A few months ago, I compared Walt Disney World's two theme park titans, Magic Kingdom and Epcot. After an exhaustive analysis, I concluded that the park with the big golf ball beat out the original by a nose due to uniqueness and variety of offerings,
Today let's take a look at Walt Disney World's other two parks, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom.
By way of a bit of history, the conceit of Hollywood Studios when it opened (as Disney-MGM Studios) was that it was a working film studio, and its shopping choices echoed that theme. Most of the merchandise smacked of movie memorabilia, and nowhere was this more evident than at Sid Cahenga's Antiques and Curious at the park entrance.
At this charming shop, you could browse vintage movie posters and autographs of stars, both past and present. While many items were pricey (my brother made a special trip to buy a Gene Wilder-autographed Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory poster), the shop had a museum-like quality and was a great place to get in the mood of the park. Sadly, Sid is no longer with us—and like the park in general, the theme has gotten a bit watered down over the years. That said, movies are still its business and as you move around the park, that's what most merchandise choices revolve around.
Animal Kingdom merchandising had a similar mission on park opening. The park's theme was animals (obviously) and conservation. Most merchandise choices revolved around this theme—does anyone remember the stickers and buttons you could buy for a dollar and donate to the Disney Conservation Fund? The stickers are gone, and while there is still some great animal-themed swag to buy, things do seem to have gotten a bit more generic.
With that bit of history out of the way, let's take a closer look at both parks.
Main shopping areas: Hollywood Boulevard vs. Discovery Island
These are the Main Street USAs of these two parks, the entry/exit points where Mickey conveniently places many of its shops, usually the Emporium-type shops that have the most merchandise.
Hollywood Studios doesn't have an emporium per se, but rather, a series of shops along Hollywood Boulevard, the main drag as you enter the park.
As you enter Disney's Hollywood Studios, there's shopping to the left, and shopping to the right. Photo by Gregg Jacobs.
On your left as you first enter the park is Mickey's of Hollywood, the largest and most extensive of the shops. This is where you pick up your general Disney merchandise. The shop has a large selection of hats (goofy and of the baseball variety), pins, mugs, candy, and keychains. One item this shop does have in abundance is photo albums and picture frames, in keeping with where the store is located. If these are what you are seeking, this is a great place to visit. There is some clothing, but if you're looking to supplement your wardrobe, keep heading down Hollywood Boulevard to visit Keystone Clothiers.
Keystone Clothiers is the place to go for your wardrobe needs. Character and park-themed T-shirts and sweatshirts are abundant here. Going beyond that, this is where you can pick up golf shirts and clothing (and golf tees, as in the kind you hit balls off as opposed to the shirt, and Mickey-logo golf balls) and a somewhat wide variety of women's clothing (ladies Ts and shorts). There are also bathing suits (we've all forgotten these at home on our Disney trips) and flip flops. A personal favorite item that I see here are Mickey ties. Some of these are as cartoony as you'd expect, but some actually have very subtle silhouetted patterns that would be perfectly acceptable at the office.
Down the right side of the street are two other shops worth mentioning. I'm a fan of the Celebrity 5 & 10. Themed to the old Woolworth five-and-dime stores from years ago, this store actually has one of the best selections of Disney housewares on property. They have dishes, glasses, tumblers, salt and pepper shakers, as well as children's dining sets. They also have candy and popcorn.
Next door is Adrian & Edith's Head to Toe. This is where you can buy that set of mouse ears with your name, but more importantly, as my readers know, this is one of the only places on property you can get virtually anything embroidered. In my case, that was a Christmas stocking purchased at another shop that I couldn't even get done at Disney Days of Christmas, which used to put names on these things. Long story short, anything you want embroidered, bring it here folks. They'll do it for you at a reasonable price, even if you bought the item somewhere else, and ship it anywhere you want.
So while Hollywood Boulevard smacks of, well, old-time Hollywood, let's now venture into the outer reaches of the jungle.
The main shopping area at Animal Kingdom resides just past the Oasis as you enter the park. [A general tip: As you enter the park, take a breath, slow down and stroll slowly through the Oasis; it's one of the most beautiful parts of the park and has great animal viewings.] At the foot of the Tree of Life is Discovery Island, the shopping hub of the park.
The Emporium of Animal Kingdom would be the Discovery Trading Company, on your right as you come over the bridge from the Oasis (the bridge being the best spot to get your Photopass picture in front of the Tree of Life). If you want the Animal Kingdom shop that has it all, this is it. In Emporium-like fashion, you make your way through several rooms as you stroll the stop, each with different offerings.
Again, if you want a huge selection of mugs, T-shirts, keychains, and pins, this is the place to go at this park. One area that made me laugh was the almost whole room dedicated to Disney princesses. I am not exactly the target audience for these goods and certainly understand the attraction for families, but here I am, walking through what I think is the most beautiful theme park on the planet—one that is dedicated to animals, in a store with striking rustic wood beams—and then, bam! I'm hit with a wall of Ariel and Belle. Light-hearted tirade aside, you can find a large assortment of Disney princess items at this shop.
Odd how many Disney princesses there are in the jungle. Photo by Gregg Jacobs
The shop also has a large plush area. There's the usual assortment of Disney characters, but there are also plush versions of animals you can see in the park, which is great and something you can't find outside of Animal Kingdom. There are other parts of the park that have more of these, but taking your child to see a giraffe for the first time on the safari and then taking home a beautiful plush version would provide a great memory of the trip.
The shop also has some very interesting housewares with African-themed patterns. There were trivets, plates, mugs, and even ceramic picture frames with designs I haven't seen anywhere else. These fit the theme of the park nicely.
Discovery Island has the best view from shopping in the world. Photo by Gregg Jacobs.
Across the way is the Island Mercantile. In truth, this is a bit of a mini-Discovery Trading Company, as it has a lot of the same goods, but there's also a camera accessories section here and the theming is more colorful, with a lot of animal accents on the walls and ceiling.
So who wins this one? While Animal Kingdom has some great animal-themed goods and housewares in its “Main Street” shops that can't be found elsewhere, I have to give this one to Hollywood Studios. This is based on sheer variety of goods and how well the shops fit the theming of the park.
Specialty shops and variety
We now move on beyond the park entrances and see what each location has that's fun and unique.
Legends of Hollywood is the marquis (pun absolutely intended) shop on Sunset Boulevard. This is one of those shops that changes out merchandise based on whatever Disney property is new or hot. It was previously the place to go for everything Frozen, and it currently features Star Wars merchandise, mainly in the T-shirt/mug category. For a wider and better-themed Star Wars selection, I would recommend a walk across the park to Tatooine Traders.
Legends of Hollywood, the marquis shop on Sunset Boulevard. Photo by Gregg Jacobs.
This is the shop that debuted along with Star Tours way back when. It continues to be the best place to find Star Wars merchandise on property. In addition to the usual souvenirs and punny T-shirts, there are also one-of-a-kind finds. They often have actual autographed pictures of the film's cast behind the main counter as well as both two and three-dimensional artwork inspired by the films. This is also one of several places the little ones can build their own light saber.
Tatooine Traders is the place to go for everything “Star Wars”. Photo by Gregg Jacobs.
For even more Star Wars booty, make sure you spend some time near the exit of the Launch Bay. There's a lot of great limited edition artwork that's on the pricey side, but great to look at, even for a casual fan.
The exit area of the Launch Bay has some great “Star Wars” artwork. Photo by Gregg Jacobs.
The Stage 1 Company Store, in the Muppets Courtyard, is the place to find Muppets merchandise. It also acts as Hollywood Studios' Art of Disney location ( read more about it from one of my previous articles).
Fans of Frozen and Toy Story fear not, as this park also has you covered. Near the exit of For the First Time in Forever, a Frozen sing along, is Frozen's Fractal Gifts, where you can pick up merchandise from the film. Across from Toy Story Mania is the Toy Story Dept, where you can get all manner of toys and related items themed to the terrific films.
Another personal favorite on Sunset Boulevard is Sweet Spells, the villain-themed candy shop. They have bulk candy as well as the more made-from-scratch treats along the lines of what you'd get at the Main Street Confectionery.
Arguably my favorite ride in all of Walt Disney World is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. I, and my fellow fans, have Tower Hotel Gifts, located at the ride exit (chickens who don't want to freefall while aboard a haunted elevator can enter through the back entrance and still shop). I'm a big fan of the “thank you for dropping in” T-shirts and mugs and the 1930s theming of the ride carries through the shop. One of my all-time favorite purchases is a set of hotel rooms keys I bought there and still see from time to time. If you are a fan of the old Twilight Zone TV show, you can also pick up DVDs.
Disney's Hollywood Studios has some great shopping, particularly if you're a fan of one of Disney's film franchises. If you're looking for something a little bit different, follow me now to the nether reaches of Animal Kingdom.
Let's first go to Africa, one of my favorite spots in WDW. The main shop here is the Mombasa Marketplace. The highlights here for me are the handmade woodcarvings. They come in the shape of many different animals (zebras, elephants, and giraffes, to name a few) and come in many different sizes that range in price from less than $10 to hundreds. Also, check out the decorative carved masks. The shop also has many other handmade and African imported goods, such as musical instruments (check out all the different drums), toys, and wind chimes.
Wood carvings and instruments are the highlights at Mombasa Marketplace. Photo by Gregg Jacobs
There's also an area in front of the shop where you can see an artist at work. You can get an idea of what's involved in making these creations and the artist would be happy to talk to you about the handicraft.
In the Africa section, you can get a chance to see an artist at work. Photo by Gregg Jacobs
The park also has an abundance of plush, both in the main locations and at carts scattered throughout the park. You can certainly find Nemo and Rafiki pretty easily, but there are also many creatures that are normally harder to find. There's nothing like seeing a monkey in person, and then being able to take one home.
There's a wide variety of plush, representing the many animals to be found at the park. Photo by Gregg Jacobs.
While there, you also have to visit Chester & Hester's Dinosaur Treasures. You will never see a more tacky souvenir stand, and I mean that in the best possible way. Like the rest of Dinoland USA, the shop is themed to a roadside attraction from days gone by. Everything around you screams retro. As befitting the title, dinosaurs are the main attraction and come in many forms of merchandise. This is actually a great place to find toys of many different types, including plush and action figures (of dinosaurs and others). This is also a place to buy those Disney monorail sets and other model trains. Chester & Hester's is also the main shop in this part of the park, so if you need a new Magic Band, batteries, or suntan lotion and find yourself in this part of this very large park, this is the place to go.
The Dino Institute Shop at the exit of Dinosaur also has a great selection of dino-themed toys as well as a large Vinylmation selection.
In Asia, there are oddly not a lot of shopping options. The Serka Zong Bazaar at the exit of Expedition Everest has some merchandise related to the excellent ride (buy that yeti T-shirt!), but not a lot specific to Asia. It's worth taking a stroll, even though it's not necessarily worth a special trip if you're not riding.
So who wins this category? In Animal Kingdom, I would highly recommend a visit to the Africa section, not just for the safari, but for some of the great goods. If you are in search of animal or dinosaur-themed goods, it's also the place to go. That said, because of its large amount of merchandise around its theme and dedicated to the popular Disney film franchises, I'd again give Disney's Hollywood Studios the edge.
Best place to find…
- Toys – I'm giving a slight edge to Hollywood Studios, though it depends on what kind of toys you like. Toys related to Disney's big franchises, like Pixar and princesses are in abundance all over Hollywood Studios (check out the exits of the Frozen sing-along or Little Mermaid for some great small shops). For plush, animal, or dinosaur-related items, Animal Kingdom is the place; in particular, Chester & Hester's is a great spot.
- Gifts – Animal Kingdom gets a slight edge here for sheer uniqueness of some of the merchandise. Again, the wood carvings are beautiful, and for the little ones, the plush selection is unmatched. For Mickey and Friends-related merchandise, Hollywood Studios is your better bet.
- Home goods – I'm calling this one a draw. For a great selection of Disney home goods, hit the Celebrity Five and Dime on Hollywood Boulevard. For more unique patterns and selection, visit Discovery Trading Company at Animal Kingdom.
- Collectibles – Despite the closure of Sid Cahenga's, this one still goes to Hollywood, mainly because it has an Art of Disney presence at the Stage 1 Company Store. If you're a Star Wars fan, this is also the place to be for the limited edition artwork and hand-signed items at Tatooine Traders. If your collecting passion is more related to items from around the world, visit Animal Kingdom. That said, would love to see both parks beef up in this regard.
- Dinosaurs – A laughable gimme to Animal Kingdom. If you are a kid or kid at heart that loves dinos, head on over to Chester & Hesters in Animal Kingdom.
I'm going to call this one a draw. Both parks have a plentiful selection and unique items, so your winner would depend on what you're seeking.
And the winner is…
Now we get to our winner. I'll admit that when I set out to write this, I was expecting a different outcome. I also give the usual disclaimer that mileage may vary, and your opinion may be different based on your own personal tastes. All that said, the edge goes to Disney's Hollywood Studios. This is mainly based on my opinion of which park hits its shopping mission better. If you're a movie fan, particularly a Disney franchise fan, you'll have a lot of fun shopping there. From Star Wars to Toy Story to Frozen, you'll find a wide variety of choices and the golden age of Hollywood theming in the main part of the park is still a treat. So while I still lament the loss of Sid Cahuenga's, you have to give the park its due respect.
As far as Animal Kingdom, it's worth visiting from a shopping perspective just to see the Africa section with its authentic goods and to chuckle at Chester and Hester's. Beyond that, there isn't a whole lot that can't be found at the other parks (the princess section at Island Traders makes me laugh almost as much as Chester and Hester's). The lack of a large retail presence in Asia also baffles me a bit (even just some form of The House of Good Fortune from Epcot's China pavilion could make sense there). There's still plenty to buy here, and I love the theming of the shops. I just wish there was a little more variety.
All in all, both parks have some great stuff for you to take home, and as always, depending on what you're seeking, both are worth a visit.
Shopping tip of the week
While I'm a big fan of the Emporiums of the World, my favorite places to visit are those little out-of-the-way shops that you might miss if you don't look closely—those that fit the theming of the area perfectly and carry goods you wouldn't expect to see. A great example of this is It's a Wonderful Shop at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It's officially listed as being part of Muppets Courtyard, but is tucked into that little street around the corner from Muppet*Vision 3D that you walk down on your way to Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano.
The street is themed to days gone by as is the shop. Offerings mostly revolve around the holidays and this is a great place to pick up ornaments, both of the Disney character and general variety. There are also figurines, tree skirts, and even books (a favorite item from here is a book walking through the making of the film It's a Wonderful Life—not surprising considering the name of the shop). The old-time feeling of the shop also fits this area of the park to a tee.
So if you find yourself in Hollywood Studios and want to get that nostalgic holiday feeling, this one is a don't-miss.
