Woolworths Disney Ooshies Run Short Early as Huge Demand Leaves Shoppers Scrambling

Woolworths’ 2026 Disney Ooshies promotion is approaching its scheduled August 25 finish in Australia, but many collectors are already finding the mystery figures difficult to get as stores work through remaining supplies.

The campaign began on July 15 across Woolworths, BIG W and MILKRUN. Customers can receive one Ooshie for every $30 spent in an eligible transaction, with 40 characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars available while stocks last.

Why Woolworths Ooshies are running short

Woolworths said from the start that the promotion would run until August 25 only while supplies remained. Its official Disney Ooshies information confirms the Australian dates, $30 qualifying spend and 40-character lineup.

Recent reports from around Australia show the campaign has moved through stock faster than some customers expected. Availability can vary between stores, so the advertised closing date does not mean every location will continue handing out Ooshies until August 25.

The mystery-pack format makes the final stage harder for anyone trying to complete a set. Customers cannot choose a standard character, which means duplicates become increasingly common when only a few figures are missing.

The promotion is also taking place while grocery costs remain closely watched by Australian households. Earlier reporting on Woolworths supplier cost pressure on everyday grocery categories provides wider context around the spending environment facing supermarket customers.

Second swap event has passed

Woolworths and BIG W organised swap events to help people exchange duplicates rather than keep chasing missing characters through additional purchases. A second nationwide swap event was held on Saturday, August 15.

That date has now passed, so older notices promoting the event should not be treated as current. Informal swaps between families and collectors are likely to play a bigger role during the remaining days of the campaign.

Parents may want to supervise trades involving younger children, particularly when a supposedly rare figure is being exchanged for a common one.

Rare Bullseye drives resale interest

The flocked Bullseye Ooshie from Toy Story has become the most talked-about figure in the collection. Recent Australian reporting says only 125 were released nationwide, helping trigger unusually high asking prices and bids on resale marketplaces.

Those figures should be treated carefully. A listing price is not proof of market value, and a large bid does not necessarily mean a completed sale occurred. Buyers are better served by checking completed transactions, seller history, photographs and item condition before paying a premium.

Toy Story merchandise has separately been affected by a safety recall this year. The Toy Story 5 collector cup recall involving HOYTS concerns selected cinema merchandise sold in Australia and New Zealand and is unrelated to Woolworths Ooshies.

Some schools restrict Ooshies as trading grows

The collecting craze has reached Australian school playgrounds, with recent reports saying some schools in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria have restricted or banned students from bringing Ooshies to class.

Concerns have included distractions, arguments and uneven trades between children. The issue is less about the toys themselves than the intensity of swapping when children may place very different values on individual characters.

Why swapping now makes more sense than chasing packs

For someone who already owns most of the 40-character set, another qualifying purchase may produce yet another duplicate. A direct exchange is more predictable because both collectors know which character they are receiving.

That helps explain why swap groups and community exchanges have become such a visible part of the promotion as stock tightens. It also reduces the temptation to spend purely for another mystery pack when the desired figure is not guaranteed.

Recycling continues after the promotion

Woolworths says the 2026 Ooshies range is made from 97% recycled materials. Unwanted figures from the current Australian collection can be returned to Woolworths stores for recycling until October 31, 2026.

That gives families a practical option after the collecting period ends, particularly for unwanted duplicates that are not being kept or traded.