Want to know my favorite Disney shopping secret? Before you drop your entire souvenir budget at World of Disney, make a quick trip to the Disney Character Warehouse at Orlando Premium Outlets. Trust me on this one – the money you’ll save here could fund an extra table service meal (or like, a dozen Mickey pretzels).
What’s The Character Warehouse, Anyway?
Think of it as Disney’s version of an outlet store, where park merchandise goes to find a new home at seriously discounted prices. We’re talking authentic Disney Parks items at 40-70% off. And no, this isn’t just the stuff nobody wanted – I’ve found some absolute treasures here!
Let’s Talk Real Prices (Because These Are Kind of Amazing)
Ears & Hats
- Mickey Ears: $7.99-12.99 (vs $29.99-34.99 in parks)
- Baseball Caps: $7.99 (instead of $27.99-32.99)
- Character Hats: Usually under $10
I once found three pairs of ears for less than the price of one pair in the parks, which meant that we could re-allocate our souvenir budget
Pins & Accessories
- Trading Pins: $3.99 (vs $13.99-17.99)
- MagicBands: $19.99 (vs $34.99-44.99)
- Lanyards: Usually $4.99-7.99
Pro tip: This is one of THE best places to stock up on trading pins if you’re into pin trading. At $3.99 each, you can actually trade without feeling guilty about trading away expensive pins!
Clothing That Won’t Break The Bank
- T-shirts starting at $4.99
- Long sleeve shirts (perfect for those surprise cold fronts)
- Spirit Jerseys around $24.99 (vs $75 in the parks!)
- Hoodies and sweaters at 50-60% off
- Complete costumes: $39.99 (vs $79.99-89.99)
Designer Finds (Yes, Really!)
- Loungefly backpacks at 40-50% off
- Dooney & Bourke bags from previous seasons
- Designer collabs at outlet prices
Article Continues Below
The Unexpected Treasures
Here’s where shopping gets really interesting. I regularly find merchandise from:
Other Disney Destinations
- Disney Cruise Line gear (great if you’re planning ahead!)
- Aulani Resort items (a touch of Hawaii in Orlando)
- Disneyland merchandise (perfect for East Coast Disney fans)
Special Event Merchandise
- Halloween and Christmas collections
- runDisney event merchandise
- Festival gear (Food & Wine, Flower & Garden)
- Limited time celebration items
When To Shop (Timing Is Everything)
Best Times to Visit
- Right at opening (10am)
- After 4pm
- Weekday mornings
- Avoid the weekends (trust me on this one)
Seasonal Shopping Guide
- January-February: Holiday leftovers
- March-April: Fall/Winter merchandise
- May-June: Spring festival items
- July-August: Early summer items
- September-October: Summer merchandise
- November-December: Mix of everything!
Pro Shopping Tips
The Basics
- Always check the size availability first
- Look through ALL the racks (good stuff migrates to the back)
- Don’t skip the accessories wall
- The earlier in the day, the better the selection.
Secret Strategies
- Shop off-season for holiday merchandise
- Check both Character Warehouse locations (they have different stock!)
- Look at everything – that random shelf might have hidden gems
- Consider buying ahead for your next trip
What To Skip
- Sizes that are “close enough”
- Items you’re buying just because they’re cheap
- Things that won’t make your actual wardrobe.
My Personal Shopping Route
Here’s exactly how I tackle the store:
- Quick lap around the perimeter (new items here!)
- Check the ears/hat wall
- Scan clothing racks
- Look for pins and small items
- Final look at accessories
Location Details
There are two Character Warehouse locations:
- Orlando Premium Outlets – Vineland Ave (closer to Disney)
- Orlando Premium Outlets – International Drive
Pro tip: Try to hit both if you can – they rarely have the same inventory!
A Word About Quality
Everything here is 100% authentic Disney Parks merchandise. The only difference? It might be from last season or a recent event. But let’s be real – nobody’s going to know (or care) that your awesome Mickey mug is from last year’s Halloween party!
Remember, what you find here is always a surprise, but that’s part of the fun! Think of it as a treasure hunt where the treasure is keeping more money in your vacation budget. And hey, more money saved means more Mickey bars, right?