Every which way you turn, there is no mistaking the Christmas season has arrived. For many retailers, Christmas started even before Halloween ended. As you shop for that Disney fanatic on your holiday list, some of the best finds may turn up in some unlikely places.
While the Disney Store at your local mall or online at disneystore.com, or even the Shop Disney Parks app on your smartphone may be the top resources for all-things-Disney-holiday, you may want to check out places like CVS and Walgreens.You will be surprised at the variety of products for you as well as Disney fans young and old alike.
This holiday season, CVS offers up your typical candy delights like Anna, Elsa and Olaf Pez sets as well as Frozen gumball dispensers, but there is a world of products beyond the candy aisle. I found myself checking out many of the items while making my Santa wish list.
If you are looking to add that Disney-feel to your holiday decorating then you want to get your mouse mitts on the Mickey and Minnie Mouse porch greeters. Dressed in their holiday hats and scarves and holding a candy cane, they will look great in the front of your house, inside the foyer to welcome holiday guests, in your front window as festive Disney decorations or in a child or grandchild’s room this holiday season.
Decorating the fireplace with Mickey stockings for Santa to fill, you should consider one or more of the Disney animated music boxes to adorn the mantle. One features the Christmas Gift Shop with Mickey, Minnie and Goofy, which lights up and moves while playing a variety of classic holiday tunes like “O Christmas Tree,” “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” and “Jingle Bells.” A second animated scene features Donald Duck, Minnie and Mickey outdoors on a swing, rocking back and forth to a series of holiday classics. Not to be outdone, Anna, Elsa and Olaf star in their own holiday scene at a skating ring as big sister Anna helps Elsa steady her legs for a skating session as snowman Olaf spins around on the ice.
My personal favorite is the Mickey’s Christmas Carol holiday figure collector set. While it resembles one of the Disney Parks play sets you can purchase at Walt Disney World or Disneyland or online, this set features a fireplace as a backdrop for some of the characters to gather around as they are displayed on your fireplace mantle. The set features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Uncle Scrooge. A must have for Disney collectors and fans of the Mouse House’s version of the classic Christmas tale.
But wait there is more. Move over Elf on the shelf, make room for Mickey and Olaf. If plush Mickey and Minnie are your thing as a collector or as a gift-giver, there is a variety of sizes and styles for your holiday list. Once again Mickey and Minnie are dressed in their holiday finest and can either sit or stand on a shelf, tabletop, or at your office desk. There is also an oversized Olaf complete with Santa hat that would compliment your holiday decorating or warm the heart of a child with hugs to last beyond the holiday season.
If you are a nutcracker collector, then the Mickey and Minnie nutcrackers are a must have for you. Again these items are different than those you can find in the theme parks or online and in some cases are more reasonably priced unless you happen to catch a sale.
There is even something for the dashboard of your vehicle. Solar-powered Mickey and Minnie would make a great addition to your dashboard as the classic characters wobble from side-to-side. So maybe you can retire that Hawaiian hula dancer or flower pot solar dashboard bobble-head for the leader of the club and his best gal pal Minnie. 
You say you want an affordable way to start collecting Disney holiday ornaments without breaking the bank. Hallmark once again has delivered a series of Mickey and Minnie ornaments along with your Frozen friends that are wallet-friendly and are different from the high-end ornaments that you will likely find in your Hallmark Gold Crown store.
This year Walgreens is offering a more limited selection of Disney items than last year. There is a festive holiday hat for everyone in the family whether you are looking for a Mickey or Minnie ears hat or an Olaf knit cap, there is one just waiting for you. If you are looking for a stocking stuffer for your child, then check out the Frozen and Mickey cups that light up with a push of a button. Not only will you child enjoy the milk or juice you place in the cup, the light up function is likely to occupy much of their time. Who doesn’t like a light up cup? Especially when it has one of your Disney friends on it.
So as your holiday shopping swings into high gear you might want to stop at the corner of happy and healthy and check out the array of Disney-related holiday gifts and perhaps pick up some for yourself.