Disney Secret: How to Buy Official Merchandise for 10 Times Cheaper.

Saving on souvenirs at Disneyland

According to The Sun: A trip to Walt Disney World can cost families a pretty penny, but there is a smart way to save significantly on souvenirs, including iconic Minnie ears and unique toys.

With around 160,000 visitors daily, Disney World accumulates many items in its lost and found service. Here you can find everything from sunglasses left by parents on the Guardians of the Galaxy ride to new stuffed toys lost on It's a Small World by little kids.

Regularly, the parks pass on unwanted items to several non-profit organizations that run charity shops in Central Florida.

One of those shops is the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida, which supports local communities and families in need.

Disney items are very popular here as gifts from theme parks represent a significant part of the inventory.

We learned that the store is only 25 minutes away from our apartment in Orlando, so we decided to head there in search of good deals.

The store is located in Winter Park, about 17 miles from Disney World.

Disney Treasures in a Thrift Store

This store resembles a thrift supermarket, and it is immediately clear that it is a real paradise for Disney fans. Just stepping over the threshold, you can see displays filled with rows of Minnie ears.

As a Disney fan and an active collector of ears, I was overjoyed. There were limited editions, Halloween, Christmas ears and much more.

Official ears were priced from $4 to $15 (£2.95 – £11), which is significantly less than in the park, where the price reaches £34.99 (£26). There were also many 'unofficial' versions for $1 (75p).

I purchased shiny pink ears for $6 (£4.40) and a classic Mickey ear hat for $1.99 (£1.50) and set off to explore other items.

There were great t-shirts, bags, and hoodies – all in excellent condition.

I was very pleased with my new Epcot t-shirt for $8 (£5.90), while my husband bought a Star Wars mug for $5 (£3.70).

Overall, I saved nearly £100 on all souvenirs since t-shirts in the park cost around $34.99 (£26), and mugs are about $16.99 (£12.50).

Typically, the store is a paradise for designer sunglasses from Prada, Ray Ban, and Gucci with discounts of around 80%, but this time the selection was limited.

Aside from lost and found items, Disney World also donates other unused goods and products.

We were satisfied with our finds, but I regretted missing out on a plush tiger for $6 (£4.40), which costs $30 (£22) in the park.

If secondhand items don’t appeal to you but you want to save money, the Disney Character Warehouse will be the ideal option for purchasing official products with a 50–80% discount.

In Ukraine, there are two such stores near Walt Disney World – one at Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets (8200 Vineland Ave., Suite 1252) and the other at Orlando International Premium Outlets (4951 International Drive, Suite 95).

In these stores, official Disney products from previous seasons are sold, so you can find exclusive ears and t-shirts from past seasons and events such as the Epcot Flower Festival or Christmas and Halloween celebrations.

Another interesting place for Disney fans is Recycling the Magic, located at 16415 W Colonial Dr in Oakland, Florida. Here you can find vintage collectible items from Disney's past.

There are props and signs from the parks, even parts of ride vehicles that guests can proudly display in their homes.

However, as much as I love Disney, I can't imagine how I would attempt to transport one of the old doors from the Kilimanjaro Safari vehicles through airport security. I better stick with my collection of ears.