Only in PH: Mickey Mouse in barong Tagalog, Minnie Mouse in a terno
Mickey Mouse walked out of the character dressing room wearing a barong Tagalog, following Minnie Mouse who was twirling in a pink terno. My plan to skip the meet and greet during the preview of the Disney Store at SM Mall of Asia went out the window as soon as I saw the duo. It’s not every day that you see these childhood icons dressed in Philippine national costumes.
Our family once paid for an expensive dinner for three at the Enchanted Garden at Hong Kong Disneyland. This was right after the reopening of borders after the COVID lockdowns. The character dinner wasn’t as dynamic as we remembered it because only Mickey and Minnie were present that night. Typically, there would be at least four characters. The cast members tried to make us feel better by telling us that Minnie and Mickey were wearing special outfits that day: Minnie was in a formal gown while Mickey was in a black tie. They were in their Valentine costumes.
Since then, I’ve viewed photos of them in different costumes as must-have collectibles. I have photos with Mickey in tai chi, ice skating and classic costumes. So, of course, I had to get photos with Minnie and Minnie in their barong and terno. It’s a very rare sight, a Philippine exclusive, if you must give it a name.
The mascots were very cheerful as far as voiceless characters go. But they did something surprising. When I asked if we could do hearts with our hands, they were both okay with it. I’ve tried convincing their Hong Kong and Japan counterparts to do the same in the past and was rejected on both occasions.
This is what made the opening of the first-ever flagship Disney Store in Southeast Asia memorable for me. It opened its doors to the public on Sept. 27 on the first floor of MOA’s main mall, near National Book Store and across Pizza Hut on the Hypermarket/north side.
The store is designed to immerse visitors in the magic of Disney, with each corner showcasing a specific theme dedicated to various franchises and characters.
Dresses and accessories
The Disney Princess area welcomes visitors at the store front. It is arranged by character, similar to the display setups at Disneyland parks. Dresses and their corresponding accessories are grouped together to complete each princess’ unique look, making it easy for young fans to find their favorites.
The highlight of this section is a life-sized Belle figure inside a library cove with a LED screen backdrop of books.
The costumes in the store are for children, adhering to Disney’s policy that adults cannot wear character outfits in the parks or at events such as Disney on Ice. Adults can, however, express their fandom through character-themed shirts, caps and other apparel that the store offers.
Disney’s Collectibles also welcome guests at the front. On display are premium figurines of characters. The Mickey and Friends area features merchandise for characters like Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, and Chip and Dale.
“Star Wars” has a dedicated corner, highlighted by a life-sized Darth Vader statue. “Frozen” fans will also find a haven of merchandise, including complete collections of dresses, accessories and shoes inspired by Elsa and Anna.
There’s a life-sized figure of Queen Elsa casting a spell above the shelves of toys.
There are so many details to appreciate here, from the snow on her feet to the ceiling where the crocus of Arendelle can be found. She’s magnificent, and little girls were seen jumping up and down when they saw her.
Halloween and Christmas
The seasonal wall showcases a range of Halloween- and Christmas-themed items. There are Mickey and Minnie sets dressed up for the holidays. The Christmas collection includes tree ornaments and sweaters, one of which features the classic “Home Alone” line: “Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals,” a delightful Easter egg for fans of the iconic film.
The Halloween section, adorned in orange hues, has the store’s only Loungefly bag at the moment—a pumpkin-shaped bag. Marvel and Pixar also have their own walls with character-centric designs.
Some clothing items available here are similar to those found in Hong Kong Disneyland. A pull of purchasing costumes from Disney is the level of detail. For instance, Snow White’s dress has subtle patterns of apples, vines, and squirrels printed onto the tulle.
There are towering displays of plush toys. There’s a huge selection of water bottles that are a cute choice for gifts or personal use. Free gift-wrapping is available for all items.
The mugs need a special mention because they look like something grown-ups would love to collect because of the whimsical details. Only a few Mickey ears made it to the store. We also did not spot any pins on this initial visit. Hopefully, we’ll get them plus the highly collectible Loungefly bags in the coming months. Local merch that can only be bought in the Philippines would also be nice.
But what Disney Store offers best is that Disney magic—and now it’s closer to home.
