You know that going to Disney is only half the fun- the other half is fun souvenirs and matching t-shirts!
Ok, not everyone does the matching t-shirt thing, I get it (my husband is a matching t-shirt grinch).
So you plan to go to the most magical place on earth (which already cost you some money) and now you want to know how to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to Disney Merch!
I can tell you that Disney doesn’t like to give anything out for free, but sometimes they do special events for those that pay attention!
So how do you save hundreds of dollars on Disney World Merchandise for your next trip (or Birthday Party or Christmas or Whatever other event calls for some new Disney Gear?)
To get the best savings on Merchandise, purchase it ahead of time on sale
Most of us plan our Disney trips 6-12 months in advance, plenty of time to hit the bargain bin for going to Disney!
Maybe you won’t have a lot of room in your suitcase, so a good idea is to make a wish list and then order it to be delivered to your hotel right before you leave.
Here’s a list of places to check for discounted merchadise:
- Target, especially in store clearance. I go after any holiday and scoop up Disney Shirts + stuffed animals. If you have a Disney Store inside your target, you can often use Store Wide coupons (like the one you get for your birthday if you have a RedCard!). This can save 10-20% off the purchase price.
- eBay. This is harder as resellers flood the market, but I like to put up keyword searches for something particular. Like I wanted to do a Tangled Rapunzel theme for my daughter, and got a brand new Disney Parks Pascal for less that it was listed on Shop Disney (including the shipping!)
- Shop Disney has sales a few times a month, and it pays to be on their email list.
- Walmart also has some decent Disney items, and sometimes I find them on clearance too!
Don’t forget about places like Etsy. Often times they will have some really cute and unique items.
Consider DIY’ing some of your Disney Merch items
I mean, matching tshirts for a family of 4 for a week long trip would be around 400 dollars (eek, we’re not even talking about larger families and group events!) and thats money I would rather spend on character dining and fun souvenirs.
Etsy is full of Disney inspired merch and Pinterest has a ton (literally, there’s more than 2500 tutorials on making Disney Items) for those that want to get creative. Even if you only do a handful of items, that can still be enough for another character meal or even an extra night at the resorts!
3- Shop Early and Shop Late at Disney Proper
One of my favorite things to do if I get to the Parks early or happen to being staying late (think extra magic hours and nights where people leave because of the rain) is to check out the shops.
Disney isn’t huge on discounted items, but when they do have them, they’re in smaller quantities.
Shopping early lets me see what might be marked down for the day. I once got some matching Little Mermaid t-shirts for my Husband and I, they were only 15% off, but they let us combine it with our Annual Passholder Discount and we got them for 35% off!
And another time I stayed late and got to see them putting out marked down items for the next morning. Most times they wait till after the parks close to the public (because Disney never sleeps!) but occasionally I can see them restocking items or putting out brand new items. I love seeing what the Disney Stylists have come up with for the next season!
2- Shop Orlando stores
There are several stores in the Orlando/Disney World area that have Disney Merchandise and offer a good deal (and then many that dont)
We’ve tried lots of these smaller shops, and their more of a tourist trap.
But I do recommend a few places:
- The Target’s, Walmart’s and Publix’s near Disney all have Disney Merch and much of it is reasonably priced!
- The official Disney World Character Warehouse stores. There’s two of them, and merchandise changes frequently!
Use your discounts for clearance Disney Merch!
Discounts vary but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
We know for sure that Annual Passholders get an average of 20% off most items (BONUS! Theres no minimum purchase!)
Disney Vacation Club Members also receive a 20% discount at Disney owned merch locations.
Another bonus is with the Chase Disney Visa card, your discount for most products over a 50 dollar minimum is 10%. Those can all add up to some pretty magical perks when you are shopping for souvenirs and gifts in the parks!
Side Note: I’ve only gotten one discount on a receipt, but I wanted to mention it! Maybe it’s because I don’t scan my receipts with a critical eye, but I’ve heard from friends that they happen every once in awhile. Check those receipts people!