For today's article, we veer about 1,000 miles north of Orlando and visit the Big Mickey (I mean Big Apple). After closing Fifth Avenue's World of Disney store several years ago, Disney jumped back into the New York City retail game in November 2013, when they opened a mammoth Disney Store in Times Square, right at the crossroads of the world.
Located on Broadway at 45th Street, the store is located right in the heart of Times Square. It fits neatly in with its neon surroundings. The store's facade is a giant video screen that changes constantly, featuring whatever is new in the wonderful world of Disney at the time.
The store facade is a huge, ever-changing billboard. Photo by Gregg Jacobs.
I would describe the store as a fairly typical Disney Store, except on steroids and with a New York twist. Greeting you as you enter (in addition to a smiling cast member) are large displays featuring current Disney properties. On my recent visit, there was a giant Olaf presiding over Frozen merchandise, as well as a large Star Wars display.
As you make your way into the first floor, there's a distinct flavor of New York, New York, with tons of merchandise themed to New York City. There's a wide assortment of T-shirts, mugs, pictures frames, and collectibles with the joint theme of your favorite Disney characters intermixed with New York icons: Minnie Mouse decked out as the Statue of Liberty is a favorite, a Mickey Mouse plush decked out in an I Love NY T-shirt, a water bottle or tote bag with the I Love NY Disney logo.
The first floor has a wide variety of Disney/New York-themed merchandise. Photo by Gregg Jacobs.
If you're a fan of Disney collectibles, the real finds here are items, sometimes limited edition, that you can't find anywhere else, like limited edition Vinylmation figures (an early favorite was the Minnie as Statue of Liberty). Christmas ornaments are other great items that are hanging off the shelves. There are also New York-themed Tsum Tsum that you can only find here.
In fact, towards the back of the floor, you'll find a large and ever-changing wall of Tsum Tsum. I know from repeated visits that the offerings here constantly change. Tsum Tsum are available is all sizes that you see and feature of wide variety of characters.
There is a wall with many many Tsum Tsum. Photo by Gregg Jacobs.
Also in this area is adult clothing (I'm a big fan of Disney pajamas, and it's in this area that I can find these).
In the back left corner is more specialty merchandise, such as those related to Disney's currently line-up of Broadway musicals. There were T-shirts and picture books related to both The Lion King and Aladdin on this visit, and well as some goods related to Mary Poppins (which is now closed on Broadway).
Next, we move up to the massive second floor.
Mickey Mouse, himself, is there to beckon you upstairs. Photo by Gregg Jacobs.
As you ascend the escalator adorned with lanterns you'll recognize from Tangled, you'll notice that the space you're in is a more typical Disney Store, albeit a very large one. If you make a quick left off the escalator, you enter the world of Marvel. There are toys, clothing, and costumes all themed to Iron Man, Captain America, the Incredible Hulk and your other favorites from the Marvel universe. Even Spider-Man is represented.
The size of the store allows a huge section dedicated to the Marvel universe. Photo by Gregg Jacobs.
They also have the typical Disney Store movie wall with a small play area for the little ones. There is a large table and some toys and crayons to play with if you want to take a quick movie break. On a recent visit, there were a number of young girls watching the screen who promptly broke into a chorus of “Let It Go” along with Elsa when she appeared on the screen. This is across from a small replica of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse from the TV show, and which has a small crawl-through.
Continuing on, you encounter the largest wall of plush you'll ever see outside the World of Disney store in Orlando. The characters that are included are both of the Fab Five variety and more obscure entries from Disney animated films.
Seemingly the largest selection of plush available outside a Disney theme park. Photo by Gregg Jacobs.
The centerpiece of floor number two, however, is the Disney Store castle. Inside is an array of girls' clothing, including both princess costumes and general Disney-inspired wear. Also inside the castle is the famous interactive magic mirror which, with a flick of the wand, allows you to visit with your favorite Disney characters.
Along the next wall are baby and toddler clothing (and in the interest of full disclosure, my 17-month-old nephew is currently in possession of a pair of Mickey Mouse Club pajamas that were purchased while researching this story).
Again on this floor, you see a lot of what you'd expect from a typical Disney Store, but the decor never lets you forget where you are. Both here and downstairs, the ceiling area is blanketed with images of Disney characters among both familiar Disney images and New York landmarks.
Is Woody about to wrangle the Statue of Liberty? Photo by Gregg Jacobs.
Remember that New York and Disney have a history together. It's a Small World and the Carousel of Progress made their debuts at the New York World's Fair in 1964, and the Imagineers managed to put in a reference to that, too.
We have a nod to the 1964 World's Fair and It's a Small World, Snow White enjoying Times Square, and Carl Fredricksen enjoying a view of the Empire State Building. Photo by Gregg Jacobs.
Getting back to the location, I can not stress too highly how convenient it really is. If you want to take a quick Disney tour of the Times Square area, it's easy. The Broadway musical of the Lion King is right across the street (you can't miss the billboard), and Aladdin is around the corner at the New Amsterdam, Disney's private theater in New York (located on 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenue).
For morning television fans, you can see the street-level Good Morning America TV studio at the corner of 43rd Street and Broadway, just two blocks down from the Disney Store. If you get there between 7:00 and 9:00 am when it airs, you can usually get on TV either through the glass windows or even be a smiling backdrop to a segment of the show, as they often film right on the street.
If you're a Disney fan and want to add a bit of Mickey and Friends to your New York experience, I highly recommend visiting the Times Square Disney Store. The location is smack in the middle of a part of town you definitely want to visit, and it's great way to pick up some merchandise themed to the city that you can't get anywhere else. If you're in a hurry and have only adults in your party, stick to the first floor, where the specialty merchandise and collectibles are located. If you're with the kids and/or don't have a Disney Store near home, by all means head upstairs for a super-sized Disney Store experience.
Shopping Tip of the Month
Let's keep with our New York theme for our monthly tip. For the last 20-plus years, Disney has put on some great theatrical experiences on Broadway. It started with Beauty and the Beast and continued on with The Little Mermaid, Tarzan, and Mary Poppins, amongst others. Currently, the Disney theatrical line-up includes The Lion King, now one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history, and Aladdin at Disney's historic New Amsterdam Theater. I'd highly recommend either show if you can see these while you're in town. Both are high quality and boast the over-the-top entertainment you expect from Disney.
If you can't see the shows themselves but just want to take a bit of Broadway home with you, the Disney Store here usually carries a selection of merchandise from each show (check out the back left of the store's first floor for T-shirts, mugs, and storybooks). If you go to the theaters themselves, there are carts out front with a selection of official goods, and a wider selection of items than at the Disney Store, such as the cast album, the official program, and wider variety of clothing.
Here's the big tip. For the Lion King, there's a large shop with show-related items on the second floor of the theater, up the escalators from the main entrance. Although there is no guarantee, if you don't have tickets but ask nicely when the show is letting out (around two and a half hours after showtime), they may allow you to go upstairs to shop. If that works, let me know how it goes.
