Disney Store Debuts in Montebello, Calif.

The Walt Disney Co. launched its newly-designed Disney Store with an opening at The Shops at Montebello, in Montebello, Calif. Plans call for 20 stores to open in major markets in the U.S. and Europe this year.

The layout features franchise neighborhoods so guests can easily shop for merchandise by character or theme. Among the attractions in the 4800-plus-square-foot store is the first-ever Disney-Pixar Cars-branded Ridemakerz experience, which allows kids of all ages to build 1:18 scale toy custom cars on location. A Disney Princess Castle with Magic Mirror brings princess characters to life at the wave of a wand.

“As part of Disney, we're committed to the value of entertainment and exclusive experiences,” says Jim Fielding, president of Disney Stores Worldwide. “Disney is setting a new standard for the specialty retail category by integrating robust technology and creative store planning to make each visit customizable and that much more memorable.”

The store also uses an interactive kiosk with touch screen to allow shoppers 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.

Future store locations are planned for: The Shops at Mission Viejo in Mission Viejo, Calif.; North State Street, Chicago; Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold, N.J.; NorthPark Center, Dallas; Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, N.Y.; Santa Monica Place in Santa Monica, Calif; International Plaza in Tampa; Fashion Valley in San Diego; Union Square, San Francisco; and New York’s Times Square.

The Disney Store retail chain debuted in 1987. There are more than 200 Disney Store locations in North America; more than 40 locations in Japan; and more than 100 in the Europe.