There are gift shops everywhere you look at Walt Disney World and most families buy something each time they visit a park – Disney mania just takes over and you get carried away – just keep asking yourself “how can I get this huge cuddly toy home” – never quite sure how we manage sometimes! If you do see something you want however, buy it there and then as you may not see it anywhere else as the merchandise differs in each park – however, if you buy something you are not happy with you can take it back to any Disney park or indeed a Disney store.
If you just want to shop at the parks, tell Guest Services and you can go in with your ticket for an hour and as long as you return within that hour, they will refund your ticket. Shops are always a great place to cool down too if it is hot but it may cost you!
All shops at Disneyworld have their own themes and there is always something each shop for every age group. The most "kid friendly" shop of all is Chester and Hester's Dinosaur Treasures in Dinoland at the Animal Kingdom. This shop is virtually "all kids," although some of the merchandise will definitely appeal to the adult kids, too. Half the fun of Disney is that they never seem to mind kids picking things up and playing with them, it’s one place you never have to say “don’t touch, put that down!”
Chester & Hester's is set in an old, tin-roofed garage, this gift shop is anything but posh! The floors are concrete and there are bright red "water pipes" running up the walls and across the ceiling. The interior paint looks like it's been there since the age of the dinosaurs! Boys will particularly love this shop – it’s full of dinosaurs (obviously!) However, Chester & Hester's also has lots of things for the girls like sparkly pink princess hats complete with wispy veil and Mickey ears ($18), sparkly purses and change purses, princess crowns and princess sceptres. Our girls built necklaces and bracelets with alphabet beads and character beads. Huge amount of Mr Potato Head bits and pieces here too. Great sweets here, the specialty "candy" is "fill it yourself" 18-inch plastic tubes ($4) that you can fill with different flavours of sour powdered candy………disgusting but the kids love them!
This is just a “fun” store – a great way to get a bit of shopping in while the kids are totally occupied with everything on display!