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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2010 |
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Sure, you can buy candy at a grocery store, but Marceline’s Confectionery provides a completely different experience. |
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But first, who is Marceline? The name Marceline, the shop’s fictional proprietor, is a nod to the town of Marceline, Missouri. When Walt Disney was four years old in 1906, his family moved from Chicago to Marceline. He never forgot his beloved boyhood hometown. In 1938, he wrote, “To tell the truth, more things of importance happened to me in Marceline than have happened since — or are likely to in the future.” The folks who gave this store its name didn’t forget Walt. |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001 Marceline’s Confectionery at night, with tassels on its canopy |
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When you step into Marceline’s Confectionery, you’re not just entering a candy store, you’re traveling back in time. |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001 Busy store in 2001 |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001 Colorful candy with clean white fixtures, walls, and counters |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001 Old-fashioned bags of old-fashioned candy on old-fashioned shelves |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2001 Petals (purses and luggage), Marceline’s Confectionery, and the windows into the candy kitchen |
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The oval sign for Marceline’s Confectionery looks like the stickers that candy shops used to use to seal packets and boxes of candy. To the right, behind the glass of what looks like a different store (but isn’t), you can see treats being made. To the left, there’s actually a different store, but it might not be the same store each time you visit; it changes every few years. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2010 ccccc |
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A border at the top of walls promises marshmallows, dipped strawberries, carmel apples, lollipops, gourmet treats, jelly beans, bonbons, fudge, cinnamon sticks, sour balls, sweets, truffles, candy, cookies, and more. There is no mention of kale or oatmeal. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2017 Tempting treats at eye level for children |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2010 Boxes, cartons, coins, and bars of chocolate |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2018 Pixar candy |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2018 Apples |
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It’s not the packaged candies that are the draw here. It’s the handcrafted treats. One TripAdvisor review calls this place “candy apple heaven.” The apples are works of art, cleverly designed and beautifully executed by the skillful cast members. Watch them make traditional Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse apples, Halloween season apples, apples based on characters such as Spider-Man and Grogu, and even apples that look like watermelons. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2010 Candy kitchen |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2010 Dipped strawberries and handcrafted apples |
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Unlike other sculptural art you might buy, with an apple you won’t have to find shelf space and you won’t have to dust it. Just eat it. These apples taste as good as they look. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2018 Frozen treat available, according to the sign outside the door |
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It’s time to leave Marceline’s Confectionery. Did you get your sugar fix for the day? |
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Marceline’s Confectionery was one of the original stores of the Downtown Disney District when that lifestyle center (open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment complex) opened at the Disneyland Resort on January 12, 2001. Over the years, Downtown Disney had many changes. Stores moved in and out. Some buildings were demolished and replaced with new structures. Most restaurants were renamed and re-themed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Downtown Disney shut down on March 14, 2020 and reopened July 9, 2020, after a four-month closure. In comparison, the two theme parks of the Disneyland Resort remained closed for more than a year until their phased reopening. Through all these disruptions, Marceline’s Confectionary remained remarkably constant. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2017 Catal Restaurant |
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To the right of Marceline’s Confectionery, Catal Restaurant and Uva Bar lasted from the opening of Downtown Disney until April 14, 2023. It’s now Paseo, a high-end Mexican restaurant from Chef Carlos Gaytán. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2015 Anna & Elsa’s Boutique (2014-2017) |
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The store to the left of Marceline’s Confectionery was anything but constant. Over the year, it was Petals, Club Libby Lu, Studio Disney 365, Anna & Elsa’s Boutique, Disney Boutique, and The Disney Dress Shop. |
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Photo by Chris Bales, 2024 Marceline’s Confectionary at the beginning of its final year |
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Photo by Chris Bales, 2024 Marceline’s Confectionary in April 2024 |
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By early 2024, when Marceline’s Confectionary had been open 23 years, it was still the same old-fashioned candy store in the same location, with essentially the same decor and the same emphasis on handcrafted sweets. Of course, there were some changes. Over the years, there was an ever-growing emphasis on Disney IP. Outside, the biggest change was that it no longer had its candy-striped canopy. Little did customers know that Marceline’s Confectionary would close permanently in 2024. On April 10, 2024, the official Disney Parks Blog announced a change: “Something sweet is underway at Marceline’s Confectionery. We’re designing an all-new, expanded and completely reimagined confection experience featuring your favorite treats and fun new tasty offerings!” Just an expansion, right? |
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Photo by Chris Bales, 2024 Former Disney Dress Shop space after the shop moved out |
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Marceline’s Confectionery closed its doors in mid-May 2024. The Disney Dress Shop moved out of its space, freeing it up to be added to the candy store. |
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Photo by Chris Bales, 2024 Temporary version of Marceline’s Confectionery |
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Marceline’s Confectionery didn’t go away entirely. It moved to a kiosk and several large coolers outside the former store. Guests could buy caramel apples, churro toffee, and handcrafted sweets at the kiosk. |
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Artist Concept Only ©Disney Concept art for Disney Wonderful World of Sweets |
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The next big news about the candy store on the Disney Parks Blog came on August 30, 2024: “Marceline’s Confectionery is being reimagined and expanded into the Disney Wonderful World of Sweets, a whimsical candy, sweets and treats shop featuring tasty favorites such as churro toffee, caramel apples, sour balls, lollipops, packaged confections and freshly made Werther’s Original Caramel popcorn! You’ll be able to watch these delectable delights being handmade from an exhibition kitchen viewable from the promenade. This shop will also open this winter, and in the meantime, you may visit the Marceline’s Confectionery cart to pick up yummy goodies!” In short: much larger… all the old favorites and more… the addition of Werther’s Original Caramel popcorn — but no longer Marceline’s Confectionery! It’s sad that the candy store will no longer be named after the Missouri town where Walt lived as a boy. |
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© 2024 Werner Weiss — Disclaimers, Copyright, and Trademarks Updated September 13, 2024 |
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