When it comes to theme parks, The Walt Disney Company knows how to do a lot of things really well, and one of those things is creating fun and beautiful merchandise. Guests visiting Disney theme parks have hundreds of different kinds of merchandise, from stuffed animals to sunglasses, dishware, coffee mugs, notebooks, tumblers, t-shirts, paintings, figurines, and so much more.Some merchandise is more popular than others, and some of the most popular merchandise are things like spirit jerseys, Starbucks tumblers, themed merchandise (for special events like Jollywood Nights), and Mickey ears.Credit: DisneyRelated: Resellers Punished by Disney Over Death Star Popcorn Bucket DebacleMany Disney fans have certain pieces of merchandise that they love to collect, whether it be coffee mugs, pens, hats, or something else. However, one woman has taken her love of a certain type of Disney merchandise to the next level, and now, she has a collection worth thousands.Karrie Goelz has been visiting Disney theme parks since she was a child, and she even participated in the Disney College Program in 2006. During those years, she would buy an occasional pair of Mickey ears.However, in 2012, her love of Mickey ears was taken to the next level when Katie visited Walt Disney World with her family over Christmas. There were a specific pair of Mickey ears that she wanted, but when she got to the parks, she learned they were sold out. For the entirety of her vacation, she searched high and low for the Mickey ears, but was never able to find them.Credit: DisneyRelated: The Perfect Minnie Mouse Ears For Every Taylor Swift EraThat search was the start of her obsession with Disney headbands. On every subsequent trip, she searches for the perfect pair of ears that she ties to the memories of her magical vacation. From beginning with just a few pairs of ears, Karrie has now amassed a collection of more than 1,700 pairs of ears, which is worth more than $50,000.In 2018, Karrie moved from Indiana to Orlando, Florida, where she added even more ears to her collection. Living so close to Disney World allowed her to regularly visit the parks for in-park ear headband releases and exclusive drops.Then, in 2020, she realized just how many pairs of ears she had, and decided to start an Instagram account so she could connect with fellow ear lovers. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Minnie Ear Collectors || Karrie (@minnieearcollectors)Related: How to Get Your Mickey Ears Customized at DisneyKarrie quickly learned just how many fellow Mickey ear lovers there were, as her Instagram account now has more than 27,000 followers.In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Karrie talked about how her ear collection has allowed her to connect with people around the world.“I had no idea how many other collectors [are] out there, too,” Goelz says. “During the pandemic, when people were looking for ways to keep Disney magic in their lives, I started sharing more, not just about ears, but about all the new releases. That’s when I really saw how many people were eager to connect.”Goelz now talks with collectors across the globe from the U.S. to Brazil to Germany. Some she messages daily. “One of my local friends — we call each other ‘ear sisters’ — I just saw her yesterday,” she says. “It’s been amazing to build that kind of community.”Credit: Karrie GoelzWhile most of her ears average around $40, Karrie does have some special ears that she spent quite a bit of money on. She purchased the $600 ears Disney released in collaboration with Heidi Klum, as well as the $750 ears released as part of Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration.Disneyland Resort is currently celebrating its 70th anniversary, and Karrie has added several pairs of 70th ears to her collection. She is eagerly awaiting new ears to drop in the future.Do you love adding to your own collection of Mickey ear headbands? Do you have a favorite pair of ears? What Disney merchandise do you love to collect? Pins? Coffee mugs? Let us know in the comments!The post Dedicated Disney Fan Reveals Mickey Ear Collection Worth THOUSANDS appeared first on Inside the Magic.