When I think back to my family's trips to Walt Disney World, I have many special memories. You all have them as well and, as we all know, sometimes there are just too many to even recall. Experiencing the magic of Walt Disney World with your family creates countless memories and experiences that truly do last a lifetime. We all know that I'm a fan of bringing cool Disney stuff home with me. That is, after all, the purpose of this series of articles that have kept me writing and you all reading for many years now. We bring items home from our trips to Disney to help keep the magic alive. Seeing them on the shelves in the family room, on the bureau in your bedroom, or even on your desk at work make you stop and drift off, even if, just for a moment, to recall a special memory or moment from a past visit. Yes, we're big fans, so we buy this stuff, but we also buy it to remember our trips and keep those memories alive.
Some of the truly special shops found within not just Walt Disney World in Florida, but in all of the Disney parks and resorts worldwide, are the Arribas Brothers crystal shops. There have been Arribas Brothers shops in every Disney park going all the way back to Walt's original magic kingdom: Disneyland. Legend has it that Walt Disney first encountered the glass blowers at the 1964 New York World's Fair in the Spanish pavilion, representing their homeland and displaying amazing works of glass blowing and crystal art. Walt became so enamored with their craftsmanship that he instantly wanted a shop in Disneyland. The first small shop opened in Sleeping Beauty Castle in Anaheim in 1967, beginning a long and exclusive partnership between with the glass artisans. There are currently 19 different shops worldwide scattered throughout the Disney parks and resorts.
Arribas holds the distinction of being one of the earliest of Disney shops to customize and personalize crystal and other fine glass products. Photo by J. Jeff Kober
I'm sure many of you have stopped to watch the incredible Arribas artisans blowing or etching glass at Crystal Arts on Main Street U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom. It's a highlight that many guests miss as they rush past the shop on their way to their favorite rides and attractions. Over the years, my family has spent some quality time in this shop, and their Epcot location in the Germany pavilion, Kunstarbeit in Kristal, is a must see on every one of our trip. My wife, Diane, has amassed quite an impressive collection of blue crystal from this shop, probably her favorite place to shop in all of Walt Disney World.
The only retailers in the United States that carry this specific, extraordinary blue crystal are the Arribas Brothers locations in the Disney parks. After her first purchase down there, I tried to find her a matching piece as a gift upon our return home, and soon discovered if I wanted that brand, I had to get it through Arribas Brothers and Arribas Brothers only. It's a pricey indulgence, but they are quite exquisite and they bring our fireplace mantle to life here at home.
The blue crystal pieces are from Epcot's Kunstarbeit in Kristal. Photo by Chris Barry.
Not everyone needs or wants an expensive German crystal vase though and Arribas Brothers has something for everyone. If you fancy the $37,500 crystal Cinderella Castle for your living room, then this is the place to go. However if you're of more modest means and want a unique souvenir from your trip to Walt Disney World, look no further than the aforementioned shops on Main Street and in Germany, or the Downtown Disney or Mexico pavilion locations.
The remodeled Arribas Brothers Crystal Arts shop is at the corner of Main Street and Center Street. Photo by Chris Barry.
Over the years, we have traveled to Disney many times for my wife's birthday in August. She would always want to spend time on her birthday in World Showcase. The kids and I would inevitably break off and head to Kunstarbeit in Kristal to pick out some gifts for her. I would give the kids a budget, mostly somewhere in the $20 range. Over the years here are some of the wonderful little gifts that they came up with for her.
Diane is a big Tinker Bell fan. As you can see, on more than one occasion, her favorite pixie was the crystal gift of choice.
Tinker Bell sits atop a bed of flowers inside a crystal ball. Photo by Chris Barry.
Tinker Bell rests atop a glass thimble, which is called a “kiss” in “Peter Pan.” Photo by Chris Barry.
A subtle tint of pink makes this Tinker Bell stand out. Photo by Chris Barry.
Tinker Bell perches atop a colored flower base. Photo by Chris Barry.
I remember the boys wanted to break away from Tink, and they chose these sweet little globes featuring Dumbo and Sorcerer Mickey. I'm quite sure these were very inexpensive, and my wife treasures them as much as her fanciest piece of blue crystal.
Sorcerer Mickey and Dumbo each stand atop their own WDW globe. Photo by Chris Barry.
My daughter would usually arrive with some, “Get yourself something nice,” money from the grandparents. She would typically save that for the crystal shops as well. She started out with a new princess figurine each year. Here's Ariel…
Samantha's glass Ariel has a painted tail and fin. Photo by Chris Barry.
…and Sleeping Beauty.
Aurora has a pink dress. Photo by Chris Barry.
She then became fonder of Dumbo…
A classic pose by Dumbo, with ears held high. Photo by Chris Barry.
Dumbo sits protected inside a glass dome. Photo by Chris Barry.
…and eventually gravitated towards Eeyore.
Eeyore lies down for a nap. Photo by Chris Barry.
A simple Eeyore can be the best Eeyore. Photo by Chris Barry.
I've bought presents for my wife here as well. On a particularly romantic grown-ups only trip I took the sappy plunge and bought my princess her very own glass slipper with her birthstone set in the top. Corny… but effective.
Every true princess deserves a glass slipper. Photo by Chris Barry.
I have wonderful memories attached to each of these delicate little purchases. I clearly remember my little 5-year-old daughter picking out her first crystal princess. And how could I forget my son's anticipation as his mom opened up the newest crystal Tinker Bell back home in our room at the Polynesian after we sang her Happy Birthday. The blue crystal began to symbolize our vacations to Walt Disney World. Upon our return home, our best friends would always ask, “When can we see the latest addition to the collection?” Some of these pieces are works of art and some of them are simple trinkets, but in the end they all wound up meaning something to us.
The blue crystal still features prominently on our mantle. Years later, my daughter still has her princesses, Dumbos, and Eeyores on the shelves in her room, and my wife's home office proudly shows off her collection of crystal birthday gifts in a lighted glass display cabinet. The glass slipper occupies a special spot on her desk.
These items and the Arribas Brothers shops are unique to Disney. They prove, once again, that there's so much more to shopping at Disney than mouse ears and stuffed animals.
Make sure you spend some time in one of the crystal shops on your next visit to Walt Disney World, or Disneyland, or any of the Disney resorts worldwide, for that matter. Walt Disney himself wanted an Arribas Brothers shop in his beloved Disneyland. Years later, it's obvious old Walt knew what he was talking about given their permanent fixture status in Disney parks around the globe.
