OK so I know that when I’ve just spent all that money on airfare and lodging at WDW the last thing I should be doing is Shopping, but shopping is fun at WDW.

It didn’t used to be. Ten years ago it seemed like all of WDW was one big souvenir shop, even at World Showcase. It seemed like the countries represented were just gathering up all the shit that no one was buying at home and packing it off  to WDW where apparently the tourists would buy anything.

This has changed.

More and more I find that when someone says, “That’s so cute! Where did you get it?” I say, “Walt Disney World!” And then they think I’m lying or something because I’m such a Disney monomaniac, but that’s beside the point. I really do find great things at WDW.

I’ve  bought plenty at “Mouse Gears, a shop at EPCOT, and of course these are the Disney things, like the vintage t shirts and watches ( I have a Mickey Mouse Club t shirt and some watches that look like originals from the 50s.)  It may surprise you to know that my house is not heavily decorated with Disney shower curtains, linens and wallpaper, but I have a few little touches, like a monorail salt and pepper shaker and some vintage Disney World posters that I’ve put in Lauren’s old room.

Everyone at WDW wears silly hats (because where else do you get the chance to wear silly hats?). They buy jungle hats with mouse ears at Animal Kingdom, medieval princess hats, crowns, goofy hats (with ears) and classic mouse ears with embroidered names. I’ve got them all beat. I have a crown - a beautiful (fake) pearl covered tiara-like crown that I found at the Germany pavilion and I wear it everywhere at WDW - I only wish I could wear it in Ohio.

But the coup de grâce is the super cool monorail with track and hotels that I put around the (Disney decorated) Christmas tree. When you push the little button the monorail says “Please stand clear of the doors - Por favor mantengan si alejado de las puertas". People make fun of me for buying it but I know they secretly love it. Who wouldn’t love a monorail running around their living room, I mean, c’mon!

There’s a lot more shopping to be done at WDW and not all of it is Disney themed. We love World Showcase and have found plenty of things that we’ve never seen anywhere else, like this Lulu Guiness purse that everyone (and I mean everyone, men included) threaten to steal from me it, is so cool, and that was a discovery from the UK pavilion.

People are always admiring my religious jewelry (we really like crosses and medallions with the virgin Mary or Jesus) and think I must have bought them at the vatican, but most were picked up at the Mexico pavilion at EPCOT. We also bought some really great Dia de Muertos folk art.

The Japan pavilion is the center of the universe for “Hello Kitty” merchandise, but I love the beautiful stationary and the bee magnets I found there.

I have a (pretty expensive but gorgeous) iron tea kettle shaped like a swan that I bought at the China pavilion and Lauren’s black patton leather carry on bag with the white circles is from the France pavilion.

Morocco is so much fun. There is always wonderful jewelry, and we found a tea set with tray and painted glasses and some leather Moroccan style shoes that I wore until they fell apart.

There is more, oh, so much more, but let’s just say you can more than fill an afternoon shopping at EPCOT. Have a few cocktails “around the world” and the buzz will eliminate any shopping guilt you may be feeling - works for me!!