Merchandise stores outside of parks

[Sundevil]

Just want the title says. Looking for good places to gab shirts and things off park property

Thanks

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Disney Character Outlet at the Lakeland outlet mall just outside of The Resort

Or the the other alternative at International Drive outlet right by Universal studios.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

Honestly, Walmart.

 

[mergatroid]

It's probably harder to drive more than 5 minutes and not see somewhere selling Disney stuff than actually finding one. As others have said Walmart has quite a choice and there a souvenir place on 535 in Lake Buena Vista if you don't fancy finding a Walmart.

 

[StarshipDisney]

On the way to Disney over many years, we always cross this bridge in Orlando and saw a huge "DISNEY SOUVENIRS" sign, but we never stopped. Finally, on a trip to International Drive a few years back (no Disney or Universal) we finally stopped at several of these stores. We found great deals on actual Disney merchandise including a 9-pin Snow White and the 7 Dwarves pin set that I got for $14. That would have been easily over $40 in the parks. Many other items at dirt cheap prices compared to actual Disney stores. Also, some cheap Orlando stuff like shirts and sweatshirts.

I don't remember any store names or addresses but if you see that big sign as you cross that bridge in Orlando, do get off I-4 and go there. It looks like a 2-story building (but is not). We will be going by there every trip in the future.

 

[Comped]

We found great deals on actual Disney merchandise including a 9-pin Snow White and the 7 Dwarves pin set that I got for $14. That would have been easily over $40 in the parks.

Surely they're fake? Never heard of one of those gift shops selling real pins! (One or two thrift stores do, but they're the exception.)

It's probably harder to drive more than 5 minutes and not see somewhere selling Disney stuff than actually finding one. As others have said Walmart has quite a choice and there a souvenir place on 535 in Lake Buena Vista if you don't fancy finding a Walmart.

The Wal-Mart in Hamlin, maybe 15 minutes up the road from MK, has a pretty good selection of Disney stuff for this reason - but there's a gigantic one in Kissimmee that carries souvenirs and trinkets from all 3 parks - in a department the size of most Wal-Mart's electronics and toy departments combined! Very crowded though, so I always direct tourists to Hamlin's.

 

[StarshipDisney]

Surely they're fake? Never heard of one of those gift shops selling real pins! (One or two thrift stores do, but they're the exception.)

Well, they were in the same Disney type package I have seen before and have the same markings on the back as some of my other Disney pins that were bought on property. But I don't know for sure, so you could be right.

But I do believe that Disney would easily charge 400% or more upcharge on these pins compared to what they pay. So, if an outside shop were to get them, they would be much cheaper to buy.

 

[Comped]

Well, they were in the same Disney type package I have seen before and have the same markings on the back as some of my other Disney pins that were bought on property. But I don't know for sure, so you could be right.

But I do believe that Disney would easily charge 400% or more upcharge on these pins compared to what they pay. So, if an outside shop were to get them, they would be much cheaper to buy.

Fake pins can be on real cards (and unless you really know what you're looking for, the markings can be fake too). I'm not sure about that specific shop enough to say definitively, but I'd be shocked if they were real at such low prices in an outside retail location!

 

[Goofyernmost]

I have purchased a number of Disney related T's from the souvenir stores along 192, just outside of the World Drive entrance. They contain the markings that identify them with Disney clearly. I have purchased a few T's at what is now Disney Springs. They were the usual high priced Items that you find in any Disney store, on property or off. I felt slightly suspicious because those that I bought direct from Disney didn't last anywhere near as long as the ones I bought offsite for like $7.00 each instead of $20ish each onsite.

I don't pretend to know how that happens, but I do know that Disney never hesitates to legally go after establishments that falsely use their name and images outside of the approval of the Disney Co. Hell, they have even taken action of a kindergarten that had a large wall drawing of Mickey Mouse. Because of that I truly doubt that Disney would ignore those places within arms reach and let them profit directly off their brand. Just sayin'.

P.S. Other than one that I purchased recently online via Disney directly, I haven't bought any other than the offsite merchandise for years. And I am happy with those purchases and see no need to pay unreasonable prices for a graphic T.

 

[monorail81]

Very crowded though, so I always direct tourists to Hamlin's.

Quit doing that or Hamlin’s gonna be just as bad.

 

[Comped]

Quit doing that or Hamlin’s gonna be just as bad.

I'm fairly sure they had to hire Japanese speaking associates because of the Japanese tourists I directed there (a few months ago I saw signs hiring for that, no lie)! It's possibly not a coincidence because Horizon West doesn't have a huge community of monolingual Japanese speakers...

 

[hopemax]

Fake pins can be on real cards (and unless you really know what you're looking for, the markings can be fake too). I'm not sure about that specific shop enough to say definitively, but I'd be shocked if they were real at such low prices in an outside retail location!

Yep, these stores sell fakes. The Chinese factories produce Disney's order, then also make counterfeits which they sell out the back door. Which people are eager to snap up because they see the cheaper price and "it's for the kids."

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Just want the title says. Looking for good places to gab shirts and things off park property

Thanks

If you love high quality vintage style merch, Thrift/Antique shops & eBay, honestly.
Otherwise, what the others have suggested above. Also Facebook Marketplace & Mercari

 

[Comped]

Yep, these stores sell fakes. The Chinese factories produce Disney's order, then also make counterfeits which they sell out the back door. Which people are eager to snap up because they see the cheaper price and "it's for the kids."

Unless it's obviously a fake compared to what you get in a park/official store, it's hard to say they're fake. Happens with Lego a ton, and certainly happens in other industries too. Considering Disney's QC as of late (I've bought pins off the rack at WDW with features missing that are otherwise standard, or weird colours, which would make me think it was otherwise fake), can we really say for sure? haha. No seriously though. Unless it's obviously a fake, it's often too hard for even veteran traders to tell because of how bad QC is. There are obvious signals beyond that (price is a big one outside of the antique malls or thrift stores), but I'd argue that small differences in a pin are no longer good enough to be 100% sure of a fake.

I avoid most places around Orlando outside certain thrift stores (and the major antique/flea markets or mall, and garage sales), just to be sure though.

 

[hopemax]

The Chinese factories also frequently advertise what pins they are selling. Not that regular folks are aware, but there have been pages set up on Facebook with photos, on marketplace sites like EC21, and their own company websites. Also pin people have received email solicitations. So within the pin community there are those that compare what is being offered from China with stock at these stores.

 

[thomas998]

If you want some Disney merch like you would find in the parks your best option is one of the outlets, but the prices at outlets hasn't been as enticing as it once was. If you just want legit Disney junk go to Walmart. It really depends on what type of stuff you are looking for. For pins the outlets, for something like autograph books do Walmart.