Hi Jessica!
Oh, a girl of my own heart! You are singing my favorite song...shopping! I was in
Walt Disney World last week and I should have done what you are doing now...create a budget!
You are absolutely right, the souvenirs range wildly in price. You can absolutely buy souvenirs on a budget or you can go a little crazy. We typically give our kids $50 to spend on toys, candy or other souvenirs while we are on vacation. It's miraculous how they go from spendthrifts to budget conscious consumers when they are spending "their" money.
A great site you can check out prior to your vacation is
Disney Parks Merchandise. This site can give you some great ideas for new souvenirs (like the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Dooney & Bourke purses). You can also find many Disney Park Souvenirs on the
Disney Store site.
Some of the best deals in the parks are on Mickey Mouse ears. This iconic souvenir ranges from $15-$25. You can also get hats or t-shirts for ~ $25. The cute Disney plush in a blanket is only $26 and it's a favorite for little ones.
I hope this gives you some good ideas!
Magically,
Stacy