6. Souvenirs de France at Epcot

Image: DisneyWhen you shop at the France Pavilion at the World Showcase, you’ll expect certain knickknacks. Yes, they sell miniature Eiffel Towers and Paris t-shirts. In that way, you’ll totally believe that you’re a tourist in Paris. It’s not the primary appeal of Souvenirs de France, though.

You may not realize this fact, but a lot of Disney characters have ties to France. The most famous of them is Belle from Beauty and the Beast. She has a strong merchandising presence here, as do Marie from Aristocats and Remy from Ratatouille. You’ll find plenty of adorable items featuring these characters along with some brilliant shirts combining Minnie Mouse with French culture. The goods on sale here are among the most original at Walt Disney World, and that’s why my family stops at this store every trip.

5. Mitsukoshi Department Store at Epcot

Image: DisneyI’m admittedly a superfan of all things Japanese. I love the culture and the food and the entertainment. I grew up watching anime back at a time when people didn’t know what that was. I’m a diehard gamer who adores the collective works of Hayao Miyazaki, too. In other words, Mitsukoshi Department Store is my happy place.

Almost specifically designed for Japanese pop culture obsessives, Mitsukoshi’s right side is a haven for rare merchandise you won’t find elsewhere in, well, Florida. Whether you love Super Mario, Final Fantasy, Totoro, or Ultraman, you’ll find some gear that fits your personality here.

People who have other curiosities about Japan will love the left side of the store. It sells those oddly flavored Kit Kats you’ve heard so much about, along with other sugary goods that are otherwise unavailable in North America. And the apparel here is straight out of an Akira Kurosawa movie. Anyone who has ever wanted a kimono will think of this place as shopping nirvana. The helpful cast members here will do everything possible to find the silk robes that are right for you. This store is legitimately the next best thing to visiting Japan. My wallet whimpers any time I walk by here.  

4. Mouse Gear at Epcot

Image: DisneyTwo of the stores listed here are true Disney institutions. This is the first of them, and its lasting appeal is unmistakable to theme park tourists. Anyone who has spent any time at Future World at Epcot has given in to the siren song of Mouse Gear. It’s among the largest in-park Disney stores in the world, with merchandise that runs the gamut from Epcot toys to Disney clothing to festival-themed limited edition merchandise.

Mouse Gear is the most conveniently located of all stores listed here. It has two primary entrances at Future World, both of which you’ll walk past several times during a day at Epcot. Each time, you’ll feel that driving temptation to check out the best of Disney’s current offerings. The only tip I can give you here is to use the service that ships your purchases to your official Disney resort, alleviating you of the aggravation of carrying around all of your impulse purchases. Mouse Gear is that devil on your shoulder saying, “Buy stuff!” And that devil never takes no for an answer.