Childrens Place to give back Disney Stores!!

[DisDine]

Wow...I'm just stunned at the stores that are going......Especially Mayfair! :sad2:

I'm so so sorry & hope that Brad & the Cast get a major dose of pixie dust.:tinker: (With any luck, maybe the powers that be will see what they're losing, keep Mayfair & lose Hot Dot)

I have a feeling that they'll keep the Dells outlet for the busy summer season & when everything is liquidated & then it'll go too......

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Does anyone know if the King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia PA and Lehigh Valley Mall, Allentown PA stores are staying open? Thanks!!

As of right now, both LV Mall and KoP stores will be open...at least I'm keeping my fingers crossed about that!

May I offer a suggestion to all of the posters on this site. Many of you have talked about how you're going to miss your local stores because of the guest service you received when you went shopping. Why don't you take a few minutes and write down your feelings and how much you're going to miss the store and the CMs that served you every single time you were at the store. Send it to the store or give it to a manager when you're in the store the next time. I know if one of our guests took the time to do that, I would be thrilled.

I visited a closing store today and I nearly cried. I've gotten to know some of the CMs there and they are all truly special people. I'm going to miss visiting them on Sundays (that's the day I usually go to that mall) and the welcoming feeling I would get everytime I stepped into their store. I spent a long time talking to the Cast, even exchanging email addresses with them. As a fellow CM, I wanted to offer my support to them during this sad time. :grouphug:

[cuucuu4karaoke]

the 2 stores close to me are closing. Wilkes-Barre & Scranton. *sigh!* where am I going to get my fix? My son will be so upset!

[missingcastmember]

This was even a shock to "Hot Dot"....we are so sad for Brad. He has played a major role in the Disney Stores in the district...helping wherever and whenever they need him. I only hope that someone can now be in a position to help him out. You know, because of the bankruptcy....no severance package....this is not a magical time right now....

[EpcotMatt2]

From what I understand the KoP store will stay open, but the Exton one will close. I am going to check out the exton one Tuesday to see... I worked there over x mas.

Yes, unfortunately the Exton store is closing. Very sad. :sad1:

[I-4WDW]

Yes, unfortunately the Exton store is closing. Very sad. :sad1:

Yea It is very sad- I was at the Exton store yesterday and saw it on it's last day before all of those hideous signs went up. Heres a pic I took with my cell phone- quality isnt the best, but it is a cell phone pic ;)


http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk5/i-4wdw/ext.jpg

Greenepona, we are practically neighbors!-until next week anyway :lmao: I live only 5 minutes from Pottstown-small world, isn't it?

[leroy627]

I am confused about one thing, why would disney have a real estate developer try to sublease the stores they are closing. My wife is an attorney and she said that leases can be rejected in bankruptcy, why wouldn't disney have the leases rejected for the stores they are closing instead of losing money. It does not seem to make sense.

[JohnMouse]

Yes that is the store closest to me, the one in Exton. I was there Friday and I saw the small sign next to the Minnie sign announcing the closing. I had a feeling that this store was closing....nevertheless, it is sad to see it go. ):At least I still go to K of P once a week.

[Mickey&Donald]

I have the official list in front of me right now -- hopefully this will help put an end to all the speculation:

ALABAMA:
#635 Madison Square Mall, Huntsville

ARIZONA:
#480 Paradise Valley Mall, Phoenix
#7072 Desert Ridge, Phoenix

ARKANSAS:
#767 Northwest Arkansas Mall, Fayetteville

CALIFORNIA:
#843 Stonestown Galleria, San Francisco
#592 Post Street, San Francisco
#463 Hillsdale Shopping Center, San Mateo
#471 Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, Baldwin Hills
#504 The Oaks, Thousand Oaks
#579 Capitola Mall, Capitola
#637 Hilltop Mall, Richmond
#672 Westfield Palm Desert Town Center, Palm Desert

COLORADO:
#376 Westminster Mall, Westminster

CONNECTICUT:
#366 The Pavilions at Buckland, Manchester
#536 Westfield Trumbull, Trumbull
#574 Westfield Meriden, Meriden
#682 Simon Crystal Mall, Waterford
#7006 Danbury Fair Mall, Danbury

FLORIDA:
#487 Tyrone Square, St. Petersburg
#549 Regency Square Mall, Jacksonville
#602 Coastland Center, Naples
#669 Sarasota Square, Sarasota
#705 Indian River, Vero Beach

GEORGIA:
#441 Gwinnett Place, Duluth

ILLINOIS:
#508 Stratford Square Mall, Bloomingdale
#619 Golf Mill Shopping Center, Niles
#811 Cherryvale Mall, Rockford
#813 Northwoods Mall, Peoria

INDIANA:
#621 Circle Centre Mall, Indianapolis
#809 Tippecanoe Mall, Lafayette

IOWA:
#531 Northpark Mall, Davenport

KANSAS:
#509 Towne East Square, Wichita

LOUISIANA:
#575 The Esplanade, Kenner

MAINE:
#372 The Maine Mall, South Portland

MARYLAND:
#561 Lakeforest Mall, Gaithersburg
#844 Valley Mall, Hagerstown
#523 St. Charles Towne Center, Waldorf

MASSACHUSETTS:
#469 Holyoke Mall at Ingleside, Holyoke

MICHIGAN:
#338 Twelve Oaks Mall, Novi
#507 Genessee Valley Center, Flint
#694 Somerset Collection, Troy
#715 Fashion Square Mall, Saginaw

MISSOURI:
#320 Chesterfield Towne Center, Chesterfield
#634 Crestwood Plaza, St. Louis
#782 St. Louis Galleria, St. Louis
#810 Westfield Mid Rivers, St. Peters
#835 Independence Center, Independence
#7031 Zona Rosa, Kansas City

NEBRASKA:
#766 Oak View Mall, Omaha

NEW JERSEY:
#444 Quaker Bridge Mall, Lawrenceville

NEW YORK:
#360 Walden Galleria, Buffalo
#474 Galleria at Crystal Run, Middletown
#537 Poughkeepsie Galleria, Poughkeepsie
#547 Jefferson Valley Mall, Yorktown Heights
#569 Sangertown Square, New Hartford
#595 Boulevard Mall, Amherst
#596 Crossgates Mall, Albany
#618 Greece Ridge Center, Rochester

NORTH CAROLINA:
#374 Hanes Mall, Winston-Salem
#440 Four Seasons Town Center, Greensboro
#631 Valley Hills Mall, Hickory

OHIO:
#373 Tri-County Mall, Cincinnati
#514 The Mall at Fairfield Commons, Dayton
#622 Parmatown Mall, Parma
#646 Summit Mall, Akron
#716 Southern Park Mall, Youngstown

PENNSYLVANIA:
#426 Willow Grove Park, Willow Grove
#473 Park City Center, Lancaster
#481 Wyoming Valley Mall, Wilkes-Barre
#511 The Mall at Steamtown, Scranton
#559 Westmoreland Mall, Greensburg
#583 Harrisburg Mall, Harrisburg
#588 Ross Park Mall, Pittsburgh
#603 Capital City Mall, Camp Hill
#684 Century III Mall, West Mifflin
#747 Logan Valley Mall, Altoona
#855 Berkshire Mall, Wyomissing
#886 Exton Square Mall, Exton
#7041 The Mall at Robinson, Pittsburgh

TEXAS:
#470 Town East Mall, Mesquite
#553 Valley View Center, Dallas
#847 Vista Ridge Mall, Lewisville

VIRGINIA:
#604 Virginia Center Commons, Glen Allen
#609 Chesapeake Square, Chesapeake
#732 Spotsylvania Towne Center, Fredericksburg

WASHINGTON:
#742 Westfield Vancouver, Vancouver

WISCONSIN:
#347 Mayfair Mall, Wauwatosa

[boston1029]

Thanks for the picture I-4WDW. That's my store! We were running around all weekend taking pictures of the store and all of the cast who I must say are fantastic!!!!!! It's been my pleasure to work with them for the past 5 years. There are a few of us still left from pre-TCP and it's been very hard for us to know that we won't be working together anymore. I have come out of this with some great friends though and that is so important.

[aurora23]

Wow...I'm just stunned at the stores that are going......Especially Mayfair! :sad2:

I'm so so sorry & hope that Brad & the Cast get a major dose of pixie dust.:tinker: (With any luck, maybe the powers that be will see what they're losing, keep Mayfair & lose Hot Dot)

I have a feeling that they'll keep the Dells outlet for the busy summer season & when everything is liquidated & then it'll go too......

I can't believe Mayfair is going! If any store was spared I thought it would be that one. Where will I go now? :(

[honeymom]

I just posted about Desert Ridge on another thread. I am shocked about that one, because it just opened a couple of months ago.

[tcarr5]

MARYLAND:
#523 St. Charles Towne Center, Waldorf

:faint: :faint: :faint: :faint:

ok I'm off to go cry :sad2: :(

[Disneymagic93]

Thanks for the picture I-4WDW. That's my store! We were running around all weekend taking pictures of the store and all of the cast who I must say are fantastic!!!!!! It's been my pleasure to work with them for the past 5 years. There are a few of us still left from pre-TCP and it's been very hard for us to know that we won't be working together anymore. I have come out of this with some great friends though and that is so important.

Hi Boston1029,
I'm so sorry to hear about your store closing. If it helps any I'm in the same boat with you. I'm from Willow Grove and I'm sure you have heard by now we are closeing too. I've been with the company for 14 1/2 years. :sad1: While I've only been with Willow Grove for 3 years I'm sure going to miss the Pink and Green store.

[mommyof2princesses]

So sorry to all the cm's out there whose stores are closing. I just started working for Disney in January. Our store is not closing, and hopefully will not. We did lose our wonderful DM who we all love. I hate that she lost her job. She was wonderful. I am looking forward to being Disney owned again.

[mommyof2princesses]

Current CM's don't see it as being rude, but instead trying to tell more guests at one time what is going on in the store. I never once considered myself being rude when I was at the greeter position. I'll be more than happy to talk to guests, I do every single shift, but if I'm at the greeter position, I'm going to do what am I am supposed to do even if some people do consider it rude. It's my job and it doesn't make me any less of a CM. I also don't think it's going to be going anywhere since the greeter position, as I'm sure you know as a former CM, has been around for a LONG time.

We aren't to scream or yell in our store. We were never told to do that. I talk to every guest that comes in and I do tell them about our deals but as I am talking to them.

[dis24242]

We aren't to scream or yell in our store. We were never told to do that. I talk to every guest that comes in and I do tell them about our deals but as I am talking to them.


We are the loudest in our store. I make group announcements when lots of folks are in the SALE are.

Attention
There is no biting or gouging during the sale
However, pushing and shoving is allowed.
Move it toots I want that.

Oh, and be careful the this lady ... she's a known pusher .

Every guest has a great laugh and alot of fun

We're alway loud on the week-end. Just to have fun with our guests and they love it.

Nothing wrong with havin' fun.

[mommyof2princesses]

We are the loudest in our store. I make group announcements when lots of folks are in the SALE are.

Attention
There is no biting or gouging during the sale
However, pushing and shoving is allowed.
Move it toots I want that.

Oh, and be careful the this lady ... she's a known pusher .

Every guest has a great laugh and alot of fun

We're alway loud on the week-end. Just to have fun with our guests and they love it.

Nothing wrong with havin' fun.

That sounds cute...very disney -esque.

[dis24242]

When new babies are in the store I ask if the parents have a cell phone camera.

Well, it's picture takin' time. If the baby is in a stroller, I put mini plush all around so all you see is the baby's face. It's surrounded by plush.
Makin' memories

Sometimes if they're 1 or 2 years old, I sit them in the lower level of plush mt. surround them with bigger plush so all you see is their face and lots of Disney characters.

Takin' pictures at The Disney Store is
Makin' memories.

I've been doin' this for soo long (13 years), kids come back on Prom Night just to take a picture in front of Plush Mountian.

Makin' memories

I even had one wedding party dash in after the wedding and
You guessed it .... pictures at Plush Mountian

Makin' memories

I'm even God Father to one of our newest babies.
That's such a great honor.

Disney Memories will last me a life time.

[fairygodmother29577]

Oh my gosh that is wonderful! I love it, your right we have taken pictures of guest in the castle dressing room, in front of pooh and tigger. I thought there where no great places to take pictures in our new store since our animation is way up high now. But you just restored a little magic for me....Thank you for sharing.

[dis24242]

Godmom,
Always be on the lookout for Jiminy Cricket.
Children follow me around the story whispering "Jiminy Cricket where are you"? We alert guest to "watch where you're walkin'" ya might step on 'em.

But if you find em' ... yell out.. the kids and I will take it from there.

Of course I "Just missed him" several times. The kids have a great time - ah and so do I.

There's lots of lines I use with guests ... my normal greeting, with arms wide open, "welcome home."

Gosh I'm gonna miss our store. When it closes in a few weeks.

Try this one too. Take your biggest plush and have little girls dress 'em using anything in the store. When they're done, display it with a place card that says "Pooh (or Sulley, Eyore, etc) professionally dressed by ... the guest signs or prints her name. The best one was Sulley dressed in Little Mermaid PJ's with a Mermaid hat on his head .. too funny

[disneydawn6]

Oh my gosh that is wonderful! I love it, your right we have taken pictures of guest in the castle dressing room, in front of pooh and tigger. I thought there where no great places to take pictures in our new store since our animation is way up high now. But you just restored a little magic for me....Thank you for sharing.


Castle dressing rooms?:confused3 We have never had a dressing room in our store. It's 19 years old. Animation?:confused3 Our animation went away when we were remodeled 5 years ago. We're a castle store. We do not have any animation at all.

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I'm just checking in on all of my fellow CM's to see how everybody is doing...I hope everyone and their Cast is doing well regardless of the status of the store. :grouphug:

[mickeymark34]

Our Cast is very excited. It seems that there has be a renewed energy amongst us, and you can see it in certain people. Yesterday was my first day working since the official day that Disney took over, and I was so excited to go on stage and celebrate being part of the Company again.

[meljw1960]

We're trying to keep smiling and laughing at the outrageous things some guests say. We are very tired of answering the same questions over and over again. I was not too happy to have to hand out mickey ears to "spread the magic" when Disney is dumping us. But, we hand them to children and tell them it is our way of thanking them for coming to see us and being our guests.
I worked a 9 1/2 hr shift yesterday and the store was so trashed. We tried all day and night to keep up with it ,but it was horrible. I know the brunt of this will hit us when the doors are shut for good, but for now, we are trying to keep our spirits up and make the most of it.

[Mickey&Donald]

We're trying to keep smiling and laughing at the outrageous things some guests say. We are very tired of answering the same questions over and over again. I was not too happy to have to hand out mickey ears to "spread the magic" when Disney is dumping us. But, we hand them to children and tell them it is our way of thanking them for coming to see us and being our guests.
I worked a 9 1/2 hr shift yesterday and the store was so trashed. We tried all day and night to keep up with it ,but it was horrible. I know the brunt of this will hit us when the doors are shut for good, but for now, we are trying to keep our spirits up and make the most of it.

I could have written this exact post. I am growing weary of people asking:

"Oh, are you closing?" (no, we always have hideous signage hanging from our ceilings and it's typical to see literally EVERYTHING in the store on sale :rolleyes: )

"Why are you closing?" (and then I get to explain the whole saga 23874875894 times a day)

"When are you closing?" (I understand this one, but it stinks that I don't have an answer for it)

"When are the sales going to be better than this? [Such-and-such neighboring Disney Store that isn't closing] is having a better sale on this item than you. That's ridiculous, your sale should be better, how lame, blah blah blah..." (these people I have to bite my tongue around :headache: )

We have people ransacking the store constantly. It looked like an army troop with muddy boots marched through today. Not to mention the gum all over the tiles, the Starbucks left on shelves, the wads of Kleenex and napkins from Auntie Anne's left everywhere... This whole experience has been so disheartening and exhausting. We've always had exceptionally messy guests (I've even had visiting managers help out in my store in the past and remark about it) but now that we're closing, they think we're a garbage bin or something.

Sigh. I'm going in for a couple of hours early tomorrow morning (on my day off no less) to change all the signage for the deepening discounts. Not pleased about it, but it needs to be done. We have tons of boxes of shipment backstage (any other liquidation stores who can relate?) that we work on every single day to process, but where am I supposed to store everything? Fourteen cases of Aladdin PVC sets? Seriously?

Sorry to unload on all of you, but I have a feeling many know where I'm coming from. I'm trying to keep the magic alive and the pixie dust flowing, but sometimes it's really hard. :guilty:

[castmember604]

Mickey&Donald

I know our store at VCC can relate to the shipment fiasco that is going on, we recieved about 30 cases of Oswald posters this week, around the same amont of Aladdin PVC's. It honestly seems worse than Christmas this past year. We have a larger back room than most, but our stuff is stacked to the roof!

I have to agree with you about the guests tearing through the store, it is like they dont care, however we do have the guests that do care. We had one on Friday that felt bad for us so she brought us a fresh dozen of doughnuts from Krispy Kream.

[meljw1960]

Boy, its like we are all in the same store. Our liquidation supervisor came in today and made a full window display with all the Oswald stuff. Yes, I processed shipment and between Oswald, remy in a jar, and Giant Stuffed Giselles, we are packed backstage also. The questions you posted are the same ones we answer 100's of times a day and you forgot one... " are they selling the figures??" NO!! and I always tell the, "if they were, we'd be first in line to buy them".
We had a great one yesterday. We gave a little girl Mickey ears and she was thrilled, but told her Mom they didn't fit. She actually looked up at the Cast Member and asked "Do you have a bobby pin??" she no sooner got out the door and we laughed hysterically. A bobby pin?? really? I guess nothing surprises us anymore.

[Mickey&Donald]

Ahhhhhh!!! The Oswald posters! And Oswald resin figurines! And Oswald travel mugs!

I love Oswald. I think he's super cool. But honestly... how are we going to sell all of it? It's really funny that we're all getting the same insane amounts of the same stuff! I had to restack boxes yesterday just to create a path to the green room! :laughing:

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I could have written this exact post. I am growing weary of people asking:

"Oh, are you closing?" (no, we always have hideous signage hanging from our ceilings and it's typical to see literally EVERYTHING in the store on sale :rolleyes: )

"Why are you closing?" (and then I get to explain the whole saga 23874875894 times a day)

"When are you closing?" (I understand this one, but it stinks that I don't have an answer for it)

"When are the sales going to be better than this? [Such-and-such neighboring Disney Store that isn't closing] is having a better sale on this item than you. That's ridiculous, your sale should be better, how lame, blah blah blah..." (these people I have to bite my tongue around :headache: )

We have people ransacking the store constantly. It looked like an army troop with muddy boots marched through today. Not to mention the gum all over the tiles, the Starbucks left on shelves, the wads of Kleenex and napkins from Auntie Anne's left everywhere... This whole experience has been so disheartening and exhausting. We've always had exceptionally messy guests (I've even had visiting managers help out in my store in the past and remark about it) but now that we're closing, they think we're a garbage bin or something.

Sigh. I'm going in for a couple of hours early tomorrow morning (on my day off no less) to change all the signage for the deepening discounts. Not pleased about it, but it needs to be done. We have tons of boxes of shipment backstage (any other liquidation stores who can relate?) that we work on every single day to process, but where am I supposed to store everything? Fourteen cases of Aladdin PVC sets? Seriously?

Sorry to unload on all of you, but I have a feeling many know where I'm coming from. I'm trying to keep the magic alive and the pixie dust flowing, but sometimes it's really hard. :guilty:

The one CM at my store reads the Dis but doesn't post and he read your post and said how badly he feels for you guys. I can't imagine have to repeat the same thing over and over again to guest after guest and then some of them getting mad and being rude about the prices! Some 'customers;' never fail to amaze me. :sad2:



I have to agree with you about the guests tearing through the store, it is like they dont care, however we do have the guests that do care. We had one on Friday that felt bad for us so she brought us a fresh dozen of doughnuts from Krispy Kream.

That was really nice! It's just a simple gesture like that that really lets you know that so many guests do care...

The questions you posted are the same ones we answer 100's of times a day and you forgot one... " are they selling the figures??" NO!! and I always tell the, "if they were, we'd be first in line to buy them".
We had a great one yesterday. We gave a little girl Mickey ears and she was thrilled, but told her Mom they didn't fit. She actually looked up at the Cast Member and asked "Do you have a bobby pin??" she no sooner got out the door and we laughed hysterically. A bobby pin?? really? I guess nothing surprises us anymore.

Yeah...you'd be the first person in line to buy the animation...the CMs who work there would be ALL of the way in the back because you know, they wouldn't want a piece of their store...:sad2: People even ask that at my store and we're not closing.

As far as the bobby pins are concerned, you mean you don't stock them at the cash wrap?! I can't believe that asked you that! A good answer would have been "I'm sorry it doesn't fit your child's head, maybe her head is shaped oddly - we have dress pins back here if you would like a couple of those?" I know I would NEVER say that to a guest...but it doesn't stop me from thinking about it! ;)

Hang in there, you guys. We're all thinking about you. :grouphug:

[dvc at last !]

The one CM at my store reads the Dis but doesn't post and he read your post and said how badly he feels for you guys. I can't imagine have to repeat the same thing over and over again to guest after guest and then some of them getting mad and being rude about the prices! Some 'customers;' never fail to amaze me. :sad2:



That was really nice! It's just a simple gesture like that that really lets you know that so many guests do care...



Yeah...you'd be the first person in line to buy the animation...the CMs who work there would be ALL of the way in the back because you know, they wouldn't want a piece of their store...:sad2: People even ask that at my store and we're not closing.

As far as the bobby pins are concerned, you mean you don't stock them at the cash wrap?! I can't believe that asked you that! A good answer would have been "I'm sorry it doesn't fit your child's head, maybe her head is shaped oddly - we have dress pins back here if you would like a couple of those?" I know I would NEVER say that to a guest...but it doesn't stop me from thinking about it! ;)

Hang in there, you guys. We're all thinking about you. :grouphug:

This is all so not right !

[Mickey&Donald]

The questions you posted are the same ones we answer 100's of times a day and you forgot one... " are they selling the figures??" NO!! and I always tell the, "if they were, we'd be first in line to buy them".

Hahahaha... I forgot about that. We're a Mickey store, so we have a huge Sorcerer Mickey on a pile of "rocks" in the center of the store. Every DAY someone asks how much. :lmao: I always say, "Sorry, the characters are not for sale. If they were, our Cast Members would have already staked claim on them!" I had three moms this weekend all say they wanted Mickey "because I'm decorating my kid's bedroom in Mickey." As if they're the first ones to think of it and ask.. ;) Others want the crocodile from Peter Pan, and of course, the Captain Hook to go with it. Oh, and let's not forget THE ENTIRE PLAY CASTLE (dressing room). Dude, how would you even get it home?? :rotfl2:

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Hahahaha... I forgot about that. We're a Mickey store, so we have a huge Sorcerer Mickey on a pile of "rocks" in the center of the store. Every DAY someone asks how much. :lmao: I always say, "Sorry, the characters are not for sale. If they were, our Cast Members would have already staked claim on them!" I had three moms this weekend all say they wanted Mickey "because I'm decorating my kid's bedroom in Mickey." As if they're the first ones to think of it and ask.. ;) Others want the crocodile from Peter Pan, and of course, the Captain Hook to go with it. Oh, and let's not forget THE ENTIRE PLAY CASTLE (dressing room). Dude, how would you even get it home?? :rotfl2:

You could make a killing on home delivery! LOL!

You're answer to the guests is good...I know that we've all steaked claim to the animation (although we know it will never happen) - I want Chip and Dale! To be perfectly honest with you, that's the same answer I still give to the guests.

Hope you guys are all hanging in there! :)

[GeJohnO]

I just posted about Desert Ridge on another thread. I am shocked about that one, because it just opened a couple of months ago.

That is absolutely insane. I work at Desert Ridge (not at TDS) and I remember it was on azcentral.com and in the Republic about how this was the first store using the "Pixie Dust" concept. It's really cool inside - I'm mad.

[fairygodmother29577]

Godmom,
Always be on the lookout for Jiminy Cricket.
Children follow me around the story whispering "Jiminy Cricket where are you"? We alert guest to "watch where you're walkin'" ya might step on 'em.

But if you find em' ... yell out.. the kids and I will take it from there.

anything in the store. When they're done, display it with a place card that says "Pooh (or Sulley, Eyore, etc) professionally dressed by ... the guest signs or prints her name. The best one was Sulley dressed in Little Mermaid PJ's with a Mermaid hat on his head .. too funny

Thanks for your suggestions.. I love them all, after all it is all about the guest experience. I hope things work out for you and all of the other Cast members here.

[ranidayz]

shoutout to mickey&donald -- you are my 'trader' hero!:cool1:

[Mickey&Donald]

shoutout to mickey&donald -- you are my 'trader' hero!:cool1:

:lmao: You are so welcome! Glad I could help fuel the addiction! :rotfl:

[WI WDWGIRL]

Our store #347-Mayfair MAll in WI received at least 75 cases of the "Action Figure Fairies" with Tink being 50 cases alone! I feel your pain about all the Oswald, Giselle, and PVCs. As for going in on my days off, quite a few already. I look at it this way, How many more times am I going to be standing here? How many more times am I going to get to laugh at the enormous amount of "Clearance" stuff we receive? In 7 months from now, I'd bet my whole disney collection, that we are all saying we'd rather be processing shipment, or out on stage with that guest who wanted too long to buy whatever. Here is my favorite guest experience from our closing stories so far. On Saturday we had a guest who was trying to return a Buzz gun he bought literally 5 minutes earlier. When we informed him a second time(the first, when he bought it) about the return policy, he crumpled his receipt, threw it at the Lead, and starting screaming about that's why we're closing, AND told the Lead to kiss his "rear end." The store was jammed packed when this happened, and the next 10 guests who checked out all pooh-poohed him.

[TheDisneyGirl02]

On Saturday we had a guest who was trying to return a Buzz gun he bought literally 5 minutes earlier. When we informed him a second time(the first, when he bought it) about the return policy, he crumpled his receipt, threw it at the Lead, and starting screaming about that's why we're closing, AND told the Lead to kiss his "rear end." The store was jammed packed when this happened, and the next 10 guests who checked out all pooh-poohed him.

I guess he must have missed that it was a FINAL SALE that was stamped on the receipt that he threw at the Lead?! :confused3 I always have to smile after somebody does something like that because the guests who are behind that person in line are so nice about the situation!

[applepie28]

i am already tired of the guest who, 2 seconds after i hit total says "oh wait i think i need a different size!" AAAAHHHH!!!! did i not just say that ALL SALES ARE FINAL?
then you have the guests who think that just because we are closing they can come in and make an even bigger mess than they used to before. and let me tell you some of our guests are the worst about making messes. i know that to some extent this is just retail but seriously!?! i asked a lady today if she was really going to leave that big pile of tee's sitting there without even attempting to put them back. her response - "well you work here, it's your job". then i commented back that i just wanted a little respect for the fact that i was standing there right beside her folding all of the shirts. she complained that i was being racist. whatever dude!:hippie:
i will miss all the little ones who come and get all excited about our big sorcerer mickey. and i'll miss the guests that really do care about our store and all of our cast members. we have had several ask what we personally are going to do when the store closes. we just give the honest answer, we don't know yet. they tell us that they are sorry that this is happening that they will miss the store and miss all of us. i LOVE those guests!!
our cast is the BEST (and i guess i am being a little biased here but it isn't the first cast that i have worked with). they are all so hard working and caring. it's like we all really do like each other - where else am i going to find a group of people like that to work with?:sad1:
I LOVE YOU GUYS!:grouphug:

[Mickey&Donald]

i am already tired of the guest who, 2 seconds after i hit total says "oh wait i think i need a different size!" AAAAHHHH!!!! did i not just say that ALL SALES ARE FINAL?
then you have the guests who think that just because we are closing they can come in and make an even bigger mess than they used to before. and let me tell you some of our guests are the worst about making messes. i know that to some extent this is just retail but seriously!?! i asked a lady today if she was really going to leave that big pile of tee's sitting there without even attempting to put them back. her response - "well you work here, it's your job". then i commented back that i just wanted a little respect for the fact that i was standing there right beside her folding all of the shirts. she complained that i was being racist. whatever dude!:hippie:
i will miss all the little ones who come and get all excited about our big sorcerer mickey. and i'll miss the guests that really do care about our store and all of our cast members. we have had several ask what we personally are going to do when the store closes. we just give the honest answer, we don't know yet. they tell us that they are sorry that this is happening that they will miss the store and miss all of us. i LOVE those guests!!
our cast is the BEST (and i guess i am being a little biased here but it isn't the first cast that i have worked with). they are all so hard working and caring. it's like we all really do like each other - where else am i going to find a group of people like that to work with?:sad1:
I LOVE YOU GUYS!:grouphug:

I read this whole post going, gosh, this sounds like it could've come from someone at MY store.

Then I realized.. it did! :lmao:

I LOVE YOU GUYS at #561 sooooo much! :grouphug:

[boston1029]

The questions are the hardest to take. I wish that we could put up the liquidation store closing sign. I don't feel that the guests are reading the Disney blue store closing sign when they come in the door. Of course it states that this location is closing in the smallest letters ever so that you would have to stop and actually read it. Unfortunately, this whole thing has not only been difficult for us cast members, but it's been difficult for our guest to wrap their heads around. They have always been able to basically get everything that they have asked for and we now have to tell them no. It's not easy for us to have to say it and it's not easy for them to have to hear it. We've been trying to be very patient and if a guest has an issue with a size before they buy it, we recommend them to one of the stores in our area that is staying open. We've had a lot of guests state that they won't drive to the other stores due to time, traffic, and gas. I'm not sure if now is the right time to try to make the Disney Store a destination. I'm not getting the vibe that the guest will travel. I guess we will all have to wait and see. I can say that I am not looking forward to the next month or so. I want this over quickly, but then I don't want it done quickly. I feel like we lose either way and I will be so sad to lose the people that I work with now.

[boston1029]

Our liquidation guy told us today that there are 17 stores that are going to be closed by June 1 due to their sales being low. They will be sending the product out to other stores. This news came out of left field. No one ever told us that we could potentially be closed earlier due to our sales not doing well to ly. :sad2:

[Mickey&Donald]

Our liquidation guy told us today that there are 17 stores that are going to be closed by June 1 due to their sales being low. They will be sending the product out to other stores. This news came out of left field. No one ever told us that we could potentially be closed earlier due to our sales not doing well to ly. :sad2:


Really, you weren't told that? We were told pretty much off the bat that if we didn't do well enough, they'd just transfer stuff to neighboring stores and shut things down early. There's no point in continuing to pour money into a store that isn't producing.

Did he mention which stores would be closing early? Was yours one of them?

[boston1029]

He didn't give my ASM specific stores, but no, our store isn't one of them. He initially told us that we would be there til the last piece of merch was sold. Nothing was ever mentioned about leaving before that.

[Mickey&Donald]

He didn't give my ASM specific stores, but no, our store isn't one of them. He initially told us that we would be there til the last piece of merch was sold. Nothing was ever mentioned about leaving before that.

Ah, I see... that info was only shared to the management team, not to the rest of the CMs, in my store at least. :confused3

[missingcastmember]

I don't know about the rest of the closing stores, but in the next week or two we should be down to the entire store being Princess Atonomizers and Oswald posters and coffee mugs. It is so sad to see the bare shelves and the hodgepodge walls. SO not Disney anymore!

[ranidayz]

Please tell me the Gaithersburg store isn't being closed early! It's so ironic that since the store has been closing - I feel so much more attached to the CMs!!!! weep, weep, weep!

[boston1029]

In my meeting with him, nothing was ever stated about closing early due to sales. At this point I guess that anything is possible. I feel like our store is so full of product right now. I think that our guests are waiting for the percentages to go more. We have people call every day asking about the percentages. Our liquidation guy said that when it hits 30% we'll see huge numbers happening. I hope so, we have way to much stuff and I do not look forward to having to pack up and send out if that happened.

[WI WDWGIRL]

We have been given a projected close day of June 22. Have you heard anything about CMs coming in to sign more papers? It's suppose to be some confidentially thing...

[EpcotMatt2]

On the papers that we had to sign as managers there was a projected 7.6 weeks on our sheets. That would put us at the same time around 6/22.

[Mickey&Donald]

We have been given a projected close day of June 22. Have you heard anything about CMs coming in to sign more papers? It's suppose to be some confidentially thing...

Our liquidation guy will be at our store either tomorrow or Wednesday -- I really hope he'll have a projected closing day for us at that point. I really, really want to see if I can manage a weekend in Orlando just to be able to use my Silver Pass at least once! :rotfl:

[Tinkangel]

At my local DS this past weekend (one that isn't closing), there was someone checking out in front of me. This person started screaming at the CM ringing them out, wanting to know why they wouldn't "price match" another store in the area that IS closing! After reading sooo many CM posts here, I had to speak up and ask this guest if they were "for real", and mentioned that it's mentality like that, that is the cause of some of the stores to be closing to begin with! :headache:

Best wishes to all CM's in closing stores, and just know that there are guests out there supporting you. :grouphug:

[TheDisneyGirl02]

At my local DS this past weekend (one that isn't closing), there was someone checking out in front of me. This person started screaming at the CM ringing them out, wanting to know why they wouldn't "price match" another store in the area that IS closing! After reading sooo many CM posts here, I had to speak up and ask this guest if they were "for real", and mentioned that it's mentality like that, that is the cause of some of the stores to be closing to begin with! :headache:

Best wishes to all CM's in closing stores, and just know that there are guests out there supporting you. :grouphug:


What did the guest say when you said that?

Thank you for sticking up for all of us, regardless of the store status. :thumbsup2

[WI WDWGIRL]

On the papers that we had to sign as managers there was a projected 7.6 weeks on our sheets. That would put us at the same time around 6/22.

Now we were told that we are going to start receiving product from other stores that are closing early. We were also told that Hoop never paid their taxes to our city, so the mayor is getting his lawyers involved. This does not look good for us trying to fight the closing....

[mickeymark34]

Thats real responsible of a million dollar company.

[CharacterFan]

Now we were told that we are going to start receiving product from other stores that are closing early. We were also told that Hoop never paid their taxes to our city, so the mayor is getting his lawyers involved. This does not look good for us trying to fight the closing....

I worked for a scrapbook store and when they were closing all of our stores they didn't pay the rent so that the realitors would work harder on getting it filled and they could get out of their lease. They may have been trying to do something like that.

[MrsJ Henry]

Does anyone know what stores in NY state will be closing?

[remain seated please]

This does not look good for us trying to fight the closing....

Just curious. Could you share what you are doing to fight the closing of your Disney Store?

[Mickey&Donald]

Does anyone know what stores in NY state will be closing?

The complete list, divided by state, is further up in this thread.

[Mickey&Donald]

Just curious. Could you share what you are doing to fight the closing of your Disney Store?

I'd love to know this too. :confused3 As far as I know, there's nothing that can be done at this point. We're kicking serious liquidation booty (our store has consistently been in the top 10 of all closing stores in sales) and sadly, we're still closing. Post Street in San Francisco is pulling some insane numbers (they did $100,000+ this week) and they're still closing.

I'm just curious what you guys think you can honestly do to change anything, other than going out with a bang..

[remain seated please]

I'd love to know this too. :confused3 As far as I know, there's nothing that can be done at this point. We're kicking serious liquidation booty (our store has consistently been in the top 10 of all closing stores in sales) and sadly, we're still closing. Post Street in San Francisco is pulling some insane numbers (they did $100,000+ this week) and they're still closing.

I'm just curious what you guys think you can honestly do to change anything, other than going out with a bang..

I was at the Post St. store over the weekend. It was very busy. Mostly tourists but liquidation is liquidation. They were buying. I was an ASM at Post St. before I took over Pier 39 (DS302). Post was once a jewel in the DS crown. It is sad. No, it's a shame to see what that store has been reduced to over the years. Even before TCP took them over, Disney took out the gallery and I believe the store lost all its appeal with the locals. It has been a 10,000 square foot clearance rack ever since.

With the closure of Post and Stonestown, there will no longer be a Disney Store in San Francisco. Leaving such a major U.S. city without a single Disney Store strengthens my opinion that this is just the beginning of the end for the entire chain. I know that a few people here like to complain when I say this and call me bitter, unhappy and other things.

I'm sorry to burst those people's bubbles. But over the years, I have been correct where TDS is concerned. I pointed out on these boards in 2004 how the TCP deal would turn out to be a disaster. Not because of TCP, but because the Disney Store had run it's course. The most obvious sign was when TDS went from 730 stores to around 300 in just a few years.

Unfortunately there is not a single thing that anyone can do to keep their stores open. It just paints a picture of denial that is sad to say the least. I hope those people will be able to move on when thier stores are gone. And I hope those who's stores remain open will learn a lesson from these boards for when when the time comes for your stores to close.

[dis24242]

I'd love to know this too. :confused3 As far as I know, there's nothing that can be done at this point. We're kicking serious liquidation booty (our store has consistently been in the top 10 of all closing stores in sales) and sadly, we're still closing. Post Street in San Francisco is pulling some insane numbers (they did $100,000+ this week) and they're still closing.

I'm just curious what you guys think you can honestly do to change anything, other than going out with a bang..

Early on, when our store learned we were closing, we wrote letters to James Kapenstien and Andy Mooney. We sent them overnight registered mail. We detailed our accomplishment and history. I was called by an assistant to Andy Mooney to say "they received the letter and would take it under advisment". Ah, we're still closing, maybe done this week-end.

I agree with PRSeated... TDS is not Disney's strong suit. There are many factors that will, I beleive, lead to the complete shut down of the stores.

The past 15 years have been quite a roller coaster ride!

I read on another board that some stores are having difficulty enforcing the "Disney Look Standard". Not all managers embrace the standard. I wonder if the weeding out process is now at management level? Followed by cast level?

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I read on another board that some stores are having difficulty enforcing the "Disney Look Standard". Not all managers embrace the standard. I wonder if the weeding out process is now at management level? Followed by cast level?

It's interesting to hear that because I know at my store, our Disney-Look Standards never changed even when we were TCP. Since we never really swayed from the standards, it isn't hard at all to go back to Disney Standards. :)

[dis24242]

I know at my store, our Disney-Look Standards never changed even when we were TCP. Since we never really swayed from the standards, it isn't hard at all to go back to Disney Standards. :) I'm thinkin' that's because you're still Disney. The stores built during TCP days might have the biggest problem. They don't have the standard to GO BACK TO. They never knew the standard in the first place.

Ok, so why the difference. Remember when you hired in? You, like everyone else, wanted to work at TDS because IT WAS DISNEY !! It was a passion. I think some of TCP employees work at TDS 'cause IT"S A JOB. It's not a passion. Remember how it was? I bet you were so happy when you hired in !!!

ok, I'm off my soap box now.

I gotta say, TCP employees at my store, even though we're closing, are as good as any cast we've ever had. They ARE Disney and they are great. I'll miss 'em all.

[ranidayz]

I was in my wonderful store today - you all know which one -- where the CMs are wonderful and wonderful to me besides. Anyway, I met the liquid. guy - who was very NOT Disney (I didn't know that he really didn't work for Disney) and made things very clinical. I was also majorly horrified to see family after family allowing their children to make a "PLUSH PIT" in the back with all the plush from the shelves on the floor. I made comment after comment back in the "PIT" and up at the register and frankly, the comments didn't even break skin with these people. Absolutely so disrespectful - and I said so -- after all, I'm not a Disney CM -- I just wish I played one on TV!

All the best wished to all the CMs going through this -- especially mine!:lovestruc

[mickeymark34]

Remain Seated Please.....I have to ask one question. Did you get fired from your job at The Disney Store? You remind me of Mrs. Carmody in the movie "The Mist".

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I'm thinkin' that's because you're still Disney. The stores built during TCP days might have the biggest problem. They don't have the standard to GO BACK TO. They never knew the standard in the first place.

Ok, so why the difference. Remember when you hired in? You, like everyone else, wanted to work at TDS because IT WAS DISNEY !! It was a passion. I think some of TCP employees work at TDS 'cause IT"S A JOB. It's not a passion. Remember how it was? I bet you were so happy when you hired in !!!

ok, I'm off my soap box now.

I gotta say, TCP employees at my store, even though we're closing, are as good as any cast we've ever had. They ARE Disney and they are great. I'll miss 'em all.

I guess I have been blessed with a wonderful cast and management team. I see where you are coming from though. :)

Good luck to you and your cast! May you all continue to remain friends, wherever you may be... ;)

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Remain Seated Please.....I have to ask one question. Did you get fired from your job at The Disney Store? You remind me of Mrs. Carmody in the movie "The Mist".

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Saw the movie, didn't like it at all...actually had nightmares about the ending of it for days! :offtopic:

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

There is truth to the rumor that stores that are not selling much will be closed early and the inventory sent out to other liquidating stores. The date I heard was June 7. :(

[Mickey&Donald]

There is truth to the rumor that stores that are not selling much will be closed early and the inventory sent out to other liquidating stores. The date I heard was June 7. :(

I heard the same thing, and the date I heard was June 8th. My liquidation guy has already told us that we're not one of those stores, thank goodness. We're actually shipping inventory out to another store tomorrow.

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I saw the liquidator guy at the mall today. He put up a giant yellow sign that reads "LAST 10 DAYS!" Sad. At least most of the CMs have plans in place to go work for other companies. It is shameful that they haven't been offered transfers to the remaining locations when those stores are not fully staffed. It makes no sense at all. I am trying not to be ugly to the liquidator, because it isn't his fault, it wasn't his decision, and he has no power. He is just following directions. I was teasing him today, but I won't be hateful to him. Apparently some of the liquidation folks are really being abused, and that just isn't productive.

[mickeymark34]

What do you mean "abused"? Certainly I think you mean mentally, and not physically.

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

What do you mean "abused"? Certainly I think you mean mentally, and not physically.

Oh, I don't think physically. Although he mentioned some other liquidations he has handled where things could have gotten violent. (NOT Disney.)
I think what they are encountering is frustration/anger from displaced CMs, uncooperative attitudes from mall management offices, that sort of thing. Because they are the "face" that people are putting with the stores closing the liquidators aren't being treated very nicely in some cases. While it probably is an occupational hazard I still feel kind of bad for the guy!

[barbara ann]

We found out today that June 7th will be our last day open. Three of the five stores that are closing in CT will close that day for good.
Our final curtain call...

[missingcastmember]

Was there any reason as to why the closing cast wasn't offered a transfer to another store? I thought Disney was going to try to do this?

[kmann728]

My Store is being slated to close on June 7th which is weird because our sales have been high. Even the liquidation guy was confused why we were on the list. Apparently 1/3rd of the store closing will close their doors on June 7th. :(

[Mickey&Donald]

One store in our general area will also be closing June 7th. :( Not us, thankfully. My liquidation guy told me today that the second wave will probably happen June 14th, and the last wave, June 22nd. I really hope we're going to be part of the June 22nd group. :sad:

[barbara ann]

As far as cast members being transfered, there will only be one store left in my state, and the last I knew close to 30 cast members from the 5 closing stores were interested in a transfer. From what I understand, the store closing in MA also has cast members looking to transfer. We'll just have to see how many they are allowed to take.
Some may change their mind because of fuel costs...

[Mickey&Donald]

Many, many CMs will not have the option of transferring -- in so many cases, the vast majority or all of the stores in certain states will be closing. For example, when 9 out of 10 stores in Missouri close, where do you place those extra 200 or so CMs? Can't send them all to that remaining store, and I seriously doubt that they'll want to move to another state just to work for TDS. :confused3

In my store's case, a few of us will likely transfer to neighboring stores, but most won't. And there has been NO help from the company in regards to transferring. Those of us that want to are having to contact those stores directly, or we've been contacted by them. Don't think for a minute, though, that Disney itself is worried about what's going to happen to all of us. Not the case. :(

[missingcastmember]

Our store has been told we would be receiving some of the inventory from the other stores closing early. I think we may remain open until the 22nd...we also have about 30 cast members trying to transfer to other stores. It really makes the last remaining days hard..all of the not knowing....everyone silently fighting for one of the few positions possibly open, and wondering if you should be out looking for another job now so that when all is said and done, we are not sitting without a job. SO..for those closing stores out there...how many times have you gotten the question.."Are you hiring?"....

[Mickey&Donald]

We get people seeking applications nearly every day. At this point, I just gesture toward the hideous ceilings signs and say, "Um, we're closing. So.. yeah, we're not hiring." Usually they'll look up and go, "Oooh.. so you're like not hiring?"

:headache:

Even if I *was* hiring.. I wouldn't want these brainiacs working for me! :rolleyes1

[remain seated please]

I know that many of you don't like hearing the truth and I am sorry for that. But once again, here's the truth about Disney Store transfers.

Disney does not like to take-in transfers from closing stores. They feel that many of these castmembers are set in ways that the company no longer embraces. Some of you who feel close to your managers and district managers might be surprised to know what they say about you behind your back. Typically, Disney handles closing CM's in these ways.

1. Tell them that there aren't any openings at the surrounding stores, while telling the surrounding stores not to hire these people.

2. Suggest that there may be openings in a store that is too far for the CM to travel to.

3. Don't give them an answer at all, making them wait until the the store closes before telling them #1 or #2.

I know, I know. This doesn't sound like Disney. But it is. When the Pleasanton, CA store closed in 2001 (lease issues), we were given a list of CM's from that store who we could consider. There were 2 people on the list. Everyone else was considered a "dinosaur" because they had worked in that store for nearly 10 years and were no longer considered in "the Disney way."

Three of those "dinosaur" CM's came to my store in San Francisco (40 miles away) asking for jobs. While 2 of them clearly met the "dinosaur" image, one of them did not. I fought to bring her on my team and was successful. Eventually I promoted her to lead. This woman spent nearly 10 years as a part-time castmember without even a promotion. That was an incredible achievement in patience.

My advice to CM's of closing stores is to get out early. Don't go down with the ship. If your store is not closing in the next few weeks, but it is in liquidation, why stay? You are only delaying the inevitible. If you leave now (with dignity) you can still have Disney on your resume. If your life will not be the same because you must work for Disney, move to California or Florida and try going to work for the parks. You will not be penalized because you left TDS...

In fact, you might find it easier to get into the parks AFTER you have separated from TDS. You can't deny that TDS has always been like a step child where Disney was concerned. This goes back to way before TCP had the stores. Unless you were near the top of the ladder at TDS "home base", you had a better chance of winning a lottery than getting a transfer.

The best thing you can do at this time is quit your job and apply for something new, down the road and after the dust has settled. When you put TDS on your next application (Disney or not) simply write "store closed" in the Reason For Leaving box and you will be fine.

Lastly. When the next round of closures is announced, don't sign any documents promising to stay until the store closes. You haven't had a contract with Disney before. So why have one when you are going to lose your job? The company will want to ensure that they have enough employees to get through the closure. Why deal with all of the drama, sadness and misery of a store closure. You have sure read about it enough here. Make the company spend money hiring employees to get through the closure. There's nothing wrong with looking out for #1. (And I mean YOU, not TDS)

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I know that many of you don't like hearing the truth and I am sorry for that. But once again, here's the truth about Disney Store transfers.

Disney does not like to take-in transfers from closing stores. They feel that many of these castmembers are set in ways that the company no longer embraces. Some of you who feel close to your managers and district managers might be surprised to know what they say about you behind your back. Typically, Disney handles closing CM's in these ways.

1. Tell them that there aren't any openings at the surrounding stores, while telling the surrounding stores not to hire these people.

2. Suggest that there may be openings in a store that is too far for the CM to travel to.

3. Don't give them an answer at all, making them wait until the the store closes before telling them #1 or #2.

I know, I know. This doesn't sound like Disney. But it is. When the Pleasanton, CA store closed in 2001 (lease issues), we were given a list of CM's from that store who we could consider. There were 2 people on the list. Everyone else was considered a "dinosaur" because they had worked in that store for nearly 10 years and were no longer considered in "the Disney way."

Three of those "dinosaur" CM's came to my store in San Francisco (40 miles away) asking for jobs. While 2 of them clearly met the "dinosaur" image, one of them did not. I fought to bring her on my team and was successful. Eventually I promoted her to lead. This woman spent nearly 10 years as a part-time castmember without even a promotion. That was an incredible achievement in patience.

My advice to CM's of closing stores is to get out early. Don't go down with the ship. If your store is not closing in the next few weeks, but it is in liquidation, why stay? You are only delaying the inevitible. If you leave now (with dignity) you can still have Disney on your resume. If your life will not be the same because you must work for Disney, move to California or Florida and try going to work for the parks. You will not be penalized because you left TDS...

In fact, you might find it easier to get into the parks AFTER you have separated from TDS. You can't deny that TDS has always been like a step child where Disney was concerned. This goes back to way before TCP had the stores. Unless you were near the top of the ladder at TDS "home base", you had a better chance of winning a lottery than getting a transfer.

Lastly. When the next round of closures is announced, don't sign any documents promising to stay until the store closes. You haven't had a contract with Disney before. So why have one when you are going to lose your job? The company will want to ensure that they have enough employees to get through the closure. Why deal with all of the drama, sadness and misery of a store closure. You have sure read about it enough here. Make the company spend money hiring employees to get through the closure. There's nothing wrong with looking out for #1. (And I mean YOU, not TDS)

It's funny to hear the term 'dinosaur' because after working at the store for 9 years I have never heard anybody called that. Maybe it is a West Coast store thing (I'm not trying to be mean when I say that because I have truly NEVER heard that term used to describe CMs).

We have had several transfers from other stores and at least one transfer from a closed store. She was the store manager there (she was also at my store before going to the other store) and when she came back, she was a PT Lead because she had just had a baby. One of our CMs has worked at several stores as well as two members of our management team.

I just find some of your reasoning interesting. I don't really agree with it, but I do find it interesting...

[TheDisneyGirl02]

We get people seeking applications nearly every day. At this point, I just gesture toward the hideous ceilings signs and say, "Um, we're closing. So.. yeah, we're not hiring." Usually they'll look up and go, "Oooh.. so you're like not hiring?"

:headache:

Even if I *was* hiring.. I wouldn't want these brainiacs working for me! :rolleyes1

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Some people...LOL!!!!!

How are you guys doing at your store?

[Mickey&Donald]

please remain seated, I have only one question for you. Did you willingly leave your job with TDS, or were you removed from it?

I will be staying on "my ship" until the last piece of merchandise is gone, the last fixture is sold, and the animation is smashed into eensy weensy pieces (sad, but true). I am the only one remaining who was there for Grand Opening day, and I will be the last to leave and lock the door for the final time.

Our store manager jumped ship recently. Basically went AWOL. I've stepped into her role and am happy to be taking over the store for our last month. I've got a dedicated cast that is willing to work hard by my side until the end. I tell them all the time how much I appreciate them, and I try to show them, too. I'm also being very honest with them, and giving them updates on everything as soon as I get information. I want them to know what is happening, so they can prepare themselves.

I'm getting my ducks in a row, so don't you worry one little bit about that. And FWIW, I've been to WDW and Disneyland a number of times as a TDS cast member, and never been treated like anything but part of the family.

I realize you think you're being "helpful", but it is clear to me, as it is to others here, that your opinions and ideas have been tainted by your own bad experiences wtih TDS. Your experiences are not necessarily what everyone else will go through. I'm sorry your relationship with Disney ended badly, but it's time for you to let go and move on. Your bitterness is not helping matters.

[Mickey&Donald]

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Some people...LOL!!!!!

How are you guys doing at your store?

Ah, we're pluggin' away. Trying to have fun and keep our spirits up as the backstage empties and we start storing empty fixtures back there. It's been a tough road, and it's not over yet, but we're all going to be okay. :)

On the silver lining side of things, it looks like I'll be heading down to WDW for three days or so, very soon. :) A little escape will be nice.

[ranidayz]

Ah, we're pluggin' away. Trying to have fun and keep our spirits up as the backstage empties and we start storing empty fixtures back there. It's been a tough road, and it's not over yet, but we're all going to be okay. :)

On the silver lining side of things, it looks like I'll be heading down to WDW for three days or so, very soon. :) A little escape will be nice.

Oh Mickey&Donald -- would you hire me????? I could work in the Plush pit in the back....you know, telling the families to pick up the toys their kids have thrashed on the floor!

Since you're going to WDW, stock up on trader pins in your store and by all means -- trade some light-up pirate pins........

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Ah, we're pluggin' away. Trying to have fun and keep our spirits up as the backstage empties and we start storing empty fixtures back there. It's been a tough road, and it's not over yet, but we're all going to be okay. :)

On the silver lining side of things, it looks like I'll be heading down to WDW for three days or so, very soon. :) A little escape will be nice.

An escape to WDW is always a good thing! Have a wonderful and magical trip! :)

[Keneke]

Newb here - unfortunately, the one store in my city closed. It's not as bad as it would have been if it were a store pre-TCS. I hardly went in there anymore since the book and CD section were decimated in the past few years.

I guess that is what the internet is for. :worried:

[mickeymark34]

Remain Seated Please......Your profile says you are a "Business Owner". Hypothetically, if that business was going down, would you tell any of your employees to "get out early", "Don't go down with the ship", or ask them, "why stay?". What if some of your hardest working employees wanted to stay until the end, whould you tell them "You are only delaying the inevitible"?

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Was there any reason as to why the closing cast wasn't offered a transfer to another store? I thought Disney was going to try to do this?

I don't work for TDS, so I am not 100% clear on what the CMs at the liquidating stores have been told. :confused3 I know that the stores that are NOT closing are not fully staffed with managers, but I also know the district manager hasn't contacted the remaining CMs about transferring.

Many, many CMs will not have the option of transferring -- in so many cases, the vast majority or all of the stores in certain states will be closing. For example, when 9 out of 10 stores in Missouri close, where do you place those extra 200 or so CMs? Can't send them all to that remaining store, and I seriously doubt that they'll want to move to another state just to work for TDS. :confused3

In my store's case, a few of us will likely transfer to neighboring stores, but most won't. And there has been NO help from the company in regards to transferring. Those of us that want to are having to contact those stores directly, or we've been contacted by them. Don't think for a minute, though, that Disney itself is worried about what's going to happen to all of us. Not the case. :(

That's kind of the situation I am seeing with my friends. :(

[boston1029]

Today totally sucked!!!!! We were told that we are closing Saturday, June 7. :eek: Our backstage is empty and when you talk it echoes. Wow, what an experience this has been. I can't wish this liquidation thing on anyone, not even my worst enemy. I have decided to move on with the company, most of my cast has decided not too. I have about 4 people who want to stay and I'm working with my dm on that. I just want to say to all of you who have been going through this that you are all strong people because you have to be to deal with this stuff everyday. I am in awe of your strength and am grateful for the people that I work with. The CAST of EXTON SQUARE Mall ROCKS!!!!!!!!!

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Today totally sucked!!!!! We were told that we are closing Saturday, June 7. :eek: Our backstage is empty and when you talk it echoes. Wow, what an experience this has been. I can't wish this liquidation thing on anyone, not even my worst enemy. I have decided to move on with the company, most of my cast has decided not too. I have about 4 people who want to stay and I'm working with my dm on that. I just want to say to all of you who have been going through this that you are all strong people because you have to be to deal with this stuff everyday. I am in awe of your strength and am grateful for the people that I work with. The CAST of EXTON SQUARE Mall ROCKS!!!!!!!!!

I'm very sorry to hear about your store closing early. Sadly, your store is one of the only TDS's in Eastern PA I have never been too and I wish I had a chance to meet the Cast. Good luck to you all! :)

[remain seated please]

please remain seated, I have only one question for you. Did you willingly leave your job with TDS, or were you removed from it?

I realize you think you're being "helpful", but it is clear to me, as it is to others here, that your opinions and ideas have been tainted by your own bad experiences wtih TDS. Your experiences are not necessarily what everyone else will go through. I'm sorry your relationship with Disney ended badly, but it's time for you to let go and move on. Your bitterness is not helping matters.

It's funny that because I no longer eat, drink, breathe and sleep Disney, like many of you, I am bitter. And now at least 2 of you are asking if I quit or if I was fired. Why the interest? Exactly how does that matter? Don't worry, I'm not dodging the question. I just find it extremly rude that some of you feel the need to make assumptions about me.

The answer is...BOTH! I decided I was no longer going to be pushed around by a DM and a Regional Director who were incompetant. I was harrassed, discriminated against and bullied by two women who made the Evil Queen and Ursula look more like Snow White and Ariel.

When these women took away a pre-approved long weekend from me so that I could spend time with my mom who had breast cancer, I had my fill. I took one of the days off and returned for the rest, knowing that I would be fired for it. Sure enough, I was promptly fired on Monday. It was the best thing that ever happened to me during my time as a Disney Store manager.

I turned over my evidence of the bullying, harrassment and discrimination to Human Resources and was offered re-instatement in another district/region (Arizona, which I was relocating to anyway). I turned them down and said I would never work for Disney again. Within two months, my old store was closed down and shortly after that, both the DM and the Regional Director were also gone.

So am I bitter at Disney and/or TDS? Aboslutely NOT! I have neither the time, the desire or the energy to be bitter. I have worked for much better companies than Disney (Yes, there are some of them out there). I no longer drink the Disney "kool-aid." That's because I have disagreed with the company's direction for years. I am a Disney Purist who hates what Disney has become. The demise of TDS started before I left in 2001. I have shared on these boards my observations of the collapse of TDS since 2002.

For the record. While I feel for those who are losing their jobs at TDS, I am also sorry that so many people are so selfish when it comes to this company. "They are our stores." "We will always be a family." "Our Disney family." "I cried all day today." "I will always have the pixie dust." BLAH, BLAH, BLAH! This poor, poor, pitiful me attitude is beyond old...It's bordering on pathetic.

So fine, people. Stay until the end and have your funerals or whatever. Disney is not worth it (especially TDS). And like I've said here repeatedly, they could care less about you. So continue with the denial. And feel free to continue with the attacks. I have dealt with worse on this very subject, on these very boards.

But know that those you who disagree with me are not the only ones on these boards. Other have commented privately to me on how my observations have actually helped them, or just shared that they agree with me. It would seem that there is balance in the force after all.

[applepie28]

PLEASE REMAIN SEATED....

FYI - - - - - i am a transplant from a store that closed previosly so i don't know WHERE you got the idea that TDS does not offer this option to its cast members.

FYI - - - - - your negativity is a real downer. i think the loyalty that i and the other CM's are showing is extraordinary and when we go to other jobs, TDS or not- retail or not, it WILL look good that we stayed until the end. i realize that TDS the company is not looking out for me the individual person but people who decide to stay are doing what they feel is right. and by the way, can you point me in the direction of a company that does care about its employees as individual people cause i think i'd like to apply. otherwise i really don't think that we need to keep hearing about how much the company does not care about us. just because we are loyal, hard working people that does not mean that we are blind to the cold hard facts of life. we just choose to go on and try to make the best we can out of the situation presented to us.

if you want to be bitter go right ahead and do that but we really don't need to keep seeing your negativity.

[TheDisneyGirl02]

It's funny that because I no longer eat, drink, breathe and sleep Disney, like many of you, I am bitter. And now at least 2 of you are asking if I quit or if I was fired. Why the interest? Exactly how does that matter? Don't worry, I'm not dodging the question. I just find it extremly rude that some of you feel the need to make assumptions about me.

The answer is...BOTH! I decided I was no longer going to be pushed around by a DM and a Regional Director who were incompetant. I was harrassed, discriminated against and bullied by two women who made the Evil Queen and Ursula look more like Snow White and Ariel.

When these women took away a pre-approved long weekend from me so that I could spend time with my mom who had breast cancer, I had my fill. I took one of the days off and returned for the rest, knowing that I would be fired for it. Sure enough, I was promptly fired on Monday. It was the best thing that ever happened to me during my time as a Disney Store manager.

I turned over my evidence of the bullying, harrassment and discrimination to Human Resources and was offered re-instatement in another district/region (Arizona, which I was relocating to anyway). I turned them down and said I would never work for Disney again. Within two months, my old store was closed down and shortly after that, both the DM and the Regional Director were also gone.

So am I bitter at Disney and/or TDS? Aboslutely NOT! I have neither the time, the desire or the energy to be bitter. I have worked for much better companies than Disney (Yes, there are some of them out there). I no longer drink the Disney "kool-aid." That's because I have disagreed with the company's direction for years. I am a Disney Purist who hates what Disney has become. The demise of TDS started before I left in 2001. I have shared on these boards my observations of the collapse of TDS since 2002.

For the record. While I feel for those who are losing their jobs at TDS, I am also sorry that so many people are so selfish when it comes to this company. "They are our stores." "We will always be a family." "Our Disney family." "I cried all day today." "I will always have the pixie dust." BLAH, BLAH, BLAH! This poor, poor, pitiful me attitude is beyond old...It's bordering on pathetic.

So fine, people. Stay until the end and have your funerals or whatever. Disney is not worth it (especially TDS). And like I've said here repeatedly, they could care less about you. So continue with the denial. And feel free to continue with the attacks. I have dealt with worse on this very subject, on these very boards.

But know that those you who disagree with me are not the only ones on these boards. Other have commented privately to me on how my observations have actually helped them, or just shared that they agree with me. It would seem that there is balance in the force after all.


Finally...the truth is out! I'm sorry about the DM and RM that bullied you - that was not right. Taking away a pre-approved long weekend would really upset me too. It was probably best for you and TDS to part ways at that point. However, what happened to you hasn't happened nor will it happen to most of the CM's.

Some of the things that you have said have been hurtful to ALL Disney fans, regardless if they work for the company or not. Obviously most of the people who are on these boards are Disney fans who live and breath Disney - why say such hurtful things when everyone is here for the same reason?

The bolded section above was COMPLETELY uncalled for. Although you didn't mention names, you have offended many people on this board. I will always love my Disney family (BOTH of my Disney families -WDW & TDS) and will always cherish the memories that have made there. I'm sorry that you're Disney family didn't work out for you, but please don't call us pathetic because it worked for us.

[disneydawn6]

I know, I know. This doesn't sound like Disney. But it is. When the Pleasanton, CA store closed in 2001 (lease issues), we were given a list of CM's from that store who we could consider. There were 2 people on the list. Everyone else was considered a "dinosaur" because they had worked in that store for nearly 10 years and were no longer considered in "the Disney way."

Three of those "dinosaur" CM's came to my store in San Francisco (40 miles away) asking for jobs. While 2 of them clearly met the "dinosaur" image, one of them did not. I fought to bring her on my team and was successful. Eventually I promoted her to lead. This woman spent nearly 10 years as a part-time castmember without even a promotion. That was an incredible achievement in patience.

)

When Pleasanton closed we were quite happy to hire one of their "dinosaurs" and he is still with us today and great as ever :worship: ... He's right in line behind me and I've lasted for 19 years. Apparently longer then you made it. Are one of your "dinosaurs" your talking about Debra? She is quite happy working at Disneyland now in guest services.... So I guess her patience paid off, even though she came from TDS. She also had the great honor of being in the Disney Store Trivia Competition at Disneyland..... So maybe they do like some of us........
Just call me the 19 year "dinosaur" and proud of it...:banana:

[disneydawn6]

[:cool1: :cool1: :cool1: :cool1: :cool1:

[remain seated please]

When Pleasanton closed we were quite happy to hire one of their "dinosaurs" and he is still with us today and great as ever :worship: ... He's right in line behind me and I've lasted for 19 years. Apparently longer then you made it. Are one of your "dinosaurs" your talking about Debra? She is quite happy working at Disneyland now in guest services.... So I guess her patience paid off, even though she came from TDS. She also had the great honor of being in the Disney Store Trivia Competition at Disneyland..... So maybe they do like some of us........
Just call me the 19 year "dinosaur" and proud of it...:banana:

I am talking about Debra. She was amazing! The DM (see below) made her sound like a manager's worst nightmare. The Debra I hired was a gift. I immediately promoted her to lead CM, much to the DM's dismay. By this time I had given up on the DM. She obviously hated me, but that was fine because the RD was very much in my corner. That RD was Shirley. I'm sure you remember her. She was awesome, and made my life at TDS worthwhile...
Until she went to England.

Then Grace took over as RD and all hell began to break loose. The DM was MARY. Never before Disney and not since have I dealt with a person as nasty, arrogant and ignorant as Mary. At a time when TDS was beginning to tank, Mary's ilk was the type that contributed to the demise of the company. She was an embarrassment to Disney.

Publically, she would praise people and privately she would ridicule them. I have plenty of horror stories about her, but you'll have to wait until my book comes out. I'm happy you have lasted 19 years and that (like me), you rescued a good CM from Pleasanton. While my management stint at TDS lasted just over 2 years, it felt like twenty. Two lessons I took from that job were to not be afraid to be myself and to get out when the job is no longer fun. Had I gone into that job with the mentality I have today, I would not have lasted six months.

[remain seated please]

Finally...the truth is out! I'm sorry about the DM and RM that bullied you - that was not right. Taking away a pre-approved long weekend would really upset me too. It was probably best for you and TDS to part ways at that point. However, what happened to you hasn't happened nor will it happen to most of the CM's.

Some of the things that you have said have been hurtful to ALL Disney fans, regardless if they work for the company or not. Obviously most of the people who are on these boards are Disney fans who live and breath Disney - why say such hurtful things when everyone is here for the same reason?

The bolded section above was COMPLETELY uncalled for. Although you didn't mention names, you have offended many people on this board. I will always love my Disney family (BOTH of my Disney families -WDW & TDS) and will always cherish the memories that have made there. I'm sorry that you're Disney family didn't work out for you, but please don't call us pathetic because it worked for us.

No need to apologize to me for things that two insignificant people did many years ago. As I have said, I am not bitter and moved on from TDS a long time ago.

My observations are based on reality and fact. Calling them hurtful is a little over the top. I don't sugar coat my opinions. There is plenty of sugar coating going on here already. As for offending people. I believe that one is offended only if they choose to be. The act of being offended is a selfish choice by the "offendee". I don't believe in offending people. If you disagree with me that's fine. I cited specific examples of things that have been said on this thread, over and over for several months. I did not call anybody "pathetic". I was referring to a behavior that I felt was bordering on pathetic.

The Disney Store has always been an emotional topic on the DIS. Thats partly because of the adversity where TDS is concerned and the trouble the company has been in for so long. People are very passionate about TDS for a variety of reasons. I see it as a business unit of Disney that has run its course. Without a major re-invention, I don't see a future for the chain. If I'm proven wrong, sobeit. For the past several years I have been correct in my observations (however painful they may be) about TDS. I see nothing wrong with being critical of TDS and sharing a viewpoint that is different from many others.

[disneydawn6]

I am talking about Debra. She was amazing! The DM (see below) made her sound like a manager's worst nightmare. The Debra I hired was a gift. I immediately promoted her to lead CM, much to the DM's dismay. By this time I had given up on the DM. She obviously hated me, but that was fine because the RD was very much in my corner. That RD was Shirley. I'm sure you remember her. She was awesome, and made my life at TDS worthwhile...
Until she went to England.

Then Grace took over as RD and all hell began to break loose. The DM was MARY. Never before Disney and not since have I dealt with a person as nasty, arrogant and ignorant as Mary. At a time when TDS was beginning to tank, Mary's ilk was the type that contributed to the demise of the company. She was an embarrassment to Disney.

Publicly, she would praise people and privately she would ridicule them. I have plenty of horror stories about her, but you'll have to wait until my book comes out. I'm happy you have lasted 19 years and that (like me), you rescued a good CM from Pleasanton. While my management stint at TDS lasted just over 2 years, it felt like twenty. Two lessons I took from that job were to not be afraid to be myself and to get out when the job is no longer fun. Had I gone into that job with the mentality I have today, I would not have lasted six months.

Debra started in my store 6 months after we opened. She was the only person in the store more fanatical then me:rotfl2: She loved coming to my house to whip my butt in Disney Trivia:hyper: When Pleasanton opened she transferred over there... I still visit her when I'm down at Disneyland.

We have a wonderful cast now. We are all so excited to be part of the magic again. I can't wait to go to work. Hopefully we can remain Disney for while... At least until I retire and move to Fl to work PT at WDW:rolleyes1

I might add that over the years we have had dozens of our CM's transfer to WDW, DL, Radio Disney, done the College program, gone to Home base and we even had our ASM get an interview at Pixar from one of our regulars who work there.

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Even though I asked a YEAR in advance I was suddenly not allowed to go on a 4 week cross country vacation to WDW and I had to fly back from Texas so I could work 2 days and then fly back and meet my family in Florida. It cost me $400 in plane tickets and I made $40 working two days at a part time job.:mad: She use to tell me as she was screaming at me in front of guests onstage, "Look at my 5 year pin, I'll always have more years then you!" I use to call my husband crying, on my break telling him how much I loved Disney but how awful she was treating us. He use to say, "she won't last, she won't last, this will all pass " Well now I think back and smile:) as I look at my 15 year pin that she will never have......:dance3: When we get any bad managers or DM's in now I tell the new people, "she won't last, she won't last this will all pass" and I have to smile to myself because no one has EVER been that horrible.....:eek:

Having to work 2 days during a 4 week cross country vacation is terrible! My family and I did that two years ago (we drove from PA to CA to FL and then home to PA) and I was lucky enough that my manager and district manager let me go. It was an amazing trip (I'm sure you can attest to that too!), this country is a beautiful place.

I love you're saying "she won't last, she won't last this will all pass". That is great! :thumbsup2

[ranidayz]

Umm, I don't work for Disney at all - but in the interest of all that is good and right -- perhaps this board should avoid naming anyone for negative reasons as they are not here to defend themselves.

Just my humble 'guest' opinion....

[disneydawn6]

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

[dis24242]

It's funny that because I no longer eat, drink, breathe and sleep Disney, like many of you, I am bitter. And now at least 2 of you are asking if I quit or if I was fired. Why the interest?

I'm interested just because I'd like to know the background of someone who's view points, in my opinion, seem to hit the nail on the head. So, I'm thinkin' that's why most ask. They just want to know ya.

I decided I was no longer going to be pushed around by a DM and a Regional Director who were incompetant. I was harrassed, discriminated against and bullied by two women who made the Evil Queen and Ursula look more like Snow White and Ariel.

I think there is a huge emotional difference between TDS management and pt cast. As a pt cast I never have the stress of District and Regional managers breathing down my neck. I never worry about hours, inventory, shipments, payroll, cast personal problesm, and meeting the store financial goals. My full time GM job pays the bills and TDS just provides the fun.

So, while I see the cast as family, the store as home, I think managers MUST see the store as a business. Managers butts are on the line everyday. I've seen first hand some nice and some evil DM's. Did they affect me? Heck, no I'm not the manager. I'm just the guy spreadin' some magic .. singing songs, playing games, and sellin' stuff.

I am a Disney Purist who hates what Disney has become. The demise of TDS started before I left in 2001. I have shared on these boards my observations of the collapse of TDS since 2002.

This one fact, to me explains the view points. I think PRSeated IS Disney. I think we all long to have Disney return the historical great standard we all knew.

This poor, poor, pitiful me attitude is beyond old...It's bordering on pathetic.

I think, when you're losing the best job you ever had it's tough to move on.
However, be patient. Everyone has their own emotional speed. Times will be better. For some folks it'll happen sooner but, for some it will take some time.
Be patient. Not everyone is the same.
I was devastated when I learned my store was closing. I cried, wrote letters to execs, talked to mall management, government officials and stomped my feet. But a friend pointed out to me that if I have so much Mickey in me then I'd better get ah goin' to "THE SHOW." Well, that's what I'm goin' do. Headin' for WDW as soon as I retire from my payin' job at GM.

I'm thinkin' we all have some great TDS memories. Managers and cast alike.

Ok, I'm steppin down from my soapbox. Talk among yourselves. It's ok.

[disneydawn6]

I think there is a huge emotional difference between TDS management and pt cast. As a pt cast I never have the stress of District and Regional managers breathing down my neck. I never worry about hours, inventory, shipments, payroll, cast personal problesm, and meeting the store financial goals. My full time GM job pays the bills and TDS just provides the fun.

So, while I see the cast as family, the store as home, I think managers MUST see the store as a business. Managers butts are on the line everyday. I've seen first hand some nice and some evil DM's. Did they affect me? Heck, no I'm not the manager. I'm just the guy spreadin' some magic .. singing songs, playing games, and sellin' stuff.


I agree completely:thumbsup2 I was asked when I was new if I would like to be a lead...:rotfl: I wouldn't have lasted 6 months and I new it:goodvibes I wanted to stay for the long haul and I knew even after the short time I was there I could not have taken the pressure... I'm still PT and lovin it after 19 years.:hippie:

[Mickey&Donald]

I think it's a mistake to paint all TDS management with such a broad brush. I've never been a PT cast member. I started with TDS as a Lead CM, then moved up to ASM, and due to interesting circumstances, am now SM.

While we do experience a bit more job stress than a regular CM, there are many of us in management who are feeling a profound loss with the closure of these stores. The "business" side of things wasn't always fun, but the MAGIC more than made up for it.

Just another perspective for you. :confused3

This one fact, to me explains the view points. I think PRSeated IS Disney. I think we all long to have Disney return the historical great standard we all knew.

While I do agree that Disney (as a whole, not just TDS) needs a serious overhaul, I cannot for one minute stomach the idea of someone as negative and caustic as prs being the embodiment of Disney.

We're all entitled to our opinions (and this is mine) -- but prs could try to find a better outlet fot his/her dissatisfaction with the Company than the methods executed here.

I seriously doubt he/she gives any thought to WWWD? What Would Walt Do?

[Mickey&Donald]

combined posts.

[doombuggy]

Today totally sucked!!!!! We were told that we are closing Saturday, June 7. :eek: Our backstage is empty and when you talk it echoes. Wow, what an experience this has been. I can't wish this liquidation thing on anyone, not even my worst enemy. I have decided to move on with the company, most of my cast has decided not too. I have about 4 people who want to stay and I'm working with my dm on that. I just want to say to all of you who have been going through this that you are all strong people because you have to be to deal with this stuff everyday. I am in awe of your strength and am grateful for the people that I work with. The CAST of EXTON SQUARE Mall ROCKS!!!!!!!!!

Yes, you guys sure do! Miss ya, pal! Come visit us soon! :goodvibes

Yes, folks, I used to work at that store, hence my comment to boston1029. And contrary to what pleaseremainseated reported in his/her district, when one of the stores in OUR district closed back in early 2001, we took in about 6 of their cast, while some of the others went to one or two other stores (it's been awhile....). Yes, it took hours away from me and the other opening cast (we opened the previous April), but hey....these were seasoned workers who knew what they were doing.

I have been working retail more on that off since 1985, and it is tough. Pleaseremainseated, my best friend went thru a similar situation as you with another chain retailer (not disney). She would work 50 - 60 hours a week and had little or no support from upper mgmt. She left there in February, moved back home to PA and is working at another retailer, where she is experiencing the exact opposite. As with any job, sometimes in the people who you work with in your direct circle.

Good luck to all the TDS people! :grouphug:

[dis24242]

I think it's a mistake to paint all TDS management with such a broad brush. I've never been a PT cast member. I started with TDS as a Lead CM, then moved up to ASM, and due to interesting circumstances, am now SM.

While we do experience a bit more job stress than a regular CM, there are many of us in management who are feeling a profound loss with the closure of these stores. The "business" side of things wasn't always fun, but the MAGIC more than made up for it.

Just another perspective for you.
I wasn't trying to be negative toward management M&D. I think as a whole managers are the leaders of magic. I just think closing managers might have more reason to be a little bitter because they put so much into their store.


QUOTE=Mickey&Donald;25450494]While I do agree that Disney (as a hole, not just TDS) needs a serious overhaul, I cannot for one minute stomach the idea of someone as negative and caustic as prs being the embodiment of Disney.[/QUOTE]

Well, what I mean is Disney purists love the historical high standards of the golden days. Some are loud purist and some, like myself, are quite purist. I'd love it to be like the ol' days too. But I make Disney experiences the best for me. I try to find some good in every Disney event. So, what's good about my store closing? I'm moving on to bigger things! WDW!

Ya know, Disney is kinda like religion. For some folks think if ya don't do things the Disney perfect way, you're goin' to Disney hell - (Universal).

Point is ... all be tolerant. Love Disney for you. Be positive, be helpful, be caring and follow through.

[remain seated please]

This one fact, to me explains the view points. I think PRSeated IS Disney. I think we all long to have Disney return the historical great standard we all knew.


Thanks alot dis24242. It's nice that some people actually can understand and respect my points. But it's also clear that some people will never understand how someone can be critical of Disney and still be DISNEY...


While I do agree that Disney (as a whole, not just TDS) needs a serious overhaul, I cannot for one minute stomach the idea of someone as negative and caustic as prs being the embodiment of Disney.

We're all entitled to our opinions (and this is mine) -- but prs could try to find a better outlet fot his/her dissatisfaction with the Company than the methods executed here.

I seriously doubt he/she gives any thought to WWWD? What Would Walt Do?

When Disney does something good I am outspoken and supportive. When Disney does something bad...I am outspoken and critical. It's part of being an independent thinker. The only problem is that Disney has not done something that I (as a Disney Purist) would consider good in many years.

I don't believe that TDS is a viable business unit of The Walt Disney Co. It would be important to point out here that neither does Disney. That's why they sold the chain to TCP in the first place after nobody else was interested. This is a fact, plain and simple. Call me all the names you want, but it doesn't change the facts.

I believe that unless TDS undergoes a major re-invention, it will be closed permanently. I have posted my own ideas of such a re-invention on another thread. But if you are going to take on such a drastic change, you don't close 100 stores when you take them back. You don't close 300 stores before you sell the chain in the first place. The facts are obvious. TDS had it's heyday. They had their golden days. Disney screwed the stores by over-licensing its product to other (larger) retailers.

If you think these facts are just me being negative, then I must assume you are ignorant, close-minded and unwilling to accept the reality of the situation.

From where I stand, Disney has not created a true "Disney Quality" animated film since "Fantasia2000". The theme parks have become advertisements for Disney and Pixar films instead of tributes to them. All across the board, Walt Disney's beloved characters have taken a backseat to Pooh, Tigger, Buzz, Woddy and a host of other non-Disney creations. I disagree with turning theme park attractions into movies, (HM, POTC, etc.). And when they "enhanced" (Disney for "ruined") the Pirates of the Carribbean attractions by adding characters from those movies (just in time for the first sequel), they seriously crossed the line.

Before you question my loyalty to Walt Disney, try looking at the bigger picture from my perspective. I don't just settle for anything Disney. I yearn for the golden days, but those days are gone. Today you have "Disney 4.0". A version of Disney that I no don't subscribe to. You show me what is good and great about Disney today and I will show you what was better about the company before. That's how I look at things.

[EeyoreFan5]

Please remain seated: First of all I am disturbed by your comment that Disney has not produced a "true" disney movie since Fantasia 2000. That movie is not one of my favorites but treat it the same as all disney movies. I would have to agree that at time Disney has cut corners in the movie industry to just real out another movie and go straight to DVD, however
some of those have even proved to be good: Return to Neverland, Jungle book 2. Not as good as the original but good none the less. But to say that POTC were not a wise choice - Hog Wash. but this is America we do not all have to think alike, like the same films, or agree on everything.

I live in the St. Louis area and all 4 of the Disney stores are closing. I have to say that I may agree with you that to buy Disney products you had to go to a store. You could find only minimal products in the chain store, K-Mart, Walmart, Target, etc. Now they have a lot. There are a few things that they still don't have that the Disney stores only have but hey, there are some things that you can only find at Disney World or Disneyland.

I am not happy at all that the stores have closed and have called to complain to the phone number the store provided me. Hopefully more will do the same. I know that it probably won't make a difference but at least they know that I was not pleased. I enjoyed going to the actual store with my daughters and getting a little tiny bit of Disney "Magic" to tide me over until my next trip. I can always go on line to order but it's jus tnot the same.

[mickeymark34]

I disagree with the Pirates idea. Here you have a Disney theme park ride that has been very popular since the day it was opened. Then you have a movie trilogy based on that ride, that had an engaging story line, great characters, and awesome special effects, that made billions of dollars in the box office around the world. Then Disney Imagineers add Captain Jack Sparrow, Captain Barbossa, and a ghostly appearance of Davy Jones, to make this come full circle. It think it is a great way to give homage to the film makers and reinforce that Pirates of the Caribbean is a classic and lovable ride. Now if they added the likeness of Eddie Murphy to the Haunted Mansion, I would start to complain.

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I don't believe that TDS is a viable business unit of The Walt Disney Co. It would be important to point out here that neither does Disney. That's why they sold the chain to TCP in the first place after nobody else was interested. This is a fact, plain and simple. Call me all the names you want, but it doesn't change the facts.

I believe that unless TDS undergoes a major re-invention, it will be closed permanently. I have posted my own ideas of such a re-invention on another thread. But if you are going to take on such a drastic change, you don't close 100 stores when you take them back. You don't close 300 stores before you sell the chain in the first place. The facts are obvious. TDS had it's heyday. They had their golden days. Disney screwed the stores by over-licensing its product to other (larger) retailers.


From where I stand, Disney has not created a true "Disney Quality" animated film since "Fantasia2000". The theme parks have become advertisements for Disney and Pixar films instead of tributes to them. All across the board, Walt Disney's beloved characters have taken a backseat to Pooh, Tigger, Buzz, Woddy and a host of other non-Disney creations. I disagree with turning theme park attractions into movies, (HM, POTC, etc.). And when they "enhanced" (Disney for "ruined") the Pirates of the Carribbean attractions by adding characters from those movies (just in time for the first sequel), they seriously crossed the line.


I strongly believe that there is something bigger and better coming along for the Disney Stores, my opinion of course. When the stores were sold to TCP, the company was still under the tyrant of Michael Eisner (who although did wonderful things for the company when he first started, out-stayed his welcome), now Bob Iger is in office and he is trying to get things back to where they were before ME. For instance, he brought back Pixar, who I think Walt would have loved! It will be interesting to see what is coming next for the Stores, obviously since I work for them I only want the best. It will be interesting to see how closing so many stores will change the TDS organization. Only time will tell.

As far as not having a true "Disney Quality" animated film since Fantasia2000, I do disagree. Yes, some of the animated movies Disney has made in the last 10 years haven't been my favorite, but I will continue to see them. What I am waiting for (and can only hope will happen) is the good old animated musical like B&TB and TLM. I think the popularity of Enchanted (although not completely animated or live action) will hopefully point Disney animation back in the musical direction.

I must admit, I am a Disney purist in many ways also. I am open to new ideas though. I must say that I enjoyed the POTC movies, especially the first one. I still enjoy watching them and picking out the ride references. I liked POTC so much not because of Will Turner or Jack Sparrow, but because I felt that it was something that Walt have been proud of. The way the attraction was changed at WDW (I haven't been on the updated version at DL) was very well done, I thought. They didn't oversaturate it with Jack Sparrow and I love the Davy Jones effect at the beginning of the ride. I don't know about the DL ride, but the WDW attraction is alway popular. I think it helped to introduce this wonderful attraction to a new generation.

Haunted Mansion the movie however is a totally different story. The Haunted Mansion storyline is so incredible that they should have taken a different approach...however that is said and done and there is no going back now.

Pixar movies are very popular and it only makes sense to give people what they want when it comes to merchandise or theme park attractions. It's good business to make the customers (well guests) happy. I will tell you though that after working at WDW, I saw the looks on the faces of the guests when they meet Mickey for the first time. Those looks are priceless. Regardless if it is a 90 year old woman or a 1 year old child, everybody knows who Mickey is and that won't change.

Overall, I do believe Walt would be happy with what has been done with his parks. Of course there are a few attractions that he wouldn't like (but at look at his movie 'Alice in Wonderland', he felt like it had no heart, yet it is one of my favorite Disney movies), but I think he would approve most things. :)

[remain seated please]

I disagree with the Pirates idea. Here you have a Disney theme park ride that has been very popular since the day it was opened. Then you have a movie trilogy based on that ride, that had an engaging story line, great characters, and awesome special effects, that made billions of dollars in the box office around the world. Then Disney Imagineers add Captain Jack Sparrow, Captain Barbossa, and a ghostly appearance of Davy Jones, to make this come full circle. It think it is a great way to give homage to the film makers and reinforce that Pirates of the Caribbean is a classic and lovable ride. Now if they added the likeness of Eddie Murphy to the Haunted Mansion, I would start to complain.

My problem with the Pirates thing has always been that this could have been a successful movie franchise without the attraction tie-in. There was no reason to call the movies Pirates of The Caribbean. Or Haunted Mansion and The Country Bears for that matter. The POTC movie would have been equally successful under a different name. And then Disney could have imagineered completely new attractions at the parks instead of messing with a proven success. Mine is not the most popular opinion on this subject (surprise, surprise). But when they tweaked the POTC attraction at Disneyland, they tweaked the last attraction that Walt Disney supervised before he died. In my mind that is a shame.

[Mickey&Donald]

My problem with the Pirates thing has always been that this could have been a successful movie franchise without the attraction tie-in. There was no reason to call the movies Pirates of The Caribbean. Or Haunted Mansion and The Country Bears for that matter. The POTC movie would have been equally successful under a different name. And then Disney could have imagineered completely new attractions at the parks instead of messing with a proven success. Mine is not the most popular opinion on this subject (surprise, surprise). But when they tweaked the POTC attraction at Disneyland, they tweaked the last attraction that Walt Disney supervised before he died. In my mind that is a shame.

:faint:

We actually agree on something. :thumbsup2

While I have enjoyed the POTC movies just for being good summertime action flicks, I was HORRIFIED that they actually tied in the movie characters to the ride. I felt it was a total *******ization (that's probably going to get bleeped out) of Walt's original concept, one that sadly, Walt never lived to see to fruition. Obviously, I never met the man, but I just can't think that he'd love the idea of Johnny Depp Automatron running the show.

Same thing goes for the controversy over Disneyland's IASW. There's talk of changing Mary Blair's original art (blasphemy!), and adding regular Disney characters to the various rooms (Stitch in the Polynesian room comes to mind first.. where's that barfing smilie again?).

There are certain things that shouldn't be messed with. I am a Disney purist too, if you didn't already know. At my store, our video screen's been broken for months (yep, and no one ever came to fix it), so we've been playing CDs of Disney music instead. I'm the one who's always playing Classic Disney music. Just the other day, I picked up a used copy of Arthur Fiedler leading the Boston Pops playing a Tribute to Disney -- orchestral performances of the original arrangements? :hyper: Yes please! And 8 times out of 10, I'm told I'm "old" (if 29's old, shoot me out back like that old gray mare, please) and that we should be playing better music.. like High School Musical and Hannah Montana. :headache:

Anyway, I love all things Disney. I idolize the man who made all of it possible (I'm constantly rereading one of the many biographies I have on Walt). I wish we could rewind the world a generation and go back to the time before Disney's image was modernized, but we can't. And unfortunately, none of us are in charge of the company, nor its creative decisions. My problem with you, prs, is your total lack of respect toward those of us who still work for TDS and are still loyal. It's not fun being called "pathetic" (whether or not you were referring to a specific person or a person's *behavior*, it's the same thing). I think your specific situation was truly unfortunate, and it sounds like it was the best thing for you to leave the company. Maybe if you'd had a different set of DM and RD, things would've turned out differently for you. Who can say? The moral of my story is, we only ask you to treat us respectfully, and let us grieve in our own way. I have a hard time believing that you didn't grieve even a little when you left the company. We spend a lot of time at our respective stores, and have developed a comraderie with our casts AND our guests. To have that all taken away, due to no decision of our own, is terrible. This is the first time I've ever lost my job -- I've always left jobs before. We all just need a little time to get used to the situation and get through it the best we can, without someone who thinks they know better trying to spread negativity among us.

I guess what I'm ultimately trying to say is: :hippie:

[mickeymark34]

I see your points PRS and Mickey and Donald, on the Pirates ride. While I do like the changes, because it is neat to see the realisitic animitronic likenesses of Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush in the ride, perhaps they should not have interfered with one of Walt Disney's last creations for Disneyland. A friend of mine at my full time job just got back from Disneyland and I asked him what he thought of the changes made to Pirates. He said that they were O.K., but they should have left it alone, because it is messing with Walt Disney's original vision of the ride. I'm wondering if Imagineers did that because people were complaining that the ride "is not like the movie", and not realizing the ride was creating long before the movies. But that is another subject on its own.

[ranidayz]

I'll just pop in as a guest who loves her CMs and her Disney Store...which....is....closing.

I grew up in WA State and loved the trips down to Disneyland...especially the submarine which is not at Disney World for my own kids to love. As a teen, I went there several times a year with friends -- wonderful memories.

I've been to Disney World many times since moving to the East Coast and since becoming a mom. My favorite rides are POC and Small World. I would hate for them to mess with the Small World, but loved the additions to POC - because it made the ride more real - like I was in it and not just riding past it. (Although my older kids always prepare me for my favorite part of POC - the hairy leg hanging over the ledge!)

Anyway, never meeting Walt and never learning about him in depth -from what I know -- he wanted people to experience the 'magic' he worked to create. Magic evolves in time as well as other things. No traveling magic show in the west in the 1800s could have ever predicted the success of David Copperfield and David Blaine. But people are truly 'moved' by them today. Rodney Dangerfield and Bob Hope never would have thought Sarah Silverman would be the comidianne that people flocked to these days. Things do evolve - even without our permission.

Disney quality was making laughter and happiness through the reactions of the magic. Just because you may prefer the magic of old doesn't mean today's magic isn't as good - it's just not for you.

As I've mentioned before, my older children rarely had anything from Disney because the stores of yore were prohibitively expensive. My four-year-old daughter has lived ensconced in Disney because the TCP Disney Stores made it affordable and accessible to do so. And she believes in Disney -- strongly. She believes that our Mickey in the store loves when she arrives even though I've never said such a thing. She feels that magic.

PRS - despite your experiences with Disney in front of or behind the scenes - it is common human decency to be polite and respectful to those who are engulfed in an emotional experience regarding the same organization. Name calling never benefits anyone. Maybe there is a forum for people who are still at odds with a former company which could offer you support.

[WI WDWGIRL]

I'll just pop in as a guest who loves her CMs and her Disney Store...which....is....closing.

I grew up in WA State and loved the trips down to Disneyland...especially the submarine which is not at Disney World for my own kids to love. As a teen, I went there several times a year with friends -- wonderful memories.

I've been to Disney World many times since moving to the East Coast and since becoming a mom. My favorite rides are POC and Small World. I would hate for them to mess with the Small World, but loved the additions to POC - because it made the ride more real - like I was in it and not just riding past it. (Although my older kids always prepare me for my favorite part of POC - the hairy leg hanging over the ledge!)

Anyway, never meeting Walt and never learning about him in depth -from what I know -- he wanted people to experience the 'magic' he worked to create. Magic evolves in time as well as other things. No traveling magic show in the west in the 1800s could have ever predicted the success of David Copperfield and David Blaine. But people are truly 'moved' by them today. Rodney Dangerfield and Bob Hope never would have thought Sarah Silverman would be the comidianne that people flocked to these days. Things do evolve - even without our permission.

Disney quality was making laughter and happiness through the reactions of the magic. Just because you may prefer the magic of old doesn't mean today's magic isn't as good - it's just not for you.

As I've mentioned before, my older children rarely had anything from Disney because the stores of yore were prohibitively expensive. My four-year-old daughter has lived ensconced in Disney because the TCP Disney Stores made it affordable and accessible to do so. And she believes in Disney -- strongly. She believes that our Mickey in the store loves when she arrives even though I've never said such a thing. She feels that magic.

PRS - despite your experiences with Disney in front of or behind the scenes - it is common human decency to be polite and respectful to those who are engulfed in an emotional experience regarding the same organization. Name calling never benefits anyone. Maybe there is a forum for people who are still at odds with a former company which could offer you support.:worship:

I'm a pretty tough cookie but I actually cried when I read this post. I have worked for 10 years at my DS and it's closing. I don't have children yet and I think that the worst part of all of this is that I will never get to see that sparkle in their eyes. Of staring in awe of plush mountain. The amazement of Mickey.... EVERYWHERE!! And for RSP to pooh-pooh ALL the things we are going to miss stinks. I agree, go elsewhere. This is our Support System. :hug:

[mickeymark34]

I worked on Sunday at my store, and there were a few young ones that kept staring at the animations on our ceiling, pointing at them and telling their parents to look too. It gave me a warm feeling in my heart. I was a greeter, so I was able to hear some of the mall ambiance as people walked by, and heard a little kid yell in a high pitched voice "Mickey". I did not see which child it was, but I was assuming that he/she had gotten a glimpse of the huge smiling Mickey face that is in tile as you enter our store. It is awesome to see kids, big or small, young or old, react when they come into our store. I feel like it is a privilege, and an honor (please dont rip me a new one, PRS) to work for The Walt Disney Company, and get to be part of the magic.

[ranidayz]

PRS - and anyone else who has unresolved issues with Disney and needs support or venting which is counterproductive to this particular thread:

There is a Coping and Compassion board on the DIS located at http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=149 which seems a better place to vent these issues and have people sympathize or empathize with you.

Having these feelings is absolutely fine and you should have a place to vent them and get supportive listeners. However, this particular thread seems to have evolved into a thread for those who are overwhelmed and emotional about the loss of their ties to Disney, their CM family and the magic whole of which they have been part.

Counterproductive posts damage the whole and further deepen the scars which are now forming. It's pretty clear that no one is thrilled that Disney has chosen to take away the 'satellite' Disney magic found in these stores. However, knowing the ties that the CMs on this board have stated over and over again and still airing the dirty laundry is - at best - kicking them when they're down.

Many wishes for happiness and good luck in the future.:wizard:

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I worked on Sunday at my store, and there were a few young ones that kept staring at the animations on our ceiling, pointing at them and telling their parents to look too. It gave me a warm feeling in my heart. I was a greeter, so I was able to hear some of the mall ambiance as people walked by, and heard a little kid yell in a high pitched voice "Mickey". I did not see which child it was, but I was assuming that he/she had gotten a glimpse of the huge smiling Mickey face that is in tile as you enter our store. It is awesome to see kids, big or small, young or old, react when they come into our store. I feel like it is a privilege, and an honor (please dont rip me a new one, PRS) to work for The Walt Disney Company, and get to be part of the magic.


You shouldn't have to worry about another poster 'ripping you a new one' over a statement.

What you wrote was wonderful and made me smile. It has been my honor and still is my honor to work for the Walt Disney Company. I'm sure there are many CMs on this board who agree 110% with you. :hug:

[Mickey&Donald]

Back to the real subject of this thread --

I found out today that my store will be closing June 14th. :( They're really cutting back quickly -- the remainder will close the 22nd, and the last two (as far as I know) stores will be closing the 28th.

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Back to the real subject of this thread --

I found out today that my store will be closing June 14th. :( They're really cutting back quickly -- the remainder will close the 22nd, and the last two (as far as I know) stores will be closing the 28th.

I'm sorry to hear that. When you say remainder, do you mean the other stores in MD or everywhere? I want to make sure I visit Willow Grove this weekend to visit my CM friends.

Are you still overloaded with Oswald merchandise?

[Mickey&Donald]

I'm sorry to hear that. When you say remainder, do you mean the other stores in MD or everywhere? I want to make sure I visit Willow Grove this weekend to visit my CM friends.

Are you still overloaded with Oswald merchandise?

I mean ALL of the closing stores. They will all be gone within 2½ weeks, unless something changes. :worried: I would definitely get over to that store soon to visit if I were you -- they could be on the June 14th list too, I don't know. They're closing 20 stores this Saturday, another chunk next Saturday, and the rest (excepting Valley Mall in Hagerstown, MD and Post Street in San Francisco) on the 22nd. Valley and Post St. will remain til the 28th.

And yes, we are swimming in Oswald. Poor Valley Mall.. they're going to be getting everything we don't sell. :faint:

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I mean ALL of the closing stores. They will all be gone within 2½ weeks, unless something changes. :worried: I would definitely get over to that store soon to visit if I were you -- they could be on the June 14th list too, I don't know. They're closing 20 stores this Saturday, another chunk next Saturday, and the rest (excepting Valley Mall in Hagerstown, MD and Post Street in San Francisco) on the 22nd. Valley and Post St. will remain til the 28th.

And yes, we are swimming in Oswald. Poor Valley Mall.. they're going to be getting everything we don't sell. :faint:

I feel like calling their store now! I'm on call later so I can always ask when I call into my store.

I know your time is short at your store and I wish I could help change things...I feel sort of guilty because my store is safe. Please know that I'll be thinking about you and your cast over the next 2 weeks.

[remain seated please]

PRS - and anyone else who has unresolved issues with Disney and needs support or venting which is counterproductive to this particular thread:

There is a Coping and Compassion board on the DIS located at http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=149 which seems a better place to vent these issues and have people sympathize or empathize with you.

Having these feelings is absolutely fine and you should have a place to vent them and get supportive listeners. However, this particular thread seems to have evolved into a thread for those who are overwhelmed and emotional about the loss of their ties to Disney, their CM family and the magic whole of which they have been part.

Counterproductive posts damage the whole and further deepen the scars which are now forming. It's pretty clear that no one is thrilled that Disney has chosen to take away the 'satellite' Disney magic found in these stores. However, knowing the ties that the CMs on this board have stated over and over again and still airing the dirty laundry is - at best - kicking them when they're down.

Many wishes for happiness and good luck in the future.:wizard:

Trying to redirect someone to another thread is a bit disrespectful, don't you think? Equally disrespectful is assuming that someone still has unresolved issues with Disney. To date, there are over 360 comments posted on this thread. Mine represent a small handful of them. If you want to talk about namecalling and the like, read over all of the comments directed at me. But don't put me in that category.

You speak of counterproductive posts. My guess is that you believe the post's I have written are just that. If so, you would be wrong. There are plenty of people on this thread who have been more than supportive. I have offered a different view of the situation as it relates to The Disney Store. I'm not asking anybody to agree with me. So why is it so important that people like you judge me and call me bitter, with unresolved issues about Disney.

I can assure you that I have no such issues and I am most certainly NOT bitter. But if you want to continue namecalling, sobeit. It is quite obvious that this thread has been very helpful to those who are upset by the closure of their stores. Regardless of our own opinions about this, there are many Castmembers and Guests who have shared their feelings and been supportive to others. Believe it or not, I have also been thanked publically and privately by a few people as well.

Rainidayz, it sounds like you are the one who is trying to be counterproductive. Perhaps YOU should take your own advice and find another board that is more suitable. I'm sure you can create drama on the Community Board.

[ranidayz]

Trying to redirect someone to another thread is a bit disrespectful, don't you think? Equally disrespectful is assuming that someone still has unresolved issues with Disney. To date, there are over 360 comments posted on this thread. Mine represent a small handful of them. If you want to talk about namecalling and the like, read over all of the comments directed at me. But don't put me in that category.

You speak of counterproductive posts. My guess is that you believe the post's I have written are just that. If so, you would be wrong. There are plenty of people on this thread who have been more than supportive. I have offered a different view of the situation as it relates to The Disney Store. I'm not asking anybody to agree with me. So why is it so important that people like you judge me and call me bitter, with unresolved issues about Disney.

I can assure you that I have no such issues and I am most certainly NOT bitter. But if you want to continue namecalling, sobeit. It is quite obvious that this thread has been very helpful to those who are upset by the closure of their stores. Regardless of our own opinions about this, there are many Castmembers and Guests who have shared their feelings and been supportive to others. Believe it or not, I have also been thanked publically and privately by a few people as well.

Rainidayz, it sounds like you are the one who is trying to be counterproductive. Perhaps YOU should take your own advice and find another board that is more suitable. I'm sure you can create drama on the Community Board.


Actually, I wrote my post with kind intentions and words. I did not call anyone a name nor did I call anyone bitter. When you first began posting, I was one who agreed with your philosophies about moving on from jobs. In fact, I thought it was sound advice for a difficult situation.

When this thread became very emotional for the CMs whose stores are closing and your posts became more and more 'intense,' many people wrote noticably strong posts regarding things you'd written. You can write that you don't have unresolved issues with Disney - but if this is so, the writing style in your posts is betraying you.

I didn't post for you to leave or that you were unwanted, I simply posted a thread which may give you what you're looking for. I am not judging you - I don't know you -- I ONLY know what you yourself have posted. You are the only one telling us about yourself.

As I said before - many good wishes for your future.

[dis24242]

Well, folks my store in Michigan closes this Saturday. However, I've been asked to interview at TDS some 30 miles to the south. Until I retire from my GM job, I think this might be a good thing. Here's hopin' this ol' dinosaur is one the few who are staying on with TDS. Time will pass quicker 'til WDW.

[disneydawn6]

Well, folks my store in Michigan closes this Saturday. However, I've been asked to interview at TDS some 30 miles to the south. Until I retire from my GM job, I think this might be a good thing. Here's hopin' this ol' dinosaur is one the few who are staying on with TDS. Time will pass quicker 'til WDW.

Good luck.:) I heard we will be hiring some CM from closing stores also. Good luck to all:love:

[mommyof2princesses]

We found out yesterday, or I did, that the closing stores near us are closing sat and next sat. Now we will be getting all the stuff they don't sell. We finally cleaned up backstage! Well, I guess our clearance section will be refurbished! We are looking bare since Memorial day weekend!

Sorry to all you cm's who are loosing your jobs. I hope things work out for you.:hug:

[remain seated please]

Well, folks my store in Michigan closes this Saturday. However, I've been asked to interview at TDS some 30 miles to the south. Until I retire from my GM job, I think this might be a good thing. Here's hopin' this ol' dinosaur is one the few who are staying on with TDS. Time will pass quicker 'til WDW.

Best of luck if you choose to go through with the interview and the transfer, which I'm sure you will get. If commuting that far with today's gas prices, etc. fits into your life right now, GO FOR IT!

[mickeymark34]

Good luck with your interview dis24242. I hope that you will let us know how it went.

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Well, folks my store in Michigan closes this Saturday. However, I've been asked to interview at TDS some 30 miles to the south. Until I retire from my GM job, I think this might be a good thing. Here's hopin' this ol' dinosaur is one the few who are staying on with TDS. Time will pass quicker 'til WDW.

Best of luck! I wish you the best! Don't even give the gas prices a thought, if it makes you happy - DO IT!!!! I never put a price on happiness.

Please let us know what happens. :wizard:

[MICKEY'SWORLD]

we are one of the lucky one's ( if you call closing lucky :o) ...we have been getting stuff shipped to us from other stores, so i believe we are going to be on the last closing list...from what i understand all stores will be done by 22nd of this month. I will say this the team in Davenport has had GREAT attitudes about this whole closing! Working very hard and keeping smiles on faces...some of the guest, or should i say deal finders ( because true guest dont treat DISNEY STORES like a dollar stores....any way some people are so rude and disrepectful, I can not even beleive it! Keep smiling cast members it will all be over soon and you will still have great things to remember...and all of your truly close cast members will stay in touch!

[DisneyDeeva]

we are one of the lucky one's ( if you call closing lucky :o) ...we have been getting stuff shipped to us from other stores, so i believe we are going to be on the last closing list...from what i understand all stores will be done by 22nd of this month. I will say this the team in Davenport has had GREAT attitudes about this whole closing! Working very hard and keeping smiles on faces...some of the guest, or should i say deal finders ( because true guest dont treat DISNEY STORES like a dollar stores....any way some people are so rude and disrepectful, I can not even beleive it! Keep smiling cast members it will all be over soon and you will still have great things to remember...and all of your truly close cast members will stay in touch!

MICKEY"SWORLD, are you a CM a TDS Davenport? I was just in there this week looking for familiar faces. I was a TDS there for four years and it still pains me to walk in there - I miss the store and CMs as we went through a lot of ups and downs together. Saw Val - she looked me straight in the eye and didn't even say hello - oh well. But I didn't recognize anyone else. Are Shelly and Gloria still there? Lori? Mike? When I asked the red headed CM at the Box Office about the closing, she said she though it would be next weekend.

[remain seated please]

...some of the guest, or should i say deal finders ( because true guest dont treat DISNEY STORES like a dollar stores....any way some people are so rude and disrepectful, I can not even beleive it!

I know exactly what you mean. "True Guests" also don't waive their AP's around like badges of honor and act like they own Disney. With their "I'm an AP holder" attitude and their sense of entitlement while at the parks, I often find myself laughing at them and joking with CM's who love to roll their eyes after they have left.

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I know exactly what you mean. "True Guests" also don't waive their AP's around like badges of honor and act like they own Disney. With their "I'm an AP holder" attitude and their sense of entitlement while at the parks, I often find myself laughing at them and joking with CM's who love to roll their eyes after they have left.

I completely agree with you. I was an AP holder at one point, but I didn't feel entitlement...I think the only benefit I took advantage of was going to the AP preview for new version of the animation tour at DHS.

To all of my fellow CMs who's stores are closing or closed today and tomorrow - best wishes! :hug:

[Mickey&Donald]

Off to Disney in a few hours! :jumping1: See you all on the flip side... back to reality on Thursday, and back to what might be the most depressing week ever. :worried:

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Off to Disney in a few hours! :jumping1: See you all on the flip side... back to reality on Thursday, and back to what might be the most depressing week ever. :worried:

Have a great trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Well, folks my store in Michigan closes this Saturday. However, I've been asked to interview at TDS some 30 miles to the south. Until I retire from my GM job, I think this might be a good thing. Here's hopin' this ol' dinosaur is one the few who are staying on with TDS. Time will pass quicker 'til WDW.

I just wanted to pass along some encouraging news to you. I visited a TDS that is closing this past weekend and I found out that many of the CMs are being transferred to other stores in the area! I was very happy to hear that because I can go visit them now.

I hope you interview went well! Please keep me posted! :thumbsup2

[dis24242]

I just wanted to pass along some encouraging news to you. I visited a TDS that is closing this past weekend and I found out that many of the CMs are being transferred to other stores in the area! I was very happy to hear that because I can go visit them now.

I hope you interview went well! Please keep me posted! :thumbsup2

I was wondering if you know of any hiring freeze right now. I've been told the freeze is on for a couple more weeks.

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I was wondering if you know of any hiring freeze right now. I've been told the freeze is on for a couple more weeks.

I haven't heard about a hiring freeze from my store, but I did read it on here. I don't know if you transfering stores would be considered a newly hired CM.

[disneydawn6]

I was wondering if you know of any hiring freeze right now. I've been told the freeze is on for a couple more weeks.

The hiring freeze is still on, except for people transferring from closing stores. I think we took any CM that wanted to transfer from a nearby closing store. I'm not sure, but I don't think they even had to interview, but I could be wrong.....:confused3 Maybe five of them are coming over. We still cannot promote our per diems to PT yet though. I think it's nice that they let the closing stores transfer to other store first. I know I would have wanted to transfer. I think the freeze will last until the last store closes in order to let everyone get a chance to transfer. I think they could not transfer until their store was closed.

[TheDisneyGirl02]

The hiring freeze is still on, except for people transferring from closing stores. I think we took any CM that wanted to transfer from a nearby closing store. I'm not sure, but I don't think they even had to interview, but I could be wrong.....:confused3 Maybe five of them are coming over. We still cannot promote our per diems to PT yet though. I think it's nice that they let the closing stores transfer to other store first. I know I would have wanted to transfer. I think the freeze will last until the last store closes in order to let everyone get a chance to transfer. I think they could not transfer until their store was closed.

I agree that it was nice that CMs can transfer if they want to. Since my store is located about 45 minutes to an hour away from the closing stores, I don't think we're going to be getting any transfer. However, if we did I would be more than happy to give up some of my hours so that another CM could stay with the stores. :thumbsup2

[LostBoy89]

Hey I'm new here! =)
I dont know how many times a day I've had to turn people away these past few weeks! Everyday we have multiple people come in asking for applications and I have to explain to them that either "we are out of applications," or that "we are in the process of changing companies so we arent able to hire cast members at this time." As of July though everything is supposed to be completed with the company, so I'm assuming thats when we will be able to hire new people. I cant wait to see new faces!!! haha.

I know that one of the store managers from a store near us is being transfered to another store to take on the assistant manager position. Im glad that she was able to stay at Disney, even though it is a bit of a down grade. But atleast she still has a job with the company.

Oh...and has anybody got their ID cards yet? I know we are supposed to be getting them this month.

[boston1029]

I signed off on the construction guys work yesterday. It was very strange to go into my store and see it completely empty of everything. No characters especially Goofy who was jumping out of our window and no fixtures or hardware. It was kind of surreal. Only 6 out of 25 have decided to transfer to other stores. We've been scattered to 3 other stores. Thank you to the cast from Exton Square Mall #886. I'll miss you!!!:worship:

[mommyof2princesses]

We haven't received our new cast member cards yet. HAve any other stores, that are staying open, receiving a lot let hours? Most of the cms at our store have no hours or 1 4-hour shift a week right now. It is really sad. Is this happening at other stores? It seems there are so many managers there aren't enough hours left for pt cms.

[LostBoy89]

Today I closed and there was just two of us. The store was such a mess and we needed atleast one more closer. But these past couple of weeks we havent been making as much as we used to, so we havent been able to afford more cast member hours.

[Mickey&Donald]

I'm confused -- if the hiring freeze is still on, then why was I able to hire a new manager to my store? We are liquidation, but even so.. it seems a little strange.

So I'm back from Disney (which was awesome! :thumbsup2 ) and really dreading going into my store. I talked to one of my leads last night and she said the store is maybe 20% full, and all of the remaining apparel could fit on two face outs. Eeeek. :scared:

I'm moving to another store soon, and I'm taking a big downgrade as well -- I've been ASM for over a year, and acting SM for a month now, and when I transfer, I'll be a PT Lead. It's going to be strange...

[dsnypaul]

From what I understand the "outlet" stores are not in a hiring freeze, but all other stores are.

I am at a store that is staying and we were getting conflicting info on what our start date would be. May 1st or the actual day we started. As I started in Sept 2005, I am very concerned because I would like to have the 35% discount this fall and not have to wait another 3 years. Well I signed up for the stock program with Disney last month and they match 50% of your contribution if you have been employed for over a year. I checked my stock statement online today and Disney is matching mine, so I assume they will be using our original start date and not May 1st.

Paul

[Mickey&Donald]

From what I understand the "outlet" stores are not in a hiring freeze, but all other stores are.

We're not an outlet store. We're a regular Disney Store that is closing (this weekend :(). I hired an old lead back, and she's in the system. Go figure. :confused3

I am at a store that is staying and we were getting conflicting info on what our start date would be. May 1st or the actual day we started. As I started in Sept 2005, I am very concerned because I would like to have the 35% discount this fall and not have to wait another 3 years. Well I signed up for the stock program with Disney last month and they match 50% of your contribution if you have been employed for over a year. I checked my stock statement online today and Disney is matching mine, so I assume they will be using our original start date and not May 1st.

Paul

My Silver Pass shows my hire date as 9/11/05, so I think they must be honoring our actual hire dates.

[LostBoy89]

I'm confused -- if the hiring freeze is still on, then why was I able to hire a new manager to my store? We are liquidation, but even so.. it seems a little strange.

So I'm back from Disney (which was awesome! :thumbsup2 ) and really dreading going into my store. I talked to one of my leads last night and she said the store is maybe 20% full, and all of the remaining apparel could fit on two face outs. Eeeek. :scared:

I'm moving to another store soon, and I'm taking a big downgrade as well -- I've been ASM for over a year, and acting SM for a month now, and when I transfer, I'll be a PT Lead. It's going to be strange...

It's good that atleast your still going to be staying with the company:thumbsup2 . I'm sure it will be really strange for a while going back to PT Lead though. :worried: Do you know when your store is going to be closing? Hope everything goes well for you guys.

[mommyof2princesses]

I'm in an Outlet store but we haven't hired anyone recently. We have no apps to give out either. I believe we are taking a transfer, but not from a closing store. (How we can do that when we have no hours?) Even if we could hire someone, we have no hours for that new person.

[LostBoy89]

:( :( I'm in an Outlet store but we haven't hired anyone recently. We have no apps to give out either. I believe we are taking a transfer, but not from a closing store. (How we can do that when we have no hours?) Even if we could hire someone, we have no hours for that new person.

I know exactly how you feel. :(

[Mickey&Donald]

It's good that atleast your still going to be staying with the company:thumbsup2 . I'm sure it will be really strange for a while going back to PT Lead though. :worried: Do you know when your store is going to be closing? Hope everything goes well for you guys.

We're closing on Saturday. :(

[LostBoy89]

We're closing on Saturday. :(

Oh no! Wish all of you the best. Make the most of your last days :grouphug:

[TheDisneyGirl02]

We're closing on Saturday. :(

I am so sorry. :hug:

[disneydawn6]

I'm in an Outlet store but we haven't hired anyone recently. We have no apps to give out either. I believe we are taking a transfer, but not from a closing store. (How we can do that when we have no hours?) Even if we could hire someone, we have no hours for that new person.

I'm sorry you have no hours,:worried: but I am still happy that Disney is taking transfers from others stores. :goodvibes If my store had been closing I would have wanted to transfer also.:thumbsup2 I have been only getting 3 hours a week for the last month. We have not even added the transfers to the scheduel yet and we are still going to hire the per diems to part time. I do not expect to get more then 3 hours a week for the next serveral months. I never expected that I could make a living working at Disney. I have my full time job in the day and Disney was my fun part time job nights and weekends. I figure this way I can take more trips to DL/WDW and no one should complain when I ask for time off to go:banana:

[pntrdoc]

Don't know if this has been posted or not but originally the Cincinnati store in Ohio was on the list to be closed but the Dayton, Ohio store was not. I was just at the Dayton store today and found out that they are closing as of this week. That means no Disney Stores in Southwest Ohio, nearest will be in Columbus.::(

[madaboutMickey]

Don't know if this has been posted or not but originally the Cincinnati store in Ohio was on the list to be closed but the Dayton, Ohio store was not. I was just at the Dayton store today and found out that they are closing as of this week. That means no Disney Stores in Southwest Ohio, nearest will be in Columbus.::(

The store at Florence Mall, in northern Kentucky was on the closing list also. This store is now staying open. If you live in the tri-state area it's probably closser than going to Columbus.

[WI WDWGIRL]

We received "The Call." We are closing June 19. :furious: We were originally told we were going to get a ton of hours. The first week of liquidation and that was pretty much it. Now my shifts are turning into on-calls and I'm not being used. They still haven't told our cast about transfering and now it's only a week away!!:worried:

[TheDisneyGirl02]

We received "The Call." We are closing June 19. :furious: We were originally told we were going to get a ton of hours. The first week of liquidation and that was pretty much it. Now my shifts are turning into on-calls and I'm not being used. They still haven't told our cast about transfering and now it's only a week away!!:worried:

I'm so sorry! Is there any way you can call your DM about transferring? Good luck and I hope it works out for you! :hug:

[WI WDWGIRL]

We have the Disney Freeze going on here too. Our DM can't do anything for us.

[TheDisneyGirl02]

We have the Disney Freeze going on here too. Our DM can't do anything for us.

That's sad...I'm so sorry. :(

[WI WDWGIRL]

Whether it's she doesn't want to help or can't, I don't know. And we are suppose to be getting another shipment today:confused3

[disneydawn6]

We have the Disney Freeze going on here too. Our DM can't do anything for us.

We too have a hiring freeze, EXCEPT for transfers from other stores. The five people that transfered are already in our sysytem. You SHOULD be able to transfer. I believe that was the reason for the freeze, to let closing stores CM transfer to remaining store.....:confused3 They were not able to do it until their store closed...
Good luck:(

[Mickey&Donald]

Today's the day. The last day. My stomach is in knots, I haven't been able to sleep all night, and I feel like crying is only a moment away.

This stinks worse than any of the liquidation days put together.

My store is so empty. I have *maybe* 400 total pieces of merchandise left (that's including pins and junky Power Ranger action figures). The whole place echoes. I honestly don't know if we have enough merchandise to stay open all day today. :(

I'll do an update tonight or tomorrow.

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Today's the day. The last day. My stomach is in knots, I haven't been able to sleep all night, and I feel like crying is only a moment away.

This stinks worse than any of the liquidation days put together.

My store is so empty. I have *maybe* 400 total pieces of merchandise left (that's including pins and junky Power Ranger action figures). The whole place echoes. I honestly don't know if we have enough merchandise to stay open all day today. :(

I'll do an update tonight or tomorrow.

Please know that I'm thinking about you and your Cast today... :grouphug:

[mommyof2princesses]

Today's the day. The last day. My stomach is in knots, I haven't been able to sleep all night, and I feel like crying is only a moment away.

This stinks worse than any of the liquidation days put together.

My store is so empty. I have *maybe* 400 total pieces of merchandise left (that's including pins and junky Power Ranger action figures). The whole place echoes. I honestly don't know if we have enough merchandise to stay open all day today. :(

I'll do an update tonight or tomorrow.

:hug: :hug:

We are all thinking about the closing stores at our store. i am so sorry.

[WI WDWGIRL]

Today's the day. The last day. My stomach is in knots, I haven't been able to sleep all night, and I feel like crying is only a moment away.

This stinks worse than any of the liquidation days put together.

My store is so empty. I have *maybe* 400 total pieces of merchandise left (that's including pins and junky Power Ranger action figures). The whole place echoes. I honestly don't know if we have enough merchandise to stay open all day today. :(

I'll do an update tonight or tomorrow.


Lots of:hug: :hug: I have to work the last day of our store being open, June 19, and our cast has decided to all gather there so we can close the gate together one last time as a cast...

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Lots of:hug: :hug: I have to work the last day of our store being open, June 19, and our cast has decided to all gather there so we can close the gate together one last time as a cast...

That is so nice. I'm sure that's what we would have done too. :hug:

[WI WDWGIRL]

For the stores that have already closed, the cast that has been able to transfer to other stores, when are you able to start at your new store?

[boston1029]

The people who are transferring should talk to the other store that they are going to. Schedules need to be figured out. For us, we all needed time before we walked into another store. The liquidation process was draining and we felt that we had nothing left to give. I personally could not leave my store and walk into someone else's store the next day or even 2 days from then. I am taking a week and a half to get my act together and start over.

[TheDisneyGirl02]

The people who are transferring should talk to the other store that they are going to. Schedules need to be figured out. For us, we all needed time before we walked into another store. The liquidation process was draining and we felt that we had nothing left to give. I personally could not leave my store and walk into someone else's store the next day or even 2 days from then. I am taking a week and a half to get my act together and start over.

Which store are you transferring to? Good luck! I know if you came to my cast, we'd welcome you with open arms. :hug:

[boston1029]

Thanks DisneyGirl02!! I am transferring to the Rockvale Outlet in Lancaster, Pa. I am looking forward to it, I know the store manager and have for several years.

[kmann728]

My Store closed on the 7th. :( The store that I am transferring to doesn't even have enough hours for the part timers they already had on staff, not to mention the huge influx of cast members being transferred in. I'm thinking that I won't make it on the payroll until July. I'm lucky though, as this is only a part time job for me and I can afford to go a month or so with no hours.

[boston1029]

I think that everyone has to have patience. This whole thing has been difficult for the cast whose stores are closing, but we have to remember that this will be a huge change for the stores that are receiving the transferred people. It's going to take time to work this all out. I'm grateful that I am able to stay with the company and that the cast that wanted to transfer could. They all understand that hours will not be available and they are ok with that. ::yes::

[remain seated please]

As many of you know, I have been outspoken about Disney Stores on this and other threads. I stand behind every thing that I have said which has been critical of the stores. Some people have had a hard time accepting what I have had to say about the stores closing and the one-sided views that many have when it comes to Disney. Some people have been helped and encouraged by my comments, and I have no doubt that others will in the future.

For those whose stores have closed in recent days or will close in the coming weeks, I know that your life post-Disney Store will be rewarding and that you will find continued happiness with your next employer. To those of you who are transferring to other TDS locations, I admire your passion and strength during what has been (and in my opinion will be) an extreme amount of adversity.

I've been thinking about what many people have referred to as the "family" aspect of working for TDS. While I disagree with using that word to describe the people you work with, I believe the word "team" is very appropriate. When I managed TDS I had a cast that included veterans and newbies alike. The veterans had to adapt to my management style. They had to learn to trust me after being burnt by prior managers. For the first time many of them got to see what it was like to work with someone who respected them and treated them with dignity. They were challenged by me to be real people and not the actors that Disney wanted them to be. I brought 4 people on board who worked for me at prior companies and the old cast got to see how a real team functioned when nobody was afraid of the manager.

My store was a total dump (onstage and backstage) when I took it over. Six months later we won a contest called "Operation Sparkle" and were named cleanest store in our district. I worked directly with home base and even WDI to have improvements made to my store and sets rebuilt. My cast was loyal to me, first. Then loyal to Disney. Some of them worked with me until 4am on many nights cleaning and reorganizing the stage and backstage areas. The work paid off as it turned one of the original "13 Colonies" into place that the cast and the Guests could enjoy.

My point in this post is that even though my opinions about today's Disney are critical and my words are sometimes harsh, I understand the amount of work that all of you have done at your stores, and I can appreciate it. And while I cannot say "I'm sorry" and offer you sympathy for what you are going through (it's only a job afterall), I will say that I wish you nothing but success in your future endeavors and that hopefully for you, this has been a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

[dis24242]

Ahhh ... PRS ... I knew you were a good guy !!!

PURIEST !!!!

[Mickey&Donald]

Oh PRS... you ought to be ashamed. You stole my line as your tag!

"What Would Walt Do?"

Tsk, tsk... ;)

[dis24242]

Seems like lots of stores closed yesterday.

Now, it's time to start smilin' you's guys.
Be thankful Disney came to your town and you were a part of it.
Be thankful you brought Disney Magic to your guests. Be thankful you had the time of your life.

Soooo, let's dry those eyes. Let's get some smiles goin' here. You've got the best memories anyone could ever have. You were Disney. How good was that ??

Now get 'er goin', let's start tellin' your favorite Disney memories. Cept, NO TEARS .... only laughin'

Who's first ??

[dis24242]

Ok, I'll go first

I always encouraged parents to take pictures of their babies surrounded by plush in the mountain.

As the children grew older, they came back on prom night for new plush pictures.

One night a wedding party rushed in on their way to the reception for ....
plush picture.

My best memory is having the honor of being God Father to my little Katie. I meet her parents while working in TDS.

Thanks Disney for coming to my town and letting me be part of it.
On to bigger things, a new store in a new town, then WDW. !!!!

Ok who's next, raise your hand

[remain seated please]

I'll Go Next...

Celebrities were the norm at Post St. and Pier 39. George Lucas was a bit of a regular at Post St. One time while I was the "stage manager", Lucas came in and the store was packed. I casually greeted him in the Gallery and walked with him up the steps into the Ballroom section, before going backstage to let the other managers on duty know he was in the store.

The backstage of this store was huge, but the manager's office was tiny, and it had one of those doors top/bottom-style doors that you could open only the top half if you weren't letting people in. Four managers were crammed inside the office having a conversation. When I knocked on the door, one of them opened the top half and I jokingly said. "Sorry to disturb you guys while there are 200 people on stage, but I thought you might want to know that George Lucas is in the Ballroom".

These managers all tried to exit the office at once and they couldn't get the bottom half of the door to open. I backed up, laughing hysterically as they all fumbled to get out of that office. When they finally got the door opened, they each adjusted their costumes (remember the sweater vests?) and then exited to the stage in a single file line. I think the attention that they were giving him made him feel a little uncomfortable and he and the woman he was with left the store shortly after. But it was a memorable moment.

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I'll Go Next...

Celebrities were the norm at Post St. and Pier 39. George Lucas was a bit of a regular at Post St. One time while I was the "stage manager", Lucas came in and the store was packed. I casually greeted him in the Gallery and walked with him up the steps into the Ballroom section, before going backstage to let the other managers on duty know he was in the store.

The backstage of this store was huge, but the manager's office was tiny, and it had one of those doors top/bottom-style doors that you could open only the top half if you weren't letting people in. Four managers were crammed inside the office having a conversation. When I knocked on the door, one of them opened the top half and I jokingly said. "Sorry to disturb you guys while there are 200 people on stage, but I thought you might want to know that George Lucas is in the Ballroom".

These managers all tried to exit the office at once and they couldn't get the bottom half of the door to open. I backed up, laughing hysterically as they all fumbled to get out of that office. When they finally got the door opened, they each adjusted their costumes (remember the sweater vests?) and then exited to the stage in a single file line. I think the attention that they were giving him made him feel a little uncomfortable and he and the woman he was with left the store shortly after. But it was a memorable moment.

That is a great story! I can just see the managers all trying to get out of the same door at the same time! Thank you for sharing that story! :rotfl:

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Ok...I'll go next.

Let me see...some of my favorite TDS memories...

One night, I was closing with a manager and I was at the Cast Wrap ringing up transactions. I finished with the first guest and another guest walked up to the registers and said to me, "Can I have a paper towel to clean up the poop on my shoe?"

I think I just stood there for a second. I asked her (as I was gettinmg her the paper towel) if she told anybody else (mostly my manager) and she said yes and continued to clean off her shoe. Turned out that somebody had an 'accident' in the back of the store and never told us and a poor guest stepped in it! I'll never forget that one!

Although I can't put my finger on one moment, I love to see the looks on the faces of guests when they come into the store. I always get excited when a newborn baby visits for the first time. So many wonderful memories have been made for me to hold and cherish everyday.


I must say that it's my honor to create magic for the guests everytime I work. We have so many repeat guests and I always enjoy seeing them.

OK...who's up next?

[MICKEY'SWORLD]

ITS A DONE DEAL...OR LAST DAY IS NEXT TUESDAY:sick:

[TheDisneyGirl02]

ITS A DONE DEAL...OR LAST DAY IS NEXT TUESDAY:sick:
I'm sorry...
:hug:

[WI WDWGIRL]

Favorite memory:

We have a young boy, Ben, whom I'm guessing is 10-12. He has severe autism. Well his dad brings him in almost everyday to let him play. About 2 months ago, he was jamming away (his favorite is the electric keyboard from the Playhouse Disney collection) in the aisle as I was talking to his dad. His dad told me he was having a "bad day." I watched Ben as an elderly woman approached, and I could only assume was trying to pass through the aisle. Ben was currently occupying that space. I waited a moment as I watched the woman (85-90?) watch Ben. When he finally looked up at her a few minutes later, she stepped out from behing her walker and started dancing(!), so Ben kept playing. Round and round they went. She danced until he stoppped playing. I looked at his dad who was crying. I said "Bad day? That's Disney Magic." Dave ( that's the dad) shook my hand and I had to walk away because I started crying, too. So now when I'm having a "Bad Day" I think of that.

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Favorite memory:

We have a young boy, Ben, whom I'm guessing is 10-12. He has severe autism. Well his dad brings him in almost everyday to let him play. About 2 months ago, he was jamming away (his favorite is the electric keyboard from the Playhouse Disney collection) in the aisle as I was talking to his dad. His dad told me he was having a "bad day." I watched Ben as an elderly woman approached, and I could only assume was trying to pass through the aisle. Ben was currently occupying that space. I waited a moment as I watched the woman (85-90?) watch Ben. When he finally looked up at her a few minutes later, she stepped out from behing her walker and started dancing(!), so Ben kept playing. Round and round they went. She danced until he stoppped playing. I looked at his dad who was crying. I said "Bad day? That's Disney Magic." Dave ( that's the dad) shook my hand and I had to walk away because I started crying, too. So now when I'm having a "Bad Day" I think of that.

Wow...what a wonderful story! That almost made me cry! Thank you so much for sharing!

[dis24242]

Favorite memory:

So now when I'm having a "Bad Day" I think of that.


After reading this story ... I'll never have a bad day again.

Great stuff WDWGIRL

[MICKEY'SWORLD]

Well today I officially signed off on the store…what a sad day, seeing all the animation gone from the store was weird to say the least...I feel very fortunate though….i had a great week this past week at Disney world before my store closed. It was out of this world….my silver pass worked great, we got 35% off merchandise, 20% off all food. I have to say……..it was very hard to have the liquidator come in and take over the store from us; however the guy we had was great. He was very good to us and made us feel good about closing. It was really hard to watch the people come in and cry with us, and it was really hard to watch the other “guest” destroy the store looking for the big deals….wow last day everything was a dollar, we sold every last thing in our store, not even one fixture was left, I got back from my trip right after the door closed, I was sad not to be able to be there for that, but got to spend 1 ½ hours in my store by myself reflecting on every last moment I had there with my teamand some of our regular guest, i could almost hear the music in the back round, the stupid buzz guns that made so much noise they drove you crazy, driving home relizing you just say the HSM song that you are so tired of hearing day after day after day...boy now i am going to miss that. it was a hard start for me at that store, almost everyone that was there was very BITTER about the fact that Disney sold us to tcp. Everything had changed and they were not happy with it, and me my first day was BLACK Friday at my store….what a day to remember!! But the TRUE cast members stayed on with me and we became great friends, they truly taught me a lot about Disney, when I started I loved the idea of working for Disney but never imagined falling in love with my job..And I truly loved every bit of it. I will miss my cast so much they were very supportive of me as I was to them, we worked so hard together and became family and that WAS THE TRUE MAGIC for me,this is the best memory that I have, how close we all became when the rug was ripped out from underneath us when we were told we were closing, i didnt relize the passion and support we had for each other. I was very blessed to have found a new job 3 days after I found out we were closing, and of course a few of my cast is following me, but for some we will part ways, but forever have great memories of working together. Good bye Davenport Disney store! You will be missed!

[mamapajama]

Thank you for saying that you wouldn't be in it just for the perks, because from all of the message boards I have read over the last couple of days, most people are in for the perks. Even after TCP took over, we still were a Disney family. We banded together and stayed together through thick and thin. It never mattered who signed our paychecks, it was what was in our hearts that mattered.

I felt exactly the same way that you did when I first got my job at the store (about being the closest thing to a WDW CM while still at home), but regardless if you work at WDW or your local Disney Store, you ARE a CM and you help bring magic to guests every single day!

I wouldn't get too upset about the post that someone was going to apply for the CM perks. Those perks are a benefit-same as tuition reimbursement or vacation time-some companies offer better benefits than others and these benefits are part of what one considers when looking for a job. A good benefits package can sell someone on a position that may offer a lower salary-what a job lacks in salary, it can make up in benefits. So naturally CM perks would be a very nice benefit for a Disney lover. I worked for Children's Place as an assistant store manager for 4 years and I have to say that by the end (2001) i was miserable. I can't imagine it was any better at Children's Place run Disney stores. So i am happy for you that that is coming to an end and going back to the way it was before. That being said, I am still stuck in retail hell but no amount of CM perks could make me take a job inside a mall ever again. The hours of a mall are horrrid, especially during the holidays. Good luck with the new regime! Hope it gets better for you.

[jenseib]

I wouldn't get too upset about the post that someone was going to apply for the CM perks. Those perks are a benefit-same as tuition reimbursement or vacation time-some companies offer better benefits than others and these benefits are part of what one considers when looking for a job. A good benefits package can sell someone on a position that may offer a lower salary-what a job lacks in salary, it can make up in benefits. So naturally CM perks would be a very nice benefit for a Disney lover. I worked for Children's Place as an assistant store manager for 4 years and I have to say that by the end (2001) i was miserable. I can't imagine it was any better at Children's Place run Disney stores. So i am happy for you that that is coming to an end and going back to the way it was before. That being said, I am still stuck in retail hell but no amount of CM perks could make me take a job inside a mall ever again. The hours of a mall are horrrid, especially during the holidays. Good luck with the new regime! Hope it gets better for you.

I think that it's been close to a year now that Disney took them back over.

[Pixieflip]

thanks!

[jenseib]

This thread is from a year ago. It was brought back up to the top today.

[mickeymark34]

This thread has a lot of meaning to me.

[tinksgilrs251520]

What I'm about to say, I truly don't mean it in a disrespectful way, but I do feel like I need to respond to these comments.

If the only reason you want to work at the Disney Store is because of the Disney perks, you won't be working there for the right reason. I was with the stores before the sale and I'm still with the stores now. I'm not there because of the perks, not even for the pay (which isn't that great), but I'm there because of the feeling I get when I can make it a magical experience for our guests. I love the looks on the children's faces when they see Mickey hanging from the ceiling. I love the way some adults act like kids in the store and I just love talking to guests about anything and everything Disney.

The sale of the stores nearly ripped us apart (emotionally it was horrible, we lost so many long-time CMs) but we survived. We've made it through the last four years together - still spreading the Disney magic while not getting anything by the way of perks back for it. We've done it because we love it. We do it for the guests and for each other.

Since the news broke on Thursday, I can't tell you how many threads I have read where people are all gung-ho to get jobs at the stores to get the perks. In a way, it really upsets me because if we weren't good enough before there was the chance we would get the perks back, why are we now?

Once again, I truly don't mean any disrespect to anybody on this thread or on the boards at all, but this has really been bothering me the last couple of days. If you want to join the Disney Store cast, just make sure you're in it for the long-haul. It's sort of like a marriage, you have to be there through the good and the bad.

:)
Do you the phone number to where I can contact for ideas on locations for any new stores? The closest Disney Store is on the other side of the state for me there used to be one 30 minutes from house and we have a outlet center with a childrens place in it already... Hope fully that will change into a disney store......

[jenseib]

Do you the phone number to where I can contact for ideas on locations for any new stores? The closest Disney Store is on the other side of the state for me there used to be one 30 minutes from house and we have a outlet center with a childrens place in it already... Hope fully that will change into a disney store......

This is an old thread. The changes were made a year ago. Disney only bought the Disney store, and not childrens place.

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Do you the phone number to where I can contact for ideas on locations for any new stores? The closest Disney Store is on the other side of the state for me there used to be one 30 minutes from house and we have a outlet center with a childrens place in it already... Hope fully that will change into a disney store......

Just go to http://www.disneystore.com/ and in the upper right hand corner there red button that says "Store Locator". Click there and just type in your address and it should tell you your closest store.

Hope that helps! :)

[mickeymark34]

I have read that Disney is opening stores in cities that once had Disney Stores at one time. I think they are calling them "Temporary Retail Units". Perhaps the Company is doing this to see how well a store would perfom in an area that it was once located, and keep it open.

[mickeymark34]

I believe the new store in Hawaii is one such store. I don't know which cities will have stores reopen, but it is good news.

[KerryCM]

They are opening 3 temp store here in MA. All 3 locations had store before. They are Burlington, Natik and Peabody. These are 2 year deals to see if they are a go forward or not.

[julandkrz18]

I just applied to the new Mass Store...YIPEEEEEEE. So glad they are coming back.

[mickeymark34]

Good luck!!!!!!!

[TinaMedley]

I wish they would put one in the St. Louis area again!!! I miss my Store.

[kc10family]

this sounds good