Arribas Brothers at Disneyland Paris: home of the glassmakers

Often referred to as Arribas France, Arribas Brothers is the glassmaking and crystal workshop of Disneyland Paris. Shops and stands across the park carry its blown glass and crystal pieces.

Two shops take things further: they host a glass artisan, a glassblower (a Cast Member) who works in front of guests. These are La Boutique de Merlin l’Enchanteur, in Fantasyland, and Harrington’s Fine China & Porcelains, on Main Street U.S.A.

Merlin’s is where you can create your own personalized glass wand, and Harrington’s is where you can get an item engraved on the spot.

The Arribas Brothers are two brothers, Alfonso and Tomas Arribas, master glassmakers from A Coruña, Spain. The company teamed up with Disney early on and opened its first stand at Disneyland in California in the late 1960s. Its French branch, Arribas France, came along with the opening of Disneyland Paris in 1992. It makes its pieces in a workshop located very close to the park, in Île-de-France.

Their products are handcrafted in glass and crystal:

Designs change with the seasons (Disney villains-themed wands at Halloween, decorations at Christmas), so what’s available depends on when you visit.

You’ll find La Boutique de Merlin l’Enchanteur (most people simply say "the Merlin shop") in Fantasyland, tucked inside Sleeping Beauty Castle opposite La Boutique du Château. A passage at the rear leads to La Tanière du Dragon, under the castle. Its setting mirrors the den of Merlin the wizard, straight out of the animated movie The Sword in the Stone.

A glassblower works there in front of guests throughout the day. Alongside jewelry, jewel-studded figurines, globes, utensils, and Christmas ornaments, this is where you can create your own personalized glass wand.

You design it right there with the artisan: you pick the hand-blown glass body of the wand, then one or more colored gems, and he shapes it in front of you. It’s one of my favorite things for kids to do in the park, because they leave with something that’s really their own.

The details of the activity and what each color means will be covered in my article on making your own wand.

Harrington’s Fine China & Porcelains sits on Main Street U.S.A., the main avenue every guest walks down when entering the park. The shop fills a pink Victorian-style building dated 1892, with a stained-glass dome resting on carved black-and-gold columns, a marble floor, and a crystal chandelier.

Harrington’s also has a glassblower at work as guests watch. On the shelves: pieces in glass, crystal, and porcelain such as figurines, snow globes, and jewelry, plus a back area set aside for Disney collectible items.

Harrington’s specialty is personalization with on-site engraving. You can have a glass item engraved with a name, a date, or a message. Expect an extra charge of about €7 for simple engraving. It’s a good option for a personalized souvenir or a gift.

Here are rough price ranges, taken from the Arribas lineup. Amounts vary by design, limited edition, and season, and may differ slightly from what you’ll see in the shops. Worth noting: the large jumbo pieces come with a protective case and a certificate of authenticity.

Looking for gift ideas to take home from the park? My guide which souvenirs to take home from Disneyland Paris has plenty. To see every store on site, head to the full list of Disneyland Paris shops.