Remember earlier in the week when I hinted at a big question we’d be circling back to? Well, that moment has arrived, and now is the time to get honest with ourselves. This Disney Debate is a question that every fan will have to face at some point: Are you a Disney Shopper, a Disney Collector, or a full-blown Disney hoarder? In some way or another, most of us fall into one of these categories. Something always catches our eye, whether it’s a carefully curated pin collection, an ever-growing stack of Mickey or Minnie Mouse Ear Headbands (guilty!), or an obsession with Disney home décor. Some fans keep it simple, adding an annual family photo to their beloved hallway vacation gallery, while others strategically leave extra space in their suitcase for their souvenirs on the return trip. But at some point, we all must stop and ask ourselves: Is there a purpose to what we’re buying?
Let’s be honest—we’ve all fallen victim to the impulse buy. That perfect piece of Disney memorabilia calls your name, and before you know it, you’re struggling to arrange your shoes around it in a protective suitcase barrier. You might not know where it’s going, what you’ll do with it, or why you needed it in the first place, but for those few moments, the dopamine rush makes it all worth it. This is where I wanted to take a step back and look at our Disney spending habits; what kind of shopper are you? Do you collect with intention, savoring the thrill of hunting down a rare or meaningful item? Or do you fall into the see it-want it mindset, grabbing whatever sparks joy (thanks Marie Condo!) in the moment?
And then, there’s the ultimate question—when does shopping turn into hoarding? If you’ve ever unpacked your suitcase only to find souvenirs you don’t even remember buying, or if you’re running out of space for your ever-expanding collection but still can’t resist adding more, you might be leaning into hoarder territory. Don’t worry; there’s no judgment. We are all in this together! Whether you’re a strategic collector, an impulsive shopper, or someone who simply can’t say no to Disney magic, the most important thing is that your purchases bring you a little piece of that magic we crave from a Disney experience. After all, Disney is all about creating happiness—and if that happiness comes in the form of an overflowing collection, who’s to say that’s a bad thing? There is a reason why I host a weekly Monday Merch Meeting, after all.
Are you a Disney shopper who carefully selects each one of your Disney treasures? A Disney collector, strategically adding one piece at a time to their collection puzzle? Or do you have unopened merch from four years ago that you have convinced yourself you will be happy to have one day?
