Curious Parents Places to Go

Imagineering on Fifth Avenue
By Colleen Piccone

Families with children visiting the Big Apple this winter will find a new destination nestled in the midst of Fendi, Henri Bendel, DeBeers, Trump Tower and the renowned Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in the heart of upper midtown approaching Central Park South. On October 5th, the NYC World of Disney store - a new Flagship Store of the Disney Conglomerate – opened on 5th Avenue and 55th Street in Manhattan. The three-story, 24,000 square-foot building, is a must-see destination for both the family that wants to take in a free site and the family that has the budget to shop, shop, shop!

For those who have already exhausted their NYC travel budget, a mere walk through this magical experience will no doubt inspire your child’s imagination. In true Disney tradition, the grand design and attention to detail throughout the store is remarkable and light years beyond the scale of your local mall Disney store. From the moment you enter, colors and fantasy swirl around you. Fun photo opportunities abound at huge sculptures of charming Cinderella, a fur enwrapped Cruella DeVil with a huge diamond on her red-gloved pointer finger and a cigarette holder in the other hand, and Goofy atop a mound of giant lime-colored jelly beans. Different colored chandeliers light up the princess section.  The elevator is the open mouth of a mysterious character. Even the brackets of the display holders connect into Mickey Mouse shaped holes. Huge floor to ceiling windows on the second floor allow you to spy from above on the pedestrians walking along the avenue. Just a walk would be a warm, entertaining reprieve from the chills of fall and winter outside.

For those with some funds, the interactive shopping experience begins or ends with Goofy’s Candy Company-a candy-laden zone with interactive dispensers, a la Dylan’s near Bloomingdale’s, with treats such as filling empty tubes with various colors and flavors of Goofy’s mostly sour powder candy.

Another fun interactive station for observers and shoppers alike is the Mr. Potato Head display – again worlds beyond the Mr. Potato Head of our childhood days – with new part selections only available through Disney. Both the just plain silly and the future engineers of the world are presented with scores of unique body parts for the funky potato with which you can turn him into an endless world of characters including a policeman, fireman, or even the Statue of Liberty. For those who are buying, you can take the potato body and as many parts as you can squeeze into the gift box for $18. With your box in tow, you can move on to listen to music, play videogames, or watch your favorite Disney movies in the Media Zone. While Cinderella and her glass coach arrived at the grand opening attended by Michael Eisner, Mickey Mouse, the Mayor, Michael J. Fox and Kelly Ripa, every day guests will meet various live Disney characters at “Magical Meetings” which will present your child with opportunities several times a day to get autographs, photos, hugs and the thrill of meeting a live movie character. 

For those of you who want to make the day a truly special experience for your girl ages 5-11, the crowning offer of the NYC World of Disney is Cinderella’s Princess Court. This unforgettable intimate program is a perfect birthday treat, NYC Holiday present, a gift from grandma or fairy godmother, or reward for a great report card. The $80 ticket [$75 if purchased online] buys your little girl an hour with Lady Seraphina who very entertainingly trains little princesses [30 at a time] in the four basic “Princess Principles” – intelligence, grace, thoughtfulness, and honesty – a refreshing break from pervasive societal focus on outer beauty. The girls are escorted, without parent, into an elegant theatre/tea room where they are seated at tables worthy of any palace. The interactive musical show features story telling, teamwork, table manners, learning to curtsey, graceful gliding, and pretend tea of any flavor.  The Royal Chime and flat screen monitors help the girls in Jeopardy-like games revolving around princess trivia. Each time a girl earns a new jewel in her crown, your princess-in-training is warmly congratulated. In a special ceremony at the conclusion of the training, your princess will receive her crowning jewel from Cinderella herself – a finale best kept secret from your little princess if you do decide to gift her with this experience. Parents are given a beeper and one special royal adult guest is invited back to attend the Cinderella ceremony at the end when your girl is photographed with Cinderella. Each princess brings home her bejeweled crown, a pair of lace gloves, a thank you card with stickers, a $10 gift certificate redeemable at the store, and your Cinderella photo with your little girl. This experience competes equally with the fun program at the American Girl Store.

Reservations now available at www.worldofdisney.com or by phone at 212-702-0704. Shows are Monday through Saturday 12:15, 1:45, 5:00 and 6:30 and Sundays 1:15, 2:45 and 4:45.

Colleen Piccone is a mother of a fifth grade boy and a fourth grade girl in New York City and is trying to infuse them with a love for travel, lust for adventure, and curiousity for all things.  She has a full time job in law enforcement.