There are 2 very well-known Disney outlets in the Orlando area, both local to the Walt Disney World Resort. Many venture to the outlets get the best deals and sales on Disney merchandise, rather than purchase items directly within the parks.
If you and your family are on a tighter budget, or just love a really great bargain, I recommend checking out one or both of these locations for all of your Disney merchandise needs.
- Disney’s Character Warehouse – Orlando International Premium Outlets
- Disney’s Character Warehouse at the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets – Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets
Disney’s Character Warehouse is located on International Drive (4969 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819) and Disney’s Character Warehouse at the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets is located in 8200 Vineland Ave #1252, Orlando, FL 32821). The Vineland location is closer to Walt Disney World, whereas the I-Drive location is closer to Universal Orlando Resort.
In many cases, items you will find at the outlet are discontinued or an overflow of stock from the Disney theme parks all over the world, that have been deeply discounted (like 50%-80% savings!). Stores receive new stock and merchandise every single day, so you never know what you will find! If you are lucky, you will find things you are looking for and will save a bundle of money!
There really is no pattern either to what you will find when you visit an outlet store. It really is luck of the draw and sometimes very random, with no real rhyme or reason why certain items appear one day, gone the next, and back again the following day. What I can say is that you will absolutely see merchandise from the holidays, festivals, etc. once they are over. So you can expect to see lots of Halloween merchandise in early November, or Christmas at the the beginning of the following year. Want items from one of the Epcot festivals? Wait until it ends and visit the outlet. There is no guarantee what you will find, but it’s worth the look! And if you find something special, you will get it at an amazing deal! That part I can assure you.
Lines to get in get VERY long, especially if we use the example just provided. People know when an Epcot festival ends, the leftovers are going to show up at the outlet. If you are will to wait and risk being able to get your hands on whatever item it is you want, get to the outlet early and wait for the doors to open! Again, no guarantee, but the thrill of it is fun! Outlet stores can get very chaotic and crazy, be prepared for mayhem!
To get a better idea of what you might expect to see, visit Touring Plans The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! August 2019 Disney Outlet Store Photo Report! Here they give you a snapshot on a monthly basis of the crazy things they find at the outlets!
Both of these outlets are off-property so you will need your own transportation to get there. If you are staying on-property and used Disney’s Magical Express Transportation, you do have a few options:
- You can request a taxi at your resort concierge
- Schedule an Uber / Lyft by using the Uber or Lyft mobile app
- Rent a car for the day from the Car Care Center
Did you know that Walt Disney World has a Car Rental service on property? See details here on how to rent a car for the day.
Happy shopping!