Disney World can feel like one big ATM if you let it. After paying for the tickets, resort rooms, and meals, you might not have any left for souvenirs. Here’s the secret to saving a bit at the House of Mouse: Disney’s Character Warehouse. The official Disney outlet locations located in Orlando, Florida, outlet malls are jam-packed with souvenirs at up to 75% off. Even better, one is right outside Disney World gates!
Disclosure: TravelingMom uses affiliate links.
It’s funny how after spending thousands for Disney park theme park tickets, hotels and meals that it’s the $34 t-shirt that sends me over the edge. I just can’t bear the park prices for souvenirs! Thank Goofy I’ve found the premium outlets that sell our favorite Disney merchandise. These are Disney-owned stores, not knockoffs, right in Orlando, Florida. I’m happy to share my discoveries with you.
TravelingMom Tip: Even when you can’t travel to Disney in person, there are plenty of ways to get your Disney fix while at home!
Disney Outlets – Right outside the Walt Disney World Gates
If you’re short on time or need to take an Uber, the best Disney’s Character Warehouse location is at Orlando Premium Outlet Mall (8200 Vineland Ave., Suite 1252). Keep in mind that this is also the busiest of the two outlets that we recommend.
However, if you’ve got more time and a car, the Orlando International Premium Outlets location (4951 International Drive, Orlando) is well worth the drive. Because it’s a bit further afield, the Disney’s Character Warehouse on I-Drive tends to get picked over less quickly. We found this to be our favorite of the two Disney outlets.
TravelingMom Tip: Take a Minnie Van over to the outlet through Lyft. Here is a $5 ride credit.
When You Aren’t at Disney
Rev up the excitement for an impending Disney trip or extend the magic after a Disney vacation with these Disney recipes, Disney crafts and Disney at home activities:
Disney Outlet Finds
The kids and I hit both recently and found them to be well-stocked and well worth the visit!
We stocked up on tees from $4 and tons of out-of-season but still perfectly useful items at giveaway prices. We also found Magicband bling- $13 at the parks – for $1.99. I grabbed a bunch of those for gifts to give to Disney loving friends. I gave each of my kids $10 to spend.
What’s also nice about the Disney’sCharacter Warehouse is that you can find some amazing discounted collectibles and high-end items (the same items that can be found in the official Disney store). I see Dooney and Burke and Vera Bradley purses every time I visit, usually at half off retail. On the last visit, I got an amazing Mickey Leather Bomber jacket at a steal. Be sure to look in the display cases and shelves behind the counter. I have been able to get some one-of-a-kind items from sold-out Disney special events such as Star Wars weekends.
Read More: 25+ Ways to Save Money at Disney World
Disney Outlet Pin Trading Tips
Disney’s Character Warehouse carries pin starter sets of 6 or 8 for $12.95 to $16.95, which is an absolute steal compared to the parks. If your kids are into pins, get ANY cheap ones you can find; the cast members in the parks are required to trade them! Many of the park gift shops (especially in the hotels) have entire books of pins just for trading. No worries if your kid starts with 20 “2016 marathon” pins you got for $3 each.
Speaking of pins, we have a holiday tradition in our family involving Disney pins. When the kids were 4 and 7, their Christmas surprise was a trip to Disney World. To get them in the spirit the “Elves” put a daily Disney pin into their advent calendars. The kids are now 11 and 15 and still look for the pins every December morning. Thank goodness for the Disney outlet so the Elves can stock up on the cheap!
TravelingMom Tip: New to Disney Pin Trading? Check out Traveling Mom’s Tips for first-time pin traders.
Official Disney Outlets Nationwide
If you’re near a local Disney outlet, it’s definitely worth a look because you can find some great deals! An interesting bit of trivia: Disney tends to stock merchandise from parks farther away from the location. For instance, the outlets near Washington DC are often chock full of special event tees, toys, and knick-knacks from Disneyland. It’s a great place to score some of your favorite Disney merch.
I always keep an eye on shopDisney sales as well. During “Friends and Family” sales, look for free shipping with no minimum and items as low as 99 cents (be sure to sign up for the emails).
Need help planning your Disney trip? Get all your questions answered from our Disney Planning & Fun Facebook Group!
Disney World “Outlet Stores” Shopping Tips
I’d be remiss not to remind you of a couple of my favorite shop-and-save tips right on Disney property:
- I highly recommend visiting the outlets BEFORE you head into the parks. You’ll find autograph books, pins for pin-trading, Disney ears, Disney t-shirts and so many more items that you’ll want to use during your Disney vacation.
- Uniqlo, in Disney Springs, is a Japanese H&M/Old Navy type clothing store. However, the merchandise is universally good quality. Even better, each store carries a line of merchandise unique to the location. The Disney Springs store has hundreds of unique Disney tees, most under $15. The style and fit factor are amped up a notch over your typical t-shirt. You’ll even find characters not often seen. Last time I saw Up! and 101 Dalmatians. When was the last time you saw an Up! t-Shirt?
TravelingTip: For more Disney World tips and expert advice check out: Disney World Vacation Tips
Where to Buy Discounted Disney World Tickets
We recommend purchasing your Disney tickets through Get Away Today. Not only does the company have the lowest prices, but it also offers a best price guarantee. If you ever find park tickets cheaper, Get Away Today won’t just match the price, the company will beat it.
If you call to make your purchase be sure to mention TravelingMom!
At Home Spa Day Ideas and Other Recipes for Bringing Resort Experiences Home
They are not fake pins from the Disney outlet just old lines they no longer sell in the parks. This idea really helps if you’ve got lots of children with you that all want to swap pins.
Any way to get discounted magic bands?
Why are people so mad at you! Lol. I thought the info was great, thanks. Everyone gets so uptight… *eyeroll*
Trading fake pins is dishonest. I really object to this article encouraging trading fakes. You recommend that people should “get ANY cheap ones you can find and the cast members on site have to trade them.” Plus, you’re inaccurate by saying cast members have to trade authentic pins away for fakes. They can refuse. If you didn’t mean fakes by saying “ANY,” you need to warn people against purchasing and trading fakes. You’re trying to help people, and that I appreciate, but please consider that your article might add to the ruin of pin trading.
Hi Olivia,
Thanks for your comment. I understand that fake Disney pins are a touchy subject. Considering the article is about Disney outlets, I encourage people to buy pins at the outlets, and that nowhere in the article do I mention either where or how to buy fake pins, I’m not sure I understand your concern.
1.5
“Right across the street” is not just misleading, it’s wrong. You’ll need a ride to get there from Disney Springs!
Thanks for your comment. Disney World is 40 square miles, so I think that anyone who understands that also understands that people need a car or an uber to get almost anywhere that is not on Disney Transportation.
Do you know by chance if these outlets donate product to charities such as schools for silent auctions?
Good question! I need to make a Disney basket for a silent auction.
3.5
Hay
Thanke you very much for let me now what you wrote.i learn from you things that i didnt new. So now i will be prepped better for disney.
Can you use Disney gift cards at the character Warehouse ?
Yes. If you get them on sale you can save even more.
4.5
You say it’s just outside Disney gates but Google Maps puts it over 11 miles away. Is there one closer that I am not seeing?
Hi Patty,
Disney is 46 square miles so it depends exactly from where you are searching. The closest one is at the Orlando Vineland Outlet Mall, which is near the Disney Springs entrance.
Thanks. When you say near, can I walk to it?
Walk from Disney Springs.
No, you can’t. It’s at the Premium outlet mall about a 15 min trip. You’ll need to take a Lynx bus or Uber if you don’t have a car. I’m a regular shopper at Character Warehouse. Down here it’s NO secret. I’ve bought the Mickey ear flamingo, tea pot, purses, shirts, and all sorts of misc there. Seasonal things don’t normally appear until after that season. You might find Halloween in Nov and Dec, for instance. I’ve seen some merchandise that is also still for sale in the parks. If you just want 1 tee, it’s not worth it.
I heard that you could also buy yard decorations like for Halloween and Christmas, is this true?
We are going in July and hope to be able to get some of these type items plus souvenirs.
Hi Denise,
Inventory varies widely but I have definitely seen items like flags and other outdoor stuff. Being there in July should get you some great deals on off-season stuff if they still have some left over.
4
5