Special Report: Food & Wine Festival Merch

Hey there Disney Fans!

This post is a little different because the Special Report is on Food and Wine Festival Merch.

© Disney

So, here's the deal: Normally, I only talk about Disney merch that is available online. That way, if you read about it here, you can go right out and order it, regardless of where you live. However, most Disney fans, whether they have ever attended or not, do know about the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, and a lot of us try to make it for at least part of the festivities.

What it is: The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is an event that goes from September 14th - November 14th this year. The event includes marketplace booths with tasting-size portions of foods to try from all over the world (prices vary widely and sometimes dining plans are accepted), culinary demonstrations, hosted meals, meet and greets, workshops, and a variety of other food and wine based activities. If you want more info about this year's festival, I would really encourage you to check out one of my FAVORITE blogs: Disney Food Blog. They have tons of info about the actual food and experience.

I'm featuring it here because, although the focus is on food and wine, there is also quite a bit of merch that is exclusive to this event, including a Food & Wine exclusive Dooney & Burke pattern. Check out this year's merch at the Disney Parks Blog website.

Who it's for: the event itself is mostly geared towards adults, as is the merch, but this is Disney, so there is generally at least something for everyone in the family.

What it Costs: Prices vary widely, but there's generally something for every budget. As I said, this stuff is festival-exclusive so, you have to figure in a trip to Epcot or bribing a friend who is making the trip as a part of your total cost.

How to Get it: Assuming you ARE going to the festival, most of this stuff is available at the Festival Event Center in Epcot, but you will also find some of it spread around the park. You really will not find it in any of the other Parks or in Disney Springs (to my knowledge), so if you see something you like on an EPCOT day, get it then. You will probably not see it again elsewhere.

My Thoughts: I LOVE the Food & Wine merch. I feel like it's such a fun event and I love that they release specific, exclusive merch that will always remind you of your time there. I also really like that they do things like change up the logo and the D&B pattern each year so you can collect commemorative things from every year you go. I really like this year's Figment logo and I am generally just REALLY excited.

Sadly, my visit will not be until the end of the festival. I wish it were earlier so I could post pictures for ya'll. I'll probably still do a recap post after the festival, but at that point, eBay will be the only hope for finding any of these things. I do encourage everyone to head over to Steven Miller's post on the Disney Parks Blog though because they have quite a few sample pictures to give you an idea of what is available this year.

What do you think? Will you be going to F&W? Have you been before? Have you never heard of it? Let me know in the comments!

Special Report: Dream Big, Princess Ultimate Collection!

Hey there Disney Fans!

This Special Report brings you news of a truly over-the-top item Disney is now offering: The Dream Big, Princess Ultimate Collection.



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Ok, this is a LOT to take in so, bear with me here.

What it is: This is a MASSIVE collection that includes: 11 Films, 11 Authentic Costumes, 11 Tiaras, and 11 Classic Dolls. Complete details about every item can be found here.

What it Costs: $899.95 (whoa!) plus shipping and tax.

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Who it's for: Someone with 11 daughters? Someone with a lot of grandchildren? Someone who just really likes Princesses? I'm not totally sure, but it is pretty cool.

How to Get it: Ok, this was only announced yesterday morning and it "sold out" almost immediatly, BUT WAIT! Don't stop reading! When you go to the website, it does say "sold out", BUT if you click on the "sold out" button it will take you to a page that  says that the item is only backordered and they expect more available 10/30/2016. You won't get your shipment in time for Halloween, but you will at least probably get it. You can find it online here.

©Disney

Is it a "Good Deal": Ok guys, this is only a "good deal" if you thought you were going to end up buying 11 films, costumes, tiaras, and dolls anyway. Maybe that's you. Maybe your daughter is going to have a princess party and you want to be able to outfit all of her guests. Who knows what your reasons might be, but, assuming you were going to buy this stuff anyway, can you save money by doing it this way rather than buying the items individually?

Let's start with Costumes. These particular costumes are currently on sale for $33.71-$37.46 (retail $44.95 - $49.95), depending on what size you get. So, on the conservative side, let's say you buy the cheaper ones, 11 of those would cost: $370.81. Alternatively, if you bought the more expensive ones when they were NOT on sale, it would be a total of $549.45.

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Moving on, let's talk about the Classic Dolls next. Classic Dolls are on sale right now as well, although it is no longer the same sale I discussed in a recent Deal of the Day Post. Rather, the current sale on these Classic Dolls makes them $11 each when you buy 2 or more. So, they would be $121 if you bought 11 of them on the current sale. If you paid retail for them ($16.95 each), they would be a total of $186.45.

On to the Tiaras! (That would make a great battle-cry.) These particular Tiaras are also on sale right now. Nine of them are regularly $14.95 (on sale for $11.21), one is more like a headband that is regular $12.95 (on sale for $9.71), and the last one does not appear to be available on its own, but if it were would probably be the same price as the first headband. So, if you were to buy these Tiaras on sale (assuming you could get the missing one) it would be $160.45 regular price or, if you hit the current sale, $120.31.

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Finally, let's talk abut films. These are all Blu-Rays except Sleeping Beauty and they're Diamond Editions, where available. So, that's $29.95 each for Cinderella, Brave, Tangled, and The Little Mermaid; $26.95 for Snow White; $24.95 for Aladdin, Mulan (the 3-Disc Special Edition with both Mulan and Mulan II), Pocahontas (also including Pocahontas II), Princess and the Frog, and Beauty and the Beast; $21.95 for Sleeping Beauty (the DVD). None of these are currently on sale. That all comes to: $293.45.

In short, if you bought all of these items (in the smaller size costumes) with the current sales, this grouping would be a minimum of: $905.57. However, if you were to buy bigger sized costumes and get everything at retail price, you would pay: $1,189.80.

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So, is it a good deal? Assuming that you wanted to buy all of these things, yes, it's a good deal. This deal is about $6 cheaper than buying all of this stuff, even with current sales. Without the current sales, this grouping is about $289.85 cheaper than buying the individual items retail.

 My Thoughts: Whoo-Boy that's a lot of Princess Stuff. A WHOLE lot of princess stuff. Just oh, so much Princess stuff. I'm a little overwhelmed by all the stuff. I guess I'll take this in pieces.

The Costumes are BEAUTIFUL. Any little girl would be so excited to get to wear any one of these. All of them, might be a little overwhelming though. It would be the ultimate to play dress-up with lots of little friends. It's just such a lot of stuff. I think if you're buying for a group home or a really large family, this could be great, but it might be just too much for one kid, even if she has a lot of friends.

The dolls are great. I discussed them in another post. Most of them come with a little animal friend and they're very true to form and easily recognizable. Note: all of them are wearing their "formal" attire (this is no change for Pocahontas and Jasmine), which means that Tiana is wearing her blue dress (I think from the Mardi Gras celebration) rather than her more recognizable green one.

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The tiaras are all very fun and look cute. There's really nothing to say about a tiara. Tiaras are great.

Finally, for the movies, I really like that they chose the "best" version of these movies that is currently available. You're not just getting all DVDs, you're getting the best out there. That is especially nice for Mulan and Pocahontas that include their sequels.

Overall, it's a really nice grouping. It's expensive, but it's also a lot of stuff. If you have a ton of people to buy for, you have a special event, or you just generally want the ultimate collection of princess stuff: this one's for you.

What do you think? Will you be buying this? Is it just too much? Do you feel overwhelmed that there even are this many princesses? Let me know in the comments!

Tsum Tsum Tuesday: Spider-Man 2.0 Collection!

Hey There Disney Fans!

Guess what day it is?! It's Tsum Tsum Tuesday!

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What it is:  The First and Third Tuesday of every month is "Tsum Tsum Tuesday". On this day, a special new collection of Tsum Tsums is released. It usually includes a collection of around 8 mini Tsum Tsums and some other accessories featuring the same style. Sometimes the Tsum Tsums released are very limited, so your only chance to collect them is to be at your Disney Store or online first thing Tuesday morning.

 

This Tuesday, the collection released is: Spider-Man 2.0

 

How to Get it: This collection is available in your local Disney Store or online.

 

What it Costs: These Tsum Tsums are all $5.95 each.

 

What's Included in this Release: There are 6 mini Tsum Tsums in this release. They're interesting because they go into some different permutations of familiar characters and then also feature some characters that may be lesser known to those who have only seen the movies and not read the comic books. Let's take a look!

 

Iron Spider: This is Spider-Man wearing Iron-Man-type armor.The idea here is that Tony Stark (Iron Man) made a special suit of armor designed for Spider-Man's needs.

 

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This is very creative and not something I've seen before. This may be from a recent comic book run or the cartoon, or it may just be a reference to the protectiveness we saw from Iron Man toward Spider-Man in the most recent Marvel movie.

 

Hobgoblin: The Hobgoblin is a Spider-Man villain who has been popular in comic books but not really present in the movies. He's sort of a successor the Green Goblin.

 

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I love his angry little eyes. He's just about the most adorable little Hobgoblin you'll ever see.

 

Spider-Man: This little guy you know already.

 



©Disney

He looks pretty squishy and cuddly there. I love his tiny little arms and legs.

Doc Ock: Doctor Octopus here is not actually an octopus. Disappointing, I know. He is, however, a guy with a lot of mechanical arms so, at least there's that.

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Those of you who remember the Toby Maguire Spider-Man movies will recognize this guy... sort of. I don't think this one actually looks all that much like Doc Ock, but it's still pretty adorable.

Kraven: The Disney store lists Kraven as "Spider-Man's nemesis". I don't know about that. Feel free to argue with me if you think that's true, but I feel like it might be a bit of a stretch to say he's actually Spider-Man's "nemesis". A villain, sure, but nemesis? I don't know about that.

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Look how furious his eyebrows are! You can't see it in the picture, but he's wearing both zebra and cheetah prints together so, clearly he believes he's a snazzy dresser. (Don't worry, Disney assures us these are "faux fur accents")

Spider Gwen: I saved this one for last because she's become such a fan-favorite lately. Spider-Gwen is Gwen Stacey from Earth-65. In that world, she has gained the "spider powers" we associate with Spider-Man.

©Disney

She looks pretty cool right? Well, I think she does. I know the Spider Gwen comics have been very popular and it looks like Disney is starting to take notice of that.

My Thoughts: Overall, I think this looks like a pretty fun bunch of Tsum Tsums. I predict that Spider Gwen will be the most popular (maybe after Spider Man), but then, what do I know? As always, they look well-made and like a lot of thought went into them. If you want the whole collection, you'll want to hit your Disney Store or online today, before any of the styles sell out.

What do you think? Do you like these? Are there other characters you want to see? Are you dying for a Spider-Gwen Movie? Let me know in the comments!




Deal of the Day: 2 for $44 Limited Release Beauty and the Beast Tees!

Hey Disney Fans!

Today's highlighted Deal of the Day is 2 for $44 on Limited Release Beauty and the Beast Tees!

©Disney

What it is: This is a collection of Limited Release Beauty and the Beast T-Shirts. The collection includes two adult tees (a women's and a men's) and one girl's tee. These t-shirts commemorate the 25th anniversary of Beauty and the Beast (does anybody else feel old?).

What it Costs: The Adult tees are regular price $29.95 each and the Girl's tee is $24.95, but if you buy two, you can get them for $44 total. That brings the individual shirts down to $22 a piece.

©Disney

How to Get it: This offer is only available online. You don't need a promo code. The offer will be automatically added to your purchase at checkout. It is not available in stores, outlets, Parks, or resort locations. (Note: you may find these shirts in one of those locations, you just won't get the 2 for $44 deal.)

Worthy of Note: This is a "2 for $44" sale, NOT a "$22 when you buy 2 or more" sale. That means, if you buy three, you will get the first two for $44, but then the third one will be full price. However, I did notice that the order in which you add things to the bag matters, so if all you want is two adult tees and one kid's tee, you'll want to add the two adult tees first you get the discount on those and then add the kid's tee and pay full price for that one since it costs less anyway.

©Disney

Is it a "Good Deal": Well, with these "Limited Release" tees, they're never really going to be cheap, but these particular shirts are a better deal than most of the Limited Releases offered lately. The recent YesterEars Limited Release Tees I wrote about in this post only came down to $24 each on sale. Similarly, the Hocos Pocus Limited Release Clothes I wrote about here also only came down to around $24 each with the sale that was offered. So, the fact that these tees can be had for $22 each does make them a pretty good deal as far as Limited Release Tees go.

Another way to look at it would be to say that, since the adult tees are regular price $29.95, getting them for $22 each when you buy two is like saving a total of around $18. That's almost enough for another shirt.

The fact is, it kind of doesn't matter if it's a good deal or not. Unlike a lot of "limited edition" things out there, these Disney Limited Release Tees are truly very limited and, once they're gone, they're gone. You're not likely to find a deeper discount on them at any point in the future, so if you want one, now is the time to get it.

©Disney

My Thoughts: I've talked at length in other posts about my dislike for paying over $20 for a t-shirt, however, an occasion like the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest Disney movies ever made probably does warrant expensive t-shirts. I hesitate to comment on the art itself because it's such a matter of personal preference. I really like the pattern on the Girl's tee. I think they did a great job with that.

I don't personally like the image they chose for the women's tee, there are other things I would have liked to have seen more, but I can certainly see how a lot of people would want this shirt. The men's tee however, that one I'm not sure about. Whenever I look at one of these releases, I think, "Could I see the men I know wearing this?" For this one, the answer is "no". I can't really see any of the men I know picking this shirt. However, if you really like it, I would love to hear from you because, as I said, these are all really a matter of preference.

The Fine Print: This is the Fine Print Disney published to go with this sale.

• Limited time offer, while supplies last. Valid only on Beauty and the Beast 25th Anniversary Limited Release Tees.
• 2 for $44 pricing only applies when you purchase a minimum of 2 eligible promotional items.
• Regular prices apply when purchasing a single item or in odd-numbered quantities.
• Merchandise must be exchanged for identical item or returned at discounted price with valid packing slip.
• No adjustments to prior purchases.
• Discounts based on retail prices.
• Intermediate markdowns may have been applied.
• Offer valid only on orders placed online at DisneyStore.com.
• Not valid on purchases from Disney Store retail or outlet locations.
• Not valid on purchases made at Disney Parks and Resorts, or the Shop Disney Parks App.
• Discounts based on original retail prices.
• Intermediate markdowns may have been applied.
• Disney E-Commerce reserves the right to cancel or modify this offer at any time.

That's all for today's Deal of the Day! What do you think? Will you be buying one of these? Do you like the Limited Release Tees? Are they still too expensive? Let me know in the comments!

Disney Deal of the Day: 25% Off Costumes & Costume Accessories

Hey There Disney Fans!

Well, it's happened, Disney has increased the discounts on it's Halloween Costumes to 25% off!

©Disney

What it is: 25% off of Disney Costumes and Costume Accessories.

Who it's For: These almost all kid's, toddler, and baby costumes. No adult costumes are included, but there are some adult accessories included in this sale, so you might be able to find something to complete a costume you were working on.

How to Get it: This sale is available online, by phone, and in Disney and Disney Baby stores (for in-stock items). It is not available at outlets or in Parks. You don't need a promo-code, prices are already reduced.

©Disney

Is it "Good Deal": Well, it's certainly a better deal than what they had going before. Previously, Halloween costumes were on sale for $10 Off. You can read about it in my post here. For some costumes, this new sale is only $11 or $12 off of the retail price so, the sale isn't that much better. However, for some of the costumes, there are significantly deeper discounts. The Captain Phasma costume for kids is now 50%. It looks to me like a lot of the costumes for babies or younger children, or costumes of older or less popular characters are pretty deeply discounted, where the more popular characters for older kids are still at least $10 off with some having a few more dollars' discount.

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My Thoughts: As I discussed in my previous post on Halloween costumes, Disney costumes are just not cheap anywhere. Not even at Walmart. If you have a Costco membership, they do have significantly cheaper Disney costumes, but aside from that, there aren't much better deals to be found. There are some slightly cheaper costumes at Walmart, but not a lot.

I think it's a good sign that discounts have been increased, even if it's only by a couple of dollars. Since there is still more than a month until Halloween, you do have some time before you need to place your order and bigger discounts may be announced as we get closer to the end of October. However, the closer we get to Halloween, the more likely it is that costumes will sell out. Already, Black Panther costumes are sold out in most sizes as are some sizes of Darth Vader costumes.

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If you area looking for REALLY popular characters, you might want to go ahead and place your order. However, if you want to risk it, I would maybe wait until after the first of October to see what kind of discounts are announced then. I wouldn't really wait any longer than that though because you don't want things to sell out and you REALLY don't want to order a Halloween costume and not get it until November 1st.

One More Thing: This is not costume related, but, just as a fun Halloween thing: you can get a Mickey or Minnie plush for $8.50 (regular price $14.95) whenever you buy $25 or more of other merchandise. They're REALLY cute and they would make great decorations or gifts.

©Disney 

The Fine Print: This is the Fine Print Disney published with the costume sale.

• Valid on select, in-stock Costumes & Costume Accessories purchased at Disney Store and Disney Baby Store North America retail locations or via phone orders and orders placed online at DisneyStore.com.
• Not valid on purchases made at Disney Store outlet locations or Disney Parks and Resorts locations.
• Excludes Elena of Avalor, Moana, Rogue One and Limited Edition Costumes & Costume Accessories.
• Offer cannot be combined with any other offer or discount except available shipping offers.
• No adjustments to prior purchases.
• Merchandise subject to availability.
• Returns and exchanges will be subject to discount taken at time of purchase.
• Valid packing slip required for returns and exchanges.
• Offer subject to restrictions and change without notice.
• Void where prohibited.

Special Report: NEW YesterEars Limited Release Tees

Hey there Disney Fans!

I have a Special Report for you today on NEW Limited Release Yester Ears Tees. ONLY AVAILABLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 22nd!!!

©Disney

Remember a few weeks ago when they released the FIRST batch of YesterEars Tees? I wrote about it here. We all kind of thought that was a one-time thing, but apparently it wasn't. A whole NEW batch of YesterEars Tees has now been released. Let's take a look!

What it is: These are T-Shirts that represent three decades of Walt Disney World: the 70's, 80's, and 90's. In this case, the 70's are represented by the Walt Disney World Village shirt, the 80's have the Neverland Club, and the 90's have Camp Minnie-Mickey.

What it Costs: These Tees are $27.99 each or $24 each when you buy two or more. Unlike the previous YesterEars release, there is no cheaper price available for these when you buy three or more.

How to Get it: These are available online or in Parks, but the 2 or more for $24 deal is ONLY available online (or by phone order). These are ONLY AVAILABLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 22nd!!!

Who it's For: Anybody with a significant feeling of nostalgia for these attractions, people who love Disney history, and people who don't mind paying $24 for a T-shirt.

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About the Nostalgia: Since the main draw of these T-Shirts is the "fond memories" factor, I thought I'd talk a bit about the extinct attractions each shirt references.

Starting with the 70's: Walt Disney World Village was an eating and shopping center. As you may recall, Disney World opened in 1971. At that time, it was just one park, the Magic Kingdom, three hotels (The Polynesian, The Contemporary, and Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground), and a golf course (though I'm not totally sure Disney owned that yet).

In 1975, a shopping, dining, and entertainment complex called Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village was opened. Then, in 1977, it was renamed Walt Disney World Village (presumably to make it clear it was a part of the Disney property). However, that name did not last long. In 1989, the area was renamed Disney Village Marketplace and in 1997 it was changed to Downtown Disney. As of 2015, this same area was renamed Disney Springs. In short, the 70's T-shirt commemorate, not the original name of Disney Springs, but the first "Disney" name for Disney Springs.

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Moving to the 80's: No, the Neverland Club was not a hip nightspot at Downtown Disney back in the day. It was a children's activity center at the Polynesian Resort. This activity center actually still exists at the Polynesian, but it has been rebranded Lilo's Playhouse. You can read all about it on Disney's website. In short, it's a place where parents can drop off kids ages 3-12 to play games, do art, and generally be entertained while mom and dad go out for a nice dinner or just take a break.

Essentially, it's a little like Disney babysitting or Disney daycare. I have heard stories from more than one adult with fond memories of getting to go to the Neverland Club while on vacation as a kid, so it is possible that there are people out there with deep enough feelings of nostalgia for this place that they might want one of these shirts.

Finally, the 90's: The attraction they chose for the 90's was Camp Minnie-Mickey. This was an outdoor play area at Animal Kingdom. It was a woodsy area with a little river that was supposed to resemble kind of an Adirondack fishing camp. The idea was a little like the old Toontown. You were supposed to be walking into a sort of cartoon-land where Mickey was on vacation. It was a fun concept and a great area for kids to play, but often posed pedestrian traffic problems. It was eventually closed to make way for the new Avatar Land. that should be opening sometime next year.

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My Thoughts: I still think these T-Shirts seem a little overpriced, but they ARE "Limited Release" so, take that as you will.

As far as the subjects of the T-Shirts go, these seem like they would have much less broad appeal than the previous release. Walt Disney World Village was only the name of Disney Springs for 3 years of the 70's. In fact, that was the name for 9 out of 10 years of the 80's, so it's a little weird that this is what they picked to represent the 70's at Disney World. I just wonder if there are really that many people who have a sense of nostalgia for this shopping center, specifically when it had that name. But, hey, maybe you do. Let me know in the comments.

As for the 80's shirt, the subject is a kid's club at ONE of the hotels. Probably the majority of people going to Disney World don't even know the kid's activity centers exist, let alone put their kids in that, specific center. The previous 80's shirt was Journey Into Imagination. Not only was that a park attraction, but it was one of the most beloved lost attractions of all time. I'm just not sure Disney is going to get much response for a shirt about a little-known children's activity center. If you loved it there and you think I'm crazy, please let me know in the comments.

Out of all of these, I think the Camp Minnie Mickey shirt makes the most sense. Although the attraction (and the whole park) were only there for a few years out of the whole of the 90's, this was an actual park attraction that was there for several years and was loved and enjoyed by many kids. I know when word went out that it would close a couple of years ago, many people were very sad, so this one seems the most likely to get a strong response.

Overall, I think Disney must have done well enough with the first set of shirts to think they could offer more of this type of shirt with less of a discount, but I'm not sure they'll find that to be true with this second set.

What do you think? Do you have fond memories of these attractions? Did you LOVE Walt Disney World Village? Do you hate these shirts and not understand them? Let me know in the comments!

Deal of the Day: $10 Classic Dolls

Hey there Disney Fans!

Today's highlighted Deal of the Day is $10 Classic Dolls! TODAY ONLY!!!

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What it is: This is a Deal where you can buy a doll from the Classic Dolls series for $10 instead of the usual $16.95.

Who it's For: Anyone who has people in their lives to buy dolls for. These are definitely more "play with" dolls than "collectible" dolls, so I would say this skews towards kids, but there is no judgment from the Disney Merch Maven if some of you adults want some too. Also, It's not just princesses, there a princes as well, so there may be appeal for the little boys in your life as well as little girls.

©Disney

What it Costs: $10 plus shipping and tax.

How to Get it: This deal is available by phone or online only. It is not available in Disney stores, outlets, or Parks. You do not need a promo code, the discount is already shown. Hurry though, this deal is TODAY ONLY!!!

©Disney

My Thoughts: I think this is a great sale and I really like these dolls. For one thing, they really did a good job capturing the characters. Your child won't have any trouble identifying who the doll is supposed to be. Also, I like that almost all of the princesses come with a little companion like a bluebird for Snow White and Pascal (her pet chameleon) for Rapunzel.

The dolls are a good size as 12" and then look like they sport less unrealistic body shapes than a Barbie. Speaking of Barbie: most of those are running around $25 retail these days, so these princess dolls are cheaper, although a bit smaller. If your little girl has her heart set on a Barbie, I'm not sure whether one of these dolls will work for you, but if she loves princesses, you can get her both a Princess and her prince for roughly the same price as that one Barbie would have been. That's a pretty good deal.



©Disney

I would say, if you think you might be buying dolls for anyone for Christmas or end of year birthdays, go ahead and jump on this sale TODAY. It's only one day and it's the best deal we're likely to see on these.

The Fine Print: This is the Fine Print Disney published to go with this sale.

• Valid on select, in-stock Classic Dolls purchased via phone orders and orders placed online at DisneyStore.com.
• Not valid on purchases made at Disney Store and Disney Baby Store retail and outlet locations or Disney Parks and Resorts locations.
• Offer cannot be combined with any other offer or discount except available shipping offers.
• No adjustments to prior purchases.
• Merchandise subject to availability.
• Returns and exchanges will be subject to discount taken at time of purchase.
• Valid packing slip required for returns and exchanges.
• Offer subject to restrictions and change without notice.
• Void where prohibited.

What do you think? Do you like these dolls? Will you be getting one? Do you hate dolls and want everyone to know it? Let me know in the comments!

Disney Deal of the Day: 20% Off of Order of $75 or More!

Hey Disney Fans!

Today's deal of the day is an extra 20% off of orders of $75 or more!

(c) Disney Store

What it is: This is a sale that allows you to take 20% off of an order of $75 or more.

Who it's for: Since your $75+ purchase can be composed of items from all over the site, this is a good deal for just about anyone... who was planning on spending at least $75.

How to get it: This offer is available for phone and online purchases only. It is not available in Disney stores, outlets, or Parks locations. Online, just put your qualified $75+ merch into your bag, then enter promo code SAVE20 at checkout.

Worthy of Note: If you are still over the $75 mark after your discount, you can also use promo code SHIPMAGIC to get free shipping.

My Thoughts: This is a pretty standard sale. It includes a lot of things (I've listed the exclusions below in the Fine Print). If you're looking to buy some Halloween Costumes, this sale DOES apply to those. Also, Back-To-School items are still on sale and you can add this 20% Off on top of the sales currently available on those items. So, if your kids are back in school and you realize a few more notebooks are in order or there's already been a disastrous backpack spill you might want to take advantage of this sale.

Overall, it's a good sale. If you've had your eye on something for a while, this might be a good chance to jump on it.

The Fine Print: This is the Fine Print Disney published with this sale. I added bullet points for clarity, especially to show what is excluded.

• Valid September 14, 2016 (12:01 am PST) through September 14, 2016 (11:59 pm PST) or while supplies last, whichever occurs first, on select, in-stock merchandise purchased via phone orders and orders placed online at DisneyStore.com.
• Not valid on purchases made at Disney Store and Disney Baby Store retail and outlet locations or Disney Parks and Resorts locations.
• 20% Off applies only to orders that include $75 or more in merchandise purchased in a single order.
• Qualifying purchase threshold is based on pre-tax, post discount amount and excludes
• Shipping & Handling,
• Disney Theme Park Passes,
• Disney Vacation Club merchandise,
• Disney Infinity, Playmation™,
• Electronics, DVDs, Blu-ray™,
• CDs,
• Video Games,
• Books,
• Art & Collectibles,
• Jim Shore,
• Lenox,
• Tommy Bahama,
• Enesco Busts and Figurines,
• Olszewski,
• Precious Moments,
• Vinylmation,
• Limited Edition and Limited Release merchandise,
• Dooney & Bourke,
• Alex and Ani,
• Vera Bradley,
• PANDORA,
• CRISLU,
• MagicBand,
• Starbucks,
• D23 Memberships, 
• D23 Merchandise,
• gift cards or certificates,
• The Walt Disney Company Collectible Shareholder Certificate,
• 3-D printed merchandise,
• Subscription products,
• personalization,
• gift wrap and gift boxes and items not in stock.
• Offer cannot be combined with any other offer or discount except available shipping offers.
• Qualifying purchase based on pre-tax, post-discount amount and excludes Shipping & Handling charges, D23 Memberships, gift wrap & gift boxes.
• Additional Shipping & Handling applies for select items or shipments to more than one shipment address.
• Offer subject to restrictions and change without notice.
• No adjustments to prior purchases.
• Merchandise subject to availability.
• Returns and exchanges will be subject to discount taken at time of purchase.
• Valid packing slip required for returns and exchanges.
• Offer subject to restrictions and change without notice.
• Void where prohibited.

What do you think? Do you like this sale? Will you be buying something? Let me know in the comments!

Find of the Day: Disney Floral and Gifts!

Hey Disney Fans!

Today's Find of the Day is Disney Floral and Gifts! That name is actually kind of misleading though, so read on to discover just how magical this actually is!

Image from: http://www.disneyfloralandgifts.com/home.html

What it is: This is a truly magical website that lets you order "in room" celebrations, gifts, and fun that can be delivered to your Disney World or Disneyland hotel room. Additionally, they do have options that can be delivered to your home.

Items available include everything from picture frames to ear hats to chocolate to fine crystal. Most of them are grouped into different types of packages like "birthday" packages, different holiday packages, or packages for other types of events or milestones.

Mickey's Grand Birthday Party - $131.95
Image from: http://disneyworld.disneyfloralandgifts.com/product/mickey%E2%80%99s+grand+birthday+party+.do?sortby=ourPicks&from=fn

What it Costs: options on this website vary widely, but most of the options range around the $100-150 mark. There are definitely cheaper packages though, so don't let the price tag scare you too much.

How to get it: Just go to the website!

Who it's For: EVERYONE! Seriously, there is something for everyone. The website can be a little bit confusing because it has a navigation bar with 8 categories, most of which have at least some overlap with the others. The most important thing to pay attention to when you're looking to place your order is WHERE you can have it delivered to.

New! Star Tours Intergalactic Adventure - $161.95
Image from: http://disneyworld.disneyfloralandgifts.com/product/new%21+star+tours%C2%AE+intergalactic+adventure.do?sortby=ourPicks&from=fn

If you're planning an at-home celebration (like the mickey party above) you want to make sure the package you choose is available to be shipped to your area. Some of the packages, are only available for "in room" celebrations if you're staying at a Disney hotel. Just be careful to check beforehand and you should be fine.

Aside from that, the various categories on the navigation bar let you browse items by character or theme, floral, custom gift builder, holidays, special occasions, in-room celebrations, celebrate at home, and Disney magical memories. You can do everything from have a lovely bouquet of roses delivered to your room for a romantic getaway to have a full-fledged pirate party waiting for you when you check in to your Disney resort. There are just about endless combinations to choose from and the options change regularly.

Frozen in Time - $144.95
Image from: http://disneyworld.disneyfloralandgifts.com/product/frozen+in+time.do?sortby=ourPicks&refType=1&from=fn&carousel=true

Why it's a Find of the Day: I LOVE these options because they really let you add a little extra-special Disney magic. It's already great to be going to a Disney Park and staying in a Disney hotel, but it just allows you to make it even more special for a loved one when you add on an in-room celebration.

When we celebrated my mom's birthday at Disneyland last year, she was excited to be visiting during the 60th anniversary, especially since she was visiting for the first time in around 50 years, and she was excited for the nostalgia of staying at the Disneyland hotel, but she was completely overwhelmed when she got to her room and found her surprise waiting. In fact, the package I got for her (this exact one is no longer available) actually included a big banner that said "SURPRISE!" hanging over her door so that she would know something great was coming from the moment she got there.

You Can Do It! - $89.99
Image from: http://disneyworld.disneyfloralandgifts.com/product/youcandoit.do?sortby=ourPicksAscend&from=fn

When she went inside there was a lanyard, a picture frame, a customized ear hat with her name and "It's my Birthday" on it, some candy, a stuffed mickey, and a variety of other things. One of her favorite touches was the fact that little paper "mickey footprints" showed that Mickey had just been there setting up and then sneaked away, leaving only his footprints behind. We did a lot of great stuff that weekend, but one of the memories I know she loves the most was that feeling of coming into her room for the first time and finding a big birthday surprise just for her.

In general, these are a Find of the Day because they're just so Disney. That spirit of taking it over the top and just doing that little bit extra is what makes us all love Disney so much. Whether you're planning a special surprise at home or you're encouraging someone just before a runDisney event with a pack like the "You Can Do It!" above, the items from Disney Floral and Gifts help us all make someone else's day, celebration, event, whatever just a little more special.

Me Pirate Adventure - $395.00
Image from: http://disneyworld.disneyfloralandgifts.com/product/mepirateadventurekit.do?sortby=ourPicks&from=fn

What do you think? Do you love Disney's Floral and Gift Products? Do you hate them? Do you think they're overpriced? Have you ever bought/received one? Let me know in the comments!

 

Special Report: Moana Merch Now Available!!!

Hey there Disney Fans!

If you're anything like me, you as SO excited for the new Disney film, Moana, coming out in November. For those who are so excited, they just can't wait, you'll be happy to know that Moana merch is NOW AVAILABLE!

Image from Disney Store: https://www.disneystore.com/moana/mn/1000010/?RMID=20160912_Moana&RRID=20256769&CMP=EMC-eml

How cool does this movie look?!

What it is: Merch from the upcoming Moana movie! The movie will follow a young girl, Moana, on an adventure with a classic character from Polynesian legend: the powerful Maui. I'm not sure how much of the legend of Maui will be a part of the movie, but the trailer seems like most of the high points of his legend have already happened and he's on an all new adventure with Moana.

If you know more about Polynesian mythology than I do (and that would not be hard) please add information at will in the comments. I would love to hear any thoughts or information on the legend, the movie, and how the two relate.

Image from Disney Store website: https://www.disneystore.com/pin-sets-pins-collectibles-disney-moana-limited-edition-pin-set/mp/1411367/1000286/

What it Costs: Merch in this collection ranges from $3.95 for a tote bag up to around $80 for the Limited Edition Pin set (above).

Who it's For: While there are items for every age, this collection seems by and large geared towards kids. That being said, there are plenty of items that would be of interest to both boys and girls, so it's not just a "Moana's a girl, that's girl stuff" situation.

Image from Disney Store website: https://www.disneystore.com/luggage-accessories-disney-moana-lightup-rolling-luggage/mp/1411331/1000366/

How to get it: This collection is available online at the Disney Store. It may also be available in your lodal Disney Store, but whether they have gotten their shipment yet and what stock they have will vary by location.

A Word About Tattoos: You will notice that Maui is sporting a lot of tattoos, as are the various Maui costumes and pajamas. Thoughts and feelings about tattoos vary a lot by culture. Some religions ban them, some encourage them. Your feelings may be so strong that you don't want to let your kids anywhere near this movie. Others may be excited about the idea of finally seeing a non-bad guy with a tattoo in a Disney Movie.

Maui Costume for Kids
Image from Disney Store website: https://www.disneystore.com/costumes-costume-shop-clothes-maui-costume-for-kids-disney-moana/mp/1415713/1000396/

If you're wondering why something potentially controversial is being shown in such a strong way in both the movie and the merchandise, it's because tattoos have long been a very important part of Polynesian culture. If your kids are asking about it you have an opportunity to teach them something about Polynesian culture and history. Tattoos are traditionally significant to different Polynesian people groups and they represent things like social rank and stories. For more information on this, I would check out PBS's Skin Stories: the Art and Culture of Polynesian Tattoo. Even though it may not be your culture, it's always good to get to learn about someone else's.

My Thoughts: I am very excited for this film. I loved Lilo and Stitch and the way it showed the beauty of present-day Hawaii as a backdrop for such a creative, original story. However, I am very glad that Disney is also making a movie that pays homage to Hawaiian tradition and culture. Many of Disney's greatest films, as we all know, are loosely based on western fairy tales, but the company has also made an effort, starting in the 90's, to embrace the mythology and folklore of other cultures as well.

Image from Disney Store website: https://www.disneystore.com/lithographs-art-collectibles-disney-moana-limited-edition-lithograph-set/mp/1411271/1000273/

I'm very interested to see how this turns out and what elements of the traditional Maui story are incorporated. I think films like this pique the interest and curiosity of children to learn more about other cultures and histories, and I believe that is a wonderful thing. Also, this movie just looks beautiful and so does a lot of the merchandise.

Clearly, I'm excited. Are you excited to see Moana? Do you like the merch? How do you feel about tattoos? Do you know more about the story of Maui and would like to share? Let me know in the comments!

Deals of the Day: The Halloween Sales

Hey Disney Fans!

Today's highlighted Disney Deal of the Day is a rundown of the current Halloween Sales. There are a few different ones going on right now so, stick with me to the end because the one you're interested in might be further down.

FIRST! Let's start with the most general one: Free Shipping!

Image from Disney Store website: https://www.disneystore.com/halloween/mn/1000885/?RMID=20160909_FSHHalloween&RRID=20256769&CMP=EMC-eml

What it is: This is Free Shipping on your entire order when you include any item in the Halloween Shop.

How to Get it: Go to the Halloween Shop and add whatever merch you want to your cart. Then, add anything else from the Disney Store you want to your cart. At checkout, enter promo code FREESHIP to get free shipping on everything you're buying!

Is it a "Good Deal": Yes, yes it is. Unlike most Free Shipping promotions Disney runs, this one does not have a minimum dollar figure, so you can get your kid's costume and then those Tsum Tsum's you've had your eye on and get Free Shipping on all of them without having to come up to the usual $75 minimum. Good Deal.

Note: I'm putting all of the Fine Print for each of these deals at the bottom of the post so you can still read it, but it's out of the way. I always encourage my readers to read that Fine Print.

SECOND! Next we're heading to the $10 Off Select Costumes Sale!

Image from Disney Store website: https://www.disneystore.com/halloween/mn/1000885/?RMID=20160909_FSHHalloween&RRID=20256769&CMP=EMC-eml

What it is: This is a flat, $10 discount on SELECT costume styles from the Disney Store.

How to Get it: This discount is available by phone or online only. It is not available in stores. You do not need a promo code, the discount is already shown in red prices on the website.

Is it a "Good Deal": Well, that's a little tough to gauge. I discussed this in depth in my original post about this sale when it came out in August. The short version is: The costumes in this sale are still not cheap, but then, you're not all that likely to find them much cheaper anywhere else. Even Walmart's Disney costumes run around the same cost as the ones you'll find in this sale.

The only place I found that had distinctly cheaper Disney costumes was Costco, but you do need a Costco membership to buy there. In short, a lot of your decision will come down to what specific costume your kids want. If they want to be princesses and you have a Costco membership, go to Costco. If they want to be Alice from Through the Looking Glass, the Disney store is probably the only place you're going to find it and the $10 discount is a nice bonus.

THIRD! $8 Mickey or Minnie Mouse Treat Bad with any $25 Purchase!

Image from Disney Store website: https://www.disneystore.com/mickey-minnie-halloween-treat-bags/mn/1018001/?RMID=20160909_FSHHalloween&RRID=20256769&CMP=EMC-eml

What it is: These are adorable Trick or Treat Bags Featuring either Mickey Mouse or Minnie Mouse. You can add them on to your order for only $8 is you are already buying at least $25 worth of Disney merch. Note: the faces on these bags also Glow in the Dark!

How to Get it: This offer is available online, by phone, in Disney Stores, in Disney Baby Stores, and in Disney Outlets. It is NOT available in Parks or Resorts. You don't need a promo code, just add your merch and the treat bag to your cart and you can get the discount.

Image from Disney Store website: https://www.disneystore.com/bags-totes-accessories-minnie-mouse-trick-or-treat-bag/mp/1411209/1000291/

Worthy of Note: Once you have enough merch to get the discount on your first Trick or Treat bag, you can keep adding trick or treat bags and continue to get the discount on subsequent bags. You don't need to have $25 worth of merch for each bag.

Also, your qualifying $25 does NOT have to be Halloween merch. if there was something else you wanted (maybe some runDisney gear for an upcoming race or some of those H2O+ Bath Products that were a recent Find of the Day) you can go ahead and get that and then get your trick or treat bags.

Is it a "Good Deal": Yes, I think it is. Normally, these bags retail for $12.95, so $8 is almost a $5 discount. That's pretty good. Perhaps more importantly, it's a pretty good deal compared to just about any comparable Disney Trick or Treat bag you'll find out there. What do I mean by "comparable"?

Image from Disney Store website: https://www.disneystore.com/bags-totes-accessories-mickey-mouse-trick-or-treat-bag/mp/1411211/1000291/

Well, as you can see, this bag is made of fabric, it has a glow-in-the-dark element, and looks generally well-made and reusable. Usually, when I look for price comparison, I would go to Walmart (they're frequently the cheapest of most things), but Walmart does not have any Disney Trick or Treat bags listed at all. the few bags or buckets they do have are cheaper than this one, but they're not fabric and they're not Disney so, they're not really comparable. If you're looking for Batman though, they have some really cool ones.

Etsy has several Disney Trick or Treat bags, but they're pretty much all over $10 and I hesitate to ever recommend Disney merch that is most likely unlicensed.

Really, the only place I saw that had anything that was really similar was Spirit Halloween. They have a variety of Disney Treat bags ranging from tote bags all the way up to plush bags. The ones that were most similar to the bags offered here are the Mickey or Minnie Mouse plush bags. Those sell for $12.99. In short, $8 for a nice bag like the one in this promotion is a good deal if that's the kind of thing you're looking for. If you just want a plastic bucket, there are cheaper things out there.

One side note: if you're ok with paying more, you might want to check out some of those plush bags from Spirit Halloween. They have Olaf and Flounder, and a few other styles that the Disney Store doesn't.

THE REST! There are several other deals out there on things that are vaguely Halloween related.

Hocus Pocus Limited Release Clothes: I talked about these in a recent special report. Essentially, these are a variety of t-shirts and one hoodie based on the 90's Halloween film, Hocus Pocus. They range in price from $27.99-59.99 and the current sale is BOGO 40% Off.

Dooney & Bourke Sales: the Nightmare Before Christmas and Haunted Mansion patterns are currently on sale for around 24-25% off. (Note, this does not include the new Jack Skellington pattern or the recently released non-Nylon Haunted Mansion pattern) Both of these patterns are eligible for the deal I discussed here where you can get a $29 D&B cosmetic case if you buy $100+ in D&B merch.

That's it for my list of Halloween deals. I will copy Disney's Fine Print below for the ones I haven't already put up somewhere else.

The Fine Print: This is the Fine Print Disney Printed to go along with these sales.

• Free Shipping
• Valid September 9, 2016 (12:01 am PST) through September 11, 2016 (11:59 pm PST) on select, in-stock Halloween Shop merchandise purchased via phone orders and orders placed online at DisneyStore.com.
• Not valid on purchases made at Disney Store and Disney Baby Store retail and outlet locations or Disney Parks and Resorts locations.
• Free Shipping applies to standard delivery on any order with at least one eligible item sent to a single shipment address in the United States.
• Offer excludes gift cards, gift wrap and gift boxes, and items not in stock.
• Additional Shipping & Handling applies for select items or shipments to more than one shipment address.
• Merchandise subject to availability.
• Valid packing slip required for returns and exchanges.
• Offer subject to restrictions and change without notice.
• Void where prohibited.
• $10 Costume Discount
• Valid on select, in-stock Costumes purchased via phone orders and orders placed online at DisneyStore.com.
• Not valid on purchases made at Disney Store and Disney Baby Store retail and outlet locations or Disney Parks and Resorts locations.
• Offer cannot be combined with any other offer or discount except available shipping offers.
• No adjustments to prior purchases.
• Merchandise subject to availability.
• Returns and exchanges will be subject to discount taken at time of purchase.
• Valid packing slip required for returns and exchanges.
• Offer subject to restrictions and change without notice.
• Void where prohibited.
• $8 Mickey or Minnie Mouse Trick or Treat Bag
• Valid September 6, 2016 (12:01 am PST) through September 30, 2016 (11:59 pm PST) or while supplies lasts, whichever occurs first, on select, in-stock merchandise items purchased at Disney Store and Disney Baby Store North America retail and outlet locations or via phone orders and orders placed online at DisneyStore.com.
• Not valid on purchases made at Disney Parks and Resorts locations.
• Purchase with Purchase offer only applies to qualifying orders of $25 or more of select merchandise.
• Limit of one purchase with purchase item per order or transaction.
• Qualifying purchase threshold is based on a single sales transaction, pre-tax, post discount amount and excludes the purchase with purchase item, shipping & handling charges, Disney Theme Park Passes, D23 Memberships, gift cards or certificates, The Walt Disney Company Collectible Shareholder Certificate, 3-D printed merchandise, personalization, gift wrap and gift boxes and items not in stock.
• Offer cannot be combined with any other offer or discount, except available shipping offers.
• No adjustments to prior purchases.
• Merchandise subject to availability.
• Merchandise must be exchanged for identical item or discounted item must be returned if the qualifying purchase item is returned.
• Returns and exchanges will be subject to discount taken at time of purchase.
• Valid packing slip or receipt required for returns and exchanges.
• Offer subject to restrictions and change without notice.
• Void where prohibited.

Do you like these Deals? Did you find a better one somewhere else? Is there something you wish would go on sale? Let me know in the comments!