Great Shopping Areas

Magic Kingdom

Adventureland -- Located at the Pirates of the Caribbean exit, the Pirates Bazaar is filled with everything a child needs to play pirate, from hats to hooks and everything in between. There are also muskets, toy swords, and loads of other pirate booty, as well as a small selection of island wear and costume jewels.

Tomorrowland -- Mickey's Star Traders is a large shop filled from top to bottom with Disneyana; it's probably the best place to shop in Magic Kingdom after Main Street.

Mickey's Toontown Fair -- The Toontown Hall of Fame Tent has continuous meetings with Disney characters, as well as a large assortment of Disney souvenirs.

Shopping on Main Street -- Shopping at Disney has almost become a pastime in and of itself, and the largest collection of shops in the Kingdom is located right along Main Street, U.S.A. If you find you've forgotten something or just need a present for the neighbor who's taking care of your plants, you'll likely be able to find it here. The Emporium, in Town Square, has the park's largest selection of Disneyana, with everything from T-shirts and toys to picture frames and cookie jars. Stop by and pick up some of the more unique sweets and treats at the Main Street Confectionary or some shiny baubles at Uptown Jewelers. Many of the street's stores are interconnected, pretty much allowing you to shop from one end of Main Street to the other without ever having to walk outside.

Mouse ears are practically a staple at Disney, but for those who prefer for something a bit more unique, the Chapeau on Main Street features a "create your own" twist on the classic headwear. Starting with a base ($4.95-$5.95), you simply add on the pieces you like, choosing from 19 different ears, various colors, and trims ($3.50 per piece, $2.95 for stickers sealed with a hot press) -- you can even have your name embroidered on it ($3.00). Note: At press time, the Chapeau was the sole location at Walt Disney World to offer customized mouse ears. If however, you prefer the original version, they're available too for $9.95.

Frontierland -- Mosey into the Frontier Trading Post for the latest and greatest in cowboy wear. The Prairie Outpost and Supply is your best bet for sweets and treats.

Fantasyland -- Fantasy Faire is filled with plenty of items for your little prince or princess to play with, including costumes, swords, and much more. Little girls adore Tinker Bell's Treasures, its wares comprising Peter Pan merchandise, costumes (Tinker Bell, Snow White, Cinderella, Pocahontas, and others), and collector dolls. Pooh's Thotful Shop is filled with T-shirts and toys featuring those cuddly characters from the Hundred-Acre Wood for kids and adults alike.

Liberty Square -- The Heritage House is filled with replicas of famous documents (they're great for school projects), including the Declaration of Independence; miniature models of the Statue of Liberty; and everything Americana, from souvenir spoons and campaign buttons to flags and red-white-and-blue T-shirts. Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, filled with decorations and Disney ornaments galore, celebrates Christmas every day of the year.

Shopping at Disney's Hollywood Studios

With more than 20 shops in the park, we can't list them all, but some of the Studios' more unique offerings include:

The Animation Courtyard Shops carry collectible cels, costumes from Disney classic films, and pins.

Sid Cahuenga's One-of-a-Kind sells autographed photos of the stars, original movie posters, and star-touched items such as canceled checks signed by Judy Garland and others.

Celebrity 5 & 10, modeled after a 1940s Woolworth's, has movie-related merchandise: Gone With the Wind memorabilia, Hollywood Studios T-shirts, movie posters, Elvis mugs, and more.

The major park attractions also have their own shops selling Indiana Jones adventure clothing, Little Mermaid stuffed characters, Star Wars souvenirs, and so on.

Great Things to Buy at Epcot

Sure, you want to be educated about the cultures of the world, but for most, the two big attractions at the World Showcase are eating and shopping. This list gives you an idea of additional items available for purchase.

If you'd like to check out the amazing scope of Disney merchandise at home, everything from furniture to bath toys, you can order a catalog by calling tel. 800/237-5751 or surfing the Web to www.disneystore.com.(Just be aware that the selection is different from what you'll find at the parks).

• The silver jewelry at the Mexico pavilion is beautiful. Choose from a range of merchandise that goes from a simple flowered hair clip to a kidney-shaped stone-and-silver bracelet. Soccer fans will find plenty to choose from as the outdoor outpost is filled top to bottom with Mexico's national soccer team merchandise.
• There are lots of great sweaters available in the shops of Norway, and it's really tough to resist the Scandinavian trolls. They're so ugly, you have to love them.
• Forget about all those knockoff products stamped "Made in China." The merchandise in this country is among the more expensive to be found in Epcot, from jade teardrop earrings to multicolored bracelets to Disney art.
• Porcelain and cuckoo clocks are the things to look at in Germany. You might find a Goebel Collectible Winnie the Pooh or a handcrafted Pooh cuckoo clock. Of course, Hummel figurines and stuffed Steiffs are big sellers, too.
• In Italy, look for 100% silk scarves in a variety of patterns as well as fine silk ties and crystal.
• Your funky teenager might like the Taquia knit cap, a colorful fezlike chapeau, that's available in Morocco. There's also a variety of celestial-patterned pottery available in vases and platters.
• Tennis fans may be interested in the Wimbledon shirts, shorts, and skirts available in the United Kingdom. There's also a nice assortment of rose-patterned tea accessories, Shetland sweaters, tartans, pub accessories, and loads of other stuff from the U.K.

Future World -- Most of Epcot's more unique shopping lies just ahead in World Showcase, but there are a few places in this part of the park that offer special souvenirs. You can browse through cels and other collectibles at the Art of Disney in Innoventions West (how about an $8,800, 5-ft. wooden Mickey watch?), purchase almost anything imaginable at MouseGear (one of the best and most comprehensive shops in all of WDW) in Innoventions East, and find gardening and other gifts in the Land.

Outside the Parks

Celebration -- Though not the best place to head if you're the shop-'til-you-drop type, this is a rather pleasant spot to stroll leisurely along quaint streets filled with upscale shops, coffeehouses, and restaurants. Celebration, after all, is a Disney-designed community, making it practically the perfect little town (or a facsimile thereof). It's a throwback to mid-20th-century mainstream America, when main-street shopping was in style. Market Street and the area just surrounding it are home to a dozen or so shops, a couple of art galleries, a handful of restaurants, and a three-screen movie theater. The storefronts, especially the galleries and gift shops, offer interesting and unique merchandise, though you'll find that there's a price to pay for perfection. Stores here include the Market Street Gallery (Swarovski crystal, all types of collectibles, home decor, Yankee Candles, Christmas decorations and more), Sherlock's of Celebration (a shop that sells wine and English tearoom goods), DownEast (an Orvis shop filled with gift items and resort wear), the Village Mercantile (featuring apparel by Tommy Bahama, Quicksilver, and Oakley), The Lollipop Cottage (a boutique filled with clothing and gifts for children), an art gallery, a book store, a grocer, a post office, a perfumery, and a jeweler, among others. The real attraction is the relaxing, picture-perfect atmosphere. The high prices, however, may make for more window-shopping than actual spending. If, by chance, Celebration reminds you of the Truman Show, you're not alone. The movie was filmed in Seaside, a Florida panhandle community that inspired the builders of this burg.

Downtown Disney -- With three distinct areas -- West Side, Pleasure Island, and the Marketplace -- Downtown Disney (tel. 407/939-2648; www.downtowndisney.com) is chock-full of some of the most unique shops in Orlando, as well as many restaurants and entertainment venues.

The best shops in the Marketplace include the 50,000-square-foot World of Disney, the largest store in Downtown Disney (and the second largest Disney store in the world). There are rooms and more rooms filled with everything Disney, from toys and trading pins to clothes and collectibles -- and everything (and we mean everything) in between. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique arrived in 2006 and is a place where little girls can have their hair styled, put on makeup, and have their nails done so they look like a princess when they emerge. In the princess room, girls can play dress up, while the adventure room is geared more to boys -- they can create their own pirate hat, play video games, and check out superhero, space explorer, and cowboy gear.

I always stop in at the Lego Imagination Center when I'm in town. The large store is easy to shop in and offers lots of play areas to entertain the kids (we'd hate to be the ones cleaning up at night). Shelves are filled with Lego blocks designed for everyone from toddlers to tweens, Bionicles, T-shirts, and trinkets. Check out the display behind the counter when you cash out -- it's filled top to bottom with teeny tiny Lego people (visible thanks to a nifty magnifying glass that runs back and forth across their little faces). Once Upon a Toy is one of the best stores in the Marketplace, and the best toy store I've ever been in. It's stocked from floor to ceiling with games and toys, many of them classics -- you know, the ones you played with while growing up. Its 16,000 square feet of space is divided into three separate sections: The first is filled with board games; the second is loaded with stuffed animals, building sets, and Playskool toys; the third features action figures, vehicles, and videos. The store's popular "build your own" and "fill your own" stations, including a new "build your own light saber" station (where you can pick and choose from a variety of doodads, packing on as many pieces as possible), are sprinkled throughout the premises. Team Mickey's Athletic Club sells character clothing with a sporty spin. Other smaller, but similarly interesting shops include Summer Sands, featuring the hottest in beachwear from top names such as Quicksilver and Calvin Klein; and the Art of Disney, where you can buy limited edition animation cels and other Disney collectibles.

Hoypoloi features contemporary glasswork, original sculptures, and an assortment of distinctive gifts. The 49,000-square-foot Virgin Megastore is the biggest store on the block, with two levels of music, videos, books, and more. You can preview your chosen song or movie before you purchase at one of the 300 audio and video stations. At Curl by Sammy Duval, you can pick up the hottest surf and skate wear, accessories -- even the latest gear. Other notable stores at West Side include Magic Masters, where you can load up on magic tricks for your budding Harry Houdini; and Magnetron, which sells a huge variety of magnets (though, strangely enough, no Disney ones).

Getting Your Fill -- The neatest way to buy toys at several Downtown Disney stores (especially Once Upon a Toy) is in bulk . . . sort of. Toys such as Lincoln Logs and Mr. Potato Head, as well as a few others, can be purchased by the piece. Here's how it works: You pick out a box (often with two sizes to choose from) and fill it up with as many (or few) pieces as you can fit inside. The only stipulation -- you have to be able to close the lid properly. No matter how many pieces you've stuffed inside, the price of the box remains the same. If you've got good space-saving skills, buying your toys this way may net you a very good deal. (Here's a hint to get you started -- Mr. Potato Head has a hole in his back, so fill it up and you'll fit more pieces in your box.)