The Deal Mommy

Disney well done

This is one of a series of posts relating to how to save going to Orlando and Disney World. Other posts are about how to save on lodging on transportation and how to save on tickets.

My first piece of advice regarding souvenirs is BUY BEFORE YOU GO. This can be as simple as hitting up the dollar store, which often have Disney branded items such as coloring books and puzzles. If you’re a DC local, try the Disney Store in Potomac Mills Mall for Disney Parks merchandise and marked down toys and clothes.

Without leaving the house, you can hit up Disney Store and Warner Brothers (for Universal Studios). Both carry park merchandise, often at a discount from what you’ll find in the parks.

What if you’ve made it all the way to the mouse and just have to get your shop on? There is still hope. Disney has a not-well promoted outlet practically outside the Disney World gates, and one on I-Drive:

Disney’s Character Warehouse
4951 International Drive
Orlando
(407) 354-3255

Disney’s Character Premiere
8200 Vineland Avenue, Orlando Premium Outlets – Suite 1252
Orlando
(407) 477-0222

I hit both last year and found them to be identically stocked…and well worth the visit! They had pins from $1.00, Tees from $3, and tons of out-of-season, but still perfectly useful items at giveaway prices. I gave each of the Deal Kids $10 to spend. Deal Kid got a remote control Darth Vader car (down from $25) and Deal Daughter picked up a nightgown ($6, down from $22) and a T-shirt ($4, down from $12).