The signs are officially up at Hallmark’s Holiday Pop-Up at Disney Springs, and the shop is set to open in early October.
Confession: I have watched an alarming number of Hallmark Christmas movies, so a store tied to one filmed at Walt Disney World feels like it was made for me. (No, I will not be taking questions about how many I’ve seen.)
Hallmark announced the pop-up at D23 in August, and this week the storefront started to look like the real thing. You’ll find it in Town Center at Disney Springs, in the former Francesca’s storefront near Frontera Cocina and next door to Everything But Water. A bright red hanging sign with Hallmark’s script logo and crown reads “Holiday Pop-Up,” and a matching red band runs across the entrance. Graphics still cover the windows, so there’s no peek inside yet, but with the signs installed and no construction walls in sight, it looks nearly ready for guests.
Hallmark’s official announcement says early October, and Chip and Company reports the opening date is October 8. The shop is set to stay open through the end of the year. No theme park ticket is needed to visit, and parking in the Disney Springs garages is free.
So what’s the occasion? The pop-up is part of a first-of-its-kind holiday collaboration built around Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True, a Hallmark Channel original movie filmed on location at Walt Disney World. The film stars Lacey Chabert as Lindsey, who travels to Walt Disney World with her extended family for Christmas, only to discover that Philip, played by Travis Van Winkle, the man she recently had a disastrous first date with, is staying nearby with his own family. It premieres Saturday, November 28 at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel and streams the next day on Hallmark+.
Inside, expect keepsakes inspired by the movie alongside an assortment of Hallmark cards and Disney-inspired ornaments and gifts. The Holiday Ever After collection includes two Spirit Jerseys, family pajamas, Loungefly accessories, Vera Bradley bags, Corkcicle drinkware, holiday cards, home goods, and ornaments. Hallmark’s website lists around 40 items tied to the movie, ranging from a $4.99 gift bag up to a $165 Vera Bradley Bancroft backpack. Highlights include an $89.99 Loungefly Minnie Mouse mini backpack, a $34.99 Minnie Mouse ear headband, a $39.99 throw blanket, a recordable Disney memories ornament, and a Jingle Cruise ornament with sound.
The partnership has some fun history behind it, too. At D23, Hallmark’s panel traced the relationship between Hallmark founder J.C. Hall and Walt Disney, who reportedly leaned on each other as sounding boards for new ideas throughout their careers. Both companies have described the pop-up as a way to extend the movie beyond the screen and give families a place to make new holiday memories.
If you want to see the collection in person, I’d plan to visit early in the run. I’d expect the Loungefly backpack to be a fast seller, and Disney Springs only gets busier as the movie premiere and the holidays draw closer. After a year of small storefronts closing around Disney Springs, it’s also nice to see a new seasonal shop moving in.
We’ll share photos from inside once the doors open, so check back with Theme Park Scope for updates, and follow us on social so you don’t miss it.
Which piece from the Holiday Ever After collection are YOU hoping to grab?
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