I just went to an outlet the other week (I think it was the Lake Buena Vista one, but don't quote me on that!), and was pleasantly surprised. They have 2 character oulets - one was a larger store and one was smaller, but they sold essentially the same stuff. It appeared to me that all of it was from the parks or the resorts. I got some great buys on those little photo albums for $1.99 - regular price $10! They said 2000 on the front of them, but I didn't care. I went to the character outlet at Belz last year, and I think that one may have had a little more stuff, but I've heard that one is kind of hit and miss, too. I suspect it carries the same things you can get at the character outlets at LBV. The LBV outlets also had a nice Liz Claiborne outlet as well as a pretty good Vanity Fair outlet. I'm definitely planning on going back to these stores when I go back down there in 10 days. It was so much easier to get to the LBV outlet than the Belz outlets. If you get on 536 like you're heading back to the airport, turn right at 535. (I think this is International Drive.) Go probably less than a mile, and you'll see the LBV outlet mall on your left. (I'd check with a "local" to make sure I've got the right mall. However, I am pretty certain on the directions, just not the name of the mall!)
