Subsonic Radio

Has anyone been in a Disney Store lately. I haven't been in one for a while, but it seems like that it is completely filled with stuff for kids under 6. I thought before that there was more adult stuff, especially adult clothing there in the past. What happened?
-Cruiseguy

It goes in serious cycles - there is a load more kids stuff all of the time. The last few years it has really increased. But every so often there is a rush of shirts, etc for the "big kids" though that stuff never stays long...

I have definately noticed that when in a Disney Store it feels it's 90% kids stuff now. I went in to look for Disney Hats. They didn't have any. I used to work at one years ago. There was plenty of adult merchandise. Not now

[sigh] The Disney Store.

Before I moved to Orlando and started working at WDW, I worked for The Disney Store on and off for about three years. That was back in the turquoise cardigan days, which I can't say that I miss. However, one thing that I DO miss is the content of those old Disney Stores. At least half of the store was dedicated to collectibles, movies, music and adult apparel.

Paul Pressler was the genius responsible for over-expanding the stores beyond what could be profitable. What he didn't understand is that visiting a Disney Theme Park or even a Disney Store should be a special experience, a unique experience that can't be duplicated. It can't be something that is found in every mall or on every street corner in the country. I guess the lesson was learned the hard way, as over 50% of the stores have been closed.

Since then, I think this move to nothing but children's merchandise is terrible. However, someone crunching numbers might have found that they sell a significantly larger percentage of kids products than adult products. More square footage dedicated to the kiddies, higher profits. That's just a guess, but it makes sense when looking at the company as a whole. In general, Disney has shifted from offering unique, one-of-a-kind products (think original Disney Imagineered attractions, or the Silversmith shop in Liberty Square) to a cheaper and more profitable approach. Now you can find the same merchandise carried in almost every store throughout the theme parks, rides designed and manufactured by third-party vendors, and less variety overall.

The most important asset to the Disney Company is their name. "Disney" has always been associated with original, quality, family entertainment. If the originality or quality begins to slide, Disney will lose what sets them apart in the industry.

I think the last few years have seen a turn-around in many practices and that we'll begin to see more classic "Disney" appearing on the screen, in the parks and in the stores once again. Let's hope that with that, we see the return of "family" merchandise to The Disney Store.

Maybe I spoke too soon with my optimism regarding The Disney Store. Things have happened with the operation that I just read about today.

Follow this link to read more:

http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/200 ... uid=801435

It echoes what I was lamenting in the above post.

I heard about this before but I still don't hold up much hope for these stores. Come on, the children's place. The Disney store probably has the same fate as the WB store. Then we will have to resort in buying our mickey mouse t-shirts from target or wal-mart again.
-Cruiseguy

The Disney stores took a turn towards the kids a few years ago. It was a very disappointing turn. Before that they did have a good collection of merchandise for all. It was a nice fill in to buy merchandise between trips to WDW.

I think the buy out by children’s place will be its ultimate demise. They are now pushing mostly toys. It’s a shame.

At least I live close to NYC so I can visit the World of Disney


http://www.worldofdisney.com/

Rich

The World of Disney is a good idea once again. Only a few locations and packed with everything. Disney Stores are a shame now. To hell with Paul Presser and Cynthia Harris.

The disney stores were nice in the beginning for those that couldn't make it all the way to a park. There were some nice things, and a good variance of other gift ides and toys. Unfortunately they decided to just turn into Toys R Us basically and sell a ton of whater new movie was hot. I understand riding the wave of popularity, but filling so much of the store just with one movies items is just a bad idea. You don't have that overall disney feeling then, its more like one of those Halloween mega stores that shows up for a bit each year. If you don't like the new movie, you have no reason to go.

The over expansion may have been their downfall, but getting to go to a few of those stores still was fun.

As a Cast Member of a Disney Store, I invite you back to see what is coming out around 4/25, not all of the new items for the upcoming Stage set have come in yet. These are going to be Interesting and Fun summer items. The quality is there again, and the pricing is very competitive. I for one will be proud to be showing them to our Guests. Believe me I will be there making my purchases when we get to put the new merchandise on stage.

Regarding being a division of Children's Place; if it wasn't for them stepping forward, there most likely wouldn't be a Disney Store. It would appear that the Disney Company was keeping things on the cheap at the end of their tenure.

Come to think about it, when I have been going to the Parks recently looking to purchase quality collectibles, there haven't been the products that I thought were of enough value to purchase (even with my Cast Member Discount). Now that's disappointing.

So, it takes awhile for our purchasing department to realign, have product designed, place the orders, and get the new merchandise manufactured, shipped from the manufacturer, clear customs, shipped to the Distribution Centers, placed into inventory and then shipped to your local Disney Store.

It may take a little time, and we appreciate your patience; but it took time to build Disneyland and watch it evolve. The same can be said for the Disney Stores as we develop with our new leadership.

My fellow Cast Members look forward to Welcoming you back to the Disney Stores.

I think that people will be pleasantly surprised when they visit a Disney Store in the upcoming months. It's true, there is quite a bit of children's items available, but new merchandise is being added that will appeal to our Adult Guests. We have a darling line of Tinkerbell merchandise and a new line of summer products arriving.

I'm very pleased to hear from you two! At least the cast of the Disney Store seems to be optimistic. Let's hope this is the turn-around TDS has so desperately needed.

Overall, I never want any Disney enterprise to feel they must compete with similar products. For example, I don't think Walt Disney World has ever considered Universal Studios as real competition in Orlando, because Walt Disney World is so unique and extraordinary and targets completely different guest demographics. If The Disney Store begins to feel it has to compete with Kids 'R' Us or some other monotonous clothing chain, it will be a sad day in my book.

kgmadorin wrote:Overall, I never want any Disney enterprise to feel they must compete with similar products. For example, I don't think Walt Disney World has ever considered Universal Studios as real competition in Orlando, because Walt Disney World is so unique and extraordinary and targets completely different guest demographics. If The Disney Store begins to feel it has to compete with Kids 'R' Us or some other monotonous clothing chain, it will be a sad day in my book.

I'll second you on that! And welcome to both of the new folks

Ok,now I have to go find a Disney Store on my lunch break and see whatcha'll are talkin' about. I haven't been in a Disney Store in years! I used to have a Disney Store Credit card and it was always maxed out........but that was when I was married and he paid the bills ha ha ha

haha Bostoncg. Typical woman

Welcome to the board Cougar Craig and MickeyEars. Perhaps it's simply that Disney realized, like with it's parks, people don't want cheap stuff.