LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Mouse ears and plush toys and T-shirts, oh
my! How oh how to decide what to buy?
It's easy for guests to have the urge to splurge at Walt Disney
World Resort, with exclusive Disney merchandise at every turn.
And while guests can indeed go for the extravagant -- including an
antique carnival bumper car, Italian leather handbags, Winnie the
Pooh cuckoo clocks or a set of Armani-crafted Seven Dwarf figures --
unique bargains abound for the budget-minded.
Among a treasure trove of finds:
- For guests who love vacation
photos, but hate lugging around a camera, Disney's PhotoPass
photographers are stationed throughout all four Walt Disney
World theme parks, ready to point and shoot. Photos are stored
on a digital card and uploaded to the exclusive PhotoPass Web
site where guests can crop, edit and add fun do-dads like
character signatures and themed borders. The whole process --
viewing the photos, editing and even e-mailing to friends and
family -- is free! (Guests who wish to order photo prints can do
so for a fee, with many different packages and options
available.)
- If sweet saltwater taffy brings
back memories of afternoons by the boardwalk, the taffy station
at Magic Kingdom Confectionary is sure to satisfy. Here, the
flavors really have "character" -- like "Mickey Cherry," "Goofy
Lime" and "Donald Lemon" (there are a total of 11) -- and guests
can create a delectable mix with something for everyone. Taffy
is sold by the size of the bag -- not the weight -- and with a
small bag holding approximately 80 pieces of taffy ($2.95) it
would be a "stretch" for guests to find a sweeter bargain
anywhere.
- Looking for a meal on a budget,
but don't want to sacrifice taste? Take a trip to Earl of
Sandwich at Downtown Disney Marketplace, where delicious tossed
salads, wraps and gourmet sandwiches are all under $6 a pop. The
specialties: the All-American -- a hot, roasted turkey sandwich
with buttermilk ranch, cranberries, cheddar cheese, lettuce and
tomato ($5.75) and The Earl's Cobb Salad -- Swiss and cheddar
cheeses, applewood smoked bacon, cranberries, grilled chicken
and buttermilk ranch dressing on a bed of lettuce ($5.95). "The
Earl" also serves up freshly baked cookies, brownies and muffin
crowns, plus fruit, yogurt parfaits and side dishes, all at
value prices.
- Disney pin trading is hotter
than ever, but many guests might not realize they can start a
collection of these souvenirs at under $7. There are thousands
of unique designs -- including favorite Disney characters, theme
park attractions, resort destinations and more -- meaning
there's a pin for every magical Walt Disney World memory. Pin
lanyards, used to both store a collection and show it off to
passers-by, come in a variety of colors and are just $5. Even
better? Many pins are released in limited or special-edition
quantities, which mean the keepsakes might become a valuable,
collectible piece.
- There's a gem of a store tucked
quietly between Disney Tails and Goofy's Candy Co. at Downtown
Disney Marketplace. The Everything Under $10 store sells
literally that -- a huge assortment of Disney products including
plush toys, picture albums, electronic games, mugs, hats,
ornaments and mouse ears -- all for less than $10.
- Make a favorite Disney souvenir
even more personal with custom embroidery from Adrian & Edith's
Head to Toe at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Guests are invited to
bring any Disney Parks-purchased item to the store and watch
through the glass as specialists customize with a name, phrase
or favorite Disney character. Almost all embroidery, including
designs on mouse ears, towels and T-shirts, is $10 or less.
- Most Walt Disney World resort
hotels offer length-of-stay refillable drinking mugs for $11.99,
good for unlimited free refills of coffee, soda, iced tea and
hot chocolate at the resorts' food-court areas. A practical
purchase, the mugs also double as souvenirs with colorful resort
logos and matching colored lids.
- Interactive, sci-fi fun
flourishes at the new Build Your Own Lightsaber area at the Once
Upon a Toy store at Downtown Disney Marketplace. The Star
Wars-themed kiosk gives guests of all ages step-by-step
instructions to build an electronic lightsaber from their own
imagination -- or they can replicate designs used by Star Wars
characters like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. The toys come
complete with lights, sounds and vibrations, and no matter how
elaborate the completed creation, the cost is just $19.95 (which
includes batteries). As an added bonus, guests also receive a
store-exclusive Jedi or Sith-themed collector pin with their
purchase.
- At Island Mercantile at Disney's
Animal Kingdom, guests can find the Disney Dream Book, an
all-in-one autograph book, sticker book, photo album, journal
and pocket keeper for mementos of the trip priced at just
$22.95. The book, valued at more than $50 if items are purchased
individually, also comes with an exclusive pin.
- "Magical makeovers" reign at
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in the World of Disney Princess Room at
Downtown Disney Marketplace. Here, Fairy Godmothers-in-Training
are on-hand to pamper little princesses and "cool dudes." Girls
can receive a hair makeover with choice of colorful clips,
rhinestone pins or a tiara, plus a makeup kit, pink princess
sash, deluxe princess bag to cart around their goodies and a
special photo shoot. Salon services start at $35 with several
packages available. The pixie-dusted Downtown Disney salon also
rolls out the welcome mat for boys with its Cool Dude treatment.
For $10, boys as young as four get their hair spiked with
colored gel, glitter and a "hidden Mickey" in the back of their
head.
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