Disney Stores On the Block - Talks continue w/TCP

[Terry S]

tenaseewalker... which 3 are the best in Michigan?

 

[CinderellaIam]

The stores will remain The Disney Store under Children's Place ownership. The Children's Place has a trademark agreement with Disney to not sell anything but Disney product. As far as cast members, Disney is the most regarded retailer for employee training, I doubt that CP will replace them (they will probably try tp get the Disney people to train the CP staff!).

 

[JimmyMartin]

I think you need to understand that we. Disney Store employees, work there because it is Disney. Yes we had already lost some perks. Most people work at mall stores for 2 reasons. That is, they use the discounts there or need extra money. Most of th cast members where I am work there because it is Disney first. I will not work for TCP unless I get exactly what I am getting now. I have promised the managers I will stay through Christmas because I care about them. I still don't understand the sale if the stores were doing so bad and you can buy Disney merchandise everywhere else.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

As far as cast members, Disney is the most regarded retailer for employee training, I doubt that CP will replace them (they will probably try tp get the Disney people to train the CP staff!).

It is more an issue of getting the Disney CM's to stay. Take away the benefits and the fact that you no longer work for Disney and I think a lot of the Disney CM's will be out of there rather quickly.

 

[Maleficent13]

I don't usually post here, but came to check out the rumors about TDS...as a former CM there, I am still friends with many of them at my old store and I can tell you, as soon as they're told the Disney perks are bye-bye, they are out of there. Store management knows it too...they're trying to keep it very hush-hush while the holidays are here. I really see the core staff leaving en masse. It's gonna be a blow to my old store, for certain.

 

[DancingBear]

If it is true that (1) the current CMs are well-trained and valuable, and (2) the Disney perks are essential to keeping them, then, presumably, the Children's Place folks are sophisticated enough to recognize that, and include continuation of such perks in their deal with Disney.

Or, they may not agree with (1) and (2), and think they will either be able to retain the CMs or replace them.

 

[WED63]

The old disney store on 5th ave in NYC is to reopen in oct as the "the wonderful world of Disney" or something like that with a cinderella show.
Is that part of the plan for the retail stores? or a new concept?

 

[Terry S]

The Theme Parks Division of WDW which also owns The World of Disney in Downtown Disney bought the NY Disney store as well as one of the Disney Stores in CA. The rest of the Disney Stores are all up for sale with a possible buyer of Childerns Place.

 

[WED63]

Thanks for clearing it up.

 

[jerinknox]

I just heard from my source, it's a done deal. The managers have already signed for the new Health Insurance.....

 

[Terry S]

jerinknox... I work for the Disney Store and I have not heard this yet?

 

[jerinknox]

I have 2 family members who work there. The manager told them she had already received new salary information and changed insurance. It should be public soon. They are waiting to try and keep as many Disney perks as possible. They are afraid everyone will walk if the perks go away. I can speak for my 2 family members, if the perks go, they go...

 

[goofy-4-ever]

Do you really believe that Disney will let TCP keep any of the Perks that they offer their employees? I don’t think so. Think of this from a business standpoint, it would be crazy and unheard of to do this.

And the next thing you know, Disney will start giving all the perks to anyone that is license to sells Disney goods (yes even Wal-Mart).

It’s not going to happen and if it does then they are really Goofy.

Nothing is being said because they don't want to try and train all new people for the Holidays.

 

[jerinknox]

Originally posted by goofy-4-ever
Do you really believe that Disney will let TCP keep any of the Perks that they offer their employees? I don’t think so. Think of this from a business standpoint, it would be crazy and unheard of to do this.

And the next thing you know, Disney will start giving all the perks to anyone that is license to sells Disney goods (yes even Wal-Mart).

It’s not going to happen and if it does then they are really Goofy.

Nothing is being said because they don't want to try and train all new people for the Holidays.

This isn't the same as Walmart. This is/was a Disney owned store, unlike Walmart. If Children's Place comes in and says "No Perks" 99.9999999% of the employees will walk. So, they are in negotions with Disney to see how long they can continue the discounts. I would guess a year.

 

[DancingBear]

Originally posted by goofy-4-ever
Do you really believe that Disney will let TCP keep any of the Perks that they offer their employees? I don’t think so. Think of this from a business standpoint, it would be crazy and unheard of to do this.

And the next thing you know, Disney will start giving all the perks to anyone that is license to sells Disney goods (yes even Wal-Mart).

It’s not going to happen and if it does then they are really Goofy.

If TCP will pay for it, they'll do it.

 

[goofy-4-ever]

Wait, I must be in Egypt, because you guys are in De-Nial.

Listen, I don’t want to burst any bubbles but there is not a company around that would do that. If I’m wrong I will post an apology to both of you, but what I have read and heard from CMs is that everything is being pulled in October.

I hope for all the CMs that they keep their perks, but if they don’t I see a lot of them leaving.

I’m not sure what TCP thinks they can do with the Disney Stores, but they are buying something that has been a drag on profits for sometime now, and I’m sure Disney is glad to get them off the books.

 

[DisneyFan09]

I think what TCP plans to do is run things the right way. Maybe they see the huge potential in these stores have if they are run by someone who knows retail. From what I have read, TCP is a company that has no debt so it seems to me they know what they are doing. As a Disney Store CM, I'm excited to see what the future holds and I can't wait to show everyone what we are capable of doing!! The Disney Stores actually do make money it's just that all of the years of mismanagement has left such a huge deficit that it would take years and years to ever end up on the plus side.

Furthermore, there are no cm's at my store that are planning on leaving!!

 

[PatMcDuck]

The door is open for us to receive some sort of discount, (maybe) because even under CP, we are being told that we will continue to sell park tickets, and perhaps Disney $$. (Right now, we get $$ from WDW if we sell over a certain $$ amount in tickets, in the form of more hours allotted for our payroll.)

It is all day by day, we are being told different things, but one consistant thing we hear is that the perks are still under neogiation.

 

[exDS vet]

I'm a bit late in joining this thread and that's probably a good thing because my opinions are usually attacked by many people out there. Unfortunately, when it comes to Disney Store, my opinions have usually been proven correct.

I partially agree with another person who said that the discount program would go away once the sale is complete. I am sure that the silver passes and the annual free tickets will go bye bye, if some of them haven't already. I also find it hard to believe that the theme park discounts would continue.

That being said, I do believe that castmembers will receive an attractive merchandise discount at the stores and that there could be a small discount on tickets. But hotel discounts will go away too. I also believe that Disney Store/TCP employees (who should no longer be called "cast members" after the acquisition) will probably also be allowed to visit the Company D stores at the resorts as well.

Of all of the possibilites out there for Disney Store's future, I believe that next to shutting down all of the stores (which has always been my preferred move), this acquisition could actually work. Disney has done a piss-poor job of managing the chain. There have been no substantial improvements in product quality and assortment in years. Only take-aways, one after the other.

This will also be a great move for the CM's/employees. Those people have lived in confusion for long enough. They have had to deal with relentless questions about the chain's future, and many of them have heard people on these boards rip the stores (not the CM's) for a very long time.

As a former Disney Store manager (#302, Pier 39) who has happily moved on to something much better, I wish all of the CM's the best of luck, and encourage you to hang in there if you must.
You should be applauded for your strength and stamina for withstanding such adversity. I once said that it would be hard for me to hire many DS cast members at my current company. I have since changed my opinion. I respect many of you toughing it out. Good luck to all.

Jerry (exDS vet)

 

[cooldisneymom]

Hear hear!!!! As an ex DS ASM I totally agree with you Jerry!!!! I've moved on to another retail management job, too. I miss the old days of TDS!!! Still lovin' the mouse!!