The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! July 2014 Photo Report of the Disney Outlet Store

We all have our favorite stores in Walt Disney World such as Mouse Gear in Epcot, the Emporium on Main Street at the Magic Kingdom, or Villains in Vogue at Hollywood Studios. Disney has made gift shops as ubiquitous in theme parks as churros and turkey legs. Most of us have Disney magnets on our refrigerators, coffee mugs in our cabinets, and shirts in our drawers that immediately bring back memories of previous vacations.  Not all merchandise gets sold though. Some of it sits on the shelves long enough to be shipped over to the Disney Outlet Stores in Orlando, and that’s where we come in. The Magic, The Memores, and Merch! is your monthly guide to these products which never found a home.

Our first find at the outlet is AULANI DUFFY. Original priced at $35, these are now $9.99.

Good news gang, that wasn’t even the weirdest Duffy piece of merchandise of the day! Check this one out. It’s a Duffy Wrist Bag. Yes, apparently there is an alternate universe where human beings walk around with plush animals on their wrist holding money, credit cards and (presumably) cyanide capsules. Originally $28.00 (we can assume inflation also skyrocketed in that other universe as well), these are now $9.99

 

Impossible to believe, but that STILL wasn’t the strangest Duffy related item of the month. No, that belongs to this  Garden Gnome Duffy. Originally $30, now $12.99

 

In early May Disney Hollywood Studios celebrated its 25th Anniversary and some of the merchandise for that momentous occasion has made it’s way to the outlets including this messenger bag. Originally $29.95, now $6.99.

 

For those who want to cosplay as Matt Hochberg, the host of WDWToday podcast, this DHS 25th anniversary t-shirt was originally $27.95, now $6.99. There was also a DHS 25th golf shirt that was originally $39.95 that was marked down to $9.99 but my picture was blurry. I’m guessing because I was laughing so hard when I saw the price.

 

Let’s stick with clothing. I love resort specific merch and this Old Key West shirt was originally $32.95, now $15.99.

 

Each month is seems a different EPCOT 30th Anniversary shirt shirt goes into the rotation. This month it was Canada.

 

This October TouringPlans is going to have a person at every single Disney-operated location in the world. It is part of TouringPlans Everywhere and you may have seen some articles from the likes of Guy Selga (who is going to Tokyo Disneyland) and Brain McNichols (who is going to Disneyland.) I’ll be going to the Disney Outlet Stores and will be working on my screenplay for the sequel to Escape From Tomorrow. Just kidding, I will be taking my first ever Disney Cruise so this DCL shirt definitely caught my eye. Originally $39.95, now $16.99.

 

The Expedition Everest Challenge took place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in early May. This shirt was $32.95 then, now it can be yours for $7.99.

 

I liked this WDW 71 shirt so much I got one. Originally $36.95, now $14.99.

 

Four members of the Fab Five in front of the park icons. I like this one. Was $21.95, now $9.99

 

Star Wars Weekends ran from May 16th to June 15th this year and some of the items from Darth’s Maul have started to trickle into the outlets. This one was originally $24.95, now $5.99. Seeing “Galaxy’s Best Dad” made me think of the classic Seinfeld episodes featuring the Mandelbaums.

 

There were several shirts for the upcoming Star Wars Rebels TV show. These were also marked down from $24.95 to $5.99.

This is the logo on the sleeve of the shirts…

 

There were at least four different Star Wars Rebels shirts. I don’t want to say that has anything to do with people’s interest in the upcoming show because Target and other stores had a ton of Frozen merchandise that just sat on the shelves before the movie came out as well.

 

It said “Assorted Styles” but all the buttons featured “The Inquisitor.” There was another bucket of buttons at the check out counter and they also had the same character.

 

Star Wars Weekends magnets, $3.99 each.

If you like that design here is a canvas framed poster of it for $89.99 (was $225.00). That’s the Star Tours vehicle in the background, right? And if you zoom in close enough you’ll see that one of R2-MK’s “ears” is in the process of being blown off his head.

 

This Star Wars Weekends car magnet was originally $7.95, now $1.99 . Outside of a business, I’ve never seen a magnet on a car. Is this a growing trend?

 

Ready for some nightmare fuel? Here’s Mickey dressed up as Pluto also wearing Pluto slippers. Originally $26.95, now $9.99.

 

Can you believe it? Another Rock n’ Roller Coaster t-shirt. Was $36.95, now $19.99.

 

I liked this Little Mermaid shirt so much I got it for my girlfriend and it wasn’t until I got home that I realized it was for the Disney California Adventure version of the ride. So to recap: Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Voyage of the Little Mermaid Magic Kingdom: Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid Disney California Adventure: The Little Mermaid Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. And you wonder why all us theme park bloggers eventually go insane. (was $32.95, now $15.99)

 

Okay, I can be talked into a Mickey and Minnie in marriage outfits, but BOBBLE HEADS?!

 

Okay, last month we saw the awesome Animal Kingdom shot glasses toothpick holders, and this month a set dedicated to Epcot’s 30th anniversary showed up! A set of four ($10.99) had the logos for Spaceship Earth, World of Motion, Horizons and The Wonders of Life. I bought two sets of these.

 

TONS of Vespa scooter related merchandise hit the outlets this month. Any idea why?

More Vespa stuff…

Crazy, right?

 

Pressed pennies are one of my favorite souvenirs but this blew my mind. “Good luck pennies” which originally sold for $19.95 and now were $7.99. NOW THEY ARE JUST $7.99. I have to find out where these were being sold on property. Had to be at a place where there was alcohol being served nearby.

 

This was a cute Rapunzel Jewelry Box which was originally $18.95 and reduced to $9.99. It plays music and Rapunzel spins around.

 

This Spider-man toy is the only piece of Marvel-related merchandise in the entire store. That beats anything Frozen-related as that had zero pieces of merchandise. Was $12.95, now $9.99

 

Brother Bear plush. Presuming these were put back out into rotation around the time DisneyNature’s Bears documentary was released on Earth Day.

 

We’re running long so it’s time to head into the section of the store which makes me question every ounce of my sanity, VINYLMATION.

First up is this three pack which apparently is representing Country Bear Jamboree. I had to turn the box over to find that out as I had no idea what the heck they are. AND I LOVE THE COUNTRY BEAR JAMBOREE.  Take a guess at how much this set cost originally. I’ll give you some time to think as we have a couple other sets to look at. They cost $10.99 now.

 

I still think these are ugly, but at least I figured out who they were. 

 

Here’s another set I had to turn the box over to find out what it was. It is, and I quote, “inspired by the atrium mosaic at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.” Original prices? Huey, Dewey, and Louie along with the Country Bear Jamboree set were $44.95 while this Contemporary set was $49.95.

 

Remember that RIDICULOUS Toy Story vinylmation last month where the gimmick was that it was created by a five year old? This month an alien from that set showed up. I’ve said it before, but stop reading this blog for a minute and contemplate all the people who had to sign off of this vinylmation from the concept stage to the artist proofs to the final product and realize that not a single one of them stopped and said HAVE YOU ALL LOST YOUR MINDS?!

 

Presented without commentary….

 

Star Wars themed ones…

 

This was a blind box Park Vinyl Series #12 that came with a 3″ Director Mickey vinyl. Originally $24.95 this was reduced to $6.99

 

This Animation series vinyl also came with an extra 3″ King Louie. This one was $29.95 and brought down to $6.99

 

A whole bunch of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure vinylmations made their way to Florida, including these two celebrating Disneyland’s opening in 1955. All single vinylmations were $3.99.

 

I’m guessing this one is for the Hollywood Land of DCA. Honestly though, who knows?

 

Red Car Trolley. I may get in trouble with the Wig Wags for saying this, but what an awful design.

 

A Condor Flats vinylmation.

 

Cars Land maybe?

 

Disney California Adventure itself (I bought this one.)

 

I also bought this Grizzly River Run one.

 

I know what you’re thinking. Derek bought TWO vinylmations?! He’s clearly losing it. I actually bought FOUR with the other two being part of this Disney Fantasy set. They are horrible!!! This set was originally $39.95, now $6.99

 

I’m buying vinylmations. It’s time to go before I start buying that overpriced artwork behind the counter. However, one last shot before we go. A sign outside the store has Lightning McQueen and Mater themed vinylmation monorails. I don’t think this actually exists as  product, but I think I want one. HELP!!!!!

 

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). For this edition of MMM, we went to the location near Universal (actually 4 of these items actually came from the location close to Disney, can you guess which ones?)

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, and June 2014.

If you liked what you read here, you may enjoy THE SATURDAY SIX articles every week on the TouringPlans.com blog, the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast, and the author on twitter (@derekbugan)