WoD- NY - Soft Opening TODAY!

[Nickunited]

Just went in - REALLY NICE! Made me miss WDW! Soft opening - GO GO GO GO Dissers!

 

[kasar]

WoD - World of Disney?

Sounds interesting, please elaborate. Where is it located?

 

[Nickunited]

55th and 5th avenue in Manhattan. It used to be the Disney Store!

 

[Kimberle]

Really?!?!

We're going into the city on Sunday (to Radio City). I'll have to check it out! Hopefully, it will be open then.

 

[disneysteve]

I loved that Disney store before the chain went to hell. The 3rd floor gallery was awesome.

Does the new store sell collectibles or just the same old crap that the mall stores have?

 

[kimisabella]

Nickunited -
what exactly do you mean by soft opening? We are going on sunday for the princess court and would like to be able to browse and buy if possible.

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by kimisabella
Nickunited -
what exactly do you mean by soft opening? We are going on sunday for the princess court and would like to be able to browse and buy if possible.

"Soft opening" is when a store opens before its announced opening date. This is routinely done to give the staff a chance to ease into things before the mad rush. It helps work out the kinks and identify problem areas and correct them before the grand opening.

 

[kimisabella]

disneysteve - thanks for the explanation. Hopefully I will be able to explore the store and I'll give a report back on how it was.

 

[QueenTrident]

Could you let me know how the Princess Court is? I'm trying to decide if the $75 is worth bring my DD4. She loves the Princesses and I want to do something special with her before the baby is born.

 

[Fantasmic303]

Hi all!

Just got back from NYC. We went in to see the new store and give our friend's daughter the chance to do the Princess Court. A quick review:


* I was disappointed in the store. While I still liked it and will visit it every time we're in the City, I was expecting more. In my opinion, it hardly changed from the "old" Disney Store that was at the location. I was hoping there would be more collectibles and a nice gallery, but there really isn't much. It's still a great store and there are some neat things you won't find in too many places (Mr. Potato Head pieces, scrapbooking, non-typical toys and plush).

* One thing we did notice was quite a few items from Disney World (including pins, postcards, and Pal Mickey). While some people might LOVE that, I thought it was a little...I don't know. Weird? I mean, I LOVE WDW, but I'd prefer to buy those souveniers there, not in NYC. But that's just me. It might be great for others (for example, pin traders) to get a head start on some of those things.

* Princess Court was VERY unorganized today, and they said that due to a "glitch" in their system, a group of about 20 or so of us would not be able to get in. They were offering coupons to return to the experience before December 31, which was fine to pacify the parents, but really weren't a great bribe for the kids. Luckily, our child was able to get into it (because her family lives pretty far away), but there were a LOT of disappointed kids.

* As for Princess Court itself: We're still wavering on whether or not it's worth the $80. It was cute, and our princess loved it, but....well, $80 is still steep for an hour of entertainment that doesn't include food. lol They did give us $10 Disney Dollars, the crown with jewels, and white gloves, so, in actuality, we probably made about $30 on them, bringing the cost of the experience down to about $50, if you look at it that way. It's a cute, special thing, but I dunno...there may be a better way to share time with your DD. Especially considering that you don't get to REALLY share it with her - parents are allowed a photo op at the end of the show, but are not permitted to be in the room during it.

Any other questions, I'd be happy to answer. All in all, the store is a DEFINITE MUST visit if you're in NYC, but not necessarily something to make a trip in to see.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by Fantasmic303

* One thing we did notice was quite a few items from Disney World (including pins, postcards, and Pal Mickey). While some people might LOVE that, I thought it was a little...I don't know. Weird? I mean, I LOVE WDW, but I'd prefer to buy those souveniers there, not in NYC. But that's just me. It might be great for others (for example, pin traders) to get a head start on some of those things.

I'm so glad to hear this. I like to order these items in advance. Now I won't have to pay the high shipping cost that Disney's mail order department has. I can get the park items a little at a time and put them away until our trip.

 

[kimisabella]

I just got a call from the world of disney and they are cancelling my princess court reservation for tomorrow. They said something about "too much craziness" at the store right now. I guess they couldn't handle the opening of the store and the princess court thing. I have to say I am disappointed, we waited two weeks to go and the night before they call to cancel. I have been telling my daughter all week she is going to see cinderella and I even bought her the cinderella costume the other day so she could wear it. When they called me on the phone they said because of the inconvience they were letting me reschedule for another date. I thought for sure they were going to throw something else in - I mean, they aren't really doing anything for my inconvience. I had to get my mother to change her plans for tomorrow so she could watch my 12 month old while my husband and I took our daughter into the city, and not to mention explaining to my daughter that she won't be going tomorrow. When I called back to reschedule before, the lady I spoke to was very nice and appologetic, but I am disappointed. I guess it's to be expected as they are just opening the store, but, I was expecting more from disney when it comes down to a situation like this. Anyway, I've rescheduled for october 11th, columbus day when there is no school - we'll see what happens then!

 

[Fantasmic303]

Ohhh, Kim.

I'm sorry to hear this, but atleast (the VERY least) you didn't make it all the way to NYC to be disappointed. I'm not sure what "craziness" they could be referring to - must be more scheduling issues.


Like I said, we were almost bumped out today. We got there (as did a fair number of other families) and waited for, I'd say, about 45 minutes, but none of the cast members we asked really had any idea what would be happening - understandable.

When 12:05 came and we still weren't moving or being adressed about anything (the show was to begin at 12:15), we got a little worried. The beeper went off, and a CM directed us to another line - apparently the one we were waiting in was to meet 'n greet Lilo and Stitch (although we never DID get to do that...another story) and full of the "press group".

We then went and joined another line/group of people - excited little girls, chattering away about meeting Cinderella, most of them dressed to their little-Princessy nines in dresses and Mary Jane shoes. It was very precious, except that we were waiting there for almost ten minutes before someone came out and warned us that there was a glitch that overbooked the show and most/all of our kids would not make it in. Luckily, a mom in line mentioned that she came from Maryland with her two girls for the event and I piped in that our little girl was not local either, and after they checked for open spots, they were able to squeeze the three of them in.

Lucky for us, because I have no idea how we would've explained to our 5 year old that she was going to have to wait to join the Royal Court. I'm not sure how the other parents handled it - I wonder how many teary-eyed girls there were and how many stuffed Disney bears were purchased out of guilt!

Anyway, as far as compensation, I know they offered the following to the kids who didn't get in: $10 Disney Dollars, a meet 'n greet with Cinderella, and a voucher for a free Princess Court experience sometime before December 31, 2004. (Which wouldn't have worked for us, because there's no way we could've gotten our princess's family to NYC again before the end of the year.)


Incidentally, as far as we could tell most, if not all, of the kids who got in this morning (besides the three of us in line) were part of the "press group". I wonder if they've got something else scheduled for tomorrow, realized their mistake today, and decided to cancel everyone else.

So, anyway, that's more info than you were looking for I'm sure, but I hope you guys get to enjoy this soon. You might consider writing a letter telling WoD how disappointed your DD was, not to mention a little of your own annoyance. There's no guarantee that they'll do anything, of course, but who knows...

 

[DD2Disney]

This is so strange. we just called this store today to see if they were open before their "grand opening". Because we would rather go into the city on Sunday than Tuesday. They told us no they would not be open until Tuesday......why would they do this to us???

Tricia

PS...maybe we worded our question wrong...i dont know

 

[kimisabella]

Even though we weren't able to go to the princess court on Sunday, we went into the city anyway and ended up at the world of disney store. I have to say it's really nice, it is kind of weird, you feel like you should be in downtown disney, all of the stuff is exactly what they have in the theme parks and wod in downtown disney. My daughter took a picture with Lilo and Stitch and had a really good time. The store was a madhouse - people were buying things like crazy. They have a cute section where you can make your own princess tiara, it's really cute. All of the cast members were asking us if we were going to come back on tuesday (today) morning as cinderella and the prince were going to arrive at the store in her glass carriage. We couldn't be there as my daughter had to go to school, but we are going back this sunday for our rescheduled princess court event. It's a really nice place to go if you need a disney fix and can't go to florida.

 

[Beachangel]

Originally posted by Fantasmic303
Hi all!

Just got back from NYC. We went in to see the new store and give our friend's daughter the chance to do the Princess Court. A quick review:


* I was disappointed in the store. While I still liked it and will visit it every time we're in the City, I was expecting more. In my opinion, it hardly changed from the "old" Disney Store that was at the location. I was hoping there would be more collectibles and a nice gallery, but there really isn't much. It's still a great store and there are some neat things you won't find in too many places (Mr. Potato Head pieces, scrapbooking, non-typical toys and plush).

* One thing we did notice was quite a few items from Disney World (including pins, postcards, and Pal Mickey). While some people might LOVE that, I thought it was a little...I don't know. Weird? I mean, I LOVE WDW, but I'd prefer to buy those souveniers there, not in NYC. But that's just me. It might be great for others (for example, pin traders) to get a head start on some of those things.

I completely agree. I stopped in today since I work a few blocks away. Looks like the same ol' store - the carpet wasn't even changed. Why the store was closed for nine months is beyond me. I too was expecting more.

No collectibles that I noticed, expect for a few watches. No animation art so that's a huge disappointment. Guess my source now is DW.

I also thinks it weird that you can buy stuff with the Disney World logo in NYC. The only pinms I saw were ones with NYC on them.

The princess thing is upstairs on the third floor. I also noticed that they offer photo packages of Cinderella and your princess. That will send parents back an extra $30. So be prepared.

All in all, its nice to have the store re-opened, but its nothing better than before. Adults will still be disappointed that there's nothing for them!

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by Beachangel
I completely agree. I stopped in today since I work a few blocks away. Looks like the same ol' store - the carpet wasn't even changed. Why the store was closed for nine months is beyond me. I too was expecting more.

All in all, its nice to have the store re-opened, but its nothing better than before. Adults will still be disappointed that there's nothing for them!

How unfortunate that Disney couldn't manage to correct their mistakes. Actually, it sounds like they even managed to make brand new mistakes. Disney World merchandise should be special, meaning you need to physically go there to get it (or at least mail order it from there). You shouldn't be able to pick it up at a store 1300 miles away. That just cheapens the experience of actually going.

I had been looking forward to the new store. I guess there's no reason to rush up there now. How sad.