 Source: Yesterland
Summer 1967 – September 1986
LOCATION
Tomorrowland – The Character Shop faced Tomorrowland’s central courtyard, on the southern side of the walkway. To find the shop, visitors would keep to the right, spotting the shop right as the building rounded a corner. Today, this space belongs to the Star Trader.
EXPERIENCE
Details:
- Merchandise – Clothing, accessories, and other generic Disneyland merchandise
- Unique Features – PeopleMover track carrying vehicles through the actual store
Visitors to Tomorrowland during almost always stopped at The Character Shop. This lively corner store didn’t just have a huge selection of souvenirs for sale – it also had the distinction of being the only shop in the park with an attraction running right through it. Shoppers waved to passing PeopleMover vehicles as they shopped for merchandise featuring their favorite characters, all underneath a collection of futuristic hanging art.
CLOSURE
The Character Shop arrived in Tomorrowland in the middle of a major overhaul, and it left in the middle of a major overhaul. As the land prepped for Star Tours‘ highly anticipated arrival, Disney used the opportunity to create a properly themed gift shop to accompany it. The Star Trader opened shortly thereafter, and guests exiting Star Tours were automatically routed through the new shop on their way out.
TRIVIA
The Character Shop was so large it actually occupied space for a previous store and adjacent attraction: Fun Fotos and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Exhibit.
Oh to only be able to travel back in time and shop there!
I would have seen this on my visits to the park from 1975 onwards, AND ridden the people mover through the store. That was really neat, I recall.