Princess 5K week has finally arrived. I am packing my bags and I’m ready to head to Orlando. Hooray! My friends and I have been waiting for this week for almost a year. We have trained, found the perfect race gear, and planned all of our adventures for the weekend. Keep an eye out for an upcoming post about RunDisney Princess Race weekend.
Disney World is truly my home away from home, and I would go there every day if I could. I’ve had the opportunity to visit a Disney park at least once a year for the last ten years. It is my happy place, and despite the fact (or probably BECAUSE of the fact) that I have no children, I feel free to let go and forget my troubles in the most magical place on earth. A big part of every Disney trip is finding the perfect souvenir to bring home. I have everything from jewelry to dresses, coffee mugs to Christmas ornaments, and backpacks to phone cases. But, my favorite Disney souvenirs are ear hats!
I own more than 25 sets of ears and don’t plan to stop buying them anytime soon. I mean, if I go to the parks and DON’T pick up a set of ears, was it really a trip to Disney at all? (My niece went on a trip with her high school band this year and didn’t buy a single pair of ears. Let me tell you, it broke my Disney loving heart!!)
The Disney Parks are constantly releasing new pairs of ears. Some celebrate Disney films, others feature Princesses, special holidays, and special colors. On average, ear headbands are $30 per pair. There are also classic felt ear hats, where you can have your name or a special message embroidered on the back. On my very first trip to Disney, I got the classic ears with my name on them. They are part of a treasured memory.
In the last year, Disney has also released a collection of designer ears. These ears feature designs created by some of Disney’s favorite brand partners and collaborators including Coach, Alex and Ani, Harvey’s, Betsey Johnson, Ashley Eckstein, and more. Many of these ears are an investment, but gosh, are they beautiful. I would love to add them to my collection.
While you can always find the perfect ears at any park or in World of Disney at Disney Springs, you can also purchase official ear hats on Shop Disney. Sometimes you can even find a decent pair at Walmart or Target near the holidays. And of course there are many DIY options online.
One of the best places to find something unique, custom, and special is to take advantage of Disney inspired makers on Etsy. These small businesses create ears inspired by every Disney character and fandom. My favorite small ear business is Bibbidi Bobbidi Brooke. Her ears are well crafted and personalized with your name inside the band. She also offers all sorts of other ear hat inspired products like MagicBand buttons and key chains. To keep up with demand, her shop is not always open until the supply is built up, but the ears are definitely worth waiting for.
My next Disney adventure begins in just three days. The big question is… what ears will I end up bringing home with me THIS trip?!
Forty Fat and Fabulous 