The best shops at Disney World

[DisneyDreamer1974]

Are most of the shops at Disney carrying pretty much the exact same items and such? Is there anything special and unique in some stores that you can't just get any where else? We will be going to the MK, EP and AK. Also will be doing Downtown Disney as well. Just wanting to know which are the best shops to hit up.

Are there any of the shops in some of the resorts better than others? I mean, I would guess the only place I would be able to find a Yacht Club t-shirt would be at the Yacht Club gift shop, right?

 

[bsjs0708]

I LOVE the Christmas shop at Downtown Disney. Towards the back there is a Nightmare Before Christmas section that has some unique items..

 

[DisneyAllyC]

Are most of the shops at Disney carrying pretty much the exact same items and such? Is there anything special and unique in some stores that you can't just get any where else? We will be going to the MK, EP and AK. Also will be doing Downtown Disney as well. Just wanting to know which are the best shops to hit up.

Are there any of the shops in some of the resorts better than others? I mean, I would guess the only place I would be able to find a Yacht Club t-shirt would be at the Yacht Club gift shop, right?

I love World of Disney and the Emporium.

 

[Disneylover99]

I love MouseGears at Epcot! But I don't think there is anything unique there in comparison to The World of Disney in DTD.

 

[magicbob]

Some of the more unique items/shops:

Art of Disney offers prints, animation cels, and sketches.
Gourmet Pantry at DTD - Kitchen items, cookbooks, etc.
AK shops and AKL gift shop have some unique African/animal themed items.
As pp mentioned, the Christmas shops have ornaments, etc.
Shops in World Showcase at EPCOT feature items from each country.

 

[PoohsFan1]

My favorite shops are the Christmas Shop in DTD and the Art of Disney, however, you can find this store in every park too. My DD12 is in love with Trend D which has a ton of unique items. She always finds really cute hats and accessories in there. As for DD9 she loves the Create Your Own Tee shop in DTD, she always creates one for each trip.

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

Most do carry the same items. My favorite stores are:
Disney Days of Christmas
World of Disney
Any big trading pin store
Mouse Gear

This is where I do most of my shopping with purchases.

 

[>Ash<]

my shops that i think dosnt have as generic merch are....

MK:- the haunted mansion cart - carries alot of Nightmare merch as well as some haunted mansion merch that i havent seen to much of elsewhere in the parks

AK: dino merch, havnt seen that merch repeated all over disneyworld except for gift shops in dino area, i may be wrong, AK isnt one of my main shopping parks.

HS - villians in vogue, used to have the disney villains merch which you didnt see much of else where, not sure if thats still the case, that was where i found the Kingdom Keepers and Kingdom Hearts books. the kingdom hearts were manga books, can still get them in epcot i believe at japan pavillion

Epcot - Japan Pavillion as stated above always pick my little brother up some manga, yu-gi-oh and pokemon merch to take home, hes not big into disney like me lol

DTD - in the design a tee shop you can walk through to the hat shop, on the back wall on the left of the store you will find plenty of books, the be our guest guide to disney customer service book and walts quotes book everyday there is a different quote from walt which is meant to inspire you. didnt see them elsewhere in the parks.

 

[seelyt2]

I really love shopping in World Showcase in Epcot. Our favorite shopping areas are Japan (the Lucky Cats and Owls), purses; UK for clothes, accessories and Buckingham Palace hand cream; Italy for the glass jewelry; and Mexico for the neat homemade looking items. And I gotta stop by France to the the Grand Marnier Orange Slushy. It's to die for.

 

[2009CAN]

And I gotta stop by France to the the Grand Marnier Orange Slushy

Okay, that's going in my folder so I don't forget to try it!

 

[Micca]

I love shopping for Disney stuff. I don't even mind looking at the same stuff over and over because it is so appealing to me. As a result I've spent a lot of time at WDW shops over the years. Sadly, there is less variety than there once was, but there are some differences shop to shop. The other variable is that the merch is displayed differently in many shops such that you may spot something you like that was available in other shops, but you didn't notice it.

I particularly enjoy the merch at the CR shops. They seem to have some of the nicest stuff there, and the atmosphere isn't as manic as it is in the parks.
Still, it doesn't hurt to take a peek in many of the shops to be sure you aren't missing anything. You'll soon develop an eye for "same stuff" syndrome.

 

[wicked.witch.of.wdw]

I love the big "catch-all" stores, like Emporium, Mouse Gear, and World of Disney. World Showcase is also great- there's more unique stuff there than anywhere else in the World. And as a big villain afficiando, I love Villains in Vogue. For a while, they succumbed to generic merch syndrome, but on my trip last month, the villain stuff was back in full force!

 

[carrie1626]

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Go to the ANIMATION Studio! Take the free class and Draw a DISNEY Character

AND the best gift shops are right there also.
Whether you buy or just browse, you will see things there that are nowhere else!!!

 

[agavegirl1]

Another vote for Mousegear at Epcot.

 

[shell8558]

I'm a fan of Mousegears, World of Disney, Christmas shop in DD, gift shop at the Poly, and Trend D.

 

[P00H1010]

Another vote for Mouse Gear

 

[CNYDisneyFan]

I love the following:

MK-Emporium and Hundred Acre Goods and the Christmas store in Liberty Square
Epcot-Mouse Gear
AK-Island Mercantile
DHS-Keystone Clothiers

DTD-World of Disney, Once Upon a Christmas

 

[Polyfor30th]

Must do shops for me are:

Mouse Gear in Epcot
TrenD in DTD

Plus, multiple visits to popcorn carts

 

[Bean786]

Must do shops for me are:

Mouse Gear in Epcot
TrenD in DTD

Plus, multiple visits to popcorn carts

Popcorn carts.. Yes!!

 

[rpcvpanama]

I love the Basin White store in the Grand Floridian. It is a little higher end than the Basin store in DtD. We always stock up when we go. They will ship things for you and if you buy more than a certain $$ amount (I can't remember the exact amount) the shipping is free.