Magic Kingdom’s “The Yankee Trader” To Become Haunted Mansion Store

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It’s one of those rumors seemingly as old as the internet, but come October, it seems likely that The Yankee Trader in Liberty Square will become a store selling just merchandise themed to the Haunted Mansion attraction. The store is scheduled to be closed from July 7th until September 30th, 2014, opening just in time for some new Haunted Mansion merchandise that will be arriving at Walt Disney World.

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Just last year, a line of very popular Haunted Mansion home décor items were released as a test to see if guests would buy more-expensive luxury items based on attractions. The test was a huge success and for several months, Walt Disney World had a hard time keeping any of these items in stock. The success of the line inspired most of the merchandise you’ll find at Centerpiece in the Marketplace Co-Op, but also over 100 new Haunted Mansion items set to arrive at Disney Parks this Fall.

In order to showcase and sell over 100 items, every square inch of the Yankee Trader will be needed. 100 items is a lot considering this one display in the store pictured above is holding just 6 different items…

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Just a few weeks ago, Disney teased the art styles for some of this new merchandise on the Disney Parks Blog. Maybe we’re reading into the Disney post too much, but the store may have a heavy Madame Leota theme…

Nothing has been confirmed and all of this is pure speculation at this time, but it seems highly likely. Stay tuned as we receive more information on this story as it develops…

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UPDATE: On July 28th, 2014, Walt Disney World confirmed that the Yankee Trader would become a Haunted Mansion-themed store. The store will indeed have a theme mostly focusing on Madame Leota as we had speculated. No further details have been made available at this time.

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So, what do you think? is a dedicated Haunted Mansion store a good idea?

Tom Corless & Dirk Wallen’s 3/13 WDW Photo Report

Things have been so crazy around here at WDW News Today lately that we’ve had some minor news stories slip through the cracks. In an effort to get you up to speed on some of the stories we haven’t covered on the site lately, here are newsworthy photos from myself and Dirk Wallen taken earlier in March:

Some new “flat” snowglobes for sale

There are some new hot sandwiches in Liberty Square

Most of the arcades at Walt Disney World are replacing their prize counters with one of these

An automated prize machine is a pretty cool concept

The new purchase with purchase item for sale is an expandable duffle

Wriost gift cards are available for the Flower and Garden Festival

Work continues on expanding the Boardwalk Bakery

The arcade next door is gone

The sign is still up and the door still enters the small ESPN shop

The arcade section is covered by a curtain

A few weeks ago, Test Track introduced a new car type guests can choose

Triton’s Treasures behind the Mine Train now has shutters on it

An ADA compliant ramp was installed on the Yankee Trader

Some of the new Haunted Mansion merchandise is for sale in Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe

Picture frame

Hourglass

Coasters

Work continues on installing A Pirate’s Adventure in Adventureland

Work continues on the exterior of the Adventureland Veranda

Rumors indicate that this may finally become a Pirate restaurant in 2014 once the Disney Fairies move out

More tarps on the front of the building

St. Patrick’s Day shirt

Spring Break and graduation merchandise out

Two new Oswald shirts for sale

Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny are in town square

Awwwwww

More Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction

Some trees up on the mountain

We can finally see some rock work

In preparation for FastPAss+, a large section of the Pirates of the Caribbean queue has been re-routed

Work continues on the Villas at the Grand Floridian

Thanks for reading!