The studio is not open to the public (unlike Warner Bros - they have daily tours, although I recently went on a private tour of the "Gilmore Girls "sets ).
I have been to that store and wouldn't classify it as a Co D - although there is one of these there. Unless you know a CM who works there, you're out of luck.
I called the Store this afternoon and you are all correct, it is employees only. I just wanted to buy a couple of the new LE Stitch pins to trade but I'm out of luck. You can mail order items from the store but not LE pins.