Welcome to the latest edition of The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! the longest running monthly look at the Disney Outlet Stores in Orlando. Outlet Intern Julia Mascardo (when she’s not trying to meltdown the entire Disney community by writing about tipping servers at WDW) secret shopper Daisy Lauren (when she’s not traveling across the country to visit Disneyland) and I found a whole bunch of neat items this month including an endless supply of Star Wars stuff, fun Tsum Tsums, fidget spinners, and one of the all time WEIRDEST Disney toys ever made (and imagine what ground that is covering.)

Ready to see what we else we found? Alright, let’s go!

Ever since Disney put out this “birthstone” pin set well over a year ago, I’ve been dying for them to come to the Outlets. The art for some of these Disney princesses is so off-model that it makes my drawing of Stacey Aswad in the Disney Must Dos video look like photorealistic in comparison. Here’s a shot of Anna and Jessica Rabbit from the ShopDisney App.

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So imagine my glee when a metric ton of “Zodiac Broach Pins” hit the Outlets. Now, what these princess pins have to do with the Zodiac calendar is anyone’s guess, but I was too smiling too wide to notice anyway. First up, the Jessica Rabbit  pin. Originally $11.99, now $5.99, and I definitely bought this one.

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Here’s the mashup of Frozen‘s Anna and Jimmy Durante.

Snow White.

Aurora.

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Not to be outdone by the pins, one of the all time strangest Disney toys came to the Outlets to brighten our day. Earlier this year this Sorcerer Mickey toy arrived at the Disney stores. For some reason his hands are twice as big as they should be, but that’s not even the weird part. When you activate the toy, Mickey’s right hand goes up and down in rapid fashion making it look like, well, you know….

Watch the embedded video to see this toy in action. Be warned, this may be the first thing on the TouringPlans blog that is NSFW (not including Seth Kubersky’s pics from inside the queue of any ride.)

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Now it’s time for my beloved Tsum Tsums. First up is a look at how they are sold at the Disney Outlet International Drive. They used to be on a large free standing Display, but that was taken over by the great MagicBand dump of 2017. An inside source has told me that after last month’s Outlet article came out, all of the discounted MagicBands were removed due to “optics.” I’m not saying there is a correlation between the two, but there have been some odd coincidences between something appearing in This Fine Blog and then a change being made at the Outlet stores. One example: me confusing the Mother Gothel Tsum Tsum for Mulan and the next month a Tsum Tsum Guide For Dummies picture shows up. Does Bob Iger have his own “Howard Finkel” reading the Outlet Report for notes? Right now that is unconfirmed. However one thing is for sure, that comparison was made for the three readers who also read Dave Meltzer’s The Wrestling Observer.

Talk about JACKPOT. First up is characters from the SPLASH MOUNTAIN line. This includes Brer Bear, Brer Fox, Brer Possum, and one of those buzzards you see right before the big drop. There’s VERY FEW Tsums I would consider buying at full price, but Splash Mountain ones were at the top of the list. Glad I held off.

Ok, I just said I almost never buy Tsums at full retail, but one I had to get this summer was Remy from Ratatouille. As a gambling man, weighing the odds of what will and what won’t make it to the Outlets is as high stakes as the sports books in Vegas setting NFL lines. The odds of Remy ever making it was slim, and even if he did he would just get scooped up immediately by the eBay pirates. Linguini on the other hand is one of those Tsums that will be at the Outlets for a long time, like Marvel’s War Machine and Black Panther.

Here is Nigel and Darla from Finding Nemo.

Have absolutely no idea who this guy is. Maybe from its a small world? Or a wuzzle from Pooh? UPDATE: Readers have identifed this guy as one of Nemo’s friends, a seahorse.

Luke and Han in Storm Trooper outfits from Star Wars.

I’ve never seen pinwheels at the Disney parks, but the Outlets had a bunch of them this month. The last time I saw one of these was in an episode of the Little Rascals. Anyway, here’s some featuring Toy Story characters.

And Mickey Mouse…

And Dumbo…

Get a load of this. This Tower of Terror pen was originally $32.99. Whoever bought this pen should get an immediate drug test. It has been reduced to “just” $9.99.

I really like these princess toy sets. All come with a bunch of accessories and were originally $19.99, now $9.99.

Solid Ariel set. Like I’ve said in the past, instead of the Outlets these should be given to Mousekeeping at Art of Animation  to surprise guests with and make an extra magical vacation.

And the contractually obligated Frozen set.

Rare to see Funko Pop! figures, but here’s a couple from the recent Spider-Man Homecoming film. What an awesome movie. I bought the blu ray to see the bonus features (including more Captain America spots) but have yet to crack it open. Here is the Peter Parker Pop. Originally $14.99, now $9.99.

I was at a comic/genre store this past week which must have had 1000 different types of Funko Pops and I can definitely see how people could become addicted to them. They have some for almost everything, it’s just insane. It would be like if there was also Tsum Tsums for Pulp Fiction, Lord of the Rings, and Stranger Things. I don’t even collect these things and still must have 20 in the Man Cave because I’m like “well, that’s cool.” I mean, you’re not going to see a Dancing Groot Pop and not not buy it, right? Anyway here’s the Vulture, same price as Parker.

Surprising to see these outfits at the Outlets before Halloween. You’d think they’d wait. Actually they could wait even longer as Thor: Ragnorok comes out this Friday featuring Thor and Hulk. This actually makes no sense at all. Originally $59.99, now $24.99.

Storm Trooper outfit. Originally $64.99, now $31.99.

I love this Star Wars t-shirt. Originally $26, now $7.99.

Another good one. Same price.

Super cute shirt for kids featuring Scout Troopers on speeder bikes. $17.99, now $6.99.

A large plastic dewback. WHO IS THIS FOR?!!!!! If it came with a Storm Trooper I could maybe, maybe see it. By itself? Are there really THAT many fans of dewbacks?! Originally $27.99, now $14.99.

Glowing BB-8 lanyard. Probably sold on the streets of DHS before the Galactic Spectacular show.

Is this poster supposed to be like a “parody” of a real poster? I get that one of the Storm Troopers is different, but is it worth $59.99? Is it one of those old school Magic Eye photos where if you stare at it long enough you see another picture? I love Star Wars as much as anyone, but am I losing my mind?

This is a really small sign for $49.99. Can’t imagine what they were trying to get for it originally.

Keep in mind that as we go through a mind numbing amount of Star Wars stuff seemingly every single month, all the old stuff is pretty much still at the Outlets too. It’s crazy. Here’s a K-2SO Lanyard Medal. Originally $16.99, now $6.99.

Star Wars characters as Easter Eggs pin set. Originally $34.99, but $17.99. If there are any single women reading this article, and one day you date a man who shows you his Star Wars Easter Egg pin collection, just RUN.

Storm Trooper pin collection. Originally $26.99, now $9.99.

I’m guessing these pins were from a set that spotlighted the heroic women of Star Wars. Both were originally $15.99, now $6.99.

Somehow there are still MORE Star Wars DCL pins even though I feel like we’ve covered over a half a dozen in the past few months. This cruise deal takes place for ONE DAY at sea. JUST ONE. Yet this many pins are produced? WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!! Originally $15.99, now $6.99.

Here is the grand daddy of WHAAAAAAAAAAAT DCL Star Wars pins. This pin set was originally $119.99, and now reduced to $49.99.

“Limited to 500.” Over/Under on how many sold on the ship is 22.

Father’s Day pin featuring characters from Inside Out. Originally $14.99, now $6.99.

Spider-Man Homecoming pins. Reduced to $5.99.

I’m not saying this Pirates of the Caribbean hat is awful, bu you should get a free bowl of soup with it. Reduced to $4.99.

Very “busy” 28 & Main hat. Disney’s 28 & Main brand is like theme park’s version of Ed Hardy. You see someone wearing this stuff you have a pretty good idea of what they are about. Originally $29.99, now $7.99.

This hat reminds of me of that moment in Guardians of the Galaxy 2 when Peter Quill is shown his purpose and says “I see it….eternity.” Hat is now $5.99.

Let’s check out some Christmas stuff, starting with this Hitchhiking Ghosts ornament that has been reduced to $5.99. I would have got this, but I have to be very strategic about the ornaments I buy as my girlfriend is the Gate Keeper of the Christmas Tree and doesn’t allow much. A lot goes into the planning of what ornament I propose to go on the tree, and sometimes I have to submit two, knowing she won’t use the one even I know is awful but will compromise on the other one. I think I should go back and buy the Black Widow ornament we covered a couple months ago as I can probably get anything on the tree as long as I offer it along with that as a second choice.

We saw a couple “Jingle Bells” ornaments last month, and here is one featuring Anna and Elsa. They are atop actual bells. Originally $17.99, now $5.99.

Olaf.

Interesting glass ornaments and tree topper set. Originally $54.99, now $24.99.

This picture is upside down, but it’s a Jack Skellington ornament. Originally a whopping $22.99, now reduced to $8.99. With a price tag of over $20, Disney is basically saying it knows the Nightmare Before Christmas fans are a bunch of marks. (I swear that’s the last wrestling reference.)

Rather large Disney figurine set. Originally $49.95, now $24.99.

Happy Hanukkah plate. Originally $16.95, now $7.99. I’m not 100% caught up on all the minutiae of religious holiday celebrations, but I believe this is for the Jewish boys and girls who leave cookies out for Adam Sandler.

Every month. EVERY. SINGLE. MONTH. It doesn’t fail that someone writes in the comments or on Twitter “where were these photos taken.” I’ve given up trying to explain, but basically the two Disney Outlet Stores in Orlando have a lot of the same stuff. The Vineland location (closer to Disney) is about 3 times as large though. The International Drive location gave up a lot of its space to a Panera bread about a year ago. So when people ask “where was this from” it’s pretty much both places. The above picture was taken by Julia at the Vineland location. The photo below was taken by me at the International Drive location. I always, ALWAYS go with the better photo because you, Dear Reader, deserve only our best.

Accompanying Hanukkah coffee cup. Originally $12.95, now $5.99.

NOW WE’RE TALKING. One of the Starbucks YOU ARE HERE mugs featuring Disney California Adventure. Definitely bought one of these. Reduced to $5.99.

How nuts is this. Some sort of “fruit infuser” cup in which there is like a big cone in the middle of the cup that I guess you put fruits in like strawberries. On the outside is Stitch. This is so next level bonkers I feel like it must be from Japan. (I know it’s not but that’s how crazy it is.) Originally $9.99, now $3.99. Yes, I bought this.

This whole “Minnie from Mad Men” style must have an audience, but it’s not me. Originally $17.99, now $3.99.

Cute Minnie and Minnie hydration thing. Originally $14.99, now $7.99.

Another Minnie and Mickey container. No idea what that circle thing on the side is. Do people clip them to their side when walking? Originally $14.99, now $7.99.

Okay, here’s a Hipster Mickey and Minnie cup that was originally $19.99, but reduced to $5.99. This wasn’t the weird part though.

Look at this. I’ve never seen this on the bottom of a cup before. I’m guessing it lets out heat for hot coffee or tea? I think I need to ask a true Hipster to get to the bottom of this not (pun not intended.)

Is this a WISHES cup? Originally $19.99, now $8.99.

Crush and Squirt coffee cup. Originally $12.95, now $5.99.

These Disney shirts probably came from the Coca Cola store at Disney Springs or Club Cool at EPCOT. The one on the left was originally $36.99, reduced to $10.99 while the one on the right was originally $59.99, reduced to $17.99. Just insane pricing at the retail stores. But speaking of insane. Earlier this month the SATURDAY SIX returned to the fabled DISNEY DUMP and the one place people got upset about was Club Cool. Apparently theme park fans like their free soda, no matter how awful it tastes.

More Coke t-shirts. There’s were both originally $29.95 and reduced to $8.99.

I really like the art on this Frozen shirt. Originally $29.99, now $9.99.

I bought a pair of these cute socks for the princess in our family. Originally $9.99, now $4.99.

This sock set came with two pairs. One had the color Mickey, and the other was in black & white.  Originally $13.99, now $4.99.

Wine corker and stopper, originally $22.99, now $8.99.

I really wonder what this pretzel pen cost originally when sold at the Germany Pavilion in EPCOT. You gotta really like pretzels I guess. Now $1.99.

Disney “indiglo” pillows Originally $34.95, now $9.99.

DCL woven throw. Originally $54.95, now $29.99. I set the all time daily record by buying two throws in one day a while back, but this was an easy pass.

Cooling towels. Originally $9.39, now $3.99.

Thumper plush. I thought about this one for a minute. Bambi I would have bought, but passed on Thumper. I think I would hav bought the skunk Flower too.

Here’s one of those weird reversible plush deals. This one features Winnie the Pooh. Originally a bananas $49.95, now $19.99.

99 cent plastic shovels? Why not. (Speaking of shovels, wait till you see the 2017 Turkey of the Year awards next month. To get ready, here is the previous Turkeys from 2014, 2015, and 2016. While I won’t spoil the surprise, shovels play a prominent role in the #1 Turkey this year….)

Last month we saw Anna and Elsa keychains, and this month Cinderella and Aurora are here with similar ones. Both are reduced to $2.99.

Today is HALLOWEEN so let’s finish with appropriately themed stuff including this Mickey Pumpkin Head coffee cup. Originally $22.99, this was reduced to $6.99. I like the nice touch of the vine as the handle.

These “treat bags” were reduced to 99 cents. This hold about 4 pieces of “fun size” candy and should be outlawed. This is like those coke cans that are like 4 ounces, for people who want Coke but aren’t thirsty. GO BIG OR GO HOME.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY!

SEE YOU NEXT MONTH!

For those of you only interested in the Outlet junk, we are now past that part of the proceedings and now I ask for a minute of your time to talk about something personal. Earlier this month my grandmother passed away. For many families the grandmother(s) generally play an important part in the family structure. For my family, and me personally, my grandmother was the glue that held everything together.

My grandmother was adventurous, in a way that I don’t think I’ll ever be. I’m already at the point where I won’t ride in the front row of roller coasters, yet there was no adventure she would turn down. One thing she loved doing more than anything else was traveling, and she has been all around the world. Europe, the Panama Canal, Alaska, Hawaii, and every island you can think of. When I went on my first Disney Cruise, I found out there was a channel on the in-room tv that played Disney documentaries 24/7 and that was good enough entertainment for me. Not for gram, she was one of those people who got up at dawn and then looked forward to all the shore excursions she could get. There’s no cave she wouldn’t explore, no body of water she didn’t want to dip her toes in, and no sightseeing tour she wouldn’t take. When she was in a foreign country, she wanted to know everything she could about its culture.

My grandmother loved cruising. Long after I moved out of the house, my mother and grandmother took up cruising and fell in love with it. She was way up in the loyalty programs for Disney, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival, along with sailing with Princess, Celebrity and Norwegian. She loved the shows, she loved the games, and she loved making friends with people on the deck or at her dinner seating. My grandmother had an innate ability to chat up anyone she was around and be able to make instant friends. Cruising was also her way to get to so many exotic locales and experience the beaches and cuisine. For YEARS my mother and grandmother tried to get me to take a cruise with them and I always passed. I thought they were crazy for wanting to go on a ship. When my mom passed away, one thing I wanted to do right away was take a cruise with my grandmother. We had one scheduled for Royal Caribbean, and a month before the cruise she had a fall and couldn’t make it because of her injuries. She all but forced me to still take the cruise without her, and I quickly realized why here and my mom enjoyed them so much.

My grandmother loved animals. While my grandmother loved all animals, she was definitely a “cat person.” I can’t tell you the amount of times I heard stories about “Percy and Fifi,” her beloved cats from the 1950s and 1960s. If you were to believe her memory, these cats should have been nominated for some sort of feline sainthood. One thing that drove her nuts was that Percy died on November 22, 1963, the same day JFK was assassinated. Instead of people mourning for her cat, they only talked about the President, and that stuck in her craw. I spent a lot of time living with my grandmother while growing up, and we always had cats in the house that she adored. She loved going to animal parks like SeaWorld and Animal Kingdom to interact with the animals there.

My grandmother loved theme parks. To be fair, I think she loved theme parks because my mom loved them. While I may have complained growing up that my clothes were bought at Montgomery Ward, and we always had the cheapest car you could ever buy (the Geo Metro makes a Smart Car seem spacious,) we went on a lot of theme park trips. I never appreciated how hard my mom and grandmother worked, both at physical jobs to get the money to pay for these trips, but also organizing them in a time that was pre-internet. Thanks to them I was able to experience Horizons and Journey Into Imagination (before it was ruined.) We went to Universal, SeaWorld, and Busch Gardens. My mother and grandmother didn’t just take me either, as every trip they would also do whatever they could to bring one of my cousins along as well. It was 20 years before I understood how hard these two women worked to give me – and my cousins – the best childhood they could. They sacrificed everything for us.

My grandmother had a sense of humor. She passed down a lot of traits to me – including compassion and work ethic – but the one I appreciate the most is her dark sense of humor and her razor sharp wit. She was always ready with a joke, and there was nothing off limits to her. She would say things in her 80s, after a suffering a stroke no less, that would make English soccer hooligan blush. That was gram though, and she was able to be there for you no matter how bad things got and was able to put a smile on your face. Like many, my family has had a lot of adversity to overcome over the years. My grandmother had to see three of her four children pass away at a young age. She’s had to bear the weight of feelings that I can’t even comprehend, yet she was always there for me. She was there for all of us.

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I’ll never be half the person my grandmother was, but I will do my best to continue her spirit by being there for those that need me, for living life to its fullest, and to always curse the day John F Kennedy died for stealing Percy’s moment.

It should be noted that my grandmother also supported me in anything I wanted to do, and was the one who encouraged me to take an art class. This was a “real art” class, with charcoal drawings, still life, and the first time I’ve ever drawn someone nude (which also the first time I ever saw someone who was uncircumcised, but that’s a story for another day.) To say I was horrible in this class was an understatement, but my grandmother was so happy that I finally went to one after years of “doodling.” In fact, she actually framed a drawing from my art class and put it in her living room. I never had the heart to tell her the drawing was done by one of my classmates because mine looked downright awful. Long story short, if there is something you like from me, whether it’s Burgan Fine Art, the SATURDAY SIX, or even this silly Outlet Report, all the credit goes to my grandmother.

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There are actually two Disney outlet stores in Orlando. Both are in Orlando Premium Outlet shopping complexes, and they are called Disney’s Character Warehouse, presumably because The Land Of Misfit Toys was already trademarked. There is one Character Warehouse located on International Drive close to Universal Studios (4951 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819), and the other is on Vineland Avenue, right across I-4 near the exits to Disney World (8200 Vineland Ave, Orlando, FL 32821).

Previous editions of Magic, Memories, and Merch: July 2013, August 2013, September 2013, October 2013, November 2013, December 2013, January 2014, February 2014, March 2014, April 2014, May 2014, June 2014, July 2014, August 2014, September 2014, October 2014, November 2014, December 2015, January 2015, February 2015, March 2015, April 2015, May 2015. June 2015, July 2015, August 2015, September 2015, October 2015, November 2015. December 2015, January 2016, February 2016, March 2016, April 2016, May 2016, June 2016, July 2016, August 2016, September 2016, October 2016, November 2016, December 2016, January 2017, February 2017, March 2017, April 2017, May 2017, June 2017, July 2017: The FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY special, August 2017 and September 2017.

We also did an edition of Magic, Memories, and Junk for a non-Disney owned Outlet Store, and for you merch addicts like myself, you may also enjoy a look at the official Disney merchandise available on the Disney Cruise Line, Castaway Cay, and at the Orlando International Airport.

If you liked what you read here, you may enjoy THE SATURDAY SIX articles every week on the TouringPlans.com blog and you can follow your humble author on Twitter (@derekbugan).