At a glance
Harrington’s Fine China & Porcelains is in a building in the second half of Main Street U.S.A., whose Victorian frontage bears the themed date of 1892, the period of the America recreated by the land. The building is also home to the fictional sign of the Main Street Gazette.
Outside, it has a pale frontage decorated with gilded mouldings and a burgundy sign with gold lettering. The interior follows Victorian decorative style: patterned wallpaper, marble floor and skirting boards, matching counters, columns clad in green and gold marble, a crystal chandelier with glowing globes and a stained glass dome that lights the shop floor.
The dome hides a curiosity: thanks to an elliptical vault effect, two people standing face to face on the marks on the floor can hear each other whisper despite the distance and the background noise.
The range covers china, collectable figurines, snow globes, photo frames, art prints, keyrings, pens and jewellery, including the Pandora range, as well as original blown glass pieces made on site by a glassblower working behind a window.
A whispering elliptical dome above the till. Above the central till, the shop’s dome hides a secret: if two people stand face to face on the marks on the floor, they can whisper and hear each other clearly despite the background noise, thanks to the elliptical vault effect. A glassblower also shapes blown glass figurines live near the entrance.
What you’ll find
History
The shop has been open since Disneyland Park opened, on 12 April 1992.
Theme & story
Who it’s for
Pros and cons
Strong points
- A glassblower shaping blown glass pieces in front of visitors
- Central stained glass dome with an acoustic effect
- A selection of collectables and rare pieces hard to find elsewhere in the park
Weak points
- Prices higher than the average park shop because the pieces are rare
- Narrow aisles, not great when the park is busy
- A single central till, which means queues
My verdict
My elegant little break on Main Street. Between the stained glass dome, the crystal chandelier and the glassblower shaping his pieces before your eyes, you’d think you were in a department store from another century.
Try the whispering dome above the till: each stand on a mark on the floor, face to face, whisper… and you’ll hear each other perfectly despite the noise. Kids are always amazed.
Julie’s tip
Best time to visit
Go at park opening or mid-afternoon, when the parade isn’t passing: you can watch the glassblower’s demonstration in peace.
Map & getting there
Harrington’s Fine China & Porcelains is on Main Street U.S.A., opposite Walt’s - an American restaurant.
Your questions about this shop
01 Where can you shop for Disney merchandise at Disneyland Paris?
You have four main options: the shops in Disneyland Park (mainly on Main Street U.S.A. and in each land), the shops in Disney Adventure World, the shops in Disney Village (no park ticket needed) and your hotel shop if you’re staying at an official Disney Hotel. I go through the main shops in my dedicated article.
02 Can you shop without carrying your bags all day?
Yes. The Shopping Service lets you have your purchases sent to a collection point, to pick up later in the shop, or as you leave the park in another shop, or even in the shop at your Disney Hotel. The service is free in most shops (above a minimum spend). Just ask the sales assistant when you pay.
03 What are the shops’ opening hours?
The shops in the parks roughly follow the parks’ opening hours, often opening a little earlier on Main Street U.S.A. and closing a little later after the night-time show. The Disney Village shops have their own opening hours, usually later into the evening. The exact times are in the Disneyland Paris app.
04 Can you order Disneyland Paris merchandise online?
There’s no official Disneyland Paris online shop. To buy from home, you can go to the Disney Store website (formerly shopDisney), which sells official Disney merchandise and sometimes a few Disneyland Paris-specific products. At the resort, you buy directly in the shops.
