Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique To Open Additional Location in Magic Kingdom Park

[Figment!]

Disney has internally announced that the The King’s Gallery retail location, inside Cinderella Castle, will close in order to make way for a 2nd Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Location.

The location is scheduled to be closed for refurbishment July 5 - September 9, 2007 in order to perform the conversion. The refurbishment is not anticipated to affect other Castle venues or passage through the Castle.

The new Cinderella Castle location is scheduled to start accepting appointments April 29, 2007 for September 10, 2007 and beyond.

Here's the actual announcement:

The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a magical salon where girls are transformed into Princesses. Where each hopeful Princess has her own Fairy Godmother to turn her sneakers into glass slippers and cover her with sparkles! What better place to become a true Princess then in the Castle of one of our very own Disney Princesses! On September 10, the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is expanding and will open a second location inside the Magic Kingdom inside Cinderella Castle!

The Boutique will move into the space that is currently known as The King's Gallery which houses Arts and Collectibles Merchandise. The last day of business for The King's Gallery is July 4, 2007 and construction on the new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique runs from July 5 - September 1, 2007. Guests can continue to enjoy Arribas Brother offerings at the Crystal Arts store on Main Street, U.S.A., Arribas Brothers store located in Downtown Disney and the shop in the Germany pavilion at Epcot.

Similar to our dining venues, a reservation is highly recommended and can be made by calling 407-WDW-STYLE (407-939-7895) up to 180 days prior to arrival. Reservations for the Magic Kingdom Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique can be made beginning April 29, 2007.

[Dsnygirl]

.... and I thought I'd be able to get away with not taking my girls b/c they'd never know about it in DTD.... guess I'm in for the next trip!!

Thanks for the info (or warning... ) Jason!!

[PirateLover]

I also read that Kings Gallery Shop will move into the Uptown Jewelers on Main St. All the artwork along with the Artist Watches station currently in the Uptown Jewelers will move to the Main St. Cinema. Right now, The Cinema is the home of "VMK", (Virtual Magic Kingdom) which has plans to move somewhere into Mickey's Toontown.

[JPL]

I had heard about this about 2 months ago but had zero confirmation. I heard the reasoning behind it is they expected more people to use the Boutique before Pirates and Princess Parties but it was not a very good logistical plan since people could not go directly from DTD to the MK before the party using Disney Transportation.

[Ian]

Can't say I'm a huge fan of this announcement. I really liked browsing around in the King's Gallery. It was one of the few stores left in MK that felt at least a little like an original. It wasn't all the same cookie-cutter garbage they sell in all the other stores ... spinners and cheap plastic toys and whatnot ... they had nice stuff in there.

[Crow]

Can't say I'm a huge fan of this announcement. I really liked browsing around in the King's Gallery. It was one of the few stores left in MK that felt at least a little like an original. It wasn't all the same cookie-cutter garbage they sell in all the other stores ... spinners and cheap plastic toys and whatnot ... they had nice stuff in there.

Tis True.
they need diff stores, not all the same

[GiltterDisneyGirl]

Wow other one? I love that store in the castle, and now there going to change it.

[JPL]

It wasn't all the same cookie-cutter garbage they sell in all the other stores ... spinners and cheap plastic toys and whatnot ... they had nice stuff in there.

The only good part about this is I spend alot less money on souvenirs I really have noticed that I spend about $100 -$200 less on merchandise at the parks since most it is the same old junk you see everywhere. I always use to finds some unique item that I had to have now it's more or less a few small trinkets and I'm done.

[valjane]

Can't say I'm a huge fan of this announcement. I really liked browsing around in the King's Gallery. It was one of the few stores left in MK that felt at least a little like an original. It wasn't all the same cookie-cutter garbage they sell in all the other stores ... spinners and cheap plastic toys and whatnot ... they had nice stuff in there.

True, though I've noticed in the past few years that it was starting to lose its medieval theme in favor of Disney princesses and pins and whatnot.

[glenpreece]

I agree I really liked looking in this store too. But it does make sense to move it to Main Street where the Artist watches etc are. That's the way it is in DTD. Putting a BBB in the castle is a really smart idea.

[Christine]

glenpreece, that is exactly what my first thought was when I read this article: "Oh, I hate to see that store go, but it is extremely smart of WDW to do it."

I sure hope they're able to keep an already congested area running smoothly.

[r4kids]

I am very excited about this. We would have had to go to DTD before MNSSHP and now we don't!! I also think going from BBB in the park to Cindy's castle for meal is much more convienent.Can't wait!!

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

Although I agree that it is a very good move for Disney, I'm sad to see the store go. I always found it a quiet little place, with some really neat items in it...I always thought that it was more of a "grown-up" store.

I am most worried about the massive congestion...this will make that area sooooo busy.

I have been putting off DD, but now I have no excuse, and I'm sure a stop here will be on the agenda for the next triop.

Thanks for the info!

[DisneyDudet]

Although I hate the idea, Disney does know how to make money.

[illini]

This makes me really sad. One, I'll have to keep my DD from seeing it as I really prefer not to do this. But mostly, I loved that store. My kids loved to look in there and the castmembers were so attentive, going so far as to walk around with my kids and show them unique things.
Not ~everything~ has to be princess, does it?

[jennifer99]

Thank you for posting the good news. We will be there just after it opens. We have plans to go to BBB at DTD before our lunch in the castle. It will save us a lot of time to move our apt. to the new location

[WEDTOPIA]

Can't say I'm a huge fan of this announcement. I really liked browsing around in the King's Gallery. It was one of the few stores left in MK that felt at least a little like an original. It wasn't all the same cookie-cutter garbage they sell in all the other stores ... spinners and cheap plastic toys and whatnot ... they had nice stuff in there.

Agreed ! Remember when they actually had swords and steins and medeival paraphanalia ? Will these people not rest until every shop is 100% Disney ? No unique shops anywhere anymore............

[Bethanymouse]

Can't say I'm a huge fan of this announcement. I really liked browsing around in the King's Gallery. It was one of the few stores left in MK that felt at least a little like an original. It wasn't all the same cookie-cutter garbage they sell in all the other stores ... spinners and cheap plastic toys and whatnot ... they had nice stuff in there.

I agree! I am not excited about this at all. I loved the theming of the shop being inside the castle. I will be sad to see it go.

[FtWildernessFan]

When our daughter (then 6) turned into a princess, 12/06, she really believed she was one. We are going again 12/07 and first thing to reserve is her makeover. My son (then 3) also had the "cool dude" with lots of spikey colors in his hair and he loved it! Well worth the $$.

[Melanie]

Not ~everything~ has to be princess, does it?

Amen! Especially when you have boys.

I will miss this shop as well. I always enjoyed browsing around and I have fond memories of it from my honeymoon.