Whether it’s an unforgettable souvenir or an extravagant gift for someone
special, Walt Disney World Resort is a shopper’s paradise of more than
300 shopping locations.
There’s just about everything imaginable at the Vacation Kingdom --
from a shiny red antique carnival bumper car and Italian leather handbags
… to a Winnie the Pooh cuckoo clock and a Waterford crystal Spaceship
Earth. And the shops are open to guests every day of the year. So there
are 365 days to shop for memorable holiday gifts.
Here are some insider tips and window-shopping discoveries:
A walk down memory lane: Starabilias,
a nostalgic memorabilia shop at Downtown Disney West Side, has a grand
selection of out-of-the-ordinary items -- for example, a Schwinn Red
Phantom Bicycle, a Wurlitzer Juke Box, props from movies, an original
Indian Chief 1950’s motorcycle, autographed photos, an antique bumper
car from a Jersey Boardwalk carnival, plus signed celebrity posters
and photographs. Movie buffs will love Sid Cahuenga’s One-of-a-Kind
at Disney-MGM Studios. Inside this California-style bungalow are celebrity
books, films, posters, and a collection of Hollywood wardrobe pieces
such as a shirt worn by Cuba Gooding Jr. in the film “Chill Factor”
and clothing worn by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film “True Lies.”
Artistic treasures: Armani-crafted
Seven Dwarf figures are available in the Italy pavilion at Epcot; original
cels and animation art from classic Disney films in The Art Of Disney
at Downtown Disney Marketplace; authentic Goebel and Hummel figurines,
Volkskunst beer steins and hand-painted eggs in the Germany pavilion
at Epcot.
Out-of-the-ordinary: Eclectic
art and decor such as Zen fountains, Japanese painting boards and colorful
hand-crafted sculptures can be found at Hoypoloi at Downtown Disney
West Side. In Mickey’s Groove at Downtown Disney West Side, trendy nail
polish, wigs, lava lamps and comic strip frames are great gift items
for the Generation X’er. The Main Street Gallery in the Magic Kingdom
features a limited-edition fiber-optics jacket commemorating the popular
“Main Street Electrical Parade,” plus animation cels, lithographs and
figurines. A Waterford crystal Spaceship Earth is a shimmering treasure
found in The Art of Disney at Downtown Disney Marketplace.
Artisans at work: At Disney’s
Animal Kingdom, artists craft woven African baskets in Ziwani Traders,
Indonesian bamboo carvings in Mandala Hut and African woodcarvings in
Mombasa. Glass-blown crystal and metal creations are presented in Eurospain
at Downtown Disney Marketplace. Sketch artists are on site at Disney’s
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Mouthwatering: Homemade fudge,
hand-dipped candy apples, cotton candy, chocolate-dipped marshmallows
and truffles are sure to soothe the sweet tooth in The Candy Cauldron
at Downtown Disney West Side. La Bottega Italiana gourmet shop at Epcot
displays an assortment of Italian pastries, wines, olive oils, vinegars
and specialty coffees.
Jewelry: In the Italy pavilion
at Epcot, Il Bel Cristallo offers elegant cameo rings and pendants,
gold bracelets and necklaces. Disney’s Contemporary Resort features
a vast selection of Disney watches, plus costume jewelry and colorful
kid’s bracelets.
Stocking stuffers: Disney
dollars and gift certificates are available throughout Walt Disney World
Resort as well as at participating Disney Stores. NEW: Special gift
certificates for spa treatments and admission to the Cirque du Soleil®
original production La Nouba.
Sweet scents: The oldest family-owned
fragrance and cosmetic family in the world has a presence at Epcot.
The Guerlain Boutique in the France pavilion offers an assortment of
Guerlain products including its new Purple Fantasy fragrance.
Every day’s a holiday: Disney’s
Days of Christmas shop at Downtown Disney Marketplace showcases hundreds
of hand-crafted ornaments, candles, cards, character stockings and traditional
holiday decorations 365 days a year.
One-stop-shopping: The largest
Disney character showplace anywhere, World of Disney at Downtown Disney
Marketplace is 50,000 square feet of take-home treasures -- including
a wall of plush toys with more than 8,000 character toys. The superstore’s
12 themed areas include everything from princess pajamas and Disney
luggage to Goofy-shaped pastas and Mickey and Minnie wedding-cake toppers.
The Magic Kingdom offers a vast selection of Disney-logo merchandise
as well as custom-embroidered Mouse Ears inspired by the original “Mickey
Mouse Club.”
Household items: Next door
to World of Disney in the Disney Home Store at Downtown Disney Marketplace
are Winnie the Pooh sheets and towels, Mickey-themed bedroom furniture,
rugs and soaps, plus other household accessories with a hint of Disney.
Tower Gifts in The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror? features accessories
for the bath -- including towels and robes emblazoned with the Hollywood
Tower Hotel crest in smart embroidery.
Helping Hands
Merchandise purchases don’t have to be a burden to Walt Disney World
theme park guests. There are three alternatives to carrying packages
in the parks:
1. Package pickup is available at no charge. Merchandise is moved to
package pickup, located near the front entrance of each theme park,
for guests’ pickup when they leave the park.
2. Hotel delivery is available at no charge. Purchases made prior to
7 p.m. will be delivered to the guest’s hotel by noon the following
day. Purchases made after 7 p.m. will be at the hotel on the second
day after purchase.
3. Shipping is available for an additional charge at the time of purchase.
Guests also can shop the theme parks by phone after vacationing at
Walt Disney World Resort. Just call 407/363-6200. Describe what you
saw and where you saw it. With the help of computers, the Attractions
Merchandise Guest Services Department can locate that gift, arrange
the purchase and ship it. The Guest Services Department can help with
merchandise from all Walt Disney World-run shops in the theme parks.
It is open weekdays except holidays.
Hours of the shops vary. Some shops are open after regular theme park
hours. Contact 407/824-4321 for more information.
