How a Basic Disney World Souvenir Could Become a VIRAL Gen-Z Trend

Some time around 2022, what started as a simple little inside joke became a VIRAL phenomenon. The internet reclaimed the classic L.L.Bean Boat and Tote bag by doing what the internet does best — creating a new trend! In just a few short months, “Ironic Boat and Totes” were EVERYWHERE.

The Emporium

OK, so what is an “Ironic Boat and Tote,” and why are we talking about it on AllEars.net? We can explain — it’s all connected!

The “Ironic Boat and Tote” is simply an L.L.Bean (or any brand, if you try hard and believe) tote bag with some custom embroidery stitched on the side. To add a little twist on the old tradition of getting your initials, name, or company name stitched on the bag, we started seeing customizations that were a little, well, different. Hot sauce bag? Yep. We want a hot sauce bag.

Credit: @ironicboatandtote on Instagram

OK, back to Disney. Now, Disney doesn’t sell L.L. Bean tote bags, but they DO have some of those nifty Barudan embroidery machines around the parks. And as it turns out, you have a LOT of options if you want a custom pair of Mickey ears!

This is what that fancy machine looks like!

Just like the L.L. Bean website, Disney offers a wide variety of fonts and thread colors to choose from. You can go “fun” or stick with the classic stitching! And don’t forget, you don’t HAVE to get your name embroidered on those ears — as long as your request is appropriate (at the discretion of the Cast Member), you can get anything you want on there!

FUN!

Are we suddenly considering a pair of ears that says, “Mickey Waffles”? Yes, yes, we are.

We love a Basic pair of ears

Oh, and if you REALLY want to jazz up your souvenir, take your ears to Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe for some additional hand-lettered customization!

Click HERE to see an example of what Cast Members can do!

Now, time for a little history. Back in the day (a.k.a. prior to around 2005), Disney only had SUPER limited options when it came to custom Mickey ears.

The possibilities are ENDLESS!

Before those computerized machines came around, you could really only get gold (hand-stitched) ears in Disney World. Today, you’ve got endless options in terms of color and style. Pretty cool, right?

There are TONS of ways to customize your ears!

So, whether you’re looking for an ironic pair of Mickey ears or a classic memento with your name, Disney’s got you covered! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.