Best Souvenir Specific to Zawadi Marketplace (or any DResort giftshop)?

[PracPerfPatricia]

My family is going to be at WDW in mid December staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Since most Disney Resort Gift Shops have some Resort Specific merchandise, I was wondering what items people have purchased there that they really loved ? or what items people have seen there that they loved but didn't purchase.

I know I'll want to purchase some Safari character stuffies, ie Donald (DS's favorite) and Minnie (DD's favorite) in their Safari gear-which are probably available at the Animal Kingdom as well, but I'm sure there's tons of other great kitschy as well as more sophisticated stuff available. (I've read that the shop carries everything from stuffed toys to African wines to original artwork.

(I remember when we stayed at WDLodge 3 years ago there was a huge WDLodge Lincoln Log Set-I coveted it-I thought it was pretty cool-(it was about $100- but my DD had no interest and my DS was only 6 mos...so alas it was not to be ...anyhow,

Let's go shopping in the WDW resorts!

Patricia

 

[John's Mom]

My most prized souvenier from the Zawadi Marketplace is a wooden giraffe. It was hand carved in Kenya.

I also bought some very large coffee mugs there. One has the Animal Kingdom Lodge on it. The others have animals from the Kilimanjaro Safari and a Harambe Wildlife Reserve Map.

On my December vacation to the AKL, I saw some ostrich eggs (on a stand) with beautiful hand paintings on them. This also had a large selection at the AK. I think the price for an egg was $100 and over. Maybe I'll be able to purchase one on my next trip.

Shop 'til you drop!

Kathy

 

[disneyag]

The AKL gift shop has beautiful artwork of the AKL available from postcard size to picture size. We also bought a wooden giraffe and zebra, since we saw so many of them from our window. Of course, they also have mugs and tshirts, and bathrobes with the AKL logo, too.

 

[Pokprincess]

Well.. we didn't take it home on our trip last August to WL, but we had our neice & nephew who live in Florida, bring the WL Lincoln Logs up for a Christmas present for our son who loves to play with lincoln logs....

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/Pokprincess/IMG_1372.jpg

 

[#1hockeymom]

I've always wanted to purchase one of those big decorated ostrich eggs! I own quite a few of the wood carved animal figures bought during various trips. My favorite is the momma and baby zebra I purchased during our first mom/son trip. One thing we always buy when staying at AKL is one of the inexpensive carved eggs. They sit in a bowl on my living room coffee table. I have quite the collection! No matter what, we buy ONE MORE every time we return to "home".

 

[Harambe]

The others have animals from the Kilimanjaro Safari and a Harambe Wildlife Reserve Map.

Kathy

I have one of the Harambe mugs, too. 'Natch!

I also bought some beautiful t-shirts that have animals embroidered on them - yellow with a gorgeous giraffe, and pale blue with a zebra!

It is a wonderful shop, we always save all our purchases for the last day of our trip, and have the package sent home so we don't have to lug everything on the plane.

 

[snowwite]

I got a really cool black and white sarong and the print is really a bunch of hidden Mickey's designed to look like Batik pattern.I love my big coffee mug and my Is that you Tigger? shirt w/Pooh and real tiger.

 

[Cass]

My most prized souvenier from the Zawadi Marketplace is a wooden giraffe. It was hand carved in Kenya.

I used to think this, however one day I saw (with my own eyes) staff uloading Wooden Giraffes in Pier One bags & boxes from a truck.

But back to souveniers... they have some really nice prints of the hotel/savana, large ones and small ones, we have two

 

[snowwite]

I used to think this, however one day I saw (with my own eyes) staff uloading Wooden Giraffes in Pier One bags & boxes from a truck.

But back to souveniers... they have some really nice prints of the hotel/savana, large ones and small ones, we have two

I think Pier 1 imports the stuff from Africa too so it is authentic but I know what you mean. I thought the basket I got there was unique until I found one at the mall.

 

[kaysmommie]

Well.. we didn't take it home on our trip last August to WL, but we had our neice & nephew who live in Florida, bring the WL Lincoln Logs up for a Christmas present for our son who loves to play with lincoln logs....

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j85/Pokprincess/IMG_1372.jpg

I've always wanted that lincoln logs set. My DH said no, but we have 2 children age 6 & 2 I'm sure they would like it. We have a regular set of lincoln logs but that one is so cute. I hope they still sell it.

 

[J&L Love Disney]

I love the handcarved African animals. We did our guest bath in an Africa/Animal Kingdom theme. I also love the eggs!

One thing we also love to buy are the Animal Kingdom themed Mickey Icon clothing i.e. leopard spots, etc. I always get comments on my AK themed clothing.

 

[Princesa]

I would have LOVED to have bought the awesome nativity they had, but at $400 I just had to ooh and ahhh. sigh... Anything that starts out in a glass case can't be cheap

 

[Disney grandma]

I have a beautiful wooden giraffe wind chime. There are other animals too but I especially love the giraffe since we saw them from our balcony. The sound is very soothing and when the wind blows it reminds me of our wonderful stay at AKL

 

[Microbio]

my whole house is around the AK theme, and thou I never stayed(yet) at the AKL, I was there last May. I buy everything in here from the AKL. I had the spots dinnerware(a friend broke 3 of the dishes)

but my next purchase from there will be a chess set I saw in the AKL gift shop, it is beautiful.

 

[mrsmom]

I bought the animal kingdom robe for 125.00 , It is soooooo soft and comfy!!!
Kim

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Wow-you all have me psyched about the Marketplace-it sounds like there is something in there for anyone who loves the AKL/AK- !

It sounds like we had better decide on a rough budget before we go or it could get dangerous (DH ) not really lol and its going to be holiday season to boot-maybe I should/could do my holiday shopping while we're there !

Tell me more about these ostrich eggs-what kind of painting is on them-scenes/patterns, etc.-and the wooden ones-are they patterned-how many different kinds?/Are the carvings available in different sizes?

Clothing sounds great-a different spin on your traditional stuff-I love the idea of the sarong-kind of like hidden mickeys till you get up closer (I actually bought the "tigger, is that you" shirt 3 years ago in the Animal Kingdom in the smallest size that was available, which at the time was like a child's medium (4/5?) for my 6 month old (at the time son)-needless to say he grew into after I washed it multiple times...I put him in it when he was one, it looked like a floor length dress! (We still have it and now it looks like a tshirt!)

The mugs sound fun because we're coffee maniacs and can you really ever have too many mugs-especially ones that remind you of vacation...and the china, and the wine....can't wait...

(By the way thanks for the pictures of the WLodge Lincoln Logs-I still want one...well now that DS will be 4, don't you think it would make a great gift? (God bless overindulgent grandparents) I think they sell it at the toy store in Downtown Disney as well as at the Lodge...)

Enjoying the anticipation,

Patricia

 

[Webbie]

#1hockeymom and John's mom I am now going to look for those ostrich eggs, not sure I am buying but I sure am looking.
As PracPerfPatricia said..tell us more about the eggs.

 

[dkostel]

My fav resort-specific purchase is a small totem poll from WL with mickey & the gang on it. A close second is the raku pottery meerkat I bought at AKL.

 

[John's Mom]

From what I can remember, most of the eggs had animals--giraffes, zebras, etc. Some had african scenes--sunsets, savannahs. Sorry I couldn't be of any more help. Check the eggs out at Zawadi before you check out the ones at the Animal Kingdom. I recall a large selection of eggs at the store across from Tusker House.

Kathy

 

[Minnie]

I've always wanted that lincoln logs set. My DH said no, but we have 2 children age 6 & 2 I'm sure they would like it. We have a regular set of lincoln logs but that one is so cute. I hope they still sell it.

I was at the WL a couple weeks ago and the WL still had these for sale. I now wish we had bought this set 3 yrs ago when my DS was 9. Now he's too old but I'd still love to have it