Another Disney Store validation....

[dislovinfamilyfromCT]

I am still reading through these threads but we have 2 major malls in our area, both 15 min. away from our house...I went to one yesterday, just to go to the Dis Store and it's CLOSED...no bilboards about it moving, they JUST renovated the store...I was so mad...so today we are going to try the other mall and hope that one is still open! If not, I guess I will be doing my shopping online...

 

[sherabby]

Ouch ours is in a Simon Mall. I'll just freak without our Disney store!

 

[DisneyBarlans]

OMG...is that true? My son has a dentist appt. on Friday in Norcross, and I was going to go to the DM store afterwards.

I've never been there, and someone posted on here that it was huge....I'll be so disappointed if that's the case (moving clearance stuff to DM to sell at full price again)! UGH.....

How is the store decorated?

I would just try it and see what you think. They move the clearance stuff out of the regular stores and take it to this store when they need to make room for new inventory. It's not at regular price, but more expensive than if you were to get it at a clearance price at the other store, does that make sense (especially when they mark the clearance an additional 50% off in the regular stores every couple of weeks)? For me, it's not worth the trip unless I'm looking for something specific that has already been moved out of the regular store. But that's just me, you might find some great deals. Good luck!

 

[Disney8704]

Does anyone know if the Disney Store in King of Prussia mall (King of Prussia, PA) will close? That one is the closest one to us besides the one in Christina Mall in Chrisitina, DE. I can see the one in Chrisitna closing. But thats ok. Its not a very big store, and they really didnt have much last time I was there, and the last time I was there was in December right before Christmas. The one in KoP mall though, is pretty big and I love that store. And that mall is ALWAYS packed. A lot of times it takes us 10 minutes just to find a parking spot and there are thousands of parking spots!

 

[wcduke]

Does anyone know if the Disney Store in King of Prussia mall (King of Prussia, PA) will close? That one is the closest one to us besides the one in Christina Mall in Chrisitina, DE. I can see the one in Chrisitna closing. But thats ok. Its not a very big store, and they really didnt have much last time I was there, and the last time I was there was in December right before Christmas. The one in KoP mall though, is pretty big and I love that store. And that mall is ALWAYS packed. A lot of times it takes us 10 minutes just to find a parking spot and there are thousands of parking spots!

Hi Disney8704, I haven't read this entire thread, but I just wanted to FYI there is also a Disney Store in the Concord Mall in Wilmington, DE. That one would probably be closer to you (if you live in Dover, DE) than the King of Prussia Mall. There is also one in the Exton Mall, which also might be closer to you.

 

[Maine-iac]

Well I could only get one list to come up and I think it was the list of the stores that are closing. I did not see the store in the Maine Mall in South Portland listed so I am hoping that it is safe.

 

[bevgray]

This makes no sense whatsoever to close all three stores in Indianapolis (State's capital city) and keep Merrillville (which could be served by the Chicago area stores) and Ft. Wayne open. Also, the employees at Circle Center seem to think they will be Cast Members very soon. Haven't been to Castleton recently so I don't have any updates from there and have never been to Greenwood. Castleton was the first Disney store to open in Indianapolis (and was on one of the second or third tier openings before the store proliferation began). Circle Center was a flagship store with a gallery nook in the "good old days". At the moment, it's still a pretty good sized store unlike poor Castleton that got "downsized" in location a few years ago.

My guess is the store lists (both acquire and not acquire) may not represent the final legal decision. Before getting too upset, I urge everyone to take a deep breath and hope for the best.

 

[n2mm]

Well I could only get one list to come up and I think it was the list of the stores that are closing. I did not see the store in the Maine Mall in South Portland listed so I am hoping that it is safe.

That store is on the keep list...not closing.

 

[n2mm]

Does anyone know if the Disney Store in King of Prussia mall (King of Prussia, PA) will close? That one is the closest one to us besides the one in Christina Mall in Chrisitina, DE. I can see the one in Chrisitna closing. But thats ok. Its not a very big store, and they really didnt have much last time I was there, and the last time I was there was in December right before Christmas. The one in KoP mall though, is pretty big and I love that store. And that mall is ALWAYS packed. A lot of times it takes us 10 minutes just to find a parking spot and there are thousands of parking spots!

Both are also on the keep list .... not closing.

 

[Gina]

ANNEX G:
Remaining Stores (not expected to be acquired by Disney)

Pearlland(sic) Town Center


That's completely odd, considering that mall isn't even OPEN yet... won't even be completed until this summer sometime. Why would they "not acquire" a store that they themselves are building?? If CP is getting out of the Disney Store business, who on earth will be running the new store in Pearland if not Disney?

 

[D L and K's Mom]

Didnt read the whole thread. I did see our store (Greece Ridge Center NY) is on the remaining list so they are going to close. Any idea when this is taking place???

 

[lntsmom]

I'm pretty sure the Independence store is expected to close. The one in Oak Park Mall and the one in Zona Rosa are both expected to stay open. At this point, even the CM's don't know for certain what's going on. The list of stores has not been released to us yet, but my managers keep saying that we'll know for sure by May 1st or earlier.

When did Oak Park Mall get a Disney store? I guess, thinking back, I haven't been there for almost 2 years now. Last time I was there the Disney Store and Warner Bros. stores were both gone!

 

[castleofmist]

ANNEX G:
Remaining Stores (not expected to be acquired by Disney)

Pearlland(sic) Town Center


That's completely odd, considering that mall isn't even OPEN yet... won't even be completed until this summer sometime. Why would they "not acquire" a store that they themselves are building?? If CP is getting out of the Disney Store business, who on earth will be running the new store in Pearland if not Disney?

Hi Gina, I too live in the Houston area, though nowhere near Pearland. I was not even aware that Pearland Town Center was being built, but it looks like a fabulous new shopping venue.

I just searched the Disney Store website for all locations in the Houston area, and it appears that there are four: Galleria, Willowbrook, West Oaks, and The Woodlands. I am surprised that there is not one on the south side of the metroplex, and the Pearland Town Center location would have served that growing area.

However, it makes sense that Disney would not aquire that location. Construction is likely not complete on the shell of the buildings, so nothing has been done on the interior and the space can be leased to another retailer. Disney will not have to work within the constraints of the lease negotiated by TCP. Perhaps Disney will open a store at that location under a different lease, or another location in the area, or not at all.


I know I would be sad if I was one of the potential patrons expecting to be able to get my Disney "fix" close to home. At least with this location, though, there are probably no employee layoffs, and there are several other great stores within a 20-60 minute drive. I feel badly for all those employees who were laid off at existing stores, and for those people who will have no store within a reasonable driving distance from their homes.

 

[Dcanoli]

No! It's totally TRUE! There's a Disney Store Outlet (not a Disney World / Disneyland outlet) at Discover Mills. I was there this weekend and spent way too much. They opened this January and get there shipments on Monday and Wednesday the CM told me. As if I needed any more encouragement...

I got the 3' Cindy for like around $5. I got clothes for my daughter and me! And of course lots of the fun little stuff for our plane trip to DL!

-Virginia

Are you even kidding me? Someone posted earlier that the store was selling clearance stuff at regular prices.

ANYWAY...I am going to have to check this out for myself, and if it turns out good, it might be bad for me!

I am going on Friday right after my son's dental appt.!!! I am getting so psyched now!!!

There were some t-shirts I wanted on-line for my husband, but they sold out before I could order them...I'm so hoping they are at DM!!!

 

[Brian_WDW74]

When did Oak Park Mall get a Disney store? I guess, thinking back, I haven't been there for almost 2 years now. Last time I was there the Disney Store and Warner Bros. stores were both gone!

I think it opened in the late Nineties during the chain's rapid expansion. I know it's been in the mall since at least 2002, but I can't remember if it changed locations within the mall during that time or not.

 

[castleofmist]

I really feel for those people who will no longer have a Disney Store location in their entire state, let alone within reasonable driving distance. Of course, I feel even worse for the laid-off employees.

I know it seems odd that some cities and states will still have several stores, while some will have none remaining. This may be due to logistical issues, such as the ease of running multiple stores located within a small area rather than spread out over a large area, or particular issues within the affected areas, such as less favorabe lease terms with certain retail property managers.

In my opinion, there has been a marked improvement in the Disney Store merchandise in the last year. I love the "sophisticated" items that have subtle Mickey "touches," such as Mickey head icons on clothes, accessories and home decor items. These are fashionable things I can wear or display, and people may not even known they are from Disney, but I know.


Even before the change in management from Disney to TCP, the Disney Store selection of merchandise for adults seemed nonexistent. I had to buy my favorite items online, from the Disney Catalog or Disney Catalog Outlet store, or the Disney Parks (the best!). I do not recall ever being able to buy things like clothes, dishes, and bed linens with those Mickey "touches" at the Disney Store, that is, until the last year or so.

In that time, I have spent more money at the Disney Store than ever before. I think the selection at the Disney Store is starting to reflect what I like about Disney online and Disney Parks and used to like about Disney Catalog. For example, I was very happy with the selection of items during the Christmas 2007 season. I bought the Mickey head icon wreath, the Mickey and Minnie advent calendar, ornaments, Alice and Sleeping Beauty shirts and jeans, and many other items. It was almost like shopping at the parks (OK, not really).


I hope Disney continues this trend when it takes back over the stores. Keep in mind there is a reason they sold to TCP a few years ago; I think the stores were turned into "trinket carts" before TCP took over. I believe TCP turned things around for the better, but perhap not quickly enough.

 

[lyzziesmom]

I know it seems odd that some cities and states will still have several stores, while some will have none remaining. This may be due to logistical issues, such as the ease of running multiple stores located within a small area rather than spread out over a large area, or particular issues within the affected areas, such as less favorabe lease terms with certain retail property managers.

My understanding -- and I could be wrong -- is that the decision is based on how well each individual store has been meeting its sales goals.

 

[bevgray]

With regard to some areas having multiple stores and others none, I disagree about the "easier to manage" aspect. First of all, that's what regional managers do. I have never known of a chain system where the stores themselves weren't responsible for their own management at the store level. Secondly, it makes no sense at all from a profit sense. Multiple stores pull traffic from each other if they are serving the same area. Those with no stores are not likely to drive 3+ hours just to go to a Disney store (most people didn't do that even when the Stores were in their first youth and were still considered "destination boutiques"). I have no reason to travel to northern Indiana. I don't need to go to Chicago so, in these days of high gas prices, I'll shop online which means the kind of impulse buying that Disney has received from me in the past will be non-existent. It makes even less sense to keep the two stores in northern Indiana (which realistically can be served by the Chicago region) and will certainly pull traffic from each other and take all three out of the major city in the state. Sorry, but when the decision to keep some stores and not others was made, did anyone have the sense to use push pins in a map of the U.S. to see what the outcome actually resembled?

On the News and Rumors board, someone posted that a Cast Member told them that the list in the bankruptcy filing was strictly preliminary in order to get it on the docket and that the actual list was still being tweaked. So, before too many of us bemoan our fates or celebrate our relief, we should probably wait for the official news. Legal proceedings, especially at the corporate level, are never carved in stone until the final judgement of the court is rendered; and even then there are often appeals, renegotiations, etc. The goal is to have things done by May 1. That is the goal, not the absolute it will happen. Delays happen in court just as in other aspects of life.

 

[Disney Von Drake]

On the News and Rumors board, someone posted that a Cast Member told them that the list in the bankruptcy filing was strictly preliminary in order to get it on the docket and that the actual list was still being tweaked. So, before too many of us bemoan our fates or celebrate our relief, we should probably wait for the official news. Legal proceedings, especially at the corporate level, are never carved in stone until the final judgement of the court is rendered; and even then there are often appeals, renegotiations, etc. The goal is to have things done by May 1. That is the goal, not the absolute it will happen. Delays happen in court just as in other aspects of life.

You are indeed correct.

 

[tiggger1]

With regard to some areas having multiple stores and others none, I disagree about the "easier to manage" aspect. First of all, that's what regional managers do. I have never known of a chain system where the stores themselves weren't responsible for their own management at the store level. Secondly, it makes no sense at all from a profit sense. Multiple stores pull traffic from each other if they are serving the same area. Those with no stores are not likely to drive 3+ hours just to go to a Disney store (most people didn't do that even when the Stores were in their first youth and were still considered "destination boutiques"). I have no reason to travel to northern Indiana. I don't need to go to Chicago so, in these days of high gas prices, I'll shop online which means the kind of impulse buying that Disney has received from me in the past will be non-existent. It makes even less sense to keep the two stores in northern Indiana (which realistically can be served by the Chicago region) and will certainly pull traffic from each other and take all three out of the major city in the state. Sorry, but when the decision to keep some stores and not others was made, did anyone have the sense to use push pins in a map of the U.S. to see what the outcome actually resembled?

On the News and Rumors board, someone posted that a Cast Member told them that the list in the bankruptcy filing was strictly preliminary in order to get it on the docket and that the actual list was still being tweaked. So, before too many of us bemoan our fates or celebrate our relief, we should probably wait for the official news. Legal proceedings, especially at the corporate level, are never carved in stone until the final judgement of the court is rendered; and even then there are often appeals, renegotiations, etc. The goal is to have things done by May 1. That is the goal, not the absolute it will happen. Delays happen in court just as in other aspects of life.

the final list comes out the 22nd.