I go to Disney World a lot. More than most people. I don’t say this to brag — if anything, I go too much. But when you go to the parks as often as I do, you tend to become a little souvenir blind. What does that mean? Well, I’ve seen new t-shirts come and go. I’ve seen more new ears, park bags, and plush characters than I can count. After a while, it all starts to blur together. I’ve gone numb. You can’t impress me with a basic Spirit Jersey, Disney!
EPCOT
But on my recent visit to EPCOT, something came over me. I splurged on not one, but TWO big souvenirs. And we’re not talking silly little $20 trinkets. I went big. It was a rush. Wanna see what I got?
Welcome to Madeleine’s EPCOT haul. First, I’ll show you where I went shopping, because unless you’re a Disney expert, the names Il Bel Cristallo and La Gemma Elegante probably wouldn’t ring any bells.
I visited the gift shops at the front of the Italy Pavilion. These aren’t your typical Disney gift shops — most of the merchandise is from Italy (duh), so it’s less Mickey stuffed animals and more scarves, perfume, and purses.
©Disney
I’ll start with my experience at Il Bel Cristallo. In all truthfulness, I was lured in by a sign outside touting complimentary perfume bottle engraving. Working at Disney Food Blog, I knew this service existed (we love to tell people about it since it’s such a unique souvenir), but this was one of the rare occasions I was in EPCOT during a session. SCORE!
Here’s what I got!
During my visit, you could get Dolce & Gabbana bottles engraved for FREE. Depending on the artist, time of your visit, and availability, you might have different options! (This service is also available in the France Pavilion from time to time!)
Complimentary Engraving
Here’s a look at some of the engraving options. You can get a Disney-inspired design engraved or ask for the artist to write your name or initials. And yes, this is FREE. All you have to pay for is the perfume bottle itself. And by the way, the perfume bottles are refillable, so you can keep your custom bottle on your vanity forever!
Here are a few possible designs!
Now, I wasn’t actually buying the perfume bottle for myself; this is a gift! I went with option #11 because who doesn’t love flowers, right?
These are so fun!
The process was quick and easy! I filled out a form, paid for the perfume, and came back in a few minutes to pick up my perfume bottle. It’s that simple!
Ta-da!
But that wasn’t my only splurge of the day. In a strange turn of events, I found myself invited to a masquerade ball (yes, really), so I needed a mask for the event. That’s not the sort of thing you can pick up at Target, but lucky for me, EPCOT has a store FULL of masks! I headed over to La Gemma Elegante with one mission: obtain a mask fit for a ball.
Venetian Masks
The dress code for the event called for a black, white, or silver mask, and the Cast Member in EPCOT was SO kind and helpful. I showed her my dress, and she worked her magic. She explained that every mask fits a little differently and helped me find one that fit my face shape.
This is the one I chose; do you like it?
Did I expect to walk out of EPCOT with a masquerade mask and a bottle of perfume? Definitely not. But I’m so glad I did! You truly never know where your day in Disney World will take you — it’s why I keep going back.
Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation.
In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.
I Spent $24.99 For This in the Norway Pavilion in EPCOT, and I’d Do It Again in a Heartbeat
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I really like your purchases from the Italy pavilion.
Love the Mask! Partook in the bottle engraving on our last visit for both my wife and myself. We really think your comments are spot on! Enjoy!