Disney Stores are Reopening With New Procedures
In the past few weeks Disney Stores have begun a phased reopening of several locations. I recently had the chance to visit one of the newly opened stores to experience the new safety measures that are in place.
My Local Store
My local store was opened in phase three of the planned Disney Store reopening. The store is currently following alternative hours of 11 am to 7 pm. So, if you are planning a visit be sure to check your stores updated hours. Also, be aware that not all store have been opened yet.
Entering the Store
The capacity of the Disney Store is being limited. There is a cast member at the entrance who is counting people as they come and go. Upon entering the cast member is encouraging you to use some of the hand sanitizer available at the entrance.
There are clear lines on the ground outside to store guests where to stand if they reach capacity. The cast member I spoke with said demand was low and one week into opening they had not had to use the queue set up to enter.
Face Coverings Are Required
Face coverings are required for both guest and cast members in the Disney Store. I witnessed cast members asking guests to ensure both their nose and mouth while in the store when a guest did pull down their covering.
Cast Members
Prior to the opening the cast members underwent a multiday updated training session. This training included new cleaning procedures, how to encourage social distancing in the store, and new ways to interact with guests from a distance while providing a magical experience. They all said keeping a distance was hard, but safety was the major priority.
The Merchandise
The cast member I spoke with said that they were fully stocked at the time of the closure in March. The store opened with the same merchandise on hand with three exceptions: The Child items, some of the Tea Cups Mainstreet Mouse merchandise, and castle from the limited Frozen Castle Collection. The cast member said that they would not get a new shipment in for at least 3 weeks post opening to give them a chance to sell some of what is already in store, depending on foot traffic. As the Disney Store tries to offer some of the backlogged merchandise there will be a mix of seasons in the store. The hope is to be back on their schedule by October 1, the start of Disney’s new fiscal year.
Limited Releases in the Disney Store
Despite having some of the limited release items at the time of opening the Disney Store will not be having any limited releases in store for the foreseeable future. Instead these items will be available on Shop Disney under their new MerchPass program.
Special Events in the Disney Store
The Disney store has also cancelled all special events and celebrations for the time being. They will also not be able to help revel your surprise Disney vacation. The screen area where much of these took place is still available, but the chairs and tables that were there before have been removed.
Time to Check Out
The registers have plastic shields installed to distance cast members and guests. The Disney Store is currently asking for contactless methods of payments. This includes credit and debit cards and mobile payment options like Apple Pay.
Has your local Disney Store opened? Did you find any fun items?
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