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Quick Tips for Shopping at Disney During Christmas



 


Buy Year-Specific Merch Early

Have a Disney vacation planned in late 2024? Are you wanting to buy some 2024 merchandise? Good luck trying to find any after Halloween. Working in Merchandise at Walt Disney World, I personally had to take down some 2015 merchandise in order to make room for holiday merchandise the day of October 31st. Disney is always a month or two ahead of the actual calendar when it comes to merchandise. If you are fortunate enough to take two Disney vacations a year, I highly suggest you plan to buy year specific merchandise during your earlier trip. If you can only go late in the year, but still want year-specific merchandise, I suggest you order it before your vacation. You can use the Shop Disney Parks app to order merchandise before your trip. Or you can buy the following year’s merchandise, as it will probably be out on shelves in late December. 

Use the Shop Disney Parks App

Disney during Christmas is crazy crowded. And shops – especially shops with Christmas merchandise – are packed to the point where you can’t really move an inch without stepping on top of a toddler. And the merchandise flies off the shelves faster than the Cast Members can stock it. Using the app may be a time and stress saver! You can browse all of the merchandise within the resort and see exactly which stores have what in stock. This way you do not have to waste time running from store to store to look for a specific item. You do not even have to step inside a store your entire vacation. Which means more time for rides!

Have An Idea of What You Want Before Shopping

This is another way the app comes in handy. While waiting in line for rides or on the monorail or during lunch, you can scroll through the app to get an idea of what items you may want to buy. This way you know exactly what you’re looking for and do not have to waste time in stores. You can even ask a Cast Member for help. If you say, “I am looking for an Olaf sweatshirt”, they will be able to show you exactly where it is in the store.

Buy it NOW!

See something you like? Buy it NOW! As stated before, the merchandise flies off the shelves during Christmastime, and the Cast Members might not be
able to restock it. So if you see something you want, grab it before someone else does! It might be the only one left – not just in the store, but in the whole park! If you later on decide you don’t actually like what you bought, you can always return it to any merchandise location in any park  (as long as you have the receipt!). But better safe than sorry!

Set a Budget

If you are trying to save money on your trip, make sure you set a budget for shopping. It can be very easy to go overboard on spending during Christmas, as there are a lot of unique, cute items out during this time. So make a plan. Maybe it’s to only buy one thing in every park. Or it’s to buy only ornaments, or figurines. If you are shopping with kids, one popular method is to give them a Disney gift card. These gift cards are limited to a set amount, so your kids cannot spend too much. This is also a good way to teach your kids financial responsibility and math skills.


Be Patient in Register Lines

Repeat after me: Christmas. Is. Crazy. That does not mean I have to be.

The over-crowdedness of the parks can lead to long register lines in stores. But please be patient and respectful to the Cast Members working! They are doing the best they can to get through everyone as efficiently as possible. That being said, there are a few things you can do to make sure you’re not one of the people holding up the line. While you are waiting in line, pull out your wallet. If you have a discount, such as a DVC membership, pull that card out, too. And always allow time for checking out in your plans. You don’t want to miss a reservation because of waiting in line!

Your Opinion

Do you have any tips for handling the holiday crowds at Disney? Leave a comment below!
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