World of Disney is a chain of specialty retail stores owned and operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, a division of The Walt Disney Company.
Currently there are two locations. The first opened October 2, 1996 in the Marketplace area of Downtown Disney at Florida's Walt Disney World Resort. At approximately 51,000 square feet (4,700 m2) of retail space, it is said to offer the largest selection of Disney character merchandise in the world, according to the company. A 2006 renovation added a small princess-themed salon called Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, plus a new children's merchandise area inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean and Stitch.
A second, slightly smaller version opened in 2001 in the Downtown Disney district of the Disneyland Resort in California.
On October 5, 2004, a third site opened within a three-story New York City space formerly occupied by a traditional Disney Store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue. The store closed for good on December 31, 2009 and the interior was dismantled on January 4, 2010. Disney opened a traditional Disney Store in Times Square in Fall 2010 at the former Virgin Megastore location. [1]
Goods sold at World of Disney include backpacks, books, boxers, children’s apparel, clocks, collectibles, costumes, dolls, figurines, gifts, hats, jewelry, luggage, photo albums, plush toys, sleepwear, slippers, socks, souvenirs, stationery, sunglasses, sweatshirts, T-shirts, ties, videos, watches and other items branded with Disney characters and theme park icons.
A new site is due to open at Disney Village in Disneyland Paris during 2011, which will be the third site currently in operation.
All World of Disney locations are operated by the merchandise division of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||