Why Dwayne Johnson ‘Felt Like a Kid’ Taking His Daughters on a Private FAO Schwarz Shopping Trip (Exclusive)
Why Dwayne Johnson ‘Felt Like a Kid’ Taking His Daughters on a Private FAO Schwarz Shopping Trip (Exclusive)
Jack SmartFri, July 10, 2026 at 2:20 PM UTC
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Dwayne Johnson and his daughters in 2023 via InstagramCredit: Dwayne Johnson/Instagram -
Dwayne Johnson joins PEOPLE’s One Last Thing interview in this week’s issue, revealing the last time he felt like a kid
Bringing his daughters Jasmine and Tiana to New York City’s FAO Schwarz, the Moana star recalls, “was one of the most special things”
Johnson himself loved shopping at the famous store when he was around their age, he says
By giving his own children a treat, Dwayne Johnson got to help his inner child’s dream come true.
As part of his One Last Thing interview in this week’s issue of PEOPLE, the 54-year-old Moana star recalls that the last time he felt like a kid was arranging a special shopping trip at New York City’s legendary FAO Schwarz for his daughters Jasmine, 10, and Tiana, 8. The girl dad shares the two with wife Lauren Hashian (and shares eldest daughter Simone, 24, with ex-wife Dany Garcia).
On May 2, “the same weekend as my birthday,” Johnson says, he and Hashian, 41, brought their dynamic duo to the city for the first time. “I thought, ‘I know what I want to do. I want to create a very special moment for them where they could go shopping in FAO Schwarz.’ ”
(Left-right:) Jasmine Johnson, Dwayne Johnson, Tiana Johnson, Lauren Hashian and Ata Johnson at the Hawaii premiere of ‘Moana 2’ in November 2024Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty
Recalling that he loved saving up to shop at the popular toy shop at around 11 years old, Johnson called to ask about bringing his daughters in. “I wasn’t always in this position where I can afford this kind of stuff, but I can today,” he says. “I said, ‘I’ll pay you whatever it takes, but I’d love to create this moment for them.’ ”
In order to navigate FAO Schwarz, however, the Jumanji star had to bring the family after hours — 10 p.m., in fact. But “it was one of the most special things,” he says, shouting out the “amazing” employees. “I will never forget it.”
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A video diary shared recently on Johnson’s Instagram shows glimpses of Jasmine and Tiana’s first time at the beloved toy store.
“Willy Wonka [& the Chocolate Factory] is one of my favorite movies of all time,” Johnson tells PEOPLE. “And when Willy Wonka says, ‘Welcome to my chocolate factory,’ and he bows and everyone runs into the chocolate factory, I wanted that moment. So I told my daughters, ‘I know it’s not a chocolate factory, but welcome to the chocolate factory.’ And that’s the last time I felt like a kid.”
What made the late-night adventure all the more special was Jasmine’s response. “After paying for [the toys] — I was like, ‘Holy s---, you guys got a lot of toys!’ — she hugs me, my 10-year-old, and she’s crying… And she goes, ‘I wish you had this too when you were a kid.’ ”
“How empathetic is that?” he marvels. “It just blew me away.”
Johnson reprises the role of Maui opposite Catherine Lagaʻaia’s Moana in Disney’s Thomas Kail-directed live-action remake of the 2016 animated musical, in theaters now.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
