Looks like you have all been on Nice List this year, because Santa has arrived with a brand new edition of The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! As a huge fan of Christmas movies growing up, there was a time when I always thought The Mountain of the Whispering Wind (home of the The Winter Warlock) was the scariest place imaginable. As an adult, I realized that place was mere child’s play compared to the true home of unimaginable horror: the Disney Character Warehouse stores in Orlando.

The stores are still limiting guests, but there have been some major changes in guest behavior, which we will get to in the article. Today we are going to head into both the Disney Character Warehouse stores in Orlando. We’ll start at the location on Vineland Ave (which is closer to Walt Disney World and is the MUCH larger store) and we’ll finish up at the International Drive location (which is closer to Universal Orlando).

You know it’s going to be a long day where there are not one but TWO missing letters in the Character Warehouse sign outside.

Don’t worry Disney, we’ll fix it for you.

With almost a decade of experience covering the Disney Outlet Stores every single month, one thing that you could count on for trips in December was seeing discounted merchandise from Halloween. This year was no exception. First up was these light-up Mickey Mouse trick-or-treat pumpkins. Originally $39.99, now $8.99.

If you’ve been to the Disney theme parks and these pumpkins look familiar to you, well that’s because Disney was still selling them for full price well into late December.

Mickey pumpkin themed spirit jersey. Originally $49.99, now $29.99.

Apparently “Spirit Jersey” is a brand and not just the name of a spirit jersey piece of clothing. Well, I learn something new every day.

This was a nice surprise. I feel outside of Avengers Campus over in California, Disney hasn’t done much merchandise wise using the Marvel characters (not counting the standard stuff you can buy literally anywhere, even outside of the theme park world). This “Hulkoween” shirt was originally $24.99, now $14.99.

Ultra rare to see any Skyliner merchandise at the Outlets. This t-shirt from the opening of the Skyliner was reduced to $19.99.

We last saw the Skyliner design above in the 2019 Theme Park Turkeys of the Year Awards, which covered the events of the Skyliner “crashing.” I felt it was okay to have a little fun with that story because no one got hurt. It was more of a huge inconvenience for anyone traveling that day. However, earlier this month there was a story on the Orlando Sentinel which detailed how the Disney World firefighters are so short-staffed that they feel guests are “in danger” if anything like the Skyliner accident occurs in the future because they won’t be able to respond to it. In fact, one firefighter in the article said “I wouldn’t go on the Skyliner, because I think we are grossly understaffed to do an effective rescue on that.” Just something to think about when Disney is reporting giant profits in the next shareholder meeting.

 

Okay, back to our regularly scheduled insanity. Next up is a shirt featuring The Beast from the line of Meme Shirts that Disney released. I couldn’t figure out who the audience was before, and I still don’t know now. Originally $19.99, now $12.99

Now we’re talking. Love this Orange Bird shirt. Originally $34.99, now $12.99.

Was really surprised to see this Rose & Crown shirt, but almost needed smelling salts to revive myself after seeing the original price of $74.99. It has been reduced to $30.99.

Moonlight Magic shirt from 2020. These are those DVC events where members have exclusive after hours at the Disney Parks. Here is a list of scheduled Moonlight Magic events for 2020, but as you can imagine most of them were cancelled. The shirt was originally $29.99, now $9.99. Now, I’m not in charge of merchandising, but I think the concept of a character howling at the moon might have worked better for the Big Bad Wolf. That – in theory – would have also appealed more to the hardcore Disney fans who are going to spend $30 on a t-shirt for a one night, 3 hour event. Maybe I’m the weirdo though.

You’ll never hear me complaining about too much Disney Afternoon merchandise. Here we have a shirt featuring Monterey Jack from Rescue Rangers. Originally $34.99, now $12.99.

I think this tea cup shirt is fantastic. Originally $24.99, now $14.99.

I also like this Rapunzel shirt although I have no idea what it says. I feel like I have it, and then it turns into Billy Madison trying to write “Rizzuto” in cursive. Originally $24.99, now $14.99.

This Disney Cruise Line shirt doesn’t seem too fancy, but it’s original price was a bonkers $39.99. I believe Florida residents can now get an indoor stateroom for less than that on some three night sailings. Will have to check with Captain Cruiseline on that one. The shirt has been reduced to “just” $24.99.

Love this Disney Cruise Line shirt featuring Chip and Dale, but it was  for a sailing that was cancelled. Originally $24.99, now $14.99.

I was honestly surprised by the movie Cruella earlier this year. I went in expecting the absolute worst and instead I was entertained throughout. Now this 101 Dalmatians themed bowling shirt on the other hand…

Have to give credit for Disney for putting in the effort on this one, but all I can say is “wow.” Originally $59.99, now $29.99.

I have thought about it for way too long, but I still have no idea who this Little Bo Peep one piece outfit is for. I don’t think it was for Halloween, but why else would anyone wear it? The more I think about it the more I get creeped out, but then I see the original price of $186 and my mind gets COMPLETELY BLOWN. It has been reduced to $69.99.

This is the only legitimate reaction anyone can have to something like that…

 

Okay, this Haunted Mansion shirt for women is just weird, right? It can’t just be me. Originally $36.99, now $19.99.

Well, in this year’s annual SATURDAY SIX: In Memoriam special, we covered the Rise and Fall of the NBA Experience. All of the stuff from Disney Springs has been transported over to the outlets. The NBA jerseys you see below were originally $110, now $50.99. The shorts below them – KEEP IN MIND THESE ARE SHORTS – were originally a next level bonkers $80, reduced to $36.99.

NBA hats were originally $27.99, now $17.99.

I’m not sure what the sign on top of these NBA socks is referring to, because the socks are labeled at an original price of $19.99 but reduced to $11.99. The sign says they are $8.99. I know you might shocked to discover this, but I did not buy a pair to do further investigation on this subject. The other sign says that there is a strict 2 item limit per person.

Miscellaneous NBA junk.

The ugly Houston Rockets banner above was originally $39.95, but reduced to $17.99. However you can see it had to be reduced a second time because it wasn’t selling at whatever the first discount was. This usually only happens once items have sat at the Outlets for months and months and months, like my beloved Pandora: The World of Avatar Pen Set.

Are you prepared for NBA player plush? Balancing the line between cute and creepy.

You are making a statement wearing these late ’80s/early ’90s style shorts. Originally $36.99, now $19.99.

I feel like these retro-style Crocs have been at the outlets for years. Originally $49.99, now $24.99.

Mickey rainbow baseball cap. I’ve made the case that Disney is fantastic when it comes to paying lip service to “inclusion” and has no problem making money off it. Actual inclusion I’m not sure of. For Disney, having the character of LeFou glance at another male character for 1.3 seconds in the live action Beauty & the Beast remake lets them check off “inclusion.”  Hat was originally $27.99, now $9.99.

All iPhone cases were reduced to $7.99. Loved this Dapper Dan case.

Mickey Mouse Club case.

Even the OtterBox cases were marked down to $7.99.

Elena of Avalor accessory set. Originally $34.99, now $14.99.

Cute Captain America bag. Originally a bonkers $74, now $44.99.

You NEVER see candy or snacks discounted at the Outlets, but these bags of Nutty Berry Mix were just 99 cents each. Turns out the expired in December.

Sure.

THAT’S IT FOR VINELAND!! Time to head on over to International Drive.

One thing that was surprising about shopping at Vineland was the lack of crowds. There was no wait to get in, and plenty of space to walk around inside. A stark difference to many, MANY trips we have taken to the outlets, but we still weren’t prepared for what happened at International Drive. The location was dead. Not the Orlando Premium Outlets, just the Disney Character Warehouse. Usually it’s the exact opposite. The mall can be empty and yet somehow the Disney store is packed. There’s probably several reasons for this, but one of the biggest is that Disney is not playing games when it comes to guests wearing masks. Disney is one of the only locations in the entire mall which makes guests wear masks (NIKE is another one).

Here is a look inside the store at 6PM on a Thursday. I would say over the course of last five years this is almost an unprecedented level of being “empty” unless we were talking about the last half hour the store was open at night. Even then, there wouldn’t be many guests but the store itself would be gutted of product because of the massive amount of guests during the day. As you can see in the pictures, everything is stocked.  Before we look at items, let’s take a quick look at the store itself to show how empty of guests it was.

With the Cast Member outside and the security presence, there was more people working in the store than shopping.

There were reminders throughout the store about masks.

I don’t “miss” the Outlet Experience whatsoever, but it’s just so weird being able to take pictures like this with no other guests around in the middle of the day.

Wild.

Okay, let’s check out some items shall we? This Disney Garbage Can button up shirt has been at the Outlets for well over one year, maybe two. It was originally $59.99, now $24.99.

As you can see in the rack below, the whole line of these button up shirts just sit because they are absolutely AWFUL.

Not a bad looking Castaway Cay t-shirt design. Originally $19.99, now $11.99.

Elsa shirt with a fun play on words. Originally $19.99, now $9.99.

Mickey Mouse “autograph” shirt. Originally $24.99, now $14.99.

Kid’s shirt featuring Disney food items. This is the same company which is putting a “portion control” warning on an 8 ounce bag of berries. Originally $24.99, now $9.99.

The shirt did remind me of a moment from one of my all time favorite Christmas movies.

Love this t-shirt featuring the singing busts from The Haunted Mansion. Originally $19.99, now $12.99.

Okay, I’m about to LOSE IT because this robe – FOR KIDS – originally cost $135 and has been reduced to $70.99.

My reaction?

Actually that robe was the “cheap” one, as this dress originally cost $350(!!!!) and has been reduced to $140.99. Growing up my parents wouldn’t even buy me Nike or Transformers, I got the knock off versions. A $350 dress they’ll outgrow how fast?!

This Pocahontas shirt is certainly something. I think we’d all like more Pocahontas representation at the parks and with merchandise, but not like this. Originally $36.99, now $19.99.

Oh good, even MORE NBA Experience stuff at this Character Warehouse too. The jerseys, shorts, and hats were same price as they were at Vineland.

If you remember above, the NBA socks at Vineland were labeled $11.99 as the discounted price, but there was a sign that said they were $8.99. At International Drive the socks were labeled $8.99 on the actual socks.

Funko Pops featuring NBA Players. For those who don’t know, Russell Westbrook, seen here as a Houston Rockets player, currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Funkos have been reduced to $6.99.

No need to get on the Funko rant again, but as you can see the Outlets are where Funkos go to die. If you are a Funko collector and live in Florida, there is no reason to ever pay full price for the Day One releases of any parks related Funko. They all go to the Outlets and sit.

Disney buttons. Originally $9.99, now $3.99.

Rescuers Down Under pin. Originally $19.99, now $9.99.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame pin. Originally $19.99, now $8.99.

A rare Father’s Day pin featuring young Tiana and her dad. Originally $15.99, now $6.99.

Raya and the Last Dragon pin. Still haven’t watched that on Disney+ yet. Originally $15.99, now $6.99.

The Windows of Main Street USA pin is incredible. The name “The Windows of Main Street USA area” is weird though. Originally $19.99, now $8.99.

Is it me, or does this Food & Wine pin look like one Mickey Mouse feeding another? It took me a second to realize the left mouse was Minnie. Originally $15.99, now $6.99.

Speaking of International Food & Wine, a gelato-themed cup. The “Mi Sciolgo Te Per” translastes to “I melt for you.” Originally $24.99, now $10.99.

I’m not sure of the exact theme of this bowl other than “plants.”

Inside of bowl has an oddly placed “hidden Mickey.”  Originally $34.99, now $19.99.

A Gabby-Gabby plush to play with your creepy NBA Experience dolls. Originally $21.99, now $14.99.

All this stuff from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has been at the outlets forever.

We’ll end our visits to the uutlets this month will a strange find. Behind the counter this month was a Nikon KeyMission 360 camera. Discounted price is $199.99. No idea if that’s a good price or not. Always bizarre when items like this just show up at the Disney Outlet Store for seemingly no rhyme or reason.

This holiday gift was brought to through the hard work of two of Santa’s elves, Joe “Bob the Builder” Machado and the SAT SIX’s own Megan Stump. It’s through their hard work that a true Christmas Miracle could be delivered to you, Dear Reader.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!