Hi Corey, welcome to planDisney!
Congrats on completing Steps 3 and 4 of
planDisney's Walt Disney World Resort Vacation Planning Checklist. Now that you have your dates, you can dream big about seasonal events like
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which takes place at Magic Kingdom Park on select nights in September. It sounds like you're staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel, which means you can also look forward to starting your park days with an in-room cup of coffee and
early theme park entry.
My eyes are often bigger than my belly when taking advantage of all the delicious dining options at Walt Disney World Resort. Similarly, my shopping wish list is often bigger than my park bag. Unfortunately, there's been no word on whether or not merchandise delivery services to Disney Resort hotels will return in the future. This could certainly change before your visit, so I recommend keeping an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog for updates.
I most often took advantage of merchandise delivery while shopping at the
Emporium in Magic Kingdom Park. Nowadays, I enjoy having in-park purchases sent directly to my home. The shipping cost depends on the amount of items as well as their final destination, but I find it much more reasonable than the airline fees for overweight luggage! I recently had an entire set of dishes sent from Disney's Hollywood Studios to my home in Virginia. The box was packaged with care and arrived shortly after my return home. Sidenote: Mickey Mail is a great cure for the post-Disney blues.
If you find a must-have item that you wish to keep with you during your trip, Corey, you can check your
My Disney Experience mobile app for the closest locker rental location (search icon --> Locker Rentals --> Find on Map). Your souvenirs will rest comfortably while you experience all the thrills like
TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom Park.
My last shopping tip is kind of a secret. I recently found a beautiful set of CRISLU jewelry at
Legends of Hollywood that I knew I wanted to get for my mother-in-law's birthday. My husband discovered that the price of the set on
shopDisney was less than what they were charging in the store! This isn't always the case, but gives you some magical food for thought when considering the best place to purchase your cherished souvenirs.
Thanks for making planDisney part of your planning team, Corey. Keep the questions coming - we'd love to help make your trip as memorable as possible.
Choose magic,
Jennifer