SHANGHAI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Disney Store today opened the doors of its flagship store in the popular Lujiazui area of Pudong, Shanghai, China. The landmark store is the largest retail space of any Disney Store in the world featuring 9,257 square feet of immersive shopping experiences and innovative product, and also features an outdoor plaza.
"We couldn't be more delighted to open our first Disney Store in China, in Shanghai,” said Paul Candland, President, The Walt Disney Company, Asia-Pacific region. “Disney Store plays a critical role in how millions around the world experience our brand and allows kids, young adults and families to have a uniquely fun and immersive experience while shopping for their favorite Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars products,” he added.
The Chinese characters representing the specific date and time chosen to open its doors to the public – May 20 at 1:14 p.m. (我爱你一生一世), represents highly popular social media code among young people as a time to openly express love and long-term commitment to each other.
In a momentous week for The Walt Disney Company in China, the opening of the Disney Store in Shanghai comes one day after the topping of the Enchanted Storybook Castle at Shanghai Disney Resort, which is due to open next year. “We want to thank the people of Shanghai for welcoming us to the City and could think of no better way than to open the store on May 20 at 1314 hours,” said Mr. Candland.
With an estimated 40 million tourists visiting the Lujiazui area each year, the Disney Store, with its unique product range and entertaining, immersive and innovative design elements, is set to become a world-class destination and meeting point among locals contributing to Shanghai’s reputation as a family, business, cultural, entertainment and tourism destination.
“Disney Store extends the magic of Disney into communities around the world through unique experiences and exclusive product, and we are thrilled to add China to the list of countries that Disney Store calls home,” said Paul Gainer, executive vice president, Disney Retail. “With several unique Disney touches, our flagship store in Shanghai, China is truly a one-of-a-kind retail destination.”
The interior of the Shanghai store was designed using Disney’s award-winning, innovative format, featuring elements unique to the area that will surprise and delight guests and bring to life the most popular characters from across Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars.
The store has numerous design features unique to Shanghai which include:
- A Disney Magic Kingdom Castle, measuring 19 feet high at the heart of the store, featuring an hourly musical and projection show
- A one-of-a-kind Marvel area complete with hand-sculpted statues of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and an 8-foot-tall Hulk
- Unique Mickey Mouse-shaped roof sculpted with over 8,000 LED lights visible from key tourism vantage points such as the Pearl Tower
- One-of-a-kind sculpted hot air balloons featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Daisy, Donald, Pluto, and Chip and Dale
- A landscaped plaza
Key features of the Disney Store Shanghai include:
- Disney characters hidden in the 12-foot tree landscape
- A Disney Portal Gateway area featuring an impressive gateway inspired by Pixar’s Monster’s University featuring all the latest in Disney entertainment
- A crystal chandelier in the young-adult-female area where Tinker Bell can be found sprinkling her Pixie Dust
- A Magical Mirror which entertains guests who stand in front of it
To mark the opening of its first Store in the country, The Walt Disney Company in China has announced a $100,000 charitable donation to the Shanghai Charity Foundation (Pudong Chapter) to support programs that benefit kids and families in the Pudong District, where the Store is located.
“Disney is proud to support our local community and do what we can to help bring happiness and magic to kids and families in need,” said Mr. Stanley Cheung, Chairman, The Walt Disney Company in China.
For regular updates on Disney Store China, please visit www.disneystore.cn.
About Disney Store
The Disney Store retail chain, which debuted in 1987, is owned and operated by Disney in North America, Europe, and Japan. Disney Store is the retail merchandising arm of Disney Consumer Products, the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) and its affiliates that extends the Disney brand to merchandise. Disney Store carries high-quality products, including exclusive product lines that support and promote Disney's key entertainment initiatives and characters. Disney Store opened its first store in Glendale, California and, in doing so, originated the themed retail business model. There are currently more than 200 Disney Store locations in North America; more than 40 Disney Store locations in Japan; and more than 70 Disney Store locations in Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom, plus online stores www.DisneyStore.com, www.disneystore.co.uk, www.disneystore.fr, www.disneystore.de, www.disneystore.se, www.disneystore.dk, www.disneystore.it, www.disneystore.es and www.disneystore.co.jp. Each Disney Store location offers a magical shopping experience that can only be delivered by Disney, one of the world's largest and most successful entertainment companies. For more information, please visit www.disneyconsumerproducts.com/press/us/disneystore or follow us at www.facebook.com/DisneyStore and www.twitter.com/DisneyStore.
About The Walt Disney Company in China
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international entertainment and media enterprise with five business segments. Disney's first animation screened in China in the 1930s and today our long association continues with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou with over 3000 employees. The company is focused on creating high-quality entertainment experiences and effectively building local and Disney franchises in China. Disney currently has several established businesses in the country, including studio entertainment, parks and resorts, consumer products, media networks, interactive, and Disney English. In September 2005, Disney opened its doors to its first theme park in China, Hong Kong Disneyland and in 2011 announced ground breaking for Shanghai Disney Resort, a joint venture with Shanghai Shendi Group. On May 19th 2015, the Enchanted Storybook Castle at Shanghai Disney Resort was topped out, and on May 20th Disney opened the doors of its first Disney Store in China, in Shanghai. Disney is a Dow 30 company and had annual revenues of $48.8 billion in its Fiscal Year 2014. For more information about The Walt Disney Company please visit: http://corporate.disney.go.com/