Any one notice this?

[eliza61]

Just returned from a great vacation in the World but I did notice one small disappointing trend. It was with the gift shops. It use to be that the gift shops were tailored toward the ride you just got off of or with its own theme for example, the villians store in MGM. Now it seems there was no originality in them. Every one had the pirates of Carbi. stuff and a few pins, mugs or keychains with the rides name or logo on it. I'm not a huge gift buyer but usually I see a few charming things I like.
In Epcot, if you go to France, Italy or Norway you can pick up items from France, italy or Norway. Norway had some sweaters that I would have gladly traded my 1st born son for. How come when you go to the American Pavillion all the stuff is from China? Just made me go hummm.

 

[browniemtb]

How come when you go to the American Pavillion all the stuff is from China? Just made me go hummm.

Because we don't make anything anymore.........

 

[DVC Grammy]

Because we don't make anything anymore.........

I don't know whether to or .

 

[OneMoreTry]

Norway had some sweaters that I would have gladly traded my 1st born son for.

Check out the Gorsuch catalog or gorsuch.com -- you'll find a lot of those sweaters there.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I have noticed the past 2 years that the gift shops are all starting to look/feel the same. It's just like it's the same stuff over and over again in every shop. I was hard pressed to find some original/unique items as well.
Oh well.....more time for other things..........

 

[dianeschlicht]

Check out the Gorsuch catalog or gorsuch.com -- you'll find a lot of those sweaters there.

I went to that site and didn't see any Norwegian sweaters there, but THIS SITE has them all.

 

[VMS]

We noticed the same thing at the gift shops. We just got back this weekend. My guys are huge Pirates of Caribbean fans, but we were sick of seeing it everywhere. My 15 year old loves and has always loved the Villains. He couldn't wait to get to the Villains shop at MGM but was so disappointed by what limited Villains items there were. As he even said "the Pirates have taken over everything, including the Villains store."

 

[Granny]

Now it seems there was no originality in them. Every one had the pirates of Carbi. stuff and a few pins, mugs or keychains with the rides name or logo on it.

I think the person that re-designed all the WDW restaurant menus was promoted to be in charge of gift shop selections as well.

 

[utahkennedys]

We have also been very disappointed with the stores, like it's hard to find anything to buy anymore, which is fine since we aren't there to shop. It is kind of sad though, because as a kid they always had the neatest stuff, now we all think it is just junk...

 

[Chuck S]

Since this is not a DVC specific topic/thread I am moving it to the Theme Parks board.

 

[Evil Queen]

We noticed the same thing at the gift shops. We just got back this weekend. My guys are huge Pirates of Caribbean fans, but we were sick of seeing it everywhere. My 15 year old loves and has always loved the Villains. He couldn't wait to get to the Villains shop at MGM but was so disappointed by what limited Villains items there were. As he even said "the Pirates have taken over everything, including the Villains store."

I was disappointed in the Villians store last year. I couldn't find one thing I would be willing to spend my money on.