Blog: Sunglass Hut Opening in Magic Kingdom's Adventureland

[*NikkiBell*]

One would think that getting a new store at Walt Disney World would be exciting. Well folks, I have found a time in which it’s not. In fact, it has made my blood boil. Why, you ask? A Sunglass Hut is coming to the Magic Kingdom.

See more at: http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2015/01/06/...-kingdoms-adventureland/#sthash.5Eg1O1wX.dpuf

 

[ChipnDale79]

I think it's a great idea, as long as its themed to Advetureland.

We were there a few years ago when my wife lost her sunglasses on the 2nd or 3rd day of our trip (on pirates somehow ), I can guarantee you that we would have stopped by this store and bought her another pair if it was there.

 

[Suger Mag]

Meh. SunglassHut does not bother me. Having this kiosk/store (especially if it is themed nicely) will not in any way detract from my personal 'magic'.

Don't want sunglasses? Then easy peasy... don't shop. I do not understand the uproar over brands. The concept of branding at the parks is nothing new... many brands have come and gone over the years. Disney does not produce their own sodas... Dole is a sponser of the Dole whip etc.

 

[Reddog1134]

They've already opened the location at Typhoon Lagoon.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/shopping/si...w-open-at-typhoon-lagoon's-singapore-sals.htm

It looks fine to me.

 

[dvcblt93]

People loose their sunglasses in the parks all the time, I dont understand the uproar over a gift shop?

 

[ajwolfe]

I think as long as it is themed appropriately it's fine. I've been in need of sunglasses before in WDW and would have been happy to have the options available.

 

[Andrew015]

Disney World was once home to a vast array of unique gift shops containing merchandise that could not be (readily) obtained anywhere else. It made the shopping experience most enjoyable and exclusive. If you never had the opportunity to experience Disney shopping in the 70's, 80's or even early in the 90's, you wouldn't really know what you are missing.

Fast forward to the Disney World shopping experience of today, which is begining to look more and more like your average suburban shopping mall, riddled with stores that carry the same merchandise as every other store on property. Sure, some of the shops still have unique themes or that Disney "feel", but at the end of the day, the merchandise in the MK is the same as that found in EPCOT, HS, AK, DTD, the resorts, etc. etc. Nothing is unique, nothing is all that exciting. They've made a feeble attempt to overcome this stigma with stores like the Marketplace Co-Op and Memento Mori, but I haven't been all that impressed with either. Your mileage may vary.

Now, in addition to the same Disney "junk" that is found property-wide, we are beginning to see corporate alliances such as Sunglass Hut, Starbucks, etc. etc. crop up. I, personally, have nothing against these stores whatsoever. I just think there's a good segment of the Disney-going population that would prefer to see something that is "unique to Disney", rather than stores that can be found on every other street corner across America. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Reddog1134]

The Typhoon Lagoon location looks OK but this one looks boring.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/shopping/is...and-supply-by-sunglass-hut-overview/22998.htm

 

[itsthatdisneygirl]

I think the "anger" is coming from how un-unique it is to replace the store that was there which offered not only Disney brand and other sunglasses, but other resort wear, and resort style disney merch with a shop you can find ANYWHERE and how even with the shop being themed it still seems very out of place and just doesn't feel right.

And people are getting wary because it seems to keep happening. PI: take away all the unique clubs and after years of indecision replace them with high end restaurants and shops you can go to anytime outside of the World. Starbucks: take bakeries and coffee places that were only at the parks and replace it with something that everywhere. Norway: once a pavilion about the actual country is now going to be about a fictional land from a movie that is everywhere.

As for the themeing of the shop ask your self this why don't they have a dole whip stand in tomorrowland? Because it just doesn't fit the theme. Now put some sci-fi themed sunglass store there and that fits.

 

[Steph D]

Disney World was once home to a vast array of unique gift shops containing merchandise that could not be (readily) obtained anywhere else. It made the shopping experience most enjoyable and exclusive. If you never had the opportunity to experience Disney shopping in the 70's, 80's or even early in the 90's, you wouldn't really know what you are missing.

Fast forward to the Disney World shopping experience of today, which is begining to look more and more like your average suburban shopping mall, riddled with stores that carry the same merchandise as every other store on property. Sure, some of the shops still have unique themes or that Disney "feel", but at the end of the day, the merchandise in the MK is the same as that found in EPCOT, HS, AK, DTD, the resorts, etc. etc. Nothing is unique, nothing is all that exciting. They've made a feeble attempt to overcome this stigma with stores like the Marketplace Co-Op and Memento Mori, but I haven't been all that impressed with either. Your mileage may vary.

Now, in addition to the same Disney "junk" that is found property-wide, we are beginning to see corporate alliances such as Sunglass Hut, Starbucks, etc. etc. crop up. I, personally, have nothing against these stores whatsoever. I just think there's a good segment of the Disney-going population that would prefer to see something that is "unique to Disney", rather than stores that can be found on every other street corner across America. Nothing more, nothing less.

It used to be so unique to go to each park and they had different items at each of the parks. Unfortunately, there isn't much distinction anymore. One of the reasons I go to Disney is to shop. I love the different items that stores like Tren D offer. Unfortunately, it seems like WDW moving in a different direction. I'm very unimpressed with the Co-op. While I didn't care for Memento Mori, I'm happy that it isn't a shop that you can find in any given mall. I can only hope that this trend stops and Disney realizes the uniqueness of their own.