The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! July 2015 Photo Report of the Disney Outlet Store
Welcome to the latest edition of The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! the longest running monthly look at the Disney Outlet Stores in Orlando. How long? Today marks the two year anniversary! What started out as a simple $1 bet between Len Testa and Laurel Stewart to see if they could take a simple Florida blogger and turn him into a two time runDisney medal winner/PizzaMania champion, has blossomed into into a wondrous creation which has been around to see the debut of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Diagon Alley, and the Cabana Bay Beach Resort. The best rags-to-riches story this side of Cinderella, our monthly treks into Orlando’s Disney Outlet Stores have provided highs and lows (and then even more lows) in order to deliver you, Dear Reader, a glimpse into a world which very few have lived long enough to tell about. A sincere thank you to each and every one of you for taking the time to read this little article, and stay tuned at the end for YOUR CHANCE to vote on the future direction of The Magic, the Memories, and Merch!
Enough jibber jabber! Who is ready to hit the Outlets? Remember that clicking on any picture will open a full size version of it (don’t say we didn’t warn you).
The first surprise was seeing new Frozen and Big Hero 6 Tsum Tsums. It’s surprising because when I went to Disney Springs to see Avengers: Age of Ultron in May, these very same Tsum Tsums had just arrived to Once Upon a Toy. Word on the retail street is when new batches of Tsum Tsums arrive at Disney Springs, the old stuff has to go, so we could be seeing lots of Tsum Tsums in the near future.
The sad part of this story comes from when I tell you that I bought all of those Tsum Tsums (including a couple extra of the Frozen ones for family members) and then left all them in a bag inside my room when I stayed at Disney’s Old Key West Resort. You win some, you lose some I guess.
Now that we are done mourning my Tsum Tsum loss, let’s look at some items that have arrived from this year’s Flower & Garden Festival at EPCOT. Here are magnets for the Festival itself and for the food kiosk located at the American Adventure pavilion, The Smokehouse. Originally $9.95, these were marked down to $3.99 each. I liked that the Smokehouse one also doubled as a bottle opener.
This Smokehouse glass was originally $12.95, marked down to $3.99. I loved the Smokehouse and thought it was my favorite among all the outdoor kitchens. Not only did it have good BBQ and beer, but it was where you could find the Piggylicious cupcakes.
Next up are some Flower & Garden Reusable Totes. Originally $12.95, marked down to $3.99. You do get two for this price. I really like the retro style of Minnie the gardener on this one, and there was a similar style showing Mickey mowing grass, but none of those items have made it to the Outlet.
Here is the Flower & Garden Calendar (originally $12.95, now $3.99) and the Topiary Mickey Ears headband type deal (originally $23.95!!!, marked down to $7.99.)
Flower & Garden Mugs were originally $14.95, marked down to $4.99. Not we just have to figure out where that monorail is going in the picture.
Speaking of mugs, here’s one to remind you that Luigi’s Flying Tires wasn’t the worst thing to come out of Cars Land. This Route 66 Mug would be perfect companion to that John Lasseter shirt from a little while back. All mugs are marked down to $5.99 from $12.95-$14.95.
Always glad to see Oswald the Lucky Rabbit merchandise.
This “Little Green Dress” mug is for Tinker Bell.
These glasses featuring Candy Cauldron and Mickey’s Ice Cream Bar were originally $9.95 marked down to $3.99. They had a good amount of weight to them (along with being super creepy.)
Speaking of Candy Cauldron glasses, here are more of the smaller ones. Marked down from $19.95 to $7.99.
Now I bought the Candy Cauldron glass at the Outlet, along with the others in the set, and use them to drink juice out of. While the glass does not say it is NOT machine washable, I found out the hard way. Below is the picture showing that the Mickey design peeled off half-way and my Candy Cauldron logo completely disappeared. This was after one wash. I now have to wash all these by hand, so I know exactly how our forefathers felt back in the 1700s.
This Buzz Lightyear Mug was actually behind protected glass, like you would find expensive watches or sunglasses at a mall store. However it’s only $14.95, so it’s sort of like being in CVS and seeing the baby formula locked up like Fort Knox.
This Dumbo mug was also behind glass like the Mona Lisa. I didn’t dare ask the price as I didn’t want to have a Pretty Woman moment with the cashier. Yes, I may be a blogger but I have responsibly handled my money. I have my long term investments (Beanie Babies, pogs) as well as short term (Cinderella popcorn buckets, pressed pennies.) Diversify people, diversify!
Here’s a Cinderella Mug featuring a who knows what version of Cinderella. Not a big fan. Both this and the coffee mug were originally $14.95 marked down to $5.99.
More items have arrived from Disney Springs Marketplace Co-Op, including these plastic dessert plates.
We also have these cereal bowls as well as pot holders. I actually picked one of these up to get the price for you, Dear Reader, and spilled the entire shelf on the floor. It was pretty humiliating, and one brave soul helped me stack them back up. So now I know how Quasimodo felt when Esmerelda gave him water. All that and I forgot to get the price of the pot holders.
Some neat Radiator Springs Plates arrived. Originally $9.95, marked down to $6.99.
I don’t understand why this Minnie Mouse thermos would even be made. Originally $17.95, marked down to $9.99.
And that wasn’t even the weirdest Minnie Mouse item of the trip. Here’s a bag featuring a retro style Minnie playing the guitar. Originally $29.95, marked down to $12.99.
I love this Minnie Mouse luggage bag and have even bought them for family members in the past. Great for kids. In fact one of the most amazing experiences in my life was getting one for a three year old in the World of Disney store. She got the bag and was rolling it around through the packed store. She got to a point where there was too many people to roll through, so she stopped, pushed down the handle, and then picked up the luggage to carry it sideways. This was like a real life Raptors-opening-the-door moment. Unforgettable. Originally $39.95, marked down to $19.99.
Who knows how many lists I’m now on after stopping to take a picture of these Disney Princess Panties. Originally $29.95, marked down to $12.99, but the real fun will come next month when I return them telling the cashier I could barely get them up one leg. “Do you have anything in a size 10 or whatever translates to an XL?”
This Little Mermaid mat was a lenticular one. Pretty cool. Marked down to $1.99. I would have bought it, but as you remember in the AWARD WINNING article on Ways To Repurpose Your Extra MagicBands, I already have a princess mat at my house. How many lists do you want me to get on anyway?
Not much new in the form of plush outside of these 2015 Mickey and Minnies. Can’t be a good sign that we’re only in JULY and these are marked down to $9.99 from $24.95.
Here’s a pair of Minnie Mouse Shoes on a keychain. Originally $8.95, marked down to $3.99.
These Castle Key Chains were quite possibly the cheapest looking pieces of merch I have ever seen. This is what you expect to find at those non-Disney owned Outlet Stores on 192 and 535. To be fair, I believe this is key chain’s castle is TO SCALE to that tiny castle they have out in Disneyland (that’s right Guy Selga, I WENT THERE!)
I’ve never seen one of these type of things outside of a gift shop, so I have no idea if people put them in their house, office or what. Originally $14.95, marked down to $6.99. If you use one, send us a pic (derek@touringplans.com) as I get the feeling I’m going to see the Yeti working at Expedition Everest before I see one of these holders in the real world.
I think we’ve finally seen every single one of these Giant Erasers hit the Outlets. They had to have bombed, right? Are we going to see a series 2? Originally $9.95, marked down to $3.99.
Looks like Vinylmation was ready to go on the whole #LoveWins deal. The longer you stare at the one of the left the more it turns into a scary creature. Trust me on that one.
I’m a HUGE fan of Christmas village displays (check out THIS ARTICLE I did on the Grinch Christmas Village Universal offers) but this Minnie one is a bit weird. I’m imaging she is supposed to be putting that bow on a tree right? Why doesn’t it come with a small tree? Is this like one of those Garfield Minus Garfield deals? Let’s just hope there’s like four other characters all holding stuff that is supposed to go on a tree (oooh, I’d buy a Donald Duck all tangled in lights.)
It wasn’t until doing a recent article on The Most Interesting, Most Unusual and Strangest Souvenires in World Showcase that I even realized EPCOT has a large amount of Guinness merchandise in the UK pavilion. This six pack of coasters was originally $19.95, marked down to $9.99.
Remember that Main Street USA bag collection we covered last month? Here’s a credit card holder from one of those shops. Originally $14.95 marked down to $7.99.
A Mary Poppins Rolling Duffle Bag. Originally $99.00 marked down to $39.99. It is so small I don’t see how the rolling feature would have been a benefit.
Rare to see an item featuring the ESPN Wide World of Sports. Originally $19.95 marked down to $6.99.
I saw this Princess shirt at the Animal Kingdom Lodge gift shop about a year ago and thought it was pretty clever. Originally $29.95 marked down to $12.99. Love the touch of the magic rose for Belle’s “N.”
Here’s a Cinderella shirt that reminded me of old school Audrey Hepburn merch. Originally $32.00 marked down to $14.99.
A little more Guardians of the Galaxy items making their way to the Outlets. There was a full merchandise blitz when the movie came out, so I hope so more end up on clearance. Loved that movie. This shirt was originally $24.00 marked down to $9.99.
Who would have though Rocket Raccoon would be the breakout character last year? Even as a comic book fan I still can’t believe it. Originally $19.95, now $9.99.
This is a shirt for the books. An ESPN “that’s how I stroll” shirt for toddlers. I propose a one year ban on all ESPN related merchandise as they just don’t know how to make a good one. Originally $16.95 marked down to $5.99.
We gotta close with a next level bananas item, and what better than a three foot long Komodo Dragon? I could not even get the whole thing in one shot. Originally $39.95 marked down to $17.99. I’m imagining a lot of plush at Disney world is impulse bought. A kid sees it because it’s cute or cool and “has to have it.” WHAT KID PICKS UP THE KOMODO DRAGON?!!!
And with that, we’re out!
Remember that bit above where we talked about YOU controlling the future of this very article series? Well, since the Disney Outlet Store closer to Universal is closed for a three month refurbishment I am forced to go to the outlet store closer to Disney (AKA Mordor.) This particular outlet is always swamped, has a parking situation which makes Downtown Disney’s look like the easiest parking on Earth, and is overrun by toy pirates (who buy massive amounts of stuff which they then resell at higher prices.) How bad is it? When the US Government can’t get a terrorist to talk, their last desperate measure is to bring them to this Disney Outlet Store. Within 30 minutes of being in this store everyone talks. It may break every single rule in the Geneva Code, but it gets results.
So knowing the torture that these trips have in store for me, Your Humble Author, I open up the voting to see if we continue or do we suspend operations until the other outlet store returns. You can mention your thoughts in the comments, or feel free to take your vote to social media on the TouringPlans Facebook, Twitter, or Your Humble Author’s twitter (@derekburgan)
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 and the one near Disney. NOTE THAT THE I-4 LOCATION IS CLOSED UNTIL SEPTEMBER FOR A REFURBISHMENT.
Goodnight, sweet prince. (we’ll see you in September!!)
I get a lot of questions about this, so we’ll answer them here. You can order any item from the Disney Outlet Stores by calling the WDW Merchandise Guest Services (877-560-6477) There is a catch though, if the item is still available they will charge you full retail price for it, plus shipping. The Outlet Stores themselves do not ship merchandise.
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, and September 2014, October 2014, November 2014, December 2015, January 2015, February 2015, March 2015, April 2015, May 2015. and June 2015.
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, the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast, and you can follow your humble author on Twitter (@derekbugan).
You May Also Like...
-
Welcome to the latest edition of The Magic, The Memories, and Merch!, the longest running monthly look at the still closed Disney Outlet Stores in…
-
Welcome to the latest edition of The Magic, The Memories, and Merch!, the longest running monthly look at the still closed Disney Outlet…
-
Welcome to the latest edition of The Magic, The Memories, and Merch!, the longest running monthly look at the still closed Disney Outlet…
-
Just LOOK at the giant Millennium Falcon that appeared this week outside the Disney Springs LEGO store. We're used to seeing…
YOU MUST CONTINUE THIS BLOG! I love this and soooo look forward to the great pictures and hilarious commentary!!! Please don’t stop!
#bloglives
I must have gotten lucky a couple years ago when I called an outlet and they shipped me a clearance priced hatbox ghost maquette. One of my prized Disney souvenirs!
Did they used to ship and now no longer do?
As far as I can tell, they used to be much more open to shipping direct from the stores but I think that came to an end.
Oh to be able to get that WWOS tshirt for my son. He loves football and anything I have ever seen is for little boys. We won’t be in the world again until December anyway. Thanks for the fun read!
#bloglives
Thanks for taking one for the team- your merch series is the cherry on my Disney nerdery sundae. 🙂
Thank you for the information for the outlet store. I got my Cars dishes today and am in heaven! I vote for keeping your blog going. I’ve enjoyed buying stuff for the last few months because of your coverage. Thanks again, Derek!
Always glad to help!
#bloglives
Hi. I just headed out to the Character Warehouse (what a nightmare) only to find they are being refurbished. Can you please tell me the exact address of where I can buy the Cars dishes that you show pictures of. Thanks kindly.
Lisa, I give the addresses for both Chracter Warehouses at the end of every article.
So, is it this address (8200 Vineland Ave, Orlando, FL 32821) ?Sorry, it’s a bit confusing and I’d like to make sure I’m headed in the right direction before I go again. I literally can’t see straight when dishes are involved. Thanks a bunch. ☺
Yes, that is the one. The Character Warehouse that is being refurbished is off of I-Drive.
#bloglives
I also agree on #PTPD, stop working so much in the real world and record more episodes already!
#bloglives
Long time lurker (a really, really long time lurker) making my first ever post just for this reason.
#bloglives, please.
Seriously, with Daisy’s Best Week Ever (no offense Seth!) gone, I can’t bear for this to go away too…even if it’s only temporary. 🙂
Please don’t stop!! I love reading them. We were down there in May and actually went to that Store twice. I was laughing because you described it soooo well. And we actually bought gas there. We thought at first the price was for something else or wrong. When I figured out it was actually the correct price I almost had heart failure. Thankfully we only put $20 in.
What makes that gas station even more shocking is you have just come off a road (SR 535) which has some of the cheapest gas prices in Orlando. I understand places near an airport or car rental places because where else are you going to go, but here you are within two minutes of places charging less than half the price. It’s crazy!
#bloglives! If I can make it to Disney World braving 22 hours of plane flights all the way from Sydney, Australia, you can handle the parking at Mordor! I love this monthly article so please keep it up!
I will concede that sitting in a plane seat for 22 hours is the closest equivalent to being crammed into this Disney Outlet Store and barely being able to move, let alone take ANNIE LEIBOVITZ CALIBER photos for my Dear Readers. If anyone wants to picture what it’s like for me to be in this store think of the ending of SCROOGED when Bill Murray gets into the elevator with the Ghost of Christmas Future. “Back off big man, that may work with the chicks but not with me.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvYSmJwAy00
#BlogLives Some men just want to watch the world burn.
By far my favorite blog– please continue!
Please continue the feature during the refurb. Mordor may be awful, but I sure get a kick out of the monthly articles!
Continue please!! I know the parking stinks, but I depend on you for my monthly outlet shopping vicariously from Minnesota!
#bloglives
There is nothing better than reading about horrible Disney merch over my Saturday morning coffee.
I hate to see anyone suffer, but please – let the blog live! Its easily the funniest / best column on the blog.
The show must go on!
#bloglives
Did anyone else notice the sign for “desert” plates? It is bugging me.
Also #bloglives because I am like many others and look forward to this every month nefind you very amusing to read.
After the “Tinkerbelle” situation from a couple months ago I’ve learned not to let the signage drive me crazy. And by “learned” I mean “drank a lot.”
I even realized EPCOT has a large amount of Guinness merchandise in the UK pavilion. This six pack of coasters was originally $19.95, marked down to $9.99.
—-
And still over priced.
#Bloglives. Sorry, Derek — your pain is half the fun. Having been to both outlets, I agree the one by Disney is worse. However, like Apocalypse Now, sometimes the worse environment makes for better art.
I love the smell of tourist sweat in the morning.
I enjoy reading your comments on the weird merch. Oh and sis has the photo holder. LOL.
What is the deal with the tsum tsums? Is this something Duffy the Bear smuggled in from Japan?
They are based around a video game app that pretty much anyone can play.
Well, despite the great risk to your person venturing to this unseemly outlet, I have to admit that I loled even more than usual. Sorry, you gotta keep going!
#bloglives (please)
Well since you said please….
#bloglives unless the touringplans money must go to reviewing the legoland hotel IN ROOM character meal…I need to see this reviewed!!!
The LEGOland Hotel VIP Experience that offers the in room character breakfast also promises a nightly bedtime story. This may be worth it alone to say how creepy it is with some guy reading to me in bed. At just $1,195 I’ll just slip this invoice quietly into Laurel Stewart’s inbox and hope it gets mixed in with Seth Kubersky’s monthly Starbucks bill.
I would go for #blogdies, if the best merch is in the closed store.
But enough of this. The big question is: who won the bet? Len or Laurel?
I’m still going, so technically they both lost.
As much as I would miss it, I encourage you to take 3 months off until parking improves. And your wallet thickens a bit. (I still can’t believe you buy so much of this stuff.) Your dozens of in-jokes and OMGDidHeReallySayThat?! leave me in tears from laughing every time, but I respect your need to recharge and tackle other worthy topics. Thanks for another excellent column!
Guaranteed to have the only Quasimodo reference of the month!
Definitely #bloglives. Sorry! One of the main highlights of the TouringPlan blogs IMHO.
Do the outlets carry DCL merchandise? If not, is there a way to get Disney cruise discounted stuff?
There was very little DCL merchandise this month Dana, but if you look through the MMM archives (located at the bottom of every article) you will see Disney Cruise Merchandise in most editions of this fine blog.
Thanks!! (and #bloglives)
#bloglives
#bloglives
#bloglives
#bloglives
#bloglives
#bloglives
#bloglives
#bloglives
#bloglives
#bloglives
#bloglives, I love this blog and look forward to your posts every month 🙂
#bloglives please
#bloglives
#bloglives – I’d be more willing to allow a reprieve if @PTPDShow had released an episode more recently than a month and a half ago. Where else am I going to go for one-liners like: “the real fun will come next month when I return them telling the cashier I could barely get them up one leg”? Please know how much your snark is needed in this Mongellotinous world.
I was going to say that obviously #bloglives because your suffering is worth the joy it brings me, but I’m with Seth in that I’d be willing to negotiate in exchange for more PTPD episodes.
Stayed tuned!
Brian just came back from a Florida vacation that included his first trip to Universal in a decade. We recorded a full episode but every single topic just had Brian saying over and over that I was right about everything.
I had a suspicion that this was the case. 😉
Sorry but #bloglives. I adore your posts and they are my faves on Touring Plans.
#BlogLives. The outlet store merch report is my favorite thing about the Touring Plans blog. We need a little snarky tartness to cut the sweetness of all the other coverage of Disney World we get here.
#bloglives – easily one of the most entertaining blog posts I read (and I love seeing the merch!)
Continue entertaining me through the refurbishment. Your pain means nothing to me!
#bloglives
#BLOGLIVES!!!!!! I look forward to this post every month- seriously. Don’t take my sunshine (bird) away.
Oh…and…#bloglives
Thank you so much for doing these. I love, love looking at all the merch and identifying what I would and wouldn’t buy.
Do we have a date (other than “September”) for the reopening of the I-Drive outlet? I’m really, REALLY hoping early September is in scope. We have been avoiding Mordor for years. It’s kind of sad when traffic and roaming tourists are more frightening than an evil necromancer.
I don’t think they know yet. There is a Panera coming in to take up half the previous Disney Outlet’s space, so I imagine major work has to be done for things like refrigerators/stoves, etc. I was unofficially told Sept 22nd, but I wouldn’t place money on that date.
That’s disappointing to hear the store is getting smaller, seems odd for Disney to give up retail space
To be fair, one of the biggest reasons I loved that store compared to the I-Drive location is that it was never as busy. Looks like Disney noticed too.
PLEASE KEEP DOING THIS……..i am sure its not that busy if you go at rope drop……suck it up
“Hey Bill, we just got another shipment of them Busch Garden lizard…things.”
“Eh, just send em to the outlet. Nobody goes there”
Also, the Cinderella mug looks like merch for the live-action version. Expect more of her Uncanny Valley smile later