How to buy Disneyland lost and found items at ridiculously cheap prices

Have you ever wondered what happens to all the Minnie Mouse ears, Wall-E plush dolls, half-filled autograph books, forgotten umbrellas and other unclaimed souvenirs that end up in Disneyland lost and found?

You can pick up thousands of lost and found items at 90% or more off the retail prices you’d pay at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure or Downtown Disney during a blowout sale that’s regularly held at a Santa Ana thrift store just down the freeway from the Anaheim theme parks.

The Disneyland Lost and Found Sale open to Disneyland employees, their guests and the general public will be held on Saturday, Aug. 3 at the Goodwill of Orange County Marketplace in Santa Ana.

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Disneyland employees have been notified of the upcoming one-day event at the Goodwill bulk sale store located about 15 minutes from the parks.

Disneyland cast members who register in advance will be able to attend the lost and found sale with one guest from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Aug. 3.

The Disneyland Lost and Found Sale will be open to the general public starting at 11 a.m. on Aug. 3 — with no reservation required. The public may be admitted earlier that 11 a.m. if there are no more Disneyland cast members in line.

There are always long lines for the Goodwill Disneyland sale and the large parking lot often fills up quickly.

Most of the Disneyland thrift items available at the Goodwill of Orange County Marketplace fall into the $3 to $5 range.

Many of the items at the Disneyland Lost and Found Sale are gently used or nearly new. Disneyland also uses the event to unload brand new overstock items that still have price tags.

Inventory often includes hats, headbands, sunglasses, plush dolls, souvenir sipper cups, autograph books, bubble wands and lightsabers sold in the Disney parks.

The deals range from headbands and plush dolls for $3 apiece to hats and souvenir sipper cups for $5 each.

That’s a steep discount on Disneyland hats that can cost $25 to $35 in the parks and Minnie ears that can set you back $35.

The Goodwill of Orange County Marketplace is located at 2702 W. 5th Street in Santa Ana.