The "new" Disney Store

[Peter_noPan]

I just wanted to through this out and see if I am the only one with a problem here.

At the mall by our house in suburban Detroit we have a Disney Store. It was recently shut down for rehab. The new strore is awful. The have taken the colors and fun out of the Disney Store. I feel like I am in a warehouse. The magic is gone from the store.

Who came up with the idea that making a store ugly will sell more goods?

I just wanted to vent. And find out if I am the only one who feels this way.

[sgtpet]

I feel your anger and upsetment. Fault? It is my fault. I am sorry.

[Sarangel]

The good news (such as it is) is that Disney decided that these 'rehabs' were too expensive to continue, so if there's a DS in your area that hasn't been 'upgraded' you should still be able to go to it. Privately, I'm not so sure that they didn't receive enough comments about how awful they were to stop this project.

Sarangel

[lrodk]

You're not alone. The new stores are very plain. They've been stripped of a lot of the whimsy that they had previously. You just don't get the same feeling as before. I still favor a plan to close half of the stores, thus making the ones remaining that much more in demand. The reason the Disney Stores suffered over the years was because of over-exposure. It was not due to poor design. If they just scale back and make the ones remaining that much more scarce it would make a trip to one of the stores much more special.

[Micca]

Most of the merch is unimaginative junk anyway. I'll shop WOD at DD for my 10% discount.

[cindyfan]

I agree that the market was saturated with stores. This, along with the amount of lisenced goods out there, is what killed their business.
Anyone can go to just about any department store and purchase Disney mercandise.
Pretty sad that they committed suicide....IMHO

When I saw the pictures of the new style I just felt sick.

BUT......there is a silver lining to this......
Now more than ever I feel the need to shop at WDW to get the real feel of Disney!!
So....... one more reason to plan another trip down there :)

I will have to make sure I have a full day to shop!! :)

[DC7800]

Originally posted by cindyfan
When I saw the pictures of the new style I just felt sick.

Anyone have a picture (or link) of one of these new style stores? I probably don't really want to see this, but I'm curious. At least the stores nearest here have been spared.

[cindyfan]

The pictures were originally spotted on the Laughing Place web site. But that was well over a year ago.
I think the remodel was "unvieled" in Oct 2000......and that was when there were lots of pictures.
Maybe someone can find something more recent?

Anyway the "new" style store has a very UN-animated look to it. Very much like a GAP, and just like anyother retail store in the mall.
Problem is they just don't have the merchandise that is special enough for the guest to overlook the new and clean style. People go to the DS to get a taste of the Disney Magic and the atmosphere was such a huge part of it. With out that......we can just go to JCPenney, WalMart or Target and get Disney merchandise at a much more reasonalble price.

[Kirby]

I knew that there was something missing the last time I went into out Disney store. The magic was gone but I just couldn't put my finger on it since I didn't know about the changes. Was not at all pleased about the atmosphere. Just another store now.

[hoosiergirl]

I was a Disney Store cast member for 4 1/2 years until I quit in '98. The reason? The magic was gone for a lot of us CM's because profits took priority over Guest Service. A lot of us left in a short time because it was no longer "fun". (Believe me, you didn't work there for the $$!)

About 6 months ago I was in one of the local Disney stores (not the same city) and a manager found out I was a former "old school" CM. He followed me all over the store, trying to talk me into re-hiring. He said they were looking for those CM's who knew how to Guest Service, etc. Long story.....but I just thought I'd share because I have hope that maybe some day the old magic will return to the Disney Stores. Maybe the "suits" will see that people shop at the D. Stores to get some of that pixie dust that they got at the parks; it's not necessarily for the merchandise. As someone already stated, Disney merchandise is everywhere!

Just my 2 cents......

[DavyCrockett]

I too am disappointed with the "new" Disney Store.

Not only are the stores devoid of the old Disney magic, but the merchandise isn't very appealing.

The shelves are filled with junk. There is hardly any merchandise for people over three years old. i used to able to find gifts for practically anypne in the store. No more.

[Micca]

Hoosiergirl- It is such a shame the "suits" don't understand. I deal with corporate mentality daily, but isn't there a track record for Disney rising above that? Not any time recently, but in all of Disney history???

[Sandy541]

Is there anyway to make the Disney people aware of the problems that the new store format is causing and giving them constructive criticism.? They need to hear from us.

[married2grumpy]

I couldn't imagine why the Disney Store in our mall was closed for so long. It was a beautiful store filled with lots of different types of Disney merchandise. I couldn't wait for the grand reopening to see how they could have possibly improved on it. Well, what a disappointment. All the things that reminded me of WDW were gone. That was what I loved about the store. Now it is just another store in my opinion. It has a warehouse feel to it, unfinished ceilings, cement floors. I heard the sales people saying how glad they were the carpet was gone so they didn't have to pick the gum out of it anymore. It's sad!

[tap & dap]

We also were disappointed in the new format.

Snowglobes and collectibles are now replaced
with shelf after shelf of the same old toys you see in Target and Wall Mart.

Like someone else said they use to have all kinds of clothes for adults now it seems to be kids only.

The only good thing is now instead of spending a lot of money each week, we only visit occasionally and
spend very little.

Hopefully Disney wakes up and gives us better not worse stores to spend our money in.

[d-r]

Our stores have about 1,000 buzz lightyears and woodies. That is all there is really, buzz and woodie, some plush, and some baby clothes. I can't imagine why they are spending so much shelf space on buzz and woody - at first I figured that they must not have sold as many as they predicted for Christmas and these were still around, but can't they store them somewhere? Almost 1/3 of the store is taken up by buzz and woodies dolls.

[hopemax]

If they removed the Buzz and Woodys they wouldn't have any merchandise to replace them with. I don't know which is better 1/3 of the store empty or 1/3 full with Buzz & Woody? It's part of the Disney Store's wonderful distribution system! Along with how over Christmas they don't receive merchandise A, B, C and they get hourly questions on why they don't have it and so the customer leaves empty handed and then when the 75% off sale hits they get cases and cases and cases of the stuff.

But at least the stores can order lightbulbs again! No really, they were limited to once a month orders on lightbulbs and like a maximum of 4 bulbs per month and they would need more than that to keep up. So you may go into your local Disney store this month and think something has changed...it may be the store is brighter than it used to be.

My Mom's an Asst. Manager, so I get to hear all sorts of fun stories from inside the Disney Store.

[Chuck S]

We have two stores in San Antonio, one re-hab one "old style". The new design is awful and the merchandise is even worse. The reqister is in the rear of the store where the beautiful plush displays used to be. There are TV monitors everywhere blaring noise. We need ADULT stuff, not cutesy junk you can get at Wal-mart. Of course, the new design store is in the "real" mall and the original design is in the "tourist-y" mall along the riverwalk :rolleyes:

There absolutely nothing "Disney" about the new design...it is a generic sterile "high tech" look...blah. ALthough, I can't complain about the custmer service, the CMs seem as nice as ever. I don't think they're too thrilled with the rehab either.

[King Triton]

I agree with Peter. I just went to the new updated Disney store and I was so disappointed. Too many shelves, too many lights, no imagination...I wanted to run out of there.:mad: Thank God we have another old store nearby. I'll only shop there for now on. What were the Disney suits thinking when they came up with this terrible idea?:rolleyes: When they said they were updating it I thought they would make it better. WRONG. I only say this because I love Disney. The old stores have the Disney magic. The new stores lack the magic. The old stores were more relaxing to shop in and a lot more fun.

I hope Disney gets the message.

King Triton


:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[hellokitty]

thank goodness they didnt make to The Dallas area in Texas!!! (the updating that is)

[nancycels]

ours is going the way of the new stores... no more collectibles for me to spend a couple
hundred dollars on! guess they lose me as a customer! half the time i'd go in just to see
what was new in art and collectibles, if they are going to take them out of most of the
stores and replace them w/toys r us type merchandise i'll never go in! bad move from where
i sit. a group of us all collect dis art and sculpture, i guess we'll have to go elswhere!

[Peter_noPan]

Thanks all of you.

I'm glad it isn't just me.

Is there any part of the Disney Magic that the current managament can't screw up?

[hellokitty]

i am thinking real hard.......
hey they havent taken away priority seating yet!!
whew.;)

[jfap]

If you want to check out the new style store, run over to Hulen Mall in Ft. Worth. They changed over right before Christmas. Haven't heard how it is going over.

[BostonTigger]

I can tell you that many of the Cast Members who work at the Disney Store hate what's going on with the company. I for one hate the changes.

[Planogirl]

Chuck S, I know that you don't like the new-style store but I am personally relieved that the DS at the River Center is still old-style. We always end up there when we visit your city. :)

I think that I could even put up with the new-style stores if they just stocked any decent merchandise. I have the hardest time finding anything I want now and I used to buy tons. It's very frustrating. :mad:

[mmouse37]

Disney has definitely gotten away from Guest Service. It seems to be all about profits now and pushing the sell on guests. The only Adult clothing the Disney Stores will now carry are PJ's and seasonal items and some sweatchirts. I liked it better the old way.

Why can't the Disney Stores carry the merchandise like the shop in MGM that has all the housewares, pillows, kitchen stuff, etc. That store is cool, the one right near where Beauty and Beast plays.

MJ

[Beast]

The stores aren't the only problem! Disney really seems to have something against men in general. We just got a Disney Catalog last week and, pardon this, but it SUCKS!!!! Nothing personal ladies but unless your a woman or under twelve years old, this catalog was nothing more but another piece of junkmail! Not a thing for guys!

They really like to push the "Princess" line of merchandise, why not a "Prince" or even better a "Hero" line?

I don't know if it would help or not, but I think a "DIS-wide" letter writing campaign might get their attention. But it would have to be an enormouse (enor-MOUSE? sorry. ) assult! Probably even recruiting people from other Disney fans web sites.

They might get the idea. Might.

As far as to many stores? We have to travel one and a half to two hours to get to a Disney Store. So, it's not TOTALLY saturated. Just not well spaced.

[Luv2Roam]

I spoke with a CM who worked at a store that recently closed. She said right after the store closed for good, Disney had people come in to destroy the displays. :( The picture bakgrounds were painted over. The characters, figures, etc were destroyed. She said it was heartbreaking.

[dunningdisney]

My family is also very disappointed with the "new" Disney Stores. All of the magic is gone.
You used to get a little bit of Disney when you visited the Disney Stores. Now it's just BLAH!
That's too bad too because all of the CMs at the store were very excited to be getting the new store and how they were going to have activities for kids. Well, our store has one, yes (1) computer, some coloring pages and some dress up clothes--but no room to use them.
My kids can do these things at home. I thought maybe they would have some "special" things for the kids to do.

I did get a phone number to call from one of the CM to call with my opinion. Sorry, I don't have the number handy. I will try to call, if for nothing else, my own piece of mind knowing that I tried to save the magic in own towns.

[maleficent1959]

The number is 1-818-265-3435.

[JudithM]

The poor quality & uninspiring selection of merchandise & the sterile new store design are the direct brain child of Bob Bell, who is about to depart as President of Disney Stores North America. He came from another consumer goods company & apparently did not have the understanding of the Disney culture - pixie dust, guest service, etc.

[RumpleMom]

Previous to the Disney store redesign, my teenage DD always headed directly there to shop when they went to the Mall. They always purchased something there for their friends' birthdays. We used to always find a great gift for their friends there. Trust me teenage girls go to a lot of birthday parties! $$$ DD went to WDW with 11 friends for their high school graduation trip. The 12 friends all love Disney.(boys and girls)

My kids would buy me a new sweatshirt ( nice and embroidered) there for Christmas, B-day, etc. My DH and I walk the Mall several times a week, we stop in , look around , there's nothing to buy for parents and teenagers. Hint to management- we are at the stage of our life when we have more money to spend, we have 0 children to buy toys for, not even relatives. When my kids were little, dollars were scarce.