Mouse Gear

Image: marada, Flickr (license)

If you were to combine the World of Disney and the Main Street Emporium into one shop, you’d have Mouse Gear at Epcot. It’s square footage is absolutely massive, giving guests the opportunity to find whatever it is they’re interested in buying: from Epcot shirts to CDs containing Disney Parks music.

But, while Mouse Gear benefits from both the selection of World of Disney and the in-park location of the Main Street Emporium, it also has some drawbacks. Specifically, it is every bit as crowded as either other store, which makes lingering and really exploring the items on offer a much more stressful experience.

Additionally, the flow of Epcot seems to push guests toward Mouse Gear almost by happenstance. It is located in a piece of key real estate between Test Track, Spaceship Earth, and the World Showcase. It’s hard not to wind up there when you’re in Epcot.

Lastly, the presence of World Showcase in half the park limits the number of places Disney can sell its more traditional Disney-branded merchandise. For that reason, anyone looking for the iconic Disney items will make their way to Mouse Gear. It’s a great store, but it certainly has a ton of crowds. 

Mitsukoshi Department Store

Image: Dakota Gardner

Shopping is a major part of the experience of the World Showcase at Epcot. Most pavilions offer unique and authentic items from their home country, giving guests a chance to take home a piece of a foreign land.

The Japan pavilion takes this concept to another level entirely, however, by making its shopping destination the main attraction of the pavilion itself. That is, of course, the famed Mitsukoshi Department Store.

This shop is among the largest on Disney property, and it delivers a slice of Japanese life directly to Central Florida. Included inside are sections dedicated to entertainment brands like Pokémon and Studio Ghibli, as well as traditional robes, teas, sake, and snacks. 

What makes Mitsukoshi different from other Disney stores, however, isn’t just that it’s crowded. It’s more that the store offers a kind of cultural experience that people can’t normally get — and so, the energy in the building is nothing short of rhapsodic.

Kids tearing through Pokémon merchandise, teens ogling the katana swords, adults enjoying sake — everyone is genuinely thrilled to be able to experience these elements of Japanese culture. So, while a trip to the Mitsukoshi Department Store is absolutely must-do, it isn’t for the faint of heart.

Disney’s Character Warehouse

Image: inazakira, Flickr (license)

If you’re looking for one of the better-kept secrets of Walt Disney World, the Disney’s Character Warehouse might be near the top of the list — particularly considering it isn’t technically on Disney property.

When the Disney Parks and Resorts have merchandise that isn’t selling as well as they’d like it to, or when seasonal merchandise outlasts its season, Disney sends these items to what it calls “Disney’s Character Warehouse” shops. There are two, one located in outlets near Disney Springs and another located in a different set of outlets near Universal Orlando.

The reason to visit these shops is that you can buy official Disney Parks merchandise at deep, deep discounts. Additionally, you may also find merchandise related to some other far-flung Disney locales, including Disney’s Aulani Resort, Disney Cruise Line, and even Shanghai Disneyland.

The trade-off, of course, is that the stores essentially have the feeling of Black Friday every day of the year. The last time I was in one, a woman literally ripped a $10 Expedition Everest long-sleeved shirt out of my hand. But, the benefits are there — especially if you aren’t particularly picky about the kinds of souvenirs you go home with.

Be forewarned, visiting these outlets, finding a parking space, and fighting your way inside isn’t for the amateur shopper. But if you have the patience to fight the crowds, sometimes literally, the discounts of the Disney’s Character Warehouse make the trip worth it.