There are many ways to bring home memories from your Walt Disney World vacation. Whether you choose to pose for PhotoPass photos, bring home packaged treats, or browse gift shops, you’ve definitely got choices! Admittedly, my closet is full of Mickey tees, and the cabinet has plenty of Disney mugs. The walls are covered in photos taken in front of park icons. I’ve even got a display of popcorn buckets I’ve collected! However, some of my favorite souvenirs are the resort-specific items I’ve found along the way.
It’s no surprise that the shopping options at Disney World are plentiful! Each theme park has a flagship gift shop and numerous other shops and kiosks. Disney Springs is jam-packed with shopping options, including the world’s largest collection of Disney merchandise at World of Disney. Today, I want to share a few of the resort gift shops I highly recommend you check out during your next visit. These are favorites of mine because they have extensive merchandise selections and unique offerings.
Zawadi Marketplace at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Zawadi Marketplace is located right inside the lobby entrance at Jambo House. There’s also an exterior entrance, so you can easily pop in on your way back from the resort’s bus stop. This gift shop offers a wide range of general Disney merchandise, including a decent amount of Animal Kingdom theme park items. Personally, I appreciate the expansive selection of resort-specific merchandise, too. Whether you want a shirt, a mug, a Christmas ornament, or a picture frame, they’ve got it and more!
Zawadi also has unique offerings that you can only find here: think wooden animal carvings, African drums, replica masks, and African art. You can even watch an artisan crafting the wooden animal carvings (at select times) right outside the entrance! It’s a unique place that always has something amazing to commemorate your trip. If you are a fan of the vibes at Animal Kingdom Lodge, it’s absolutely worth stopping in to acquire a distinctive keepsake.
Panchito’s Gifts & Sundries at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
If you’re looking for a wide selection of merchandise in a spacious, relaxed environment, Panchito’s is your place! It doesn’t tend to be overly crowded, since guests who aren’t staying at Coronado don’t frequently go out of their way to visit. As a result, you can sometimes find a better overall size selection, or even purchase items that have sold out elsewhere.
Like the other resort gift shops on my list, Panchito’s has general Disney merchandise as well as resort-specific merchandise. In particular, I love the items that give a nod to the intricate Spanish tile mosaics featured prominently around Coronado Springs. Panchito’s also has a wall full of pins to peruse if you are a pin trader or collector! Finally, fans of Encanto and Coco will definitely want stop in to browse all of the options celebrating these films.
Boutiki at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Everything about the Polynesian has my heart! This includes Boutiki, the resort’s main gift shop. You can find Boutiki inside The Great Ceremonial House. It’s another place that offers so many unique options in addition to the general merchandise you can find elsewhere. Along with a myriad of resort-specific shirts, sweatshirts, and decor items, Boutiki has other distinctive products. You can find coffee and macadamia nuts, Hawaiian cookies, and even live potted plants (in island inspired pots, of course!).
If you were lucky enough to secure a spot inside Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, you can commemorate your experience with Trader Sam’s shirts and tiki mugs. Alternatively, those who dream of someday visiting Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa can also purchase select merchandise for that resort here. Definitely stop by Boutiki during your monorail loop resort hopping trip to see what you can discover!
Bayview Gifts (BVG) at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Perhaps my favorite gift shop in all of Disney World (ranked even higher than The Emporium and Creations Shop) is Bayview Gifts. This gift shop is located on the fourth floor in the Contemporary’s main tower. You’ll find it near Contempo Café, Chef Mickey’s, and the Outer Rim lounge. This one is my favorite due to the overall selection of items. BVG has general Disney merchandise along with an excellent assortment of the latest collections and seasonal items. Since the resort has Incredibles theming, you definitely need to stop by and grab some Contemporary Resort merchandise if you’re an Incredibles fan. A unique offering here is an actual dessert case near the registers. You can grab a caramel apple, cookie, or crispy rice treat along with your other souvenirs!
Truth be told, there have definitely been times where I have wandered around the Emporium and not seen anything that “spoke to me”. However, every time I visit BVG, I seem to find multiple things that end up coming home with me. It’s only a short ride over from Magic Kingdom, so it’s worth planning a trip over to the Contemporary as part of your day.
For even more unique souvenirs, take a look around World Showcase in EPCOT. Each country has at least one gift shop, and you can certainly find lots treasures there! Whether it’s a display item or something you’ll use daily, look for souvenirs that will spark joy and make your everyday life magical. There’s something for every interest. Happy shopping! For more Disney World favorites and hidden gems, check back with us here at MouseHouseNews.net. See ya real soon!
