A trip to Walt Disney World isn’t just about enjoying the beautiful resort hotels or being amazed by the thrilling rides and shows. For many, it’s just as important to find time for some retail therapy.
Luckily, Walt Disney World is an absolute Mecca for shopping. It features hundreds of stores offering everything from classic Disney souvenirs to unique treasures flown in from around the world. No matter where you are on the property, you’ll find somewhere that has something you’ll be interested in buying.
But, the shopping at Walt Disney World has a problem: specifically, that the best stores are also often the most crowded.
Yes, shopping can be fun, but when you’re packed-in shoulder-to-shoulder with hundreds of other people, fighting over the same handful of items, things can get a little crazy. Some stores are so hectic, going into them can be downright terrifying.
It’s not that these stores aren’t great — they usually are among Disney’s best. But, nevertheless, here are five shops on Walt Disney World property that are the scariest to shop in.
World of Disney
Image: ryaninc, Flickr (license)
If you are a passionate Disney fan, the World of Disney store at Disney Springs is something akin to a religious experience. If you can imagine it, Disney probably sells it there — everything from t-shirts to cookware to board games to toys. It’s size and scale are nearly impossible to describe if you haven’t been there yourself.
For years, shopping there was a deeply unpleasant experience, however, as the layout of the building led to claustrophobic bunching and massive, massive crowds. Disney recently refurbished and remodeled the building, giving it a more open and simple layout. That remodeling was a great success, but unfortunately, it only led to the building being that much more of a destination.
World of Disney is a must-see destination for Disney fans looking for everything imaginable under one roof. But, ti’s also arguably the most crowded and stressful shopping experience you will have at Walt Disney World. Visit, but don’t say you weren’t warned.
Main Street Emporium
Image: harshlight, Flickr (license)
If you picture the stereotypical family or group visiting Walt Disney World, you probably picture them walking down Main Street USA at the Magic Kingdom. If you were to picture them buying a souvenir, it probably would be a similar image: that group examining the shelves of the Main Street Emporium.
Unfortunately, that image is based in a deeply-common reality. The Main Street Emporium is likely the first and last stop for anyone visiting the Magic Kingdom on their search for things to buy. As such, it is essentially always crowded.
But, while the crowds at World of Disney spent their day at the resort, exploring Disney Springs, or traveling to the Walt Disney World resort, guests visiting the Main Street Emporium are usually spending the whole day in the parks. As such, the crowded aisles have a kind of manic-depressive energy: couples fighting, children crying, families delighting at a young one’s first pair of Mickey ears, etc.
Add to all of this the fact that the interconnected stores of Main Street funnel crowds from one shop to the next, and you have a major thoroughfare of shopping. While it can be fun to do once, usually there are less-stressful places to acquire the same things.
Mouse Gear
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If you were to combine the World of Disney and the Main Street Emporium into one shop, you’d have Mouse Gear at Epcot. It’s square footage is absolutely massive, giving guests the opportunity to find whatever it is they’re interested in buying: from Epcot shirts to CDs containing Disney Parks music.
But, while Mouse Gear benefits from both the selection of World of Disney and the in-park location of the Main Street Emporium, it also has some drawbacks. Specifically, it is every bit as crowded as either other store, which makes lingering and really exploring the items on offer a much more stressful experience.
Additionally, the flow of Epcot seems to push guests toward Mouse Gear almost by happenstance. It is located in a piece of key real estate between Test Track, Spaceship Earth, and the World Showcase. It’s hard not to wind up there when you’re in Epcot.
Lastly, the presence of World Showcase in half the park limits the number of places Disney can sell its more traditional Disney-branded merchandise. For that reason, anyone looking for the iconic Disney items will make their way to Mouse Gear. It’s a great store, but it certainly has a ton of crowds.
Mitsukoshi Department Store
Image: Dakota Gardner
Shopping is a major part of the experience of the World Showcase at Epcot. Most pavilions offer unique and authentic items from their home country, giving guests a chance to take home a piece of a foreign land.
The Japan pavilion takes this concept to another level entirely, however, by making its shopping destination the main attraction of the pavilion itself. That is, of course, the famed Mitsukoshi Department Store.
This shop is among the largest on Disney property, and it delivers a slice of Japanese life directly to Central Florida. Included inside are sections dedicated to entertainment brands like Pokémon and Studio Ghibli, as well as traditional robes, teas, sake, and snacks.
What makes Mitsukoshi different from other Disney stores, however, isn’t just that it’s crowded. It’s more that the store offers a kind of cultural experience that people can’t normally get — and so, the energy in the building is nothing short of rhapsodic.
Kids tearing through Pokémon merchandise, teens ogling the katana swords, adults enjoying sake — everyone is genuinely thrilled to be able to experience these elements of Japanese culture. So, while a trip to the Mitsukoshi Department Store is absolutely must-do, it isn’t for the faint of heart.
Disney’s Character Warehouse
Image: inazakira, Flickr (license)
If you’re looking for one of the better-kept secrets of Walt Disney World, the Disney’s Character Warehouse might be near the top of the list — particularly considering it isn’t technically on Disney property.
When the Disney Parks and Resorts have merchandise that isn’t selling as well as they’d like it to, or when seasonal merchandise outlasts its season, Disney sends these items to what it calls “Disney’s Character Warehouse” shops. There are two, one located in outlets near Disney Springs and another located in a different set of outlets near Universal Orlando.
The reason to visit these shops is that you can buy official Disney Parks merchandise at deep, deep discounts. Additionally, you may also find merchandise related to some other far-flung Disney locales, including Disney’s Aulani Resort, Disney Cruise Line, and even Shanghai Disneyland.
The trade-off, of course, is that the stores essentially have the feeling of Black Friday every day of the year. The last time I was in one, a woman literally ripped a $10 Expedition Everest long-sleeved shirt out of my hand. But, the benefits are there — especially if you aren’t particularly picky about the kinds of souvenirs you go home with.
Be forewarned, visiting these outlets, finding a parking space, and fighting your way inside isn’t for the amateur shopper. But if you have the patience to fight the crowds, sometimes literally, the discounts of the Disney’s Character Warehouse make the trip worth it.
