Welcome back to Disney Stuff.
As I’m writing this article I’m suffering through a pretty severe case of PDD. That, of course, would be Post Disney Depression. PDD kicks in just about the time we drive out through the Walt Disney World arches and I realize that I am, in fact, back in the real world. The Magical Express bus and the video always keep me going for a little while. I do get a slight reprieve at the airport because we always make one last stop in the Disney gift shop, The Earport, for some last minute purchases or pin trades. Once I land in New York though, it’s like a punch in the face! Back to reality; Fantasyland has been left behind.
I always hate that first trip to the local supermarket. It’s usually to get some milk for the morning or to restock a little after being away. The employees aren’t mean, per se. But they’re just not the same. They haven’t been trained in topnotch customer service. They’re not wearing Disney pins around their neck. They’re not smiling. They don’t tell me to, “Have a magical day!” Back to work and back to school. I have a hard time getting out of the post trip funk. It’s a total drag and it goes on for days.
One of the best ways to cope is by unpacking and enjoying all the new bits and pieces of cool Disney stuff that I managed to return with. So to keep myself happy, less than a week after I’ve returned, I thought I’d share all of my Brand New Walt Disney World Stuff.
My mother and I have gotten into a good groove the past few years in regards to my birthday, which falls in July. Usually we have a Disney trip planned for August or the upcoming fall. When she asks me what I would like for my birthday, she’s well prepared for my typical response: “I’m going to Disney soon, a Disney gift card would be just fine.” It’s better than just fine. It’s what I’m hoping for. Let’s face it—I’ve been writing a monthly article about collecting and accumulating Disney things for the past six years now. Shopping for stuff at Walt Disney World obviously puts a smile on my face. This past trip was certainly no different. So, what’d I get?
I started out with a new Disney refillable mug. I was considering not getting one this year because they hadn’t changed the design on my past two trips, each of which saw me bringing home a new, but similar mug. I really didn’t need a third one. I use them everyday at work, but three the same definitely wasn’t necessary. However, once I saw a new design, I was sold. At first I almost thought that the characters were in a bar, but quickly realized that they are supposed to be in a hotel lobby! I’ve already had this on my desk at work filled with my morning orange juice:
The latest incarnation of the Disney resort refillable mug. Photo by Chris Barry.
After the mug, I knew I needed a new journal. For the past five years now, I've recorded all of the trip's events and details in a journal. Every night, as everyone has drifted off to sleep I sit and recollect the day and write down my thoughts. I've filled quite a few so far and I was in need of a new one for this trip. I found this one at the Emporium on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom on our first day:
My latest Walt Disney World Journal. Photo by Chris Barry.
So, I got a new mug and a new journal. Those are the essentials. But hopefully there would be more things to buy, right? I have to say, when you go yearly it does get hard to find new merchandise. However, one of the things that Disney always does is the “purchase with a purchase” deal. If you spend a certain amount of money in a gift shop, you can buy a select item at a reduced price. I’ve gotten lots of cool stuff that way and even wrote a Disney Stuff article about it a while back. This time, as it has been several times before, I got a new watch.
This watch was $15.95 with any purchase of $25. Photo by Chris Barry.
This is one of my favorite watches to come out of the “purchase with a purchase” deals. It’s a limited release with a bluish tint to Mickey’s enlarged face. I liked it so much that I got the ladies version for my wife. She loves hers as much as I love mine.
Yes. It's true. We got his and hers watches. Photo by Chris Barry.
Speaking of my wife, she didn’t get all that much this year. For many years, she bought a new piece of blue German crystal from the Arribas Brothers shop in Epcot’s Germany pavilion. She’s bought so much of it though that she’s taking a break from it until they come out with some new pieces. My wife’s two favorite purchases were ones that she discovered last year and was hoping to get more of this year and they have nothing really to do with Disney except where they were purchased. In World Showcase in the Japan pavilion's Mitsukoshi Department Store, she found these little cleaning brushes. They’ve got smiley faces on them and they’re cut at an angle to reach crevices and corners. She uses them all the time and can’t find them anywhere but in Epcot. Go figure.
These little brushes really are quite handy. Photo by Chris Barry.
The other thing she found out last year, and you heard it here first folks, is that L’Esprit De La Provence in France has the best dishtowels! Over the years, we’ve gotten a lot of great things in this shop for our home including beautifully decorated serving trays and dishes. This year, she had to go back and get some more of what she calls, “the best dishtowels she’s ever owned!” Forget Williams-Sonoma, Epcot’s France pavilion should be your stop to stock up on dishtowels! I love her even more for these two quirky little discoveries!
The super-thirsty, durable yet elegant French dishtowels from Epcot. Photo by Chris Barry.
While we’re on the subject of Epcot, I always have my eye on the retro looking Epcot Center clothing for sale in MouseGear, the best Disney gift shop on property. This year I finally made a purchase from that corner of the store.
The retro looking Epcot Center long sleeve tee. Photo by Chris Barry.
We always stop in Italy to check out the beautiful Murano glass in Il Bel Cristallo. This time around I brought home a nice Mickey shaped votive holder made out of blue alabaster.
A Mickey votive from Italy. Photo by Chris Barry.
The kids and I always pin trade while we’re there. We’ll mostly look for the latest Hidden Mickey Cast Member pins. However, I also like to look for something that’s a little more unique when it comes to pins. These Haunted Mansion stretching portraits feature some of Disney’s most infamous villains, Cruella DeVil, the Queen of Hearts and Captain Hook:
Three of the four Disney Villains Haunted Mansion Stretch Portrait pins. Photo by Chris Barry.
There is a fourth in the series—which eluded me—featuring my favorite Disney villain Maleficent. I’ll be hunting for that one to complete the set. This set was released to coincide with the 45th anniversary of one of my all-time favorite Disney attractions, the Haunted Mansion.
I also traditionally try to purchase a resort pin from whichever Disney resort we are staying at. I already have a Yacht Club pin from five years ago, but this one is different, so it found its way home to my pin board:
The latest Yacht Club pin. Photo by Chris Barry.
The kid in me still loves to collect toy cars. When I combine that love with Disney, I get the Disney Racers series. This time, I indulged my inner child a little bit more with the Tigger and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit racers.
The Tigger Disney Racer. Photo by Chris Barry.
The Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Disney Racer. Photo by Chris Barry.
As you can see, there were no major collectible purchases. I always have my eye on just about everything in The Art of Disney shops in Epcot and on Main Street USA, but I didn’t succumb this time. Instead I went for lots of little things that will keep me smiling as I try to ease back into civilization and leave the magic behind for another year.
After all, the point of collecting and accumulating all of this Disney Stuff is just that isn’t it? The goal is to keep the magic alive and never forget why we all fell in love with the place to begin with. If we can do that with some pins, some clothing, some Disney toys on a shelf or a mug on our desk, or even the best dishtowels on earth…then I’m pretty sure it was money well spent.
As always, I’d like to hear what you have to say. Click on the link below, let me hear your thoughts, and I’ll see you next time with some more of that great Disney Stuff.
