out all of the BIG 5 blog posts on Orlando Informer!
About the author
Ally Pfeiffer is a college student from Connecticut who will be attending law school soon. She is an avid lover of Universal and the entire Orlando area. Her passion for Universal will provide a fun spark in her articles and she is eager to share her experiences. Eventually Ally hopes to live in the Orlando area and have year-round access to her favorite theme parks.
More OI posts by Ally