OK…when you're in Orlando you're not going to be shopping for anything serious. This is all about fun and frolic and seeing the sparkle in a child's eyes when they get their first pair of Mickey ears, a Cinderella figurine, or a Shamu stuffed animal. Hey, what the heck…you might even get yourself a pair of ears to wear too! What you are going to do with all that stuff once you get home, however, is your problem!
If you are at the theme parks, a good word to the wise is if you see it and like it, then buy it. Prices throughout the park are the same and you are not going to find a cheaper price at another store. You may, however, want to wait until the end of the day to make your purchases so that you don't have to carry everything with you all day – unless, of course, you plan to wear your Mickey ears or T-shirt.
Also, it's a pretty good idea not to shop on the first day of your visit. Your child may fall in love with an item on the first day and then the next day they may find something else they like better. Tell them to look around, see what is out there, and then make a decision on what to buy. And even if you locate Disney memorabilia in the airport or a mall, you will still be paying the same price as you would in the parks.
As for the sundries, we recommend buying film, batteries, suntan lotion, etc, BEFORE you get to Orlando . These items will be much cheaper at home than in the parks where they know they have a captive audience who doesn't have anywhere else to go.
As for shopping outside of the parks, here are some recommendations for “hot spots”:
International Drive is definitely a tourist area in Orlando . Stretching some 7 to 10 miles north of the Disney parks, you find many hotels including the Clarion Hotel Universal, Homewood Suites International Drive, Best Western Plaza International, and Sheraton World Resort here as well as restaurants and attractions. Pointe Orlando is the shopping mecca of this area and features a bi-level complex with an IMAX theater, and 80 shops.
If you are looking for cheap, touristy style items to bring people back home, Kissimmee is probably the place you want to head for inexpensive T-shirts, seashell items, and other kitsch. The Rodeway Inn Maingate is situated in Kissimmee .
Celebration is a town created by Disney with about a dozen expensive shops and galleries in its downtown area. It's probably a better place to walk around and explore than to plan a shopping excursion, but you will find plenty of places to browse and wander through.
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