My Disney Shopping List | Focused on the Magic : My Disney Shopping List

Tuesday

My Disney Shopping List

When I first read that our topic this month was Our Disney Shopping List, I wasn't sure which way I wanted to go with it. I'm a list maker by nature. If I’m visiting the parks around the holidays that list gets pretty long as I really enjoy bringing home special Christmas gifts. On it I have those things I may want for myself and things that I think my family, friends and fur-babies might enjoy. 

At home, I always have a shopping list with me and sometimes a coupon or two. I like the saving of coupons but I'm not a faithful fan of clipping and organizing them. I'll use one if I have it with me and would have bought the item anyway.  

Discount shopping coupons, although an unusual sight to behold in WDW can be found randomly printed at the bottom of counter service receipts right around the holidays. Some restrictions apply as to where you can use them and the times of day they can be used. 
After accumulating a few coupons I decided one holiday season I would use take the opportunity to shop at MouseGears in Epcot and the coupons I didn't use I would pass along to another guest. MouseGears offered the best selection for items on my holiday shopping list and there was a gift with purchase. How could I not try to fill my Disney shopping list with great savings?
I made sure our touring plans put me in Epcot and MouseGears on the right day and time to allow time to shop and use the coupon. It was extremely crowded with holiday shoppers. I managed to pick out many gifts on my list and get on the long line to purchase about a 1/2 hour before the coupon would expire. As it happened it was also training day for CMs on the register. Oh, how I felt for them!

Fortunately DH wasn't with me as he would never have had the patients to shop, wait on line and use a coupon. Especially in WDW! 

I always bring back tins of Disney coffee, chocolates and cookies. The tins make a great gift and they pack well for travel. Unfortunately, it was only after waiting in line for 45 minutes and finally reaching the cash register did I find out they will not send food items such as  cookies and chocolates to your room or to the parcel pick up at the main entrance! The reasoning was that they couldn't keep it cool in transit and in storage. On top of that my coupon had expired while I was waiting on line! The CM decided to honor the coupon but couldn't help with delivering my food purchases.

This was a huge disappointment for me as these were a big part of my shopping list. I would have to carry them around all day, go all the way back to Saratoga Springs to drop them off or store them in a locker in the park. Even though storing them in a locker wasn't my favorite choice it seemed to please Peter who was waiting patiently to get on with his day at Epcot. 

Well, the lockers were too small for the packages. At this point we were both melting ourselves and ready to leave. Then I remembered that the Camera Center had a bag pick up area many years ago and it might very well be cool. They used it to store film in the old days before digital and film spoils in the heat. It was worth a try! We made our way over to the Camera Care Center and sure enough the CM's there were happy to store my bags for the day in a nice cool storage area.

Peter was happy to finally get on with his day at the park and I was happy I got to check a few things off my holiday shopping list.

The chocolates and cookies were all well received. I even kept one of the tins for storage and a reminder of our shopping adventure. 
The best souvenir from that day was for our fur-baby Einstein. It WAS (there's one piece left) a set of toys in the shape of Mickey body parts. Einstein had a blast carrying Mickey’s hand around in his mouth and cuddling up to it until it fell apart. 

Another favorite gift from that day was an oven mitt which at the moment I can't find to take a picture of so I borrowed a pic from The Disney Store. It's $11.95 which is the same price as it is at MouseGears (without the coupon discount;). 
I’ll be doing my Disney Christmas shopping from home this year. It won't be as exciting as my park holiday shopping experience but The Disney Store is offering a 20% coupon that expires at midnight with free shipping for purchases of $75 or more and I can shop in my pj's:D  


Thanks for stopping by.
Have a Magical Day! 
Debs

4 comments:

  1. I loved reading about your shopping adventure. We've stood in many lines at Mouse Gears over the years - but I love that store. Along with Main Street Emporium and World of Disney - it just seems to have EVERYTHING you could possibly want!  What a great idea to leave your stuff at the camera shop - you're so smart!

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  2. I love shopping at MouseGears during the holidays. Years ago the Camera Center was the only shop in Epcot you could get ISO 200 & 400 film. It was luck and pixie dust that made me remember that. 

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  3. Great post, Debs!  Nothing wrong with shopping for Disney stuff online...especially if you can get a discount! :-) 

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  4. randyor5:31 AM

    I really like your description list.It's really awesome and provide your the benefits like Discount shopping coupons,facilities,easily shopping and many others,I like really much your website. 

    ReplyDelete

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