Disney Store “Unlocks Imagination” at Santa Monica Place Grand Opening

Newly Designed Store Offers a Magical Destination for Local Families and Tourists from Around the World

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PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Disney Store continued the worldwide roll-out of its newly-designed stores with a grand opening event at Southern California’s Santa Monica Place. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, celebrity guests and mom bloggers helped officially open the third newly designed Disney Store in the United States. Guests lined up to receive their free Disney Store-branded Mickey ears, build their very own custom car in the Disney∙Pixar CARS-branded RIDEMAKERZ experience, and wave their wand in the Disney Princess Castle’s magic mirror to activate an enchanting storytelling moment featuring their favorite princess. In the Disney Store Theatre guests were treated to a special eight minute preview of Walt Disney’s Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue, releasing on Disney Blu-ray and DVD September 21st. Adding to the excitement was a group of L.A.’s top mom bloggers blogging live from Disney Store and sharing the magic with their readers.

“As we roll out our new Disney Store design which centers on providing the best 30 minutes of a child’s day through unique in-store attractions, it makes for the perfect family destination at the new Santa Monica Place where a fun Disney experience awaits everyone with each visit.”

“Santa Monica is a terrific location for Disney Store with an eclectic vibe attracting local families and tourists,” said Jim Fielding, president of Disney Stores Worldwide. “As we roll out our new Disney Store design which centers on providing the best 30 minutes of a child’s day through unique in-store attractions, it makes for the perfect family destination at the new Santa Monica Place where a fun Disney experience awaits everyone with each visit.”

As Disney Store was building the design prototype over the last two years and planning to unveil the innovative new store to the world, Santa Monica Place was renovating the retail complex into a contemporary, outdoor luxury shopping destination. The new Disney Store is one of 20 newly designed locations that will open across major markets in the U.S. and Europe in 2010 and is part of a plan to open more than 300 newly designed stores over the next five to seven years. In addition to Santa Monica and the already opened Montebello location, the next California location will open at San Diego’s Fashion Valley mall this in September. In Europe, Disney Store has already opened three newly designed stores in Spain, Italy and Portugal.

Aligning with the new magical store design, DisneyStore.com launched its new look and feel today. Infusing the site with more storytelling moments and imagination-filled elements, guests will enjoy a 24-hour a day magical online shopping experience. Inside of every newly-designed Disney Store location, guests can see what’s available at DisneyStore.com by browsing “Destination Disney,” an interactive kiosk with touch screen. Destination Disney gives users the ability to navigate a 3-D view of all Disney Store and DisneyStore.com products and discover the latest Disney Store news via video clips, articles, and social media feeds.

Other Disney Store locations opening this year with the innovative new design include Cherry Hill Mall in Cherry Hill, New Jersey; The Shops at Mission Viejo in Mission Viejo, CA; North State Street in Chicago, IL; Freehold Raceway Mall in Freehold, NJ; NorthPark Center in Dallas, TX; International Plaza in Tampa, FL; Fashion Valley in San Diego, CA; and a two-story Disney Store in Times Square in November.

With each new store opening in 2010, Disney Store will donate 10 percent of the first day’s sales to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the United States.

To find a Disney Store, guests can visit http://www.DisneyStore.com/storelocator or call [phone]. Guests can also sign up for email alerts at www.DisneyStore.com/Updates, become a fan on www.facebook.com/DisneyStore or follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/DisneyStore to stay connected to your favorite destination.

For more information, please visit http://www.disneyconsumerproducts.com/press/us

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 an affiliate of Disney Consumer Products, the business segment 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 100 Disney Store locations in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy and Portugal, in addition to an online store, disneystore.co.uk. Each Disney Store location offers a magical shopping experience that can only be delivered by Disney (NYSE: DIS), one of the world's largest and most successful entertainment companies.