Olszewski Boxes and Disney World

[dragonstarr]

I wanted to bring this up since I specifically emailed the podcast crew about it. They must have missed it but they sure did mention it in part 2 of the disneyland podcast. You can't find these boxes in Disney World. Well, that isn't exactly true. The Art of Disney does carry them, but only have the tiki box in stock. They can't check stock for you because nothing is computerized. Believe me, they could barely find the phone number for the other Art of Disney stores. They all tell you to go to Downtown Disney but the people that work there tell me that they are the least likely to have it in stock because you don't have to pay admission to go to their store.

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

I didn't have this problem. I wanted one of the shadow boxes and the one I wanted they were out of at the Epcot Art of Disney store. So the cast member (who was very helpful) looked up the items number and checked to see if they had it in stock and the computer showed they had several at the art of Disney at the Magic Kingdom. Then she called over to that store to confirm this before I made the trip over there. I think you are talking about the pill boxes and I know I am talking about the shadowboxes but I am just talking about the computer situation. It actually worked out because on this day when I got to the Magic Kingdom it was one of the days that Mr. Olszewski was there in the store signing and it wasn't that busy so my girlfriend and I and one other guy got to stand there and talk to him forever, and he pretty much gave us his biography which was really cool getting to hear the stories about how he got started and all the projects he has done over the years and how he makes each item and the work that goes into it.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I wanted to bring this up since I specifically emailed the podcast crew about it. They must have missed it but they sure did mention it in part 2 of the disneyland podcast. You can't find these boxes in Disney World. Well, that isn't exactly true. The Art of Disney does carry them, but only have the tiki box in stock. They can't check stock for you because nothing is computerized. Believe me, they could barely find the phone number for the other Art of Disney stores. They all tell you to go to Downtown Disney but the people that work there tell me that they are the least likely to have it in stock because you don't have to pay admission to go to their store.

I mentioned a week agao that they were available in Art of Disney in Epcot.

I was in Art of Disney in DTD yesterday and all were available as well as the poclet pals.

 

[dragonstarr]

Thanks for the response. I have found the cast members in the Art of Disney stores to be very hit or miss. Most wouldn't know what a computer was if they tripped over it, some pulled out a binder with sku numbers (if they could find it) and one manager actually showed me the manifest. I'm not speaking of the competence of any of these cast members as I feel all in all they do an excellent job. I'm speaking more towards the organization of information and communication between the stores which I found to be surprisingly lacking. I've not had this issue in other stores; only the Art of Disney stores. Surprisingly, no one used a computer so I assumed that they didn't have one. Which store was able to do this? I actually was talking about the Heirloom boxes. They had the shadow boxes in all varieties in pretty much all of the stores.

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

The poclet pals, is that the name for the pill box things? I didn't know what they were so I just kept calling them pill boxes

 

[dragonstarr]

I mentioned a week agao that they were available in Art of Disney in Epcot.

I was in Art of Disney in DTD yesterday and all were available as well as the poclet pals.

Hmm, see they give you the impression that they are all in stock by the little placard with the item names. Now I'm talking about the Heirloom boxes. The only one on display when I was searching for them (march 9-16) was the Tiki box. Are you saying that they actually had the other heirloom boxes on display? All of them? I think I saw the Tinkerbell one in the Jewelry store in Magic Kingdom but that was the only other one. Believe me, I went to every Art of Disney store and noone seemed to be able to figure it out.

 

[dragonstarr]

I didn't have this problem. I wanted one of the shadow boxes and the one I wanted they were out of at the Epcot Art of Disney store. So the cast member (who was very helpful) looked up the items number and checked to see if they had it in stock and the computer showed they had several at the art of Disney at the Magic Kingdom.

Sorry, I missed that you got help in Epcot. My experience was that they pulled out the book, found the sku number and then attempted to call the Jewelry store in the Magic Kingdom. After several attempts to find the number, they did finally call but noone picked up the phone. They told me to go to Downtown Disney. By the way, all of the Art of Disney stores in all of the parks told me to go there. After I went there and didn't find it, I went back to the Epcot store and the cast members didn't even know that they had a book with the sku numbers. In fact, I had to tell them where to find it. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. However, Disneyland Mail Order does have all of them because as Pete pointed out, all of these are in stock and on display in the World of Disney there. I used DelivEARS at 800.362.4533. They only ship by 2nd day air so the shipping was $29, but I got the box that I wanted!

 

[stitchlover]

When we were there in mid-March we found them at MK, EPCOT, DHS and DTD. I picked up the Tinker Bell box and the Pirates and Mickey Pocket one.

 

[dragonstarr]

When we were there in mid-March we found them at MK, EPCOT, DHS and DTD. I picked up the Tinker Bell box and the Pirates and Mickey Pocket one.

You must have bought them all before I got to them They may have finally come in after we left since the artist was coming to Disney World for a signing. Truthfully, i wanted the Mickey 80th Anniversary heirloom box which I know for a fact they didn't have though it is an open edition so I have no idea why not.

 

[stitchlover]

We were there March 12-21. When we checked early in our stay DTD Art of Disney only had the Tiki Room box. But on the 19th they had about 5 different boxes in. That's when I got my Tinkerbell one. I got my Pocket Pals at the World of Disney and I wish I had picked up the Tinkerbell one. But oh well maybe I will get it next year.

 

[dragonstarr]

We were there March 12-21. When we checked early in our stay DTD Art of Disney only had the Tiki Room box. But on the 19th they had about 5 different boxes in. That's when I got my Tinkerbell one. I got my Pocket Pals at the World of Disney and I wish I had picked up the Tinkerbell one. But oh well maybe I will get it next year.

Ah, that confirms that they came in after we left! The manager of the DTD store did show us the manifest and I do remember that he said a shipment was coming in and that it didn't include the one that I wanted. They don't carry the full line in any store in Disney World. I wish they would because I think they would sell. I guess the lesson to learn here is that next time I ask them to check their computer system. I wish there was a better way to get in park merchadise from home instead of disney mail order or disneyshopping.com. But then again, it wouldn't be as special if we could get this stuff without visiting the parks

 

[stitchlover]

True, true, true. I know we put money aside each trip just to purchase our Disney stuff to bring home. My little Mickey Pocket Pal is sitting on my night stand. I got DH the Pirates one to take to work for a side table or some such place.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I mentioned this on another thread. I saw the pocket pals and boxes at the Art of Disney store in Epcot and DTD last week. I bought a few for myself.

 

[goofygal531]

I'd love to buy a pocket pal with my Birthday Fun Card, would I be able to? Art of Disney is a Disney owned store. How much is the Mickey Pocket Pal?

I've been trying to think of something special I could buy and think this would be perfect!

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

Yes you can use your fun card at the art of disney store. That is where I used mine to purchase a Olszewski shadow box