A Complete Guide to the Disney Character Warehouse

If you went to the happiest place on earth and didn’t bring back Disney merchandise, were you really there? Buying souvenirs is a huge part of the magic around visiting Walt Disney World. However, if you aren’t careful, getting some Disney pins here and some Star Wars merch there can quickly add up and take a toll on your wallet. Thankfully, there’s a way to get officially licensed Disney memorabilia without breaking the bank.

Disney’s Character Warehouse is one of the best-kept secrets for those who want to save money on their trip to Disney World. These Disney outlet stores — which are only miles away from the main Disney Park — will let you put your hands on authorized Disney keepsakes without breaking the bank. So forget about shopping at Disney Springs! Here’s all you need to know about Disney shopping at Vineland Avenue or International Drive.

What Is the Disney’s Character Warehouse?

One of the lesser-known fun facts of visiting Walt Disney World in Florida is that you don’t always have to pay full price for Disney souvenirs. The Disney Character Warehouse is a Disney outlet store in Orlando that’s highly popular among deal hunters and pin trading enthusiasts. Not to be confused with the Disney Store, an international chain that sells Disney merchandise, the Character Warehouse only sells Disney-park-exclusive overstock merch at discount prices.

At the Warehouse, you can purchase original Mickey and Friends, Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar products amongst other merchandise from Disney-owned movie studios. The best part: you score a juicy deal while you’re at it. And yes, if you were wondering, you can even get your Mickey ears, Magic Bands, and Disney pins here. These outlet stores are an extension of the Disney World and Universal Studios shops, including those in Disney Springs, meaning they have the same buying policies. 

After being closed for months due to COVID-19 restrictions, Disney’s Character Warehouse is finally back and following safe travel rules and regulations. You can visit the Character Warehouse Monday through Thursday from 11 am to 8 pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 9 pm, and Sundays from 11 am to 7 pm.  

Where Are the Disney’s Character Warehouses Located?

There are currently only two locations of the Disney Character Warehouse in Orlando, one on Vineland Avenue and the other one on International Drive. Whichever option you pick, you’d better keep your packing list light. After all, you’ll need to make sure to have enough room in your luggage for your Disney souvenirs!

Much like at Disney Springs, you don’t need a Disney Park Pass for access to the Character Warehouse. Both branches of this Disney outlet are situated in premium malls and are conveniently close to some of Walt Disney World’s main attractions, such as:

• The Universal Orlando Resort 
• Universal’s Volcano Bay
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Magic Kingdom
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• EPCOT
• Disney Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Character Warehouse used to have other branches in California for Disneyland goers, but they no longer exist. So while you can still find some Disney outlet stores in the Golden State, devoted Disney fans have to travel to Florida if they want to purchase discount Disney merchandise that’s not available elsewhere.

Products Carried at the Disney’s Character Warehouse

The Disney Character Warehouse is vastly different from any other off-park Disney store in Orlando. As mentioned earlier, it carries overstock and past-season Disney Park merch exclusively. This includes limited edition items like Disney pins and magic bands that feature your favorite Disney characters and other cool products.

This Disney outlet also sells merch that you can still find at full price at popular Disney attractions like Disney Springs, Magic Kingdom, and Universal Studios. The difference is a more reasonable price tag. 

Because of the quick turnover at the Character Warehouse, their product selection can be rather unpredictable at times. As a result, you’re likely to find a wide variety of Disney apparel, dishes, glassware, toys, and plushies. Still, the options depend on which items are being overproduced or simply aren’t selling fast enough at the main Disney World stores. 

The store at Vineland Avenue often seems to have a backstock of unique items and Disney merchandise any Disney fan would treasure. For example, you might find a T-shirt from Frozen (2013) that might have been in the parks when the movie first came out. You might also find some incredible memorabilia from previous Park events.

Things To Do Near the Disney’s Character Warehouses

Picking accommodations near Disney requires some strategy if you want to go souvenir shopping outside Disney Park premises. For example, on your next Disney World visit, you could pick a Disney Resort or a nice hotel in the Lake Buena Vista area to stay close to the action. 

Some popular options near the Vineland Disney Character Warehouse and Disney Springs are:

• Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriot Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• Hilton Orlando Lake Buenavista Disney Springs Area
• Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• Hyatt Place Orlando Lake Buena Vista

The main attractions from the theme park around this area are EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Boardwalk.

If you’re looking to spend more time at Universal Studios, however, Disney’s Character Warehouse at the Orlando Premium Outlets at International Drive is a better option. You could then stay at:

• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at the Entrance to Universal Orlando
• Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando
• Hyatt Place Across from Universal Orlando Resort
• Hilton Garden Inn Orlando International Drive North

Queues at the Character Warehouse tend to be quite long. So, unless you have a Disney Genie that can grant you a wish to skip the line, you may want to plan for a full day at the mall. Parking can be a little tricky — and pricey — at either location, so using a rideshare service may be the most reasonable choice. 

The Takeaway

Walt Disney World has earned the title of the happiest place on earth, and with good reason! Yet, the Disney Character Warehouse comes at a close second. The guide above will give you some valuable tips and tricks on how to get official Disney merchandise at better prices.

Next time you go to Disney World, make time to visit this Disney outlet at any of its two locations. You’ll save loads of money on Disney gifts for your loved ones back home. Happy shopping!