The Disney Store

madarmadillo · #1 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 11:46 AM

The way I understand it is that Disney has bought back the Disney Store you see at the malls. They have closed all but one or two in my area. Disney was not happy with all of the cheap products being sold with their name on it by the other owner. With Disney back in charge you'll see higher end products.

__________________

Lanyards are hidden hidden. Turn them on in your options

1975 Off Property
1985 Off Property
2003 All Star Sports
2004 Wilderness Lodge
2007 Wilderness Lodge
2008 Beach Club
2009 Boardwalk Villas & Animal Kingdom Lodge

My Countdown Counting down to: Family Trip v2.0

Winkster · #2 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 02:29 PM

I think the Disney Stores went downhill fast years ago - maybe that would explain why. Non-Disney ownership!

I used to love going in and soaking up the atmosphere. They did great non-kid stuff as well as the usual kids stuff - mugs, plates, pictures, videos (it was that long ago!), books and so on.

Now they are just a tacky shop that sells loads and loads of tacky kids stuff.

I have a feeling that Disney has not bought back the UK stores which would be a shame. I miss the cheery greeter on the door, the attentive service, the WDW promo ads playing on the big screens and the great merchandise they sold. It was a good way of getting a Disney buzz!

Maybe we can all hope for a return to the good old days now?

nh9fan · #3 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 10:08 PM

I had no idea Disney didnt own those stores. Makes sense though... I used to love going into that store, but over the years noticed that the stuff was over priced and seemed cheaper. for a lack of a better word. We only have 1 store around here. At a mall. Bought my kids first giant Pooh there. ahhh... memories....

Meg1884 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-23-2008, 09:20 AM

We used to love the Disney Store and would always make a stop whenever we went to the mall. It went down though a couple of years ago. It really was never the same and the only thing I would end up getting there is coffee mugs and Disney Dollars. One of the two by my parents' house is closing and the other may have too. The one by us doesn't have anything about closing but everything is on sale for nothing so it very may well be. It's a shame because they used to be so good.

disneyxprincess · #5 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 05:07 PM

I agree, i used to love going into the disney store. so woo hoo for disney regaining ownership!

Mandy0726 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 08:36 PM

They have kept one store open near me. I love to take my granchildren there to get that Disney fix. I am looking forward to their getting back into better merchandise for us older folks. It seems that the adult wear is not made for us older Disney fans. I remeber when I could get tops etc. and they fit me well. Now they are so cheap and skin tight that I cannot wear them. Hurray for disney and let's hope that they have not forgotten our expanding bodies.

kirbs27 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 10:18 PM

Well, I had no idea Disney didn't own the stores! That's crazy. It does explain why it was so amazing at the beginning and got progressively worse. There is still two within 30 minutes of me, so I'm going to have to check them out again soon.

Kebabs · #8 (**permalink**) 06-25-2008, 04:04 AM

I love our local Disney store, I go in there most weeks and they even know me by name! They know I'm a big Winnie the Pooh fan, and one year they saved the Christmas Window decorations for me - that was brilliant! In all honesty I wouldn't say I've noticed that much of a change in the store, for a while they went more child / toy orientated, but thats changing back now!
Dx

poisonapple · #9 (**permalink**) 07-14-2008, 05:12 PM

The Disney Store was purchased by Childrens Place a few years ago. Just recently they have filed for bankruptcy, which prompted Disney to buy back the stores. However, the have made the decision to only keep about one third of the total stores out there so many of you may see your local store close. I know we just did. However, if it means an improvement in the quality I can certainly justify driving a little further

Riley · #10 (**permalink**) 07-16-2008, 01:38 AM

I worked at a Disney Store for the Christmas season of 2006. They had just been bought by The Children's Place. Needless to say, I was VERY disappointed when I found out.

It was like "imitation Disney", just like the liscensed stuff Walmart and Target sell! I've missed the adult clothing they used to have. Anyhow, the store I worked in was slated for a remodel this year so it closed and now may not reopen. One of my managers recently told me about the bankruptcy and that they plan to close several of the Phoenix area stores. It'll be interesting to see what happens. Now hopefully the merchandise at the stores and online will be the same. It was very frustrating to have to explain to customers that we were the official "Disney Store" but we weren't part of Disney. Maybe they'll raise the bar on the quality and selection they sell.

Dismom · #11 (**permalink**) 07-16-2008, 02:04 PM

I knew the stores were no longer owned and operated by Disney. I loved going to them anyway when I went to the mall. That being said, I would have rather had those stores than no store and that is what we have now, no Disney Store anywhere, nothing close enough to go to to get my Disney fix.

Doug5107 · #12 (**permalink**) 07-28-2008, 09:00 PM

All these stories are very interesting. My wife has worked part-time at our Disney Store for over two years. Disney store was bought out by The children's Place a high end children's clothing store. They are owned by Hoop Retail which has gone bankrupt. I do not believe Disney wanted their stores associated with that so they bought them back. The disney stores are highly competitve with each other and those that stuck with the Disney experience did better than those which did not. Go figure. Anyway they will close duplicate locations and those which are not doing well or in the "spirit of disney". The new product has just started to come in and is defintely better quality. But each store is on their own to compete for overtime hours and bonuses and perks that are extra from Disney. If the stores managers are with it then so will the cast members be. That store will then be successfull. There have been many closeouts deals right now as they clean out old merchandise. We are looking forward to the discounts we will be offered as cast members of Disney.

But the bottom line is...The Disney Store is once again part of Disney.

WaltDisWiz · #13 (**permalink**) 07-29-2008, 11:29 AM

I hope that this is not a sign of things to come but when we went to our disney store in Tmpa this weekend they had absolutly no adult products. Not even t-shirts. I am hoping this was just because they are using up the old inventory.

ladylilo · #14 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 11:41 AM

I agree that the stores have changed for the worse. I used to love to go in and see the big mountain of plush toys sitting under the big screen showing clips of classic Disney movies - none of these were visible in the last two stores I went in. Also, you are now unable to buy Disney Dollars, which I had wanted to get for my good friends Silver Wedding Anniversary (they are DVC members).

Mandy0726 · #15 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 05:48 PM

Ladylilo, I recently bought Disney dollars. They were not available in June but once the stores were bought back and the decisions to close certain stores were made, they did bring them back. Also, the plush toys are still under the big screen. Perhaps the ones that you had gone to were the ones they were closing.