Anyone else go from 0..60 in merch obsession?

[becoming_diznified]

Curious if I'm the only one. Before I went to Disney World last year I didn't think much of Disney merch but afterward I'm like obsessed with it now, especially spirit jerseys and hoodies. Did this happen to anyone else?

 

[Dan Murphy]

It's part of the Disney 'magic.' Your money magically transfers to the Mouse.

 

[becoming_diznified]

It's part of the Disney 'magic.' Your money magically transfers to the Mouse.

Yes true, i might be funding the renovations at the moment..

 

[White Cat]

When did merchandise begin bringing called merch? Sounds strange.

 

[becoming_diznified]

When did merchandise begin bringing called merch? Sounds strange.

Sometime in the 2010s? I'm just using the lingo that the cool kids are using.

 

[BrianL]

When did merchandise begin bringing called merch? Sounds strange.

It's been called that for a long time by people in retail, etc. I am not really sure when consumers started using it. It's like the term "Black Friday" for the day after Thanksgiving. It was used in the industry for a while, but then somehow made it into common parlance, and eventually actual marketing.

 

[Micca]

I used to have some involvement with the concert business, "merch" was part of the equation all the way back to the 80s, and I'm sure the term was used long before I got involved.

With Disney merch, I have tapered off dramatically over the past few years. For one thing, I have a ton of Disney branded t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, etc. I really don't need additional stuff. Furthermore, most of what is being produced now just does not appeal to me. I'm sorry, but the spirit jerseys just seem lazy to me, it's just variations on the same jersey ad infinitum.

So if you'll excuse me, there's a chill here this morning and I'm going for a walk in my Disney Wonder Alaska cruise pullover now

 

[Karalee402]

YES, but with ears. I could never have imagined I'd have so many pairs of mouse ears a few years ago, but now here I am. Definitely an obsession!

 

[becoming_diznified]

YES, but with ears. I could never have imagined I'd have so many pairs of mouse ears a few years ago, but now here I am. Definitely an obsession!

Ha yes, I look at this stuff probably a little too much

 

[china mom]

TBH, they could slap "passholder" on a roll of toilet paper and I would probably buy it

 

[becoming_diznified]

TBH, they could slap "passholder" on a roll of toilet paper and I would probably buy it

That's the funny part. I think there's a lot of complaints about how loud the merch is but someone must be buying (<me>looks away</me>).

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

I've gone in the other direction actually.
Used to think I had to have everything I saw that I liked.
These days I really have to love it to spend money on it.
My trip in August I came home with only great memories ZERO souvenirs.
I'm always looking at new merch that comes out to see if there is anything that I must have and I will buy things but just not everything all the time.
Currently I've been obsessed with something I cannot buy and have been for 3yrs.. That's the purple decorative pillow on the Poly beds.

 

[Smugpugmug]

IMO the in park merch sucks these days. The shirts in particular are super low quality and shrink after a handful of washes. I tend to gravitate towards Disney merch you can get outside the parks. For example Box Lunch shirts are better quality, though sizing is wacky. I have to size up most of the time when shopping there.

Also they have a lot of the same generic junk in most of the stores. I miss when every store had something unique. Some stores still have unique stuff but it's not as common as it used to be.

 

[becoming_diznified]

IMO the in park merch sucks these days. The shirts in particular are super low quality and shrink after a handful of washes. I tend to gravitate towards Disney merch you can get outside the parks. For example Box Lunch shirts are better quality, though sizing is wacky. I have to size up most of the time when shopping there.

Also they have a lot of the same generic junk in most of the stores. I miss when every store had something unique. Some stores still have unique stuff but it's not as common as it used to be.

Boxlunch actually does have a lot of good stuff. There's like a Mickey baseball jersey I'm thinking about but I've bought so much stuff already recently.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Boxlunch actually does have a lot of good stuff. There's like a Mickey baseball jersey I'm thinking about but I've bought so much stuff already recently.

I wear shirts from there to the parks and I get asked frequently by guests which shop I bought them from. It's similar to when I wear ears from the Asian Disney parks. People are starved for actually cool and unique merch lol

 

[becoming_diznified]

I may wear the merch outside the parks quite a bit too..

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

I may wear the merch outside the parks quite a bit too..

Oh I wear the merch outside the parks.
I'm not gonna buy it only to wear it while there.
I have 6 spirit jerseys, 2 sweatshirts, 2 zip up hoodies, 1 fleece jacket, probably 10 t-shirts, and 3 dresses.
I wear my Figment zip up hoodie from 2007 all the time. Its basically my go to in the spring, summer, and fall when I just need to have a lightweight jacket.
I'll start wearing the fleece jacket once it gets chilly before I have to have my winter coat.

 

[MICKIMINI]

DH and each have dozens of tee shirts for various seasons. He has lots of Tommy Bahama aloha shirts mostly bought at Poly on sale. I just ordered a Mickey halloween aloha shirt for him from Target to wear at Topolino's in a few weeks. I found Vera Bradley ears to wear that morning for the character breakfast ($20 online at Target). I try to make sure our outfits complement each other but are not matchy matchy.

We have Ray Ban Disney sunglasses, he has lots of hats and I have lots of DB and Coach bags,, MB's etc. It is rather ridiculous though we now just "shop" our collection when we pack our bags and each buy something when we are at WDW. When he spills something on a shirt on vacation, it then becomes a shirt he wears to mow the lawn! Recyling.

 

[china mom]

I shattered my foot during an EPCOT trip and ended up needing extensive surgery. I just weirdly decided that I would wear a Disney shirt every day until I recovered (except during working hours where I am in a uniform). Some are just T-shirts from Walmart featuring Mickey and some are authentic Disney - usually a festival shirt or a passholder shirt.

My shattered foot ended up actually being the start of a life long bone disease which has required several surgeries (both feet). Initial event was 11/9/2019. Wearing Disney shirts has become my trademark now.

Needless to say, I am getting a lot of use out of my t-shirt collection. The authentic Disney shirts are holding up much better than the generic ones and are much softer. So, while I do not typically indulge in any other Disney merch, you will find me buying a new t-shirt at every festival and sometimes in between.

 

[becoming_diznified]

I shattered my foot during an EPCOT trip and ended up needing extensive surgery. I just weirdly decided that I would wear a Disney shirt every day until I recovered (except during working hours where I am in a uniform). Some are just T-shirts from Walmart featuring Mickey and some are authentic Disney - usually a festival shirt or a passholder shirt.

My shattered foot ended up actually being the start of a life long bone disease which has required several surgeries (both feet). Initial event was 11/9/2019. Wearing Disney shirts has become my trademark now.

Needless to say, I am getting a lot of use out of my t-shirt collection. The authentic Disney shirts are holding up much better than the generic ones and are much softer. So, while I do not typically indulge in any other Disney merch, you will find me buying a new t-shirt at every festival and sometimes in between.

That's a cool story, thanks for sharing.