Disney Fantasy Arrives In New York

After crossing the Atlantic, the Disney Fantasy arrived in New York City for its christening.




Zz.

Disney Fantasy To Be Christened In NY

Just read news reports that for the first time, a Disney cruise ship will not be christened at Port Canaveral. Disney Fantasy will make its debut in New York City and will be christened on March 1st of this year.

The 4,000-passenger cruise ship instead will be christened in New York City on March 1 and will spend four days docked in midtown Manhattan.

Disney’s three previous ships all were christened at Port Canaveral.

Other than pure publicity, I wonder why they decided to do that considering that the ship isn't being scheduled to sail out of New York.

Zz.

More Photos from The Disney Store in Times Square

Donald Makes His Debut Appearance at the NYC Disney Store in Times Square

Hi all! To start, I'd like to apologize to those of you out there still waiting for my commentary on WDW's Party for the Senses. I haven't forgotten...I've just been busy recovering from one trip to make another. Yesterday, I went to Times Square to visit Daisy's good friend, Lady Liberty Minnie, at her new home on Broadway. Well, the space is creatively designed, but it still doesn't hold a candle to the World of Disney store I knew and loved on 5th Avenue. Still, there is plenty of NYC themed merchandise  for the average tourist. The New York Exclusive Vinylmation and pins are probably enough to draw the more avid Disney fan through the store's doors at least once. But the real draw here is for the kids. Even my 9 month old stroller buddy Ben was mesmerized by the decor. And, I can't wait until Ben is ready for Ridemakerz, a  "Build-A-Bear" type center where kids can put together their own Lightning McQueen racecars. It's kind if pricey, though...plan on dropping at least $40 on this activity if you're thinking of taking your tyke on this building adventure. Here are some pictures from the store for all to enjoy. One more word of advice...use the registers upstairs when making a purchase...the lines are much shorter!

DD.  

Video of Opening of Disney Stores Times Square

Here's a compilation video of the opening of the Times Square Disney Stores.



I wish they ran a little bit more of the opening ceremony.

Zz.

Disney Opens Times Square Store

The Disney Store on Times Square in NYC is officially opened. It occupies the old Virgin Megastore right in the heart of Times Square.

The 20,000-square-foot Times Square emporium is about five times bigger than most Disney stores. Divided by franchise, from Mickey Mouse — still the global entertainment company's most popular character — to an assortment of princesses, it offers similar merchandise to other stores, only more and on a grander scale, said Andy Mooney, chairman of Disney Consumer Products.

Highlights at the new store include a "Cars" display where kids can build their own miniature vehicles — $50 for a freewheel version, $75 for a remote control. In a two-story, 20-foot-tall princess castle, there's a talking mirror that produces an image of Cinderella or another princess with a wave of a wand. And on a 12-foot screen nestled in a small theater area, guests can choose exactly which Disney film clips, videos and classic animation to watch.

I hope it has more adult stuff than what can be found at most Disney Stores.

Zz.

The Building That The Mouse Left Behind

This is a rather fascinating short article on a building in NY City. Like so many buildings there, there's a long history to it, and a story of the architecture. This building was occupied by the World of Disney store on 5th Avenue till the end of last year. It is now empty, and for rent.

Disney opened on the ground floor in 1996 and installed the bronze-toned sculptures over the Fifth Avenue entrance. But now they are gone and the space is for rent. Zoraya Suarez, a spokeswoman for Walt Disney World, says mice and dog are bound for Florida — snowbirds like so many New Yorkers.

Zz.

Disney's New Store in NY's Times Square

Here's brief article on the planned Disney Store in New York's Times Square that's scheduled to open in Fall of 2010. It appears that it will be occupying the old Virgin Megastore that I've visited many times whenever I've been in Midtown Manhattan.

It also looks like Steve Jobs may have played a major role in getting Disney to revamped the stores and learn from the wildly successful Apple Stores.

Much of the credit for the new store design, according to an October New York Times article, can actually be given to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who joined Disney's board in 2006, after the company bought Pixar Animation Studios. Just as he pushed for a certain design for the Apple stores, Jobs reportedly convinced Disney to fashion its own stores on a grand scale.

Jobs shared with Disney executives detailed information about the setup of the Apple stores and took them on a tour of Apple's research operations, the Times reported. Jobs also urged the company to first create a prototype store to work out any bugs, an effort that paid off by helping Disney build the right atmosphere and philosophy for the stores.

However, the new year also marks the closing of the World of Disney store on 5th Avenue. It was the first World of Disney store to be opened outside of a Disney theme park, and I think it was just out of place on 5th Ave. The Times Square location could be a lot more attractive, especially if they have enough things for everyone to do. I'd say put in something like The Sum of All Thrills from Epcot's Innovention. That should attract a lot of customers.

Zz.

Disney Moving NYC World Of Disney

It appears that the rent for the World of Disney store on Fifth Avenue in New York City is too high even for Disney. They won't be renewing the lease on that space when it expires in 2010. But they won't be moving out of the city. It seems that they are shopping around for a new location, and it seems that a place in Times Square might be the top candidate right now.

Wow. The rent of Fifth Ave. must really be high for them to think that moving onto a space at Times Square is cheaper. I have a better idea. Why not move it all the way out here to Chicago? We could use a World of Disney store! After all, they built the first off-Disney property DVC preview center here in the Chicago area. Think of how those two can work off each other!

Zz.

Little Mermaid CD Arrives Feb. 26; Cast Performs at World of Disney

If you are in NY City today (Feb 26, 2008) and will be anywhere near the World of Disney Store between 4 and 6 PM, you might get a treat from Sierra Boggess (Ariel) and Tituss Burgess (Sebastian) from the Broadway musical "The Little Mermaid. They will be at the store celebrating the release of The Little Mermaid cast album, and will be performing there before signing autographs for fans.

Zz.

Mickey Mouse To The Rescue of NY Subway Riders?

Well, this is a rather creative idea. Why not "sell" advertising space at a New York City subway station to Disney? This is what a member of the NY's Metropolitan Transit Authority wants to do to avoid a fare hike.

What I am asking is at the same time we take the opportunity to look at different areas of raising funds to help support, if there is going to be an increase, to lessen the burden on the public. Example: I would rather try to sell 42nd Street’s subway system underground to Disney for $60 million a year and have them paint it any way that they want to paint it. They spend $100 million for one minute to be on the Super Bowl on a Sunday. I think that they would spend X amount of dollars in rent for that terminal. I think 34th Street would do it. I think other businesses around the state and the city would do it. That would lessen the burden on the public.

That's a rather novel idea. In fact, for Disney fans, it might even be an attraction in itself! :) If they have Disney characters there every morning to greet passengers, I'm moving to New York!

:)

Zz.