I just realized that it is in a mall. I don't want to drag 2 boys in there with a sore foot if it's only got some average markdowns or things that are made intentionally to put in an outlet.

Is this a true OUTLET, with big markdowns, or is it just a slightly cheaper Disney store?

If you're going to the one in Fullerton, it's not really in a mall. It's in a strip center with other stores, but you enter straight from the parking lot outside as you would a free-standing store.

In terms of bargains, I've found it to be hit or miss. I've gotten some good deals on 50th merchandise as well as pins, but often, I find many items marked down just a few dollars from the park price. (In those cases, I'd rather buy it at the park and have the memory that goes with it.)

Sometimes it's good for finding things that have been long gone from the parks. My opinion -- others might disagree -- is that you have to be willing to take the time to look for bargains and be prepared to walk out with nothing.

It's definitely not like the Disney stores -- most of it is actual park merchandise that is no longer offered.

Are you talking about the one north of the park near Lemon and the 91? Unless they moved it, it's not in a mall. It's a strip-mall/shopping center. Did I miss something? LOL.

You'll find stuff that used to be for sale at the park, for less than original prices. Everything from clothing to pins and souvenirs, jewelry, etc. If they sell it at DLR, it could end up at the outlet.

Adrienne

ETA: Tinkermommy and I typed at the same time! I agree totally about the prices, too. I almost posted more about it, but you said it better than I was going to - hit and miss, lots of times it's just a few bucks off. I have gotten tshirts there when they were characters that my kids LOVED, but I don't usually buy a lot.

Oh, phew. I am much more willing to deal with hit & miss if I don't have to deal with the hassle of even getting INTO the full on mall with the 2 little guys. Thanks! I would love to get the kids a set of matching t-shirts!

We bought a California Adventure Souvenir book last year, and it had Superstar Limo in it. Now that is a find! I think it was $2.

I think it depends though on the prices, most times we have gone, they had incredible deals on things. For example, they had the POC watches from the 3rd movie (and this was when we went in October 2007) there and the price was buy 1 for $6, get 2 more free!
And it's not always just "old" park stuff. They have things that are still being sold at the park right now. They weren't damaged or anything... one of the examples I can think of are these henley type long sleeve shirts that have princess crowns all over them. I don't recall the price at the outlet though, but less than at the park. Another was the Pirate Minnie Big Fig, for $50 less and that is still being sold in the park.
But you do need patience to go through and look at everything.

Also, the further away the Character Warehouse is, the better the prices. We've gone to the one in Tracy, then a week later to the Fullerton one, and prices were much better in Tracy. You need to take time to find bargains. We've gotten some nice deals. MDM got a nice jacket for half price.

It's very hit or miss, as others have stated but if you don't mind meandering, you can get very good deals.

I won't buy products if I'm not interested in the line but if there's a recent movie that wasn't as popular as planned (Ratatouille anyone?), they may be close to giving it away!

I have found plenty of Tinkerbell (and other) clothes for kids and adults, some Cars merchandise, games and toys.

I'm not into mugs or stuff like that, but there's always plenty of that nature. Also usually stickers, cheap autograph books, pencils, and so forth. There's also a small glass counter where they hold a few more expensive items.

Sometimes they have tons of one thing, sometimes just a handful. It's truly whatever the resort wants to get rid of. Once I was there when a single Cars handheld game came in and since it was the only one, it was marked for only a few bucks.

I'm not sure I'd want to drag kids there. Talk about no theming! But if you have a bunch of people to buy for or you enjoy looking for bargains, it's definitely worth your time. Go to mousesavers.com to print out the discount coupon before you go and hang on to it. (The staff person who usually helps me says many people end up coming back.)

Also, the further away the Character Warehouse is, the better the prices.

If you mean farther from Disneyland, I agree.

We went to the Character Warehouse in Las Vegas and were stunned by the quality and variety of the merchandise. There was a Shag litho for something like $50 -- not one of our faves, so we passed, again -- tons of T-shirts and mugs, books and high-ticket apparel. I got the 50th-anniversary baseball jacket -- the good one, with the Mickey bandleader on the back, not the one with the generic "Fifty Years" crest -- for $95, with the $295 price tag still attached. :D

I attribute this disparity to the fact that the Fullerton Character Warehouse is regularly shopped by savvy Disneyland fans who know what the good stuff is and snap it up immediately. More-remote stores don't have that kind of clientele, and the people who go there buy what they like instead of zeroing in on the bargains and rarities.

--t

Thanks, everyone. I am thinking that I might take a trip up there to stuff the Easter "baskets" a little more. :)

Well, I did go yesterday, and found some cute stuff. I bought a rhinestoned Tink shirt for dd that was orig. $36, marked down to 11ish, a set of clear sorceror Mickey playing cards for 2.50ish, a girls pirates shirt for 3.99, some gold ears (dd was just complaining about how hers had been "lost" in the last move) for .99, and some other things I can't remember right now. Some good deals for sure, but I wish they had more items that weren't shirts. That seemed to be a good 80-90% of their stuff.

Anyone know if I can get the ears embroidered still?

Does anyone know the hours of this store (closest to DL)? Wanting to go Monday evening after the park closes.

And locations of other warehouses? Is there an all-encompassing website that helps? I only found a small site about the one closest to DL.

And how long did it take to drive there from the park? Sorry for all the questions...

Thanks in advance!!

And one more question about the warehouse: Is there an ART that can get me there from the HoJos?

DH doesn't want to rent a car, just so I can go "shopping". I guess he doesn't understand the potential cost savings involved :)

15 days until we are there!

The Fullerton Character Warehouse has a TV in the back of the store where they play Disney movies. There are a couple of little chairs in front of it.

The Boy Wonder makes a beeline for that area the second we're in the door. It allows me time to browse and I can still keep an eye on him.

Does anyone know the hours of this store (closest to DL)? Wanting to go Monday evening after the park closes.

And locations of other warehouses? Is there an all-encompassing website that helps? I only found a small site about the one closest to DL.

And how long did it take to drive there from the park? Sorry for all the questions...

Thanks in advance!!Drive from the park is maybe 15 minutes. Its only about 5 miles, but traffic accounts for most of the travel time.

Hours are 9-9 M-Sat, and 9 (I think) to 8 on Sun.

We stayed at the Hojo last christmas and took a taxi to Fullerton. Even though it's approx 15 min drive it still cost $15.00 one way. Enough of that , we went to Rent a Car a few days later down the block at Park Place ? for $29.99 a day. We really got it for 3 days at a cost of $60.00 because when we inquired about renting a car for the following two days he said for us to take it now ( which was 12:00 noon ) Tuesday and bring it back Friday Morning. I would rent the car for one day and get your money's worth and go to the Fullerton Warehouse and go shopping at the Orange Mall.
Oh yeah in those 3 days we spent one day at Universal and i took about 5 trips to Fullerton and each time they were stocking new things.

Does anyone know the hours of this store (closest to DL)? Wanting to go Monday evening after the park closes.

And locations of other warehouses? Is there an all-encompassing website that helps? I only found a small site about the one closest to DL.


http://www.ams-liquidation.com/stores.htm

:)