Coverage of Disney Store Time Square opening?

[yoyoflamingo]

Do the castmembers still trade pins?

No; I was at the D23 event today too and when Jim Fielding was asked about this he said currently they don't, but plans could change.

They do sell a small collection of New York pins though, but he seemed to imply they were rushed to get and more would be coming...

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Forever 21 replaced the Virgin Megastore (and speaking for everyone who works on Broadway, we miss having going there to kill time between performances!). The Virgin Megastore had three levels, with the ground level floor being the "third floor." Forever 21 has four levels, with the ground floor being level 4.

The Disney has two levels...and unlike Foerever 21 and Virgin Megastore before it, Disney went up and not down (Forever 21 has floor space beneath the Disney Store).

Yes!!! My favorite thing about the old Virgin Megastore was going there between shows on a 2 show day and killing time!! I was hoping this Disney Store would provide that opportunity (with all the hoopla over its "interactive" nature), but alas it did not.

 

[paul436]

It's not at all as interesting, exciting, or good as the old 5th Avenue store.

That's too bad. I thought the 5th Avenue store had a great layout (I thought they could do better with the merchandise selection) and was looking forward to the new store. If it's a step down from the old store, I will be disappointed.

BTW, anyone know when it will be open to the general public?

 

[Tigger1988]

It's been open to the general public since last Thursday.

 

[Ignohippo]

That's really a shame. The Fifth Avenue store was absolutely amazing. I was hoping for this new one to be a step up – not a few steps down.

On a related note: I was told yesterday that the newly opened Disney Store (the 2nd new concept store in the country) at International Plaza in Tampa has been completely gutted due to a pipe burst from the store above it. It is closed and will not reopen until after Thanksgiving. It was only open for about three weeks!! I fell bad for all of the Disney employees who worked so hard to get the store open - only to have to do it all over again later this month. I can't imagine what the bill will look like for the store above them!

 

[bgraham34]

Thanks for letting me know all. Looks like I will be passing on this.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

It does bear pointing out that this new store is a Disney Store, not a World of Disney store (like 5th Avenue was). There is a bigger difference than just semantics in the name. World of Disney stores were run by a completely different division of the company.

 

[amejr999]

It does bear pointing out that this new store is a Disney Store, not a World of Disney store (like 5th Avenue was). There is a bigger difference than just semantics in the name. World of Disney stores were run by a completely different division of the company.

Yup. WoD was operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

 

[Tigger1988]

Forever 21 replaced the Virgin Megastore (and speaking for everyone who works on Broadway, we miss having going there to kill time between performances!). The Virgin Megastore had three levels, with the ground level floor being the "third floor." Forever 21 has four levels, with the ground floor being level 4.

The Disney has two levels...and unlike Foerever 21 and Virgin Megastore before it, Disney went up and not down (Forever 21 has floor space beneath the Disney Store).

This is what he had to say:

Of course Fielding spoke to the store itself, which consists of two floors, although the Virgin Megastore it partially replaced was four. He explained that the mezzanine from the former store was removed, resulting in a longer escalator ride and that half of the fourth floor, which houses the store’s internal offices, was also removed, allowing the store to have its high ceilings.

 

[fosse76]

Hmmm...that's interesting. Virgin Megastore's levels were all downward. There was a raised level on the first floor, but I wouldn't really have called it the fourth floor, plus it wasn't where the Disney Store is located. Perhaps it was a floor in the original plans for the space and not what the Megastore layout encompassed. But there definitely wasn't an "upstairs" at the Virgin Megastore from the street level, it was all downward.

 

[BrerMichael]

I just walked around the place this afternoon and I am with you on this. I was really hopeful but this completely lacked the size or charm of the old place.

I was in there yesterday. It's nothing to write home about or get excited about. Just a larger version of the stores you can find in your local shopping mall.

It's not at all as interesting, exciting, or good as the old 5th Avenue store.

 

[fosse76]

I just walked around the place this afternoon and I am with you on this. I was really hopeful but this completely lacked the size or charm of the old place.

I wasn't with the merchandise offerings at all. It certainly isn't aiming at adults. I feel like the old 5th Avenue location offered more.

 

[iheartdisney91]

It's nowhere near the size of the Virgin Mega Store. Think much, much, much smaller.

i think my heart is breaking, the old store was always so AMAZING just upstairs in the Art section was fantastic! uggg im going to be disappointed when i go i just know it!

off topic, but those of you in shows on B-way what ones are u guys in? B-way is a large part of my life. i love it there and i love theater. JW =]

 

[Disneykidder]

I am so bummed to hear this but it was what we expected. The WoD was an amazing store in an incredible location. How upsetting to hear this news! Does the new store have character interactions? Do they at last sell pins and merchandise from the parks?

Those of you who remember the 42nd street store, is this new one small like that?

 

[tirian]

I took a look between shows on Saturday, and wow was it totally UNIMPRESSIVE. It os very small, and VERY tilted to little girls. There just wasn't much of a selection if you aren't a small child.

It's small, considering its location, and the layout is really poor. With the amount of traffic going through the store, there was no room to move...and much of the congestion was caused by the presence of too many employees. It's really disappointing.

I haven't been to any of the new Disney Stores, but judging from the video clip, I'm not sure what's worse: the generic-looking store design or the way Jim Felding gushes through his PR-written speech. It's so magical! It's so unique! And it looks like a group of Little Tykes play houses with TV screens. :ROFLOL:

 

[Zummi Gummi]

I am so bummed to hear this but it was what we expected. The WoD was an amazing store in an incredible location. How upsetting to hear this news! Does the new store have character interactions? Do they at last sell pins and merchandise from the parks?

Those of you who remember the 42nd street store, is this new one small like that?

I didn't see anywhere where they would stage any character greetings. There is no parks merchandise, either- this store isn't run by Parks and Resorts like WoD was. I did see a SMALL collection of NY pins available, but that's it.

Fosse76, quick question about the layouts and the splitting of the old Virgin store...do you know who ended up with the old movie theater that was in Virgin? They stopped using it years ago, and it spent the last few years cordoned off, but it existed down on the bottom level of the store.

 

[Magenta Panther]

I took a look between shows on Saturday, and wow was it totally UNIMPRESSIVE. It os very small, and VERY tilted to little girls.

Yeah, but not totally tilted. A friend of mine went there and called me afterward to tell me about it. He said there was a section selling Marvel superhero stuff. Guess that's Disney's idea of "fair and balanced" or something. Yay. I will NEVER get used to seeing the Incredible Hulk associated with Disney. It just seems so odd.

Still, my friend did like the decor overall, and in any case, I hope a new Disney store opens near me soon. The old one closed and, while there wasn't much in there worth buying, I miss going in there and watching the Disney toons playing on the movie screen. It's funny, but most of the Disney stuff I do have, I bought in other stores - they had a better variety and better quality of stuff than the official store did! Weird. And I have YET to find a really good stuffed Mickey Mouse. All the plush Mickeys I've seen look "off" to me.

 

[RandySavage]

What impressed about the old store began with the exterior. The building was/is a neoclassical gem built in 1927 which once served as the HQ for NBC:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/realestate/21streets.html?_r=1

The designers of the Fifth Ave WoD store were keen enough to translate those classic NYC features to the bronze marquee sculptures and marble interior balconies & staircases. In short, despite the typical Disney Store merchandise, the store's physical design spoke of class and high quality - appropriate for its elite Fifth Ave location.

Times Sq is another story. New, bright, gaudy, colorful, tacky: all apply to the district (TSQ), the building (1540 Broadway) and the new Disney store. Old New York City class - what made WoD special and not just another Disney Store - is nowhere to be found.

 

[dvitali]

I am so bummed to hear this but it was what we expected. The WoD was an amazing store in an incredible location. How upsetting to hear this news! Does the new store have character interactions? Do they at last sell pins and merchandise from the parks?

Those of you who remember the 42nd street store, is this new one small like that?

I remember the one on 42nd street next to the theater "Mary Poppin" is in now that was even smaller than this new one.

Since I was the original poster let get back on topic where is pictures and video of the ribbon cutting ceremony? Disney held a contest where some lucky kid turn the key to open the door. Forgot who was suppose to sing their edition of beauty and beast song. What characters in costume?

 

[bryPOD]

Since I was the original poster let get back on topic where is pictures and video of the ribbon cutting ceremony? Disney held a contest where some lucky kid turn the key to open the door. Forgot who was suppose to sing their edition of beauty and beast song. What characters in costume?

It's happening this morning (Tuesday Nov. 9th).