To put it plainly, it simply stinks when a really cool Disney souvenir is ruined by becoming too popular.
Long souvenir line!
The Disney fandom runs deep with MILLIONS of fans all over the world. As such, it should come as no surprise that Disney souvenirs are hot commodities — sometimes to their own detriment. Disney Adults certainly DON’T lack passion, but — sometimes — that means they can go a little too overboard when it comes to souvenirs.
There are a few circumstances we can point to when Disney Adults can “ruin” popular souvenirs — like some instances with popcorn buckets.
Death Star Bucket in Disneyland
We’ve seen plenty of instances where folks show up at rope drop, buy a whole bunch, and limit sales for guests (and kids) who just really want a neat collectible.
2025 Figment Popcorn Bucket at Figment’s Inspiration Station
Resale is a major problem, and this won’t be the last time it’s brought up. Then there’s the issue of opening day excitement and Disney Adults flocking to parks, creating long lines and taking a bulk of the supply. We honestly don’t blame Disney Adults for their souvenir enthusiasm, but it can create some headaches for everyone else.
Scary Teddy!
A very similar issue we’ve seen when it comes to the resale market is happening over in Anaheim with the Disneyland 70th Anniversary merch.
Emporium
When the merch dropped, the Resort (which has especially had problems with popcorn bucket collectors) saw many folks buy as much as they could, only to resell it at a higher markup. We even saw the Key to Disneyland sell out — but it’s now back, albeit with a tighter purchasing limit.
Key to Disneyland
Resale and popularity are also major issues with a souvenir you can get outside of the parks — Disney Lorcana sets.
This game is so fun!
Lorcana is a highly popular card game that can sell out online quickly.
Single-Player Decks
Ultimately, a lot of adults buy these up quickly, which can take away inventory from fans AND KIDS who would appreciate these souvenirs way more.
Here’s a peek at the cards!
Speaking of having online issues, we’ve seen Disney x Starbucks Tumblers sell out within minutes.
©Disney
These Starbucks collabs are super popular among pretty much everyone, so we get them selling out fast. It’s just a bummer because you can wait for a product drop, and still miss out because they fly off the shelves so fast!
©Disney
Back in the parks, buying specialty pins can just be the worst. These limited-edition pins are also in limited supply, meaning lines can get ridiculously long.
New pins!
These lines form early, and even if you line up and wait, we’ve seen pins sell out before 10 AM. So you could end up waiting an hour plus and still leave with nothing. There’s not a ton of transparency about how many pins are available each day, and Disney drops these pins without a ton of warning, and with no way to streamline purchasing, you’re really placing your fate in chance.
Long queue
We see this kind of stuff all the time, and there is no obvious fix. Cool Disney souvenirs will always be popular, and we totally get it. If you’ve missed out on these items, DON’T FRET! Disney is always coming out with the next best thing, and we’ll be sure to keep you posted when those items drop.
Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation.
For all the latest Disney news, stay tuned right here at the Disney Food Blog!
4 Things Disney Adults Completely “Ruined” When They Became Too Popular
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
What are some of your favorite hard-to-get Disney souvenirs? Let us know in the comments!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
The problem with souvenirs is that so many of them quickly become stale and outdated once the novelty is gone, and do nothing except take up storage space. It’s why I never buy any clothing dated or listing an anniversary. I want something I can wear to the parks that will still have relevance in 5 or 10 years instead of looking like a political bumper sticker of a candidate who lost the election years ago.
As for things like popcorn buckets and pins..while a select few may have a dedicated wall, binder, or even a room for collectibles, most people who buy these things only ultimately deprive themselves of storage space. Really, who actually uses their popcorn buckets even a month after buying them? They only go on the shelf or in the attic where they turn yellow and wear out after the fresh memories of your park trip fade.
I think that Disney should put a limit on new merchandise so it doesn’t sell out for everyone. Let’s remember though, aside from these people buying up everything, Disney adults are the ones keeping the parks going. Disney adults are the ones bringing in the money for the tickets, hotels, excursions and all the extras. Disney adults help power the Disney machine. It is Disney adults who bring the children who become fans as well. Disney is not operating their parks and hotels, etc out of the goodness of their hearts.
When a popular new item is released, why can’t Disney scan the ticket or pass, and limit sales to one or two only? I’m tired of seeing guests walking out of a Disney park with 10-15 popcorn buckets or other souvenirs. If Disney is worried that they won’t eventually sell out their stock, they can rescind the 1-2 rule after a few weeks of sales.
I stopped buying excess things. Because when I moved and I looked at all the stuff I had. It was more junk to pack and move. Plus , if no one will buy it ,its just expensive junk you have to get rid of.
I truly enjoy collecting the popcorn buckets! However, I don’t understand why people buy so many and resell them on the internet to ruin it for everybody else. I also feel if I’m not there to buy the bucket in person, I wouldn’t buy it on the internet. That’s part of the fun of collecting. There’s no reason why Disney can’t put a limit of one bucket per family.