Disney Reviews Shopping Edition #8 - The Emporium
Every park has that obligatory "go-to" store where you always seem to end up half-a-dozen times or so during your trip either for that last-minute item or to get something in particular. For the Magic Kingdom, The Emporium is ours. Located on Main Street USA:
The Emporium literally takes up the entire left side, from one corner all the way down to Casey's at the end:
Although it's all one long store, each exterior "building" is really a divider of sorts and each one offers a different theme to the store, from the front of the store's general Disney merchandise to Princess specific to clothing, etc.
I can't say I have a lot of interior shots, mainly because it is always horribly crowded (and definitely worse at night, especially before park closing):
It has some really amazing Victorian touches throughout (although I'm horrible at remembering to take pictures of them), but I never forget LIGHTS!:
I've always been tempted to see if this is glued down, but it would be my luck it's not and I would drop it!
Even the exterior has those same touches:
I love how they always decorate it, especially for Halloween:
But they also do some pretty good Christmas decorations as well:
And I love the window displays too, but they are funny sometimes about them, they always have the same window displays pretty much, but they move around...I noticed last trip that windows that used to be on Main Street are now at the side of the World of Disney Store Downtown. But these are pretty much always there in one form or another:
The Emporium is the best spot to get everything you need in one place. It's also a great place to hang out when it rains, just try to stay away from it at the end of the night. I know most guidebooks will tell you to shop while the park is clearing out, but I find it extremely stressful...it's full of tired kids and even more tired (and severely grumpy) parents pushing enormous strollers throughout the stores very small isle ways. There is also a "flow" to the store when it gets crowded and god-forbid if you should go against the "flow". I just prefer to stay away at night if I can. I prefer to shop during the day and ride the rides while the park is clearing out or sit and people watch. It's a lot less stressful than the big crowd fight or waiting in a massive line for the bus.
The Emporium literally takes up the entire left side, from one corner all the way down to Casey's at the end:
Although it's all one long store, each exterior "building" is really a divider of sorts and each one offers a different theme to the store, from the front of the store's general Disney merchandise to Princess specific to clothing, etc.
I can't say I have a lot of interior shots, mainly because it is always horribly crowded (and definitely worse at night, especially before park closing):
It has some really amazing Victorian touches throughout (although I'm horrible at remembering to take pictures of them), but I never forget LIGHTS!:
I've always been tempted to see if this is glued down, but it would be my luck it's not and I would drop it!
Even the exterior has those same touches:
I love how they always decorate it, especially for Halloween:
But they also do some pretty good Christmas decorations as well:
And I love the window displays too, but they are funny sometimes about them, they always have the same window displays pretty much, but they move around...I noticed last trip that windows that used to be on Main Street are now at the side of the World of Disney Store Downtown. But these are pretty much always there in one form or another:
The Emporium is the best spot to get everything you need in one place. It's also a great place to hang out when it rains, just try to stay away from it at the end of the night. I know most guidebooks will tell you to shop while the park is clearing out, but I find it extremely stressful...it's full of tired kids and even more tired (and severely grumpy) parents pushing enormous strollers throughout the stores very small isle ways. There is also a "flow" to the store when it gets crowded and god-forbid if you should go against the "flow". I just prefer to stay away at night if I can. I prefer to shop during the day and ride the rides while the park is clearing out or sit and people watch. It's a lot less stressful than the big crowd fight or waiting in a massive line for the bus.
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