Disney Parks Merchandise

[rchristiansen]

I have to agree with what Pete is saying about the Disney merchandise. I haven't been inclined to purchase anything at WDW lately. The t-shirts are boring and expensive. I bought DD one of those light up headband things, it broke 10 minutes later and had to return it. However, Mousegears didn't have it so I bought another light up ears thing. That one is working still, though.


I usually get a mug each year, but he's right, they start to fade. I have a Pirates one that is now just a plain black mug and a Soarin' one that looks like it's drifting away. I do wonder about the returns policy. I never thought of returning something after I got home. I guess though, I know better and don't buy much of the stuff. Maybe I'll bring those mugs with me this July when we visit WDW without a receipt and see if I can get a credit. Do you think they will believe me that the plain black mug is truly a Pirates mug?


And Pete was right, the stuff at Mickey's of Glendale was higher quality, but for the same price as at the parks. We got a mug there, some cute baby-doll t-shirts and DH got a really sharp looking Haunted Mansion button down shirt. Take a lesson, WDW

However, having just been at Disneyland, I was really happy with the selection there. There were a number of Disneyland-only items. I picked up a set of "retro" cocktail glasses with each Disneyland "land" (although Frontierland was nowhere to be found). There were also a number of prints and t-shirts specific to Disneyland. I got DD8 a Matterhorn T-shirt (well, it fits her like a dress) and a really cool New Orleans square print for our family room. There were other ride t-shirts and other fun Disneyland specific T-shirts including one that just said "Turkey Leg" with a drawing of a turkey leg.

Anyone else feel the same way about the stuff at WDW? I guess the only positive thing about the boring stuff at WDW is that we don't have to spend money on souvenirs!

 

[medicjch]

I'm kinda with you........when I look at lots of the merchandise, nothing is really screaming "BUY ME!" (well except for the Vinylmations, but let's not talk about those little beauties) Now I can usually find some stuff, but it is really hit and miss. I tend to lean toward the retro suff and have found a few cool t-shirts, but I do agree that they are overpriced, unfortunately they will probably stay that way since schmucks like me are shelling out the $$$ for them. I think what tends to really frustrate me is the quality of many of the items, for example, I was about to buy a cover for my iPhone, but when I really got to looking at it I realized that it would either break or get scuffed all to hell within a few weeks. I guess when it all boils down, my frustration is that with the size of Disney, and their amazing creativity, I should be going through the stores saying "I want that, and that, and that....." but, ..........I'm not really saying that. Disney needs to step it up a level. One thing in particular that I am usually looking for are golf shirts, really nice golf shirts made by a quality company (Nike, Addidas) I don't mind paying the money for a quality shirt, but the ones that Disney is selling, quite frankly……..suck. Years ago, I'm thinking like 10+ they sold some Nike shirts and they were nice, but nothing that good since. Let's not even get started on the resort specific stuff, or do we need to beat that horse some more? Ok that is my 2 cents.

 

[kaligal]

I didn't hear that podcast yet. I don't know what they said.

The quality of the clothing has taken a nose-dive. There are still some decent quality clothes, but for the most part it is crap. And it is crap that we're paying way too much for. Much of the female clothing is geared to 8-12 year old girls.

I hate, hate, hate "Disney Parks" and (with the exception of that adorable Dooney purse - couldn't help myself), I just won't buy it.

Once upon a time, Disney clothes were expensive, but they lasted. You bought an expensive t-shirt, you got your money's worth. Now, they're just over-priced souvies.

Most of the key chains break.

The infamous ice cube trays. They still sell them. They KNOW that everyone will have these little Van Gogh Mickey heads in their drinks, but they don't care because the item sells well.

And that's the trouble. Disney doesn't care about the quality as long as the stuff sells. You can get a way with that for a while, especially if you have a reputation for quality. But you can't go on like that forever.

 

[DisneyCruisin']

I agree! I bought a bunch of stuff at Mickey's of Glendale last summer when we went on our ABD Backstage Magic trip and it's holding up great (tshirts and polos). I didn't purchase anything at DisneyLand though. WDW, forget about it. They've not received a dime from us for a while. The merchandise just isn't worth it anymore. Tshirts fade quickly and the polos don't wash well either. If the merchandise quality went up, we would buy some - but not at the level that it currently is at. I love the Dooney and Bourke purses, but I'm not spending $200+ on something that I really don't want to use on a daily basis.

 

[safetymom]

I was looking for the parking lot tram at DL for my daughter. When I finally found it Disney had decided to make it the same for DL and WDW. There is a difference between the two. They lost a sale because I already had the WDW one.

I was looking for things at DL that they didn't have at WDW. Sadly I found very little so I didn't buy anything in the parks. I did buy exclusive merchandise at Mickey's of Glendale. I wish Disney would listen to guests about this.

 

[safetymom]

Love my new tags!!! Thank you Tag Fairy.

 

[rchristiansen]

Once upon a time, Disney clothes were expensive, but they lasted. You bought an expensive t-shirt, you got your money's worth. Now, they're just over-priced souvies.

You're right! I STILL have a "Magic Music Days" T-shirt from when I went to WDW in 1992 and it looks great with no holes or anything.


(1992...that's old)

 

[Joshua_me]

I got a kick out of the "Earth Day" shirts that were featured on the Disney Store website the other day.

Supposedly "organic", upon close inspection the shirt that caught my eye was made from half "organic" cotton and half polyester !

Yes, nothing says, "Earth Day" better than Dupont's
dimethyl terephthalates reacting with ethylene glycol in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature of 302-410°F (150-210°C).

Resulting in a chemical, a monomer (single, non-repeating molecule) alcohol, combined with a terephthalic acid and raised to a temperature of 472°F (280°

 

[Cherinva]

I went 3 times last year, and once this year....I wanted to buy Tee shirts but didn't see anything that I liked...I was really disappointed in the selections...I mainly bought pins on this last trip.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Yes, nothing says, "Earth Day" better than Dupont's
dimethyl terephthalates reacting with ethylene glycol in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature of 302-410°F (150-210°C).

Resulting in a chemical, a monomer (single, non-repeating molecule) alcohol, combined with a terephthalic acid and raised to a temperature of 472°F (280°

In other words, a "disco shirt".

 

[Sugardimples]

We just don't buy anything any more. There is nothing I want to spend money on.

BUT as long as there is a continuous line of new visitors who are buying up everything in sight I don't think Disney will change their business model.

 

[disney4dan]

I think the longest lasting souvenir I brought home from WDW was the flu!

We used to have an assortment of resort specific travel mugs that we used for our daily commute. It was always a way to keep some of the magic going on a normal boring day. We haven't bought any in a while because they aren't resort specific and I can pick up a cheaper version of a generic plastic mug from either Green Mountain Coffee or Dunkin Donuts instead.

Lucky for me, I have close friends and family who will think of us when they see a WDW souvenir mug at a yard sale or some other place like Target so we are keeping the magic alive that way.

 

[disney4dan]

You're right! I STILL have a "Magic Music Days" T-shirt from when I went to WDW in 1992 and it looks great with no holes or anything.


(1992...that's old)

I have kids younger than that shirt! That is SOOO last century

 

[darrengs]

I used to buy a a shirt, a mug and shot glass from every resort I stayed in. Well can't do that anymore.

 

[topolino]

If it weren't for pins and the occassional houseware, I wouldn't buy anything anymore. Once in a while I'll buy a piece of DVC or DVC resort branded merchandise, but that is getting rare too.

One of the few clothing purchases I made was just last year - a pair of pajama pants. Now I'm not the type to wear pajama pants anywhere but in the house while lounging, and a year later they already have a hole in them!!!

 

[mainegal]

I have no problem going to WDW every couple years, enjoying the experience and not buying anything to bring home.

Okay, I have two refillable drink mugs from trips in 2008 and 2010. And a Mickey magnet from the first trip in 2006. That's about it.

And a pair of earrings from England, but that does not count as a souvenir. They were made in Thailand and could have been bought anywhere.

Oh! And a very small Duffy Bear, the one with magnets in the paws.

Truly, Disney does not get much souvenir money from me!

 

[Joshua_me]

And the Disney pajamas have really gone down in quality as well...

It's been kind of a tradition in my family to give the pajamas as gifts on Christmas mornings... We have pics of ourselves going back to - oh, at least the mid 90's wearing our new PJ's around the tree. Silly, I know, but fun.

Anyway, time was they were thick and fluffy and if anything a bit TOO large - which was fine since they'd shrink a bit in the wash any you want PJ's to be comfy, anyways.

Well, those days are gone. It's been a slow decline, but this past year was ridiculous. I'm a big guy - my waistline bounces between 38 and 40 - but when XXL PJ's that are supposed to fit up to a 46 inch waist are a little snug - something is wrong.

So, when I got a 'satisfaction survey' email, I wrote them back and (politely) let them have it, sharing the above story I just wrote.

Much to my surprise, I got a response from a Disney rep with some title of, oh, I dunno - "Chief in Charge of General Happiness" or something that featured an actual phone number I was to call at my convenience and to ask for him by name !

I've yet to respond.

Would you ?

 

[Cap.Steamboat Willie]

I've yet to respond. Would you ?

Wow, YES I would. Please, please, please call and give your opinion. Your voice represents many, at least it echos mine and I believe can have an effect.

As Mark Twain once said "Everybody talks about the weather but no one does anything about it". Well this is a grand opportunity to be proactive. What is the worst that can happen...nothing.

To quote Bob Varley, "They can't hit you!"

Record it if you can...would love to hear it.

 

[Gowahoowa]

We now buy a lot of pins! I have an Animal Kingdom straw hat from 2000 that I still wear! Its showing it's age, but it's held up through a lot. They just don't make things like they used to!

 

[wishspirit]

I completely agree! I have a t-shirt and a scarf that I wear regularly that have held up ok, but nothing else really appeals. I have also bought two watches and a ring which broke really quickly. I took the watch and ring back on my next trip (9 months later) and was told they couldn't/ wouldn't do anything about it!

Then again I bought a whole load of stuff from Disneyland Paris because it all wasn't same old, same old!