Disney quality down.

[MACDADDY]

While at WDW last month I noticed that the prices of Disney shirts, sweatshirts... are the same ($19 - $48) but the quality of these articles has gone down appreciatively. Has anyone else noticed the same?

 

[MickeyCrazed]

I was very disappointed to see most of the clothes have an "iron on" feel to them rather than the nice embroidery of past years. I was so upset with the quaility last year, that the only items I purchased were heavily discounted ones at the outlets.
I sure hope things improve soon. It's bad enough that there are no adult clothes to be found at the Disney Stores, but when you can't find anything at the World worth purchasing, it's a BIG disappointment.
I want to give Disney my money, but I expect quality in return. Unfortunately, it is just not there.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Say it ain't so?!??!?! I was just thinking today that I am in dire need of a new Disney sweatshirt. The last time we were there was in 1998 , so my 25th Anniversary Mickey Sorceror sweatshirt is looking a little sad. LOL. Seriously, you can really wear the heck out of their shirts and they never pill. My Germany Mickey was my favorite maternity shirt for DS#1. The hot pink number with the repeat-checked characters was maternity shirt for DS#2.

Pretty sad, huh?

 

[MichelleC]

I ordered a $40 sweatshirt over the phone, through WDW merchandising. I was SO bummed when it came. It was VERY light weight, almost like a heavy t-shirt material, but fuzzy on the inside (like a regular sweatshirt). Fo 40 bucks, I expect a nice heavy sweatshirt, ya know?

I almost returned it, but love the design on the front and didn't want to deal with the hassle of sending it back.

Also, the kids cotton PJ's from the DS have gotten thinner.

What is UP?????

 

[ceecee]

Just in the last few years, I've noticed a BIG different in the quality. Bummer too, because I love to wear my sweatshirts out! Disney Catalog sweatshirts I ordered for the kids were nightmares!!!!!!!!! First they got the names mixed up, then they misspelled a name THEN cancelled an order. When I finially get the shirt, there's a red smudge mark across the Princess shirt and upon looking at the wrong size, it was the same. These are nothing like the shirt I ordered 2 years ago for my daughtwer.

 

[skiwee1]

I noticed in the Disney Stores that their sweatshirts have the iron ons and not the embroidery. They are also only $19.99 too. In the parks there are many choices and I always put out more money for the nicer ones.

 

[fkj2]

It's the same practice as companies who package food products; two years ago, you might have bought a bag of chips with 18 oz. in them for $2.50. Now, you can buy the same bag, same price with 15.5 oz in them.

With clothing, you buy designer label with lower quality thus costing less but with the same price. Bolsters the bottom line until the public stops buying and then things reverse to bring the consumer back to brand. The opposite situation has occurred with lodging in Orlando, too many rooms for the number of potential occupants has lowered the price of the rooms, at least until the economy turns.

 

[TreeOfLife]

I guess I missed something here, but hasn't the quality of Disney merchandise been poor pretty much all along? I mean, except for embroidered articles and plushes...

But look at the toys! OK, the Barbies are fine but things like table sets and so forth, full of stickers that make them look like they came out of Wal-Mart's party favors sections instead.

I got some Mickey ice trays, then years later got some more. When I felt the plastic was harder they just told me that the previous ones were flimsy. Heck, I still have all the original ones and only one of the newer versions!

Don't even get me started talking about the quality of their appliances and electronics! Forget the watches too...

Disney merchandise was always expensive but "cheap". Not very durable, I mean. If you wanted quality then you had to dig into the outrageously expensive collectible items...

 

[Luv2Roam]

DH and many of his running buddies had a good laugh at the shirts given last year to the marathon race participants. (Keep in mind this marathon costs much more $ to enter than other marathons. And other marathons generally have lots more freebies for race participants.)
He, and others, were disappointed because the *free* shirts were so cheap looking and flimsy.
But of course the polo shirts, t-shirts, etc that guests had to pay (too much) for were of a much nicer quality.
Many griped to Disney about the poor quality shirts. The price of the marathon increased more (as everything Disney did anyway). The runners are hoping for nicer *free* race shirts along with that price increase!

 

[bianca]

We noticed the quality difference big-time with one of our purchases of this past year. In May 2002 we purchased 3 long thermal night shirts with Chip and Dale on them at the Fort Wilderness Trading post for our girls ($38 each). The quality was great ...... 100% cotton and very thick. We had no problem with the price, as we felt they were worth it. When we went back in October and stopped in the trading post they were selling the same thermal night shirt, but the quality had been totally dumped. The content was now 50/50 poly/cotton and the density of the fabric had diminished by half! Needless to say, they kept the price the same. They may be able to fool some of the newbies that have never experienced the past quality of some of the resort merchandise, but as for us, our purchases will be kept to a definite minimum considering the direction they are going!

 

[beansmom]

I agree. I bought dh a pair of the 'goofy pj's' with Xmas lights on the bottoms--they're a navy blue with print. We've washed them several times and he still gets a 'smurf butt' when he wears them. The dye rubbed off on my sheets and ruined them. I called and was given a 50% credit...but I'm gonna be real mad if the dye doesn't come off my loveseat!

 

[bianca]

Too funny on the pajamas! My husband has the same pajamas and the joke around the house is that he now wears lovely baby blue jockeys, as the dye has rubbed off! It seems to have stopped though after a couple of good washings. I will say however, that the weight of the flannel on those pajamas is substantial and I thought that those were one of the better values that Disney has offered lately. Fortunately, the sheets on our bed are also blue flannel (with Mickey's, of course), so we haven't noticed it anywhere else.

 

[RonnieM]

I agree quality has gone way done, particularily in the last couple of years. Ten years ago, most all of the clothing from the Disney stores and parks was nice. The cottons were heavy, well stitched and embroidered. Now most items are iron on and chintzy. I've taken my shopping dollars elsewhere.

 

[Free4Life11]

Does Disney sell anything like a photo album or picture frame or somethign like that? Nothing exspensive...I've seen QUITE a few Disney photo albums at Walgreens...but do they have any "special" ones.

Thank's for the heads up on the clothin. I wasn't really planning on buying any...a little old for the Disney clothing...but I'll let my sisters know.

-Matt

 

[MickeyCrazed]

Free4Life11,
Yes Disney does sell Photo Albums. Usually they have the years logo on the front. They are generally about $10 for an album that holds 100 pictures and $20 for an album that holds over 200 pictures.
I usually buy one each year.

 

[BethR]

Originally posted by Free4Life11

Thank's for the heads up on the clothin. I wasn't really planning on buying any...a little old for the Disney clothing...
-Matt

MATT!!!

NO one is too old for Disney clothing!!!