At a glance
Merlin l’Enchanteur is the crystal and jewellery shop on the ground floor of Sleeping Beauty Castle, opposite La Boutique du Château, with direct access to La Tanière du Dragon.
The decor recreates the workshop of Merlin the wizard, a reference to the 1963 animated film adapted from T.H. White’s novel The Sword in the Stone: stones and beams fitted together in unlikely ways, as at Sir Ector’s castle, and a tree holding up one of the arches, a reminder of Merlin’s house in the forest. The space is packed with objects: preserved insects, stacks of spell books, globes, and a prototype flying machine inspired by Leonardo da Vinci hidden in the decor. Several owls (on the sign, as an ornament, on the mantelpiece) refer to Archimedes, Merlin’s feathered companion, and the ceiling painting, a sun with a patched-up eye, quotes Georges Méliès’s A Trip to the Moon (1902).
The shop is run exclusively by Arribas Brothers and specialises in art glass and jewellery: a glassmaker gives live glass-blowing demonstrations. You’ll find jewellery, glass and gemstone figurines, tiaras, photo frames, crystal sculptures, decorated glasses, personalised Disney magic wands, a selection of Christmas baubles and the crystal replica of Sleeping Beauty Castle, which has a five-figure price tag.
Arribas Brothers glassblower at work. This Arribas Brothers-only shop in the west wing of Sleeping Beauty Castle has a glassblower who shapes blown-glass figurines live in front of visitors. Personalised crystal engraving and a gallery of gemstones round off the visit, in a wizard’s study set as a tribute to Merlin.
What you’ll find
History
The shop has been open inside the castle since the park opened on 12 April 1992.
Theme & story
Who it’s for
Pros and cons
Strong points
- On the ground floor of Sleeping Beauty Castle
- Live glassblowing demonstrations
- Direct access to La Tanière du Dragon
- Disney wands you can personalise
Weak points
- Very small shop floor
- Very busy because of its central location
- Fragile items to carry around
My verdict
The wizard’s workshop is my favourite corner of the castle. A gorgeous jumble: piles of spell books, owls in tribute to Archimedes, a Leonardo da Vinci-style flying machine, and even a ceiling painting that quotes A Trip to the Moon by Méliès.
I always linger in front of the glass-blowing demonstrations: watching a figurine take shape before your eyes never gets old. And the crystal replica of the castle is worth a look, even if you don’t buy it.
Julie’s tip
Best time to visit
Drop by late morning or early afternoon, when the glassblower is giving demonstrations.
Map & getting there
The Merlin l’Enchanteur shop is in Fantasyland, close to La Tanière du Dragon.
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.
