Parasols at Epcot?

[Miss Marie]

I am just in the kind of mood of thinking about WDW because we have no planned trips yet, so I got out a dusty old travel DVD that Disney sent us back when their main promotion was the 50th Anniversary (Think Golden Mouse ears and VMK)

I watched the Epcot segement, and noticed that the people in the video were holding parasols that they had gotten from the France pavillion at Epcot. I am a little bit of a girly girl, but that was not the only reason I was intrigued by them. I've seen lots of movies (Like Tarzan and some sort of animated Tom Sawyer movie) where I've seen parasols, and just the fact of owning one made me smile. Not only that, but it's from World Showcase, so it's like bringing a piece of the world home.

Now, last trip (A year ago ) the day we did Epcot, we never really made it to France (we only did Mexico, Norway, Germany, and maybe some others though I can't remember) so I wasn't able to check if they still sold them. However, I was able to find another piece of merchandise seen in the same video (A Stitch stuffed animal backpack) at MouseGear. So I think they still might.

Has anyone recently seen these at Epcot?
If they still sell them, then how much are they? I am saving up money for WDW so that next trip I will have a lot to spend. Do they accept gift cards where they are soild or do you have to pay in cash? And for anyone who has purchased one, how is the quality? I don't want to pay so much for it and then have it break on me
If they are not sold at Epcot anymore, is there another place at WDW to get them?

Thank you so much!

 

[maman_et_fille]

I have seen these at France in Epcot and in Liberty Square (near Sleepy Hollow) at MK. Can't comment on the quality, but a basic parasol with your name, hearts, and flowers is advertised at less than 20. The more decorative ones with the detailed pictures are more expensive - the ones we were looking at started at 35. We ended up not getting one because it wouldn't have been ready until after we needed to leave the park for our flight home.

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

They sell them at MK near the entrance to Hall of Presidents, they can personalize them if you want. My DD got her's few years ago and they did not take Disney gift cards, I think they may take credit cards but we paid cash.

 

[Miss Marie]

I have seen these at France in Epcot and in Liberty Square (near Sleepy Hollow) at MK. Can't comment on the quality, but a basic parasol with your name, hearts, and flowers is advertised at less than 20. The more decorative ones with the detailed pictures are more expensive - the ones we were looking at started at 35. We ended up not getting one because it wouldn't have been ready until after we needed to leave the park for our flight home.

So, how long does it take for them to make a parasol? And what are they made of?

 

[Miss Marie]

They sell them at MK near the entrance to Hall of Presidents, they can personalize them if you want. My DD got her's few years ago and they did not take Disney gift cards, I think they may take credit cards but we paid cash.

Thank you! I'll set aside some money for one.

 

[maman_et_fille]

So, how long does it take for them to make a parasol? And what are they made of?

Not sure what they're made out of - they looked like pastel umbrellas, undecorated. The time they gave us to make one completely was about 2-2.5 hours. We could have picked a pre-made one and just had the name personalized - I think they told the person ahead of us that it would take 10 minutes for the paint to dry.

 

[Magical Kingdoms]

I've heard they are at EPcot, but I've seen them in Liberty Square. Can't say I remember what they were made of, but I do know it cost about $20 for a personalized one and $35 for a more elaborate one.

A quick Historical fact about why they sell the parasols in Liberty Square:
Disney was trying to keep in theme, and because back in Colonial times they had no restrooms, people would dump their waste out of windows. Ladies carried parasols so they wouldn't get hit by people's 1's and 2's.

I learned this from my US History teacher who was a former AK cast member, and who still visits Disney a lot. He's brought up Liberty Square a ton in class.

 

[Miss Marie]

I've heard they are at EPcot, but I've seen them in Liberty Square. Can't say I remember what they were made of, but I do know it cost about $20 for a personalized one and $35 for a more elaborate one.

A quick Historical fact about why they sell the parasols in Liberty Square:
Disney was trying to keep in theme, and because back in Colonial times they had no restrooms, people would dump their waste out of windows. Ladies carried parasols so they wouldn't get hit by people's 1's and 2's.

I learned this from my US History teacher who was a former AK cast member, and who still visits Disney a lot. He's brought up Liberty Square a ton in class.

That's kind of gross, but it does explain a whole lot. I figured they were for shade, and I know that's true, but it's kind of interesting to learn another reason they were used.

I'm sure glad that people don't dump that stuff out windows anymore......

Does anyone know if one of the parasols sold in park might hold up in the rain?

 

[Miss Marie]

Thanks for the info on the parasols.

I think I may do it next trip. I may have a friend with me and it sounds like something cute we can do together.

 

[ReneeinNJ]

And if its a humid day, the paint won't dry for hours. And hours. And hours. We were so sick of carrying around an open parasol, trying to keep it from bumping people and things. I think it finally dried hanging in the hotel room overnight. Oh well, its a great souvenir for DD from our favorite place!

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

I don't think they are designed to hold up in the rain it's a real thin material, I think it's more for decoration... It is held up in my DD's room as a decoration for a couple of years. She had her name put on it, we purchased it toward the end of the day and picked it up on the way out of the park, due to the ink/paint had to dry.

 

[Miss Marie]

So, how do they let you know when to get the parasol. At either park I will be busy and can't wait in Liberty Square/France Pavillion forever. I'm at Disney for pete's sake, I have plans! How do they let you know? Does someone have to stay there to pick it up?

 

[ktlm]

DD has 2 of the small ones (think more like doll sized), from France in Epcot. She wants a big one, but that would just take up too much space in the luggage going back home (assuming it would fit). They will tell you how long it will be until it is ready and then you just come back and get it when you get the chance. Our first time it was really quick and the second time they were pretty backed up so we didn't have to go back to get it for a while. When you come get it, they will also tell you how much longer you need to be careful with it so that the paint can dry. They are very cute, and they hold up pretty well. DD was 2 when she got her 1st one and it held up to abuse for awhile before she finally bent it. The fabric has never torn, she just bent the metal. I wouldn't use them for rain. They are clearly parasols, not umbrellas. I would think the paint might come off in the rain.

 

[Miss Marie]

DD has 2 of the small ones (think more like doll sized), from France in Epcot. She wants a big one, but that would just take up too much space in the luggage going back home (assuming it would fit). They will tell you how long it will be until it is ready and then you just come back and get it when you get the chance. Our first time it was really quick and the second time they were pretty backed up so we didn't have to go back to get it for a while. When you come get it, they will also tell you how much longer you need to be careful with it so that the paint can dry. They are very cute, and they hold up pretty well. DD was 2 when she got her 1st one and it held up to abuse for awhile before she finally bent it. The fabric has never torn, she just bent the metal. I wouldn't use them for rain. They are clearly parasols, not umbrellas. I would think the paint might come off in the rain.

So, they tell you. Ok. And thanks for letting me know what they're made of and how they hold up. No one else mentioned that they were made of fabric.

If you have any photos of your daughter's parasol I would like to see them.

Thank you!

 

[ktlm]

So, they tell you. Ok. And thanks for letting me know what they're made of and how they hold up. No one else mentioned that they were made of fabric.

If you have any photos of your daughter's parasol I would like to see them.

Thank you!

I'd actually call it kind of a cross between fabric and standard umbrella material...not quite either one.

I will look to see if I have any photos. If not, I will see if I can figure out where she put one of them and get photos. She is 5 now, and we bought the last one when she was 3. We've been back to WDW a couple of times since then and I know that the booth is still there in France unless there has been a recent change.


The section on France on this blog has a picture of the cart in France and of a CM painting one of the parasols. There is also a picture of some people holding some unpainted ones, which I'm pretty sure are just like the ones they sell on the cart:

http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/walt_disney_world/

Here is a link to a photo close up of a CM painting one which will give you a good idea of what the parasol is like:

http://pix.aerog.com/keyword/france/1/1242758207_bTDES#1242758207_bTDES

 

[kirrrby]

They are fabric. Much like a shower curtain type feel (You know the white liners that go behind the cloth ones). They are waterproof to a certain amount of rain. (e.g. - NOT pouring rain). The "ink" will not run in water as it is Fabric paint. Much like the stuff you find at Walmart and craft stores. They are available at Liberty Square, and France Pavilion in Epcot. They will tell you when to come back, but if you want one I would go there 3 hours prior to leaving the park. That way, it will dry enough to where they will not smudge. Also if it is not totally dry and you're set on getting on buy a small bottle of travel sized hairspray (extra hold) take it to the park and spray it on it. It will make a tack over the paint and it will keep it from smearing. I have been buying them since I was little. They were 15 dollars for a large one I believe and 5 dollars per personalization or character painting. I'm not sure if the prices have gone up. The last time I bought one was 2 years ago.

They also have ones in China and Japan pavilions that are made out of mock rice paper. They however are NOT waterproof. They will personalize in English or Japanese/Chinese your name, no characters.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I purchased two of the larger ones for my daughter and daughter-in-law back in May for Mother's Day. They each had their names, a princess figure and the Happy Mother's Day written on them, along with several other decorations on the other panels. I think they were about $35 a piece, including the decorations. It took the CM (actually an outside company, hired by Disney for there and MK) (Same company does the balloon sales at Disney) about 20-30 minutes each to finish them. And then the drying time.

Both liked them very much.

 

[Miss Marie]

I purchased two of the larger ones for my daughter and daughter-in-law back in May for Mother's Day. They each had their names, a princess figure and the Happy Mother's Day written on them, along with several other decorations on the other panels. I think they were about $35 a piece, including the decorations. It took the CM (actually an outside company, hired by Disney for there and MK) (Same company does the balloon sales at Disney) about 20-30 minutes each to finish them. And then the drying time.

Both liked them very much.

So, they can put characters on them? Like Disney characters?

 

[kirrrby]

So, they can put characters on them? Like Disney characters?

They can. But they're handpainted. Some use stencils, some freehand them.
Here are some examples:

 

[gator girl]

psssst! The "river" of different colored pavement going down the middle of the Liberty Square sidewalk is also the... um... number 1s & 2s thrown out of the windows. At least, according to a family member who is an ex castmember.

Now excuse me while I go scrub off my skin.