New Orleans Square Store Openings
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New Orleans Square Merchant Makeover
On July 10, 1999 two New Orleans Square specialty shops re-opened their doors to throngs of anxiously awaiting annual passholders and VIPs. The Port D’Orleans and La Mascarade D’Orleans shops had been closed for about a week while under going a light retheming and merchandise upgrade.
A rededication ceremony
was headlined with a brief performance by "Mayor" Leroy Crawdaddy Montagne
(really one of Disneyland’s talented comedic performers). "I am pleased as punch
to be here on this momentus occasion," drawled the Mayor. "Not only is this the
Grand Opening of the beautiful Port D’Orleans, we are also celebrating the re-opening
of the La Mascarade shop right around the corner. So catch that if you can."
The Mayor then introduced the ceremonies special guests:
Executive Vice President of the Disneyland Resort, Cynthia Harris; Director of Merchandise
Management, Donna Sheridan; and Vice President of Merchandise, Tom DeCaro.
As the Mayor was preparing to deliver his prepared remarks he was rudely interrupted by Pirates singing refrains of "A Pirates Life for Me."
It turns out, these Pirates run the "Pieces of Eight" store right next door to the new store. They announced their worry that Port D’Orleans was trying to move in on their livelihood. But the Mayor "felt their pain" and quickly reassured them it wasn’t a pirate store at all, "But an emporium chock full of goods and sundries."
After
some debate as to the meaning of the word "Sundries" the pirates were appeased,
but anxious to enter the shop and see all the merchandise. Using their swords, they cut
through the dedication ribbons and opened the store ahead of the Mayor’s planned
remarks.
The first customers allowed into Port D’Orleans were the 300 passholders and collectors who had been waiting in line for a commemorative poster. Upon exit, most of these went directly to La Mascarade D’Orleans to pickup a free, with purchase, cloisonné pin. The pin turned out to be the regular New Orleans Square pin which used to be for sale within the park.
Port D’Orleans and La Mascarade D’Orleans have greatly expanded their variety of Merchandise. La Mascarade is now home to unique and artistic fare. In fact, it’s almost a replacement for the "One of a Kind" shop that was a favorite of Lillian Disney. Port D’Orleans subsumed what was once "Le Gourmet" and is now a central location for merchandise from Fantasmic!, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Mardi Gras, and the Blue Bayou. Don’t despair if you need to replenish your supply of Cajun hot spices, they’re still available. In fact, so much of the Le Gourmet shop remains, they left the signs up as well.
 La Mascarade |
 La Mascarade |
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