#disneycompanyd

[thekimmiandjackieshow]

Cast Member Shopping

Being a Cast Member at Walt Disney World comes with a list of enticing perks, giving it the feel of an exclusive Disney club. With free entry into the parks, guest passes for family and friends, special events, and more, it’s easy to see why Disney fans want to become Cast Members. One of my favorite Cast Member perks at Disneyland were the exclusive shops located just off property. It turns out that the shops work a little differently between the two parks, so I was excited to check out the other side of things. 

This may have changed since Disneyland recently moved their Cast Member stores, but back around 2011-2015, this was the breakdown.

Team Disney was located just off property and shared a building with Company D. Both required a present Cast Member with the group in order to enter. On the right sat Team Disney, a Cast Member exclusive shop. Here they sold Cast merchandise at fairly standard Disney prices, as well as discounted tickets to the parks and other local spots. T-shirts boasting Cast Member pride on it, special Cast Exclusive Limited Edition pins, lanyards, water bottles, art work, etc., were all available for Cast to purchase at Team Disney.

On the other side of that building was Company D. Here, Cast Members could bring guests with them where they could buy discounted Disney merchandise. It was usually all things that were sold within the parks for a period of time and either was an excess of stock or was removed to make room for new merchandise. In some instances, it was things that were slightly damaged and therefore severely discounted for those willing to deal with the damage. Mickey hats, pins, clothing, lanyards, ornaments, picture frames, etc., filled the shelves, all at lower prices than guests could find in the parks. Company D continued on to a warehouse section in the back. But in the back left corner sat a Cast Member only area. 

Property Control was a gated off section that required a valid Cast ID for entry. Unlike Team Disney, where non-Cast Members could enter but weren’t allowed to purchase anything, Property Control was only accessible to current Cast Members. Inside was an odd assortment of incredibly discounted used items, typically things that were used in the parks or behind the scenes. In one section, office supplies that were no longer needed were sold for 25 cents a piece. Everything from office chairs to reams of paper were marked down. In another section, things actually used within the parks were for sale. Plates from the Disney Cruise Lines were available for $1 a piece. Pins that were given to DVC members upon checkin were sold for $25 cents. Marble tables and chairs from Ariel’s Grotto were being sold for just a little over $100. Costume pieces like jackets, non-slip shoes, and full on costumes that had just been replaced were put at prices lower than $10. The fronts of Quick Service carts (like the decorative piece that slides into the front of the cart) were also being sold for $1-$5. Let me tell you, I’ve struck absolute gold there before and I always imagined that if I stayed a Cast Member in the area, my house would be filled with subtle Disney things.

Knowing how amazing the Cast Member stores were at Disneyland, I was excited to check out Walt Disney World’s selection. Come to find out, things have the same names but different meanings at Walt Disney World.

Walt Disney World has several different Cast-only stores available as well. The first if the very popular “Cast Connections”. Cast Connections is very similar to the two liquidation stores open to the public that are just off property at the two outlet malls. In fact, no Cast ID is technically required to enter the store. One will be needed to check out, but walking through requires no ID. The merchandise sold is equivalent to Disneyland’s “Company D” without the damaged items seeing as damaged merchandise can ruin the magic for guests that are visiting with Cast Members. Guests of Cast Members can purchase merchandise here but Cast Members do get an additional percentage off if they purchase with their funds instead.

In the same building as Cast Connections but in the back is WDW’s Property Control, more recently known as Mickey’s Treasures. A valid Cast ID is required to enter the area, which is really just a small room off the back of Cast Connections. Here is where Cast can find damaged merchandise for miraculously low prices. From hats that were embroidered and never picked up to Mickey Mouse statues with missing noses, merchandise can be purchased here for as low as 50 cents. Now you may be thinking, “Why would I want a Mickey Mouse without a nose?”. It’s all personal preference. Some people find holes in backpacks super easy fixes, others would never spend money on an already worn down backpack. I once found a pair of BB8 Mickey Ears for 50 cents and the only thing wrong with it was that it had a broken strap. 

The only disappointment I had in Mickey’s Treasures was that it had far less to choose from than Disneyland’s Property Control, and it offered way less in-park leftovers. In fact, on my adventure there, I didn’t find anything that had once been used in a park. It was all just an odd assortment of broken merchandise for Cast only.

The third and arguably most popular Cast shop destination in Walt Disney World is Company D. Not to be confused with Disneyland’s Company D that is open to the public (so long as the public is accompanied with a Cast Member) and sells off-season merchandise for discounted prices. WDW’s Company D is similar to Disneyland’s Team Disney, where they sell Cast branded merchandise. Pins, lanyards, Cast ID holders, name tag frames, shirts, bumper stickers, etc, are all found at Walt Disney World’s Company D, usually boasting about the life of a Cast Member or CP. Unlike Disneyland’s Team Disney, Walt Disney World’s Company D has several locations. One can be found near Disney University behind Magic Kingdom, while another can be found in backstage EPCOT. There are a few more locations scattered throughout property, but I found myself at the one in Disney University most often. Walt Disney World’s Company D also offers discounted tickets to the parks and special events in case you want to purchase them for friends and family, much like Disneyland’s Team Disney. 

Figuring out all the different places, especially after being used to Disneyland’s took some doing but eventually I figured it out and visited all of them. My trip to Cast Connections was an adventure, but exploring something new in Walt Disney World always is. 

[grumpzz]

So excited to go to #CompanyD thanks to the family friend who gave me the ticket to get in #DisneyCompanyD #lucky #GoingShopping #vinylmations #pins #disneyfreak