Silhouette – Picture by Lisa McBride

Unless one is lucky enough to have deep pockets, most visit Walt Disney World with a limited budget for souvenirs.  Make no mistake, there are souvenirs to be found all over the Parks but if you are looking for a budget-friendly, one-of-a-kind, personalized souvenir, look no further than the silhouette carts at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Downtown Disney.

You’ll find them in some of the “quieter” corners of the Parks.  At the Magic Kingdom, one of the carts can be found on the “side street” about half way down Main Street, U.S.A. and another is nestled into a little area behind Ye Olde Christmas Shop in Liberty Square.  At Epcot, a cart is usually in France just across from Chefs de France restaurant.  Because of the construction going on in Downtown Disney (soon to be renamed Disney Springs), the cart is moved around quite a bit.  So, if you are looking for the silhouette cart, it might be best to stop a Cast Member and ask if they can point you in the right direction.

The silhouettes are miniature works of art that are created on the spot and are truly one-of-a-kind souvenirs. Remember the reference to “budget-friendly?”   They really are!  For a little less than $10, you will receive two silhouettes (mirror images of each other).  If you want the silhouette artist to frame the silhouette for you, the sturdy black frames also can be purchased for less than $10.  Of course, prices are subject to change.

The process is really quite simple.  You sit still for a minute or two while the artist cuts out the silhouette … and that’s it.  After the artist is done, he/she will apply glue to the back of each silhouette and attach it to a white backing.  If you have purchased the frame, the artist will place the silhouette in the frame for you.

silhouette – Picture by Lisa McBride

If you are worried that your toddler or pre-schooler won’t sit still long enough, you can have them sit on your lap while the artist works his/her magic.  If you are afraid silhouettes will take too much time away from your park touring, don’t be.  We’ve had the portraits done twice and, for the four of us, it took approximately twenty minutes from start to finish.  Where else can you have a priceless moment in time, captured with an age-old art, for $20 and twenty minutes?

The carts are located outdoors so keep in mind they will, more than likely, close up shop during inclement weather.  The hours also vary, so if you don’t spot them out at the time of your visit, pop into Guest Services to find out when they’ll be open.

It is amazing how much detail the silhouette artists cut into the portraits.  You could even see my husband’s mustache, the waves in my hair, and our kids’ eyelashes:

silhouette – Picture by Lisa McBride

silhouette – Picture by Lisa McBride

After our daughter got married, we needed to have her husband added to our silhouette collection so we stopped at the cart in Liberty Square to have their silhouettes done.  Because the price includes two portraits, I was able to give one to our daughter and our son-in-law and they were able to take one home too.

silhouette – Picture by Lisa McBride

silhouette – Picture by Lisa McBride

Our collection of silhouettes is on display on the hutch in my dining room and I’ve received so many compliments on them.  When I tell people that we had them done at Walt Disney World, the reaction is always the same “I didn’t know they did stuff like that at Walt Disney World!”

silhouette – Picture by Lisa McBride

Whether you are going to Walt Disney World for a “once in a lifetime” trip, or if you’ve been numerous times, keep the silhouette artist carts in mind when you are looking for that special one-of-a-kind souvenir.