Disney Stores Sold?----This just in

[Parkhopper]

Hi, I get a Disney Newsletter called the Mousehole that is usually very accurate and this was not prefaced by something saying it is a rumor. While not confirmed at this point I do have a fair amount of confidence in the source. Here is what I got:

Dear Mouseholites:

Sorry for the lack of graphics on this issue, but due to the nature of this
story, I wanted to get it out as soon as possible. Later today, Disney will
announce that it has sold all of the Disney Stores. That right, I said,
“ALL”.

I spoke with one castmember, who wanted to be known simply as “mother”, and
she said that she no longer works for the Disney company. She still works
for the Disney Stores, but not for the Disney company. It’s up in the air
right now if the new buyers will allow the Disney Store castmembers to have
some of the same benefits that past castmembers had such as discounts at the
parks. Mother stated that if those benefits are stripped away, she wouldn’t
be staying at the Disney Stores. A lot of castmembers agree with Mother.
After all, now that the Disney Stores no longer carry adult clothing and
merchandise, many castmembers stay only for discounts at the parks.

Who is the new buyer you ask? Well, it was bought by the same Japanese
company who owns and runs Tokyo Disneyland, the Oriental Land Company New
ownership is supposedly effective immediately. Only time will tell what
kinds of changes will be implemented into the Disney Stores by this recent
change of ownership.

- Disnoid

Only time will tell if this is true, but I wanted to pass along the information here.

 

[Dom13]

I personally hope this is true. The Disney Stores need ALOT of help. Other than the Treasure Planet DVD I have not bought anything in a DS since X-mas.

I hope they bring back collectables to at least a few stores. Even if it is only a dozen stores across the country. It is nice to see a piece before you buy it.

 

[BeautyLLM]

According to a story on msnbc.com they are "mulling over" the idea of selling the stores. I know there is alot more to retail than I realize, but their problem seems so obvious to me. When they sold a wide variety of merchandise, especially collectibles and adult clothes, their sales were off the charts. Now that all they sell is toys and young children's clothes, no one shops there....

HELLO DISNEY GUYS???? WAKE UP AND SMELL THE POPCORN!!!!

BRING BACK THE MAGIC!!!!

(thank you, I feel better now )

 

[jojo_ct]

I saw those stories this morning, too. Even though I was told by a "former" CM that sales were up, I guess I knew it wasn't true. Goodness knows I haven't spent much money there in a year. I hope Dom is right that a new owner will take them back to where they were before.

Does that company run the Pals shops in Japan?

Cynthia

 

[GotAnyPins]

CNN's ticker just said that Disney was selling all of their money losing Disney stores...

Until they get it back together..wouldn't that be all of them????

 

[Luv2Roam]

More info on the News/Rumors board.
Going to 300 or less stores, selling the remainder. If they can't sell them -- close them.
Japan DS are run by the same company running TDL.
There's always hope some other company will buy them and take them to their glory days, away from the gutter.

 

[JOC]

I just found out my store is closing on June 22. Everything in the store is 50% off; they have a big bin of pins out (the same ones they were selling a couple of months ago for 75% off) and these pins are still 75% off with an additional 50% off on top of that. Since I already had most of the pins I only found a couple I didn't have and paid approximately 60 cents for each. If anyone wants me to pick them up some cheap pins for trading let me know!

 

[Brise Nannie]

I couldn't agree with you more, BeautyLLM! Bring back more items for adults and I'd be back in my TDS in a heartbeat!

 

[Luv2Roam]

Misc stuff from anon sources on another rumor board:
Anon
A voicemail from a Disney Store district manager confirmed that a line of adult clothing and infant merchandise will be arriving for August. August is a few months away and while things can always change large scale floor moves to make way for new merchandise lines are on the schedule. They're down, but I guess they aren't out completely?

I know that there is news of Disney looking for a buyer and/or closing the Disney stores. I understand that some of the stores, who have leases running out soon, will be closed and the leases not renewed. However, there are other stores with leases until 2005 or 2006 and this is the strategy for those stores (add in adult and infant lines). They are trying to go down to about 300 stores and so will loose 86 or 87. Of course, that is the plan for right now and things can always change.

By that, Kraus means parents are more likely to buy Mickey Mouse ears for their children when they are in Disney, rather than at the mall down the street from their house.

From an article.
How many of us have gone into a DS in the last few months LOOKING for SOMETHING even half decent to buy, and can't.
Disney lost sight of their customers. They just got to where they thought they can slap their Disney name on anything and it will sell -- mediocore sequels included.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

Don't know which version of the rumor may be true....Not even sure which rumore I would <i>want</i> to be true.

But I do know this....I used to stop into the local DS every time I went to the mall. Now, I can't remember the last time I bothered....probably when I picked up Spy Kids II. That's a while ago!

Bring back adult clothes!

Bring back something <i>other than</i> stuffed animals.

Bring back the <b>magic....<i>please!</b></i>

 

[Boo Mc]

JOC - I just sent you a PM.

 

[OfficerChipmunk]

I think it was in the orlando sentinal last week that Disney was trying to sell the stores. Like everyone said, if the merchandise was better sales would be up. There were also too many stores. You don't need 3 or 4 DS in one city. Also they sell just as much merchandise from the internet as they do from the stores.

If the rumor about the Oriental Land Company buying the remaining stores, it is good news. If any of you have been over to Japan and seen their stores you know what I am talking about. The merchandise is GREAT! They have all sorts of merchandise from clothing (infants, kids, and adults), plushes, lots of pins, stationary, art work, stuff for the home, and soooooooooo much more. It's kind of like DSs used to be, especially in the big cities where they had lots of room. Merchandise also varies a bit from store to store.

Becky