Disney's discount parks outlet is open in Lutz, seven months after it shut the Sawgrass Mills store three hours from Disney World. Every sale is final, so shop carefully.
Disney's parks clearance store has a new home on the Gulf Coast side of the state. Disney Character Warehouse opened at Tampa Premium Outlets in Lutz on Monday, Nov. 9, WFLA News Channel 8 reported.
It's the third Disney Character Warehouse now open in Florida, joining two stores in Orlando. WDWNT reported the opening Tuesday.
"We are thrilled to officially open the doors to Disney Character Warehouse," Karla Garay, the outlet center's director of marketing and business development, told WFLA.
The new store comes about seven months after Disney closed its Character Warehouse at Sawgrass Mills near Fort Lauderdale on April 15. WDWMagic first reported the Tampa store in August, without an opening date.
Where is the new Disney Character Warehouse in Tampa?
The store is inside Tampa Premium Outlets, 2300 Grand Cypress Drive, Lutz, FL 33559. The outlet center sits north of Tampa, just off Interstate 75 at State Road 56.
From Disney World, it's roughly a 90-minute drive, depending on I-4 traffic. That's about half the trip to the old Sawgrass Mills store, which WDWNT put at about three hours from the parks.
What are the Tampa Disney Character Warehouse hours?
Tampa Premium Outlets lists these store hours:
Monday to Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The center also posts extended holiday hours, so check before a Black Friday run.
What does Disney Character Warehouse sell?
The outlet center describes official Disney character apparel, toys, accessories, collectibles "and more." WFLA reported some items come from Walt Disney World Resort.
That's the store's whole deal. Disney Character Warehouse sells leftover and discontinued parks merchandise at discounted prices, and Disney Parks runs the stores with its own cast members.
Expect things like spirit jerseys, ear headbands, Loungefly bags, pins and past seasonal collections. Stock changes constantly, and no one has posted specific Tampa prices or discount levels yet.
Can you return items at Disney Character Warehouse?
No. Since Feb. 1, 2026, all sales at Disney Character Warehouse and Cast Connection are final, with no returns or exchanges, WDWNT reported.
Disney made the change to stop resellers from buying merchandise in bulk, relisting it online and returning whatever didn't sell. Try things on and check sizes before you pay.
Where are the other Disney Character Warehouse stores?
There are two in the Orlando area:
Orlando International Premium Outlets on International Drive
Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets near Disney Springs, which WDWNT reported is moving to a larger spot within the same shopping center
Both are a short drive from Disney World, which made them popular stops for park fans long before Tampa got one.
Do you need a park ticket or annual pass to shop there?
No. Disney Character Warehouse sits in a regular outlet mall, so anyone can walk in. You don't need a theme park ticket, a Disney World annual pass or a Disney Visa card.
That makes the Tampa store an easy add-on to a Gulf Coast trip. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, for example, opens Christmas Town on Nov. 13 with a new drone show, and the park sits south of the outlets in Tampa.
Why did Disney close the Sawgrass Mills store?
Disney chose not to renew its lease at Sawgrass Mills, WDWNT reported in February. A cast member pointed to resellers, live-stream shoppers and the store's distance from Walt Disney World.
The Sunrise store closed for good on April 15, 2026. Seven months later, Disney is back on the outlet map outside Orlando, just a lot closer to the parks this time.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
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Hat Tips:
WFLA News Channel 8 (Nov. 9, 2026), opening date, address, merchandise and Karla Garay quote
WDW News Today (Nov. 10, 2026), the Tampa opening, Vineland move and no-return policy
WDW News Today (Feb. 15, 2026), Sawgrass Mills closure and reasons
WDWMagic (Aug. 11, 2026), first report of the Tampa store
Tampa Premium Outlets (Nov. 10, 2026), store hours and description
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