Source: Mickey Mouse Park
January 1972 – July 2008
LOCATION
EXPERIENCE
Details:
- Merchandise – watches with Disney characters, Disney themed clocks
- Unique Features – in-shop artists personalizing watches for guests
At New Century Watches & Clocks, guests didn’t just select a watch from the rack. Instead, this shop was all about the custom experience. Artists would draw and personalize different characters, before inserting the art onto a watch face. These personal and special souvenirs were like nothing else for sale in either park.
For more about this little shop’s story, I highly recommend this blog post from a former artist who worked there from 1995 – 2000.
CLOSURE
New Century Watches & Clocks doesn’t appear to have closed for any major reason; I haven’t seen any indication that the sponsorship ceased or that the public lost interest. Disney did eventually end the artist watch program in 2012, but some of those artists were relocated to other art projects within the park. For whatever reason, the shop closed in 2008, and the Fortuosity shop opened soon after.
TRIVIA
From 1986 – 2008, this shop was sponsored by Lorus, and renamed New Century Timepieces. Some guide books and park maps never switched it over to this name and kept the original.
Two other Disney parks had/have a New Century Watches & Clocks: Magic Kingdom (1971 – 1986) and Tokyo Disneyland (1983 – present).