DH and I finally made it to the Times Square Disney Store when we were in NYC for the NY Toy Fair Feb 13-14, 2011. What a SUPER Disappointment. Why oh why did Disney close World of Disney and let the Disney Store take over?
First off, it's only 2 floors unlike the WOD store on 5th ave which was 3 and much much smaller than WOD too. They took out all of the cool Disney Art because of it. Secondly, all the merchandise is just what you see at Disney Store online plus a few NYC specific items. WOD had so many special and park items.
Secondly, they no longer sell or trade Disney Pins. We were so upset. We came lanyards in hand, ready to trade with CM's, stupidly not thinking that the Disney Store doesn't own rights to the Disney Pins. Even the CM's (if that's what Disney Store calls them) were jealous and spent tons of time talking to us and discussing our/their pins. Many of them had been WOD cm's and missed trading with guests and the once a month trade days. Though they did have Vinylmation to buy if you collect that, which didn't make sense either. No trading of it, just selling, so why can't they at least sell the pins?
A huge portion of the store was just disney princess stuff. There were only 5 or 6 shirts in adult sizes. I could go on.
The WOD store was special, sure it wasn't on Times Square, but it was worth the effort to get to it, and 5th Ave is nothing to sneeze at. This store is nothing more than your average Disney Mall store, just a bit bigger. Why did Walt Disney Company make this decision. WOD was always packed, they had to be making money. This store was not that crowded at all just after dinner time on a warm Feb night. The M&M's store just up the street on Times Square was much more crowded.
We are so bummed, granted this just makes more of a reason to save to head to WDW, but still. We can't for the life of us figure this decsion out.
Wishin' I was at WDW!
): The crew in my Disney Store is consistently wonderful. Which amazes me. I could never do it!
