Souvenir Shopping

[CourtFool]

Every time I have been to Disneyland, souvenir shopping has been saved until the evening of the last day. If you open your dictionary and turn to the page for 'Chaos', you will see a picture of trying to shop for souvenirs as the park is closing.

Who here has a different strategy than waiting until the last minute? Does anyone make use of the lockers for this? What's it like to actually walk through a shop without getting pushed a dozen times?

 

[Girimama33]

In April 2012, they were offering 20% off purchases made prior to noon at WoD, Emporium, Star Trader and a few other stores on the counter service receipts. On our last park day, we went to the ST in the AM and made our purchases...a lot. The store held it for us there, so we just picked it up on our way out. It was very easy and no crowds for the most part.

 

[scrapshappen]

We generally wait until the morning of the last day. Mornings are better than nights generally. I've even shopped in those first 30 minutes before the park opens when Main Street is open. They will hold your packages for you or if you are staying on site, they will deliver to your room.

 

[tchrrx]

They will hold your packages for you or if you are staying on site, they will deliver to your room.

Thank you! We always have them deliver to the room at WDW. I'm glad to know they do it at DL too.

The discount before noon is awesome! I hope they do that in March. Would that be in addition to other discounts? (Visa, DVC, etc.)

 

[Ingrid0382]

No, unfortunately you can't combine discounts. I asked in April. How sweet would that be?

 

[Escape2Disney]

Keep in mind that you can't use the 'deliver to room' service on your last day. The purchases will be delivered by the next day (I can't remember what time).

 

[kailuagirl]

I always wait until the last day and never again, both times items I reaaally reaaaally reaaally wanted were sold out, even two weeks ago. We left DL on a Friday to my SIL's in Mission Viejo and I made us go back on Sat. hoping that the DTD store got some more in. Nope. Won't wait every again, so sad. It seems like the logical thing to do, so you can plan exactly what you want to buy, but it doesn't work for me

 

[bumbershoot]

They do not deliver *to the room*. Not even at WDW do they do that. (Universal Orlando they do, but not at Disney) They deliver to Bell Services, and you pick it up on your own the following day. (and hope they didn't break the toy like they broke DS's)

If you are staying offsite you can have purchases sent to the front of the park if you wish.


DS and DH like to buy stuff as they go. I wish they would write down everything they want and then have ONE day of shopping to do it all. We're still working out what works for us; as it is now, we all end up unsatisfied and annoyed.


At least 2 weeks ago they were NOT doing the coupon thing anymore, FYI.

 

[mellers]

Every time I have been to Disneyland, souvenir shopping has been saved until the evening of the last day. If you open your dictionary and turn to the page for 'Chaos', you will see a picture of trying to shop for souvenirs as the park is closing.

Who here has a different strategy than waiting until the last minute? Does anyone make use of the lockers for this? What's it like to actually walk through a shop without getting pushed a dozen times?

Our strategy is to shop for souvenirs the first day we arrive at the World of Disney. Generally, I get into the area in the afternoon, make a reservation at Goofy's Kitchen, stay at Harbor and hit the store as we go to or from the restaurant.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

A cm gave me the tip that as you are touring each day and find stuff you like in the stores that you should take a pic of the item and then take a pic of the outside of the store. That way you can go back and remember exactly what you saw and in which store so that you can quickly go in a buy it instead of wasting time trying to remember what you saw and where you saw it.

 

[Disneyanajc]

They do not deliver *to the room*. Not even at WDW do they do that. (Universal Orlando they do, but not at Disney) They deliver to Bell Services, and you pick it up on your own the following day. (and hope they didn't break the toy like they broke DS's)

If you are staying offsite you can have purchases sent to the front of the park if you wish.


DS and DH like to buy stuff as they go. I wish they would write down everything they want and then have ONE day of shopping to do it all. We're still working out what works for us; as it is now, we all end up unsatisfied and annoyed.


At least 2 weeks ago they were NOT doing the coupon thing anymore, FYI.

That is not always the case*, the last 4 years we have had our purchases delivered to our rooms at the DLH. Packages were also delivered to us at the Poly and Animal Kingdom Lodge in WDW. They are usually left on the desk or the bed in our room. I have never had to go to the Bell Service desk.
I wonder if the the reason we have them delivered to our room, is because we stay in the suites or concierge
But for sure our packages are delivered to our room
jc

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We check Disneystore.com before our trip to see what we like and to check the price. Then, if we see it in the parks and the price is better, we get it. If not, we order online before we leave. It is so fun to receive the package after returning home.

 

[SA mom]

We used our last morning for souvenir shopping with similar results. This year, we let the girls buy things as we went provided that they would carry it. They are 11 years old. They figured out that most of what they wanted were in the big stores at the front of the parks and they made purchase while waiting for parades or on the way out. One girl did have to carry her light saber most of the day, but she was glad to.

We spent a half day in DTD in the middle of the trip. We bought most of what we wanted there.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I always wait until the last day and never again, both times items I reaaally reaaaally reaaally wanted were sold out, even two weeks ago. We left DL on a Friday to my SIL's in Mission Viejo and I made us go back on Sat. hoping that the DTD store got some more in. Nope. Won't wait every again, so sad. It seems like the logical thing to do, so you can plan exactly what you want to buy, but it doesn't work for me

kailuagirl, have you tried contacting Disney Merchandising Guest Services? They may be able to find what you want and mail it to you. I know how disappointing it can be to hear that what you wanted sold out, so I hope you get your item!

 

[juliebug1997]

I generally buy as I go as well. Since we're staying at a neighbor hotel, we'll send stuff up to the front of the parks. Some stuff we have mailed home in the past and that has worked out even better!

 

[mmlover74]

We were told to do our shopping in the morning, when the sizes are plenty. I always checked in the evening and the stores did not have my size. oh well, it just wasn't meant to be

 

[mamaofthree]

I had no idea you could send purchases to the front of the park. Good to know! We usually do our shopping in DTD on checkout morning on our way out. But we don't shop much. The kids usually spend about $25 each. There has been times when they see a certain something in the park and we just get it on the way out for a hotel break.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[LizzyS]

I bought stuff mid-day when we went last year because I KNEW waiting until later would be more difficult. We got one of the lockers just outside the park and put our souvenirs in there and went back in the park for the rest of the day.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I had no idea you could send purchases to the front of the park. Good to know!...

The package/purchases check is located at the newsstand by the turnstiles (far left side as you enter). We've used them in the past and appreciated the convenience. There is no charge for this service.

 

[larina]

When we stayed concierge at PPH, they delivered our packages to our room, but don't know if that was only due to concierge. Even if you pick it up downstairs, it is still a nice service.

We always do our shopping over the course of the trip. We like light up things, those we tend to get our first night or second evening, so we have them for the rest of the nights of our trip. We'll get a pin or two here and there, when we find ones we love. We like to look around A LOT our first day and a half or so, to see what's available and what stands out.