Disney Store closings?

[Cinderella89]

I know Disney doesn't technically own the chain any more and this probably belongs on another board... But I was just wondering if any one had an explaination as why there has been a mass closing of stores.

It's kinda depressing.

 

[imadisneynut]

most likely because they are losing money. I am a 35 year old male and I can never find anything in there for myself or my wife. For girls they seem to have a great selection with all the princess stuff and for boys they don't seem to have to much. every time we go in there it seems like we buy something for my daughter and nothing for my son. I use to love shopping there when I use to buy stuff for myself

 

[Madi100]

Are they still closing stores even now?

I know that when the Children's Place bought them their biggest problem is that they sold out to everyone. You can buy Disney costumes at Wal-Mart. They over saturated their market. I live 30 minutes from the only Disney store in the whole state. I remember when I was younger and going to a Disney Store when there weren't too many around, and you couldn't find it all Target and Wal-Mart. You can even get stuff at the Dollar Tree.

I love the kitchen collection that they have at the Disney Store right now. I jsut wish they'd carry more stuff like that.

 

[Cinderella89]

That does make sense.
I've gotten all my collectables there over the past few years since I haven't been able to get to WDW over the past 3 years.
Guess I'll be doing more of this:

 

[wilde_oscar]

since childrens palace took over the stores, they have slowly become very generic, and have little to draw in the hard core disney fans... it is all stuffed anaimals and princess dresses... I miss the art and maquettes, of which I hav e several

 

[Lovin' Lorne]

since childrens palace took over the stores, they have slowly become very generic, and have little to draw in the hard core disney fans... it is all stuffed anaimals and princess dresses... I miss the art and maquettes, of which I have several

I agree. Hubby and I used to come out of there with bag loads of stuff for ourselves. Now it's all kids stuff. And since we don't have any kids, they don't get any of our money.

 

[shmedly123]

yeah, I used to buy my sister really nice snow globes and collectors plates and things of that nature for christmas.

 

[disneymom8589]

I agree that there isn't enough for everyone in the family. They used to sell more adult items like clothing, kitchen things, artwork, etc. Now it's mostly kids' clothing and toys. I still like to go in for the Disney ambience, but rarely buy anything anymore.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

I go to buy my Disney Dollars and that is about it. Every once in a while I will catch a t-shirt or something I like but if you see it you better buy it right then because they don't last long.

 

[oakmanner]

OP... I work at a DS in Massachusetts and have not heard of any "mass closings". Have you read or heard something or is this just a perception you have?

Thanks,
Dennis-

 

[MomofKatie]

I was under the impression that TDS has been undergoing a modest upturn with the opening of new Disney Outlet Stores around the country. We just got a new Disney Outlet here in Charlotte, NC. I know at least 1 or 2 opened in Atlanta, and there have been other new stores opening in other markets as well. I have also noticed more adult clothes in the stores lately, and a decrease in the amount of cheap toys dominating the stores' display area. The Children's Place seems to be trying to diversify the product mix at least a little bit.

 

[wishspirit]

I have to say i do not like the Disney Store in England. It is full of plush toys and costumes. It always used to do cool t-shirts and bags with micky on them, not anymore! I never see anything i like in there. Last thing i bought was a pair of pj's about 2 years ago!
I wish they would do nicer adult stuff like they do in disneyworld!

 

[Disneybridein2k3]

The Roundtable crew was just talking about this but I can't seem to locate it on the archives. If I recall it correctly, they were going to close some stores and then reopen them in different locations - possibly in shopping malls, stand alone stores, or in strip malls. From what I remember, the Dis crew believed this to be a brilliant plan.

 

[supersuperwendy]

Well...just last night I went to the disney store to pick up some goodies for our upcoming WDW trip!

I intended only to shop for my kids, but I saw something I had to have! I bought myself the nicest handbag! It's a nice big size, lined with satiny polyester and covered in satiny mickey mouse heads. I should take a pic and post it to do it justice! I also bought the matching wallet! They had cute denim skirts and jeans for ladies as well as cute shirt dresses!

 

[DisDarling]

I worked at one here in the Fox Valley in WI and also have worked at the Childrens Place. I can tell you that when I worked there, it was the original stores, the art work, watches, adult clothes, etc... the one in Milwaukee now is quite generic and very "plastic"- I do miss the good old stores!

 

[LMO429]

IMO the disney store that is located in the local mall sells complete junk and Disney should be ashamed to even have it's name associated with it.

It's a shame because when they originally opened they had fantastic merchandise, incredible artwork and collectibles.

I recently went to The World Of Disney store on 5th avenue and you can tell that Disney is invested in that place, there was a world of difference, official disneyworld/disneyland merchandise and overall better merchandise

 

[Launchpad11B]

IMO the disney store that is located in the local mall sells complete junk and Disney should be ashamed to even have it's name associated with it.

It's a shame because when they originally opened they had fantastic merchandise, incredible artwork and collectibles.

I recently went to The World Of Disney store on 5th avenue and you can tell that Disney is invested in that place, there was a world of difference, official disneyworld/disneyland merchandise and overall better merchandise

Does Disney control the merchandise the store carries, or is it the Children's Place? I know they don't own the stores anymore.

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

I also like going to the one here just for the ambience and to get Disney World tickets. You would think that at the Mall of America it would be a large store with a lot of unique merchandise but it's not. I miss the artwork...

 

[Donald's Fan in PHX!]

We still have Disney stores out here, but the only one I've been to in the last year was the Disney Outlet store. I usually just buy online or when I'm at the parks.

 

[dvc at last !]

I love the way The Disney Store used to be !