Walt Disney World is a land of fun, food, and gorgeous photo spots – but it’s also full of shopping opportunities. A visit to the parks can double as a holiday shopping excursion. Talk about smart multitasking! With merchandise pickup, resort delivery, and even home delivery, holiday shopping in the parks is easier than ever – and there really is something for everyone. Who can you cross off your shopping list between Fastpasses, character greetings, and meal stops this season?
1. The art lover
Disney isn’t just for kids. Help the more mature, sophisticated people in your life to rediscover their love of Disney through fine art. Disney art shops are becoming a more common sight throughout the parks and resorts. You can find wonderful galleries at Downtown Disney and Epcot! If you’re timing is right, you may even find a Disney artist on-hand demonstrating their skills, or offering signed work for sale!
If Disney decor isn’t quite right for the art lover in your life, Epcot’s World Showcase offers an incredible selection of decorative accents and art unique to the representative countries. Consider this for the well-traveled art aficionado on your list!
Even the littlest of artists can benefit from a Disney shopping run! The majority of shops on property will provide unique crayons, art sets – even scrapbooking supplies; everything to keep crafty little hands busy, and creating.
2. The auto enthusiast
Racing fans and gearheads are not forgotten at Walt Disney World. Test Track at Epcot may be the best spot for automotive memorabilia overall. T-shirts, model cars, and RC cars are joined by the usual gift shop merchandise, with automotive theming weaved into picture frames, plushes, hats, and more. Most shops on-site have Disney-themed accents for cars including antenna toppers, license plate frames, stickers, and window shades. Whatever level of auto enthusiast you’re shopping for, Disney has you covered!
3. The bibliophile
Perhaps reading is more the speed of interest you’re shopping for. Books on all levels and topics are sold throughout Walt Disney World, but one particular series deserves recommendation – The Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson. There are seven titles in this series, that follows adventurous teen characters through their experiences as special protectors of the Disney parks. Intended for older children and young adults, The Kingdom Keepers series is enjoyable for youthful adults as well. Start with the first novel, Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark, but have the second installment handy. The avid reader on your list will be eager to continue the series, and then move on to the online game!
4. The nostalgist
Television has pushed a spotlight into the past through a variety of pawn and “picking” style shows featuring older items such as retro signage and branded product throwbacks. One of the most popular trademarks when it comes to nostalgic memorabilia is Coca-Cola. At Epcot’s Club Cool, you’ll find a blend of Coca-Cola gear from contemporary to retro; decorative to wearable. Club Cool is an easy spot to miss, tucked away next door to Starbucks in Future World, but it’s a must-visit if your list includes someone with a fondness for yesteryear or Americana!
5. The chef/baker
The best thing about the Disney kitchen product line is that you can go as subtle or as dramatic as you like! Numerous styles of bakeware, cookware, accessories, and other pathways to yumminess are available, and product lines change from time to time. Some are more colorful and in-your-face with Disney stylings, but other lines are subdued and elegant.
There are many shopping locations that offer varying degrees of kitchen-based goodies – some with small displays, and some that have entire collections. The Marketplace Co-op at Downtown Disney is a fresh, new location for the best selection in kitchen-related items, but World of Disney nearby is another favorite. Smaller selections can be found in Epcot and Magic Kingdom as well.
6. The foodie or wine connoisseur
Chances are, you know someone who fancies themselves a foodie or a wine connoisseur – even if they aren’t very fond of spending much time in the kitchen. Walt Disney World boasts exceptional cuisine of every flavor, but did you know that there are plenty of food and wine choices that you can take with you?
Candy and bake shops are in no short supply throughout the entire resort. Mickey’s Ice Cream Bar may not be the way to go, but cookies, fudge, and other such items would hold up fine on most homeward journeys. During the holiday season, bake shops are set up alongside (or even in) gingerbread displays at Boardwalk Resort, Contemporary Resort, and the Grand Floridian. Add some holiday – or “Frozen” – flair to your take-home treat to be a true holiday hero!
Epcot is the place to find impressive wine and liquor selections – and, not just during the annual Food and Wine Festival. Throughout the World Showcase, you’ll find vast selections of spirits from the represented nations. By the way… there’s more food along this path as well. Pace yourself – you’re likely to want to eat as much as you buy!
7. The gardener
While we’re on the subject of Epcot’s festivals, another Epcot event has given rise to another wildly popular collection. The Flower and Garden Festival is the time to find the best in gardener’s tools, plants, and outdoor decor, but some products are available year-round. Seeds and small plants are carried in The Land Pavilion of Future World, and World Showcase’s Japan Pavilion has a gorgeous selection of plants, including Bonsai trees.
8. The tech geek
The tech junkie in your life will certainly appreciate the strides Disney is making in the area of technology accessories. Aside from bags sized for all styles of electronic devices, cases, storage devices, speakers, and more are springing up with Mickey ears, Princess sparkles, and pirate eye patches!
And while we’re talking about options in variety, the top tech shop is easily D-Tech on Demand at Downtown Disney’s Marketplace Co-Op, where rapid print technology is utilized to create personalized accessories.
9. The musician
Available in shops at Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland, Epcot’s World Showcase, and Animal Kingdom (as well as Animal Kingdom Lodge), musical instruments are an easy choice for anyone who appreciates living life to the beat of their own drum – or a number of other music making tools! You won’t find electric guitars or 5-piece drum kits, but you will find unique, exotic instruments, often made of natural elements, by hand.
10. The princess
If you know a little girl – or a woman, for that matter – it’s safe to assume she’s had a princess fantasy. Walt Disney World may be the best place on Earth to satisfy every girl’s dream of being the belle of the ball. Gowns for both elegant affairs, and royal bedtime are easy to find most anywhere. These are usually accompanied by every accessory a princess could dream of, and then some. Truly make her eyes twinkle with the full princess treatment from head to toe! If your little princess is with you during your visit, top it all off with a makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (with two locations: Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom, and World of Disney at Downtown Disney). For the princess who is blossoming into a queen, tiaras are always a nice touch – available in many varieties throughout the resort.
You can also enhance the princess treatment with endless supplies of makeup and jewelry. The new Beautifully Disney collection offers lip glosses, nail polishes, brushes, puffs, and everything a princess needs to complete her new look. This line is suitable for adults and teens, and high in quality. Beautifully Disney is available at most resorts and Downtown Disney, as well as some park locations.
Jewelry is a nice, safe gift option, and there’s enough to meet every taste – silver, gold, elaborate, and subtle. One favorite that adds a more personal touch – charm bracelets and necklaces that you customize with any style or design of charms or beads you like.
11. The goof
Everybody knows one – that guy who’s just a little offbeat, a bit of a clown. Spunk up his routine with a new silly hat with the perfect amount of Disney wackiness. You could easily go mad as a hatter trying to keep up with this endless collection, but you’ll have no shortage of styles to choose from.
Ladies love the wacky hats too, but for a more dainty, feminine touch, there are headbands with a vast array of classic and beautiful styles. You’ll notice many people wearing an assortment of hats and headbands throughout the parks – with and without Mickey ears. There’s always the classic sombrero option to consider as well. What party animal can get through life without one of these?
12. The classic Mickey fan
If you’re lucky enough to be shopping for a classic Disney fan, you simply can’t go wrong with, well… almost anything! Aside from those traditional hats, there are countless items to choose from, and something for every budget. Keychains, a classic Mickey Mouse watch, even holiday ornaments to add a touch of Disney magic to Christmas itself! And by the way – just about everything mentioned above comes in a Mickey-focused variety as well, so mix it up and cover a couple of angles. As a prime example: my favorite piece in my Disney collection is a bobblehead statuette of Mickey Mouse in an Atlanta Braves baseball uniform. Add a little Mickey to whatever you please to really dazzle that special Disney fan on your list!
This is just a small example of the various types of people who just may love a little Disney in their holiday this year. Sports fans, Star Wars fans, those who love Halloween and all things spooky – you can find a product line to suit anyone of any age. Sometimes it’s just a matter of finding the tie that binds their current passion to their timeless love of all things Disney.
