Virtual Queue of Disney Store Runs Out 4 Minutes After Open
Disney Store Limited Time has been open for a little more than an hour and a half as this is published. Suffice to say, there’s overwhelming interest, as the line wraps around the mall.
According to Lauren Hersey of the I Want That Too and Dis & Hers podcasts, the first 100 guests were given wristbands, and the remainder of visitors scanned a QR code for a return time. Arriving at 9 am, she got a return time of 1 pm.
@disandhers Grand opening of the first of hopefully many Disney Store Limited Time …Ross Park Mall, Pittsburgh, PA #disneystore #disneymerch #pittsburgh #rossparkmall #fyp
As of 10:04 am, they ran out of time slots to access the store today, shared TikTok user summeranntravels.
The plans for the store weren’t made clear, some feel. In the comments of a video posted yesterday, Amy Palo shared this morning:
There is a virtual queue. That wasn’t clear. It’s not on the Disney or Ross park site. Ppl waited all morning and did not know. A couple flew in from Toronto 😩 Anyway— no clue how to access the queue, but just letting ppl know if they thought they’d just go
The virtual queue was mentioned in a local CBS News story, and on DisKingdom two days ago, but neither outlet was provided with additional information.
Early guests received a Toy Story alien headband, a Disney Store Pittsburgh postcard, and a Stitch and Angel sticker.
Mixed reaction to the store design
In the comments of one video posted yesterday on TikTok by local Brad Terry, previewing the space, many were underwhelmed.
- it’s not the same without the animatronic display in the windows
- where’s the magic it looks like any other plain store
- Why did they make it so modernized?!! Ugh.
- WHERES THE STUFFED ANIMAL PILE!!?!?!?
It’s not all criticism, though: former Disney Store cast member Dani Meyering wrote for Attractions Magazine that it was “nostalgic and wonderful” to see the magic key will return as part of the daily store opening ceremony, and that the merchandise being organized by character “also hits me in my feels.”
Tom Bricker on Disney Tourist Blog urges the company to lean into the “rosy retrospection” of classic Disney Stores, suggesting that the goal should be reminding people why they fell in love with Disney in the first place, over selling merch. He points to the success of Bass Pro Shops in creating an experience, and points out that Gen Z is actually embracing real-world shopping more than other generations.
More coverage of the Disney Store opening as the day goes on.