MY Disney Store is closing.....

[Mermaid02]

....... I wanna cry! Now what shall I do for a Disney Fix?? No more going in and just wandering around... talking to my friends who work there... No more anything!!

 

[house_of_princesses]

I hear that all Disney Stores are closing....they're keeping the catalog/internet open. So no more fixes for any of us!!! Ouch!

 

[KathyFP]

I think that we have one store closing here in Pittsburgh

 

[jiminy579]

Does anyone know when the closures will start? Here in Las Vegas, we had 1 store close last year, but the other 4 are still open. Thanks in advance!

 

[Octoberbride03]

I might get flamed for saying this. But I'll take my chances. I won't miss the Disney Stores 1 bit. In the past couple of years I think they have gone really downhill in what they offer. Everything is for little kiddies now, except for a few housewares and the expensive artwork.
Well, I don't have kids yet. And the last 4 times I went in there was really nothing for adults as far as clothing goes. I used to love having to go out of my way in King of Prussia Mall just to see what i could find in there, and i have some really nice shirts hanging in my closet right now. But for the past 2 years the selection has only gotten worse, unless you're a parent. I don't know if that's happened in all of em. But it definitely happened in mine.
So as long as the catalog shop remains open in Rehoboth Beach then I'll be happy. And I'll get my Disney fixes here.

Maureen

 

[ChefBilly]

Originally posted by Mermaid02
....... I wanna cry! Now what shall I do for a Disney Fix?? No more going in and just wandering around... talking to my friends who work there... No more anything!!

Which store? I see your Nomar reference, and I hope it's not a store near me.

They just re-opened the Salem, N.H. store after remodeling it. And they're finally stocking it with some nice items. I'd hate to see it go down now...

 

[CBRorBust]

I guess I dont' realize how lucky I am to live in a large city. We have multiple Disney Stores here in DFW, so if one closes I would just drive 10 miles down the road and go to another.

What is the rumor about all the disney stores closing though?

 

[DisneyJules]

Octoberbride03, I agree with you! The store really has gone downhill. I'd rather have the disney store open and like it use to be with merchandise that was high in quality or have them close, if they remain the way they are. In some ways it'll make going to Florida or California to go to Disney a lot more special. I realized when I went to Disneyland a few years ago, all the merchandise or atleast a good part of it, I'd seen back home already so it was sort of disappointing.

 

[PamOKW]

Originally posted by CBRorBust
What is the rumor about all the disney stores closing though?

The Disney Stores are a real problem for Disney and they aren't sure what to do about them. Disney would really like to sell them to someone else but there don't seem to be any takers. One article I read said part of the problem is that they've licensed Disney characters to so many stores (like JC Penney) that outsiders are reluctant to buy the retail operation. While they wait to see if they can sell the operation, they are experimenting with different store ideas and also closing stores. Here's a recent article that mentions closing the current 369 stores down to a level somewhere less than 300.

Reuters

 

[grinningghost]

The one near us was really going downhill, but then a few months back, they started stocking GOOD stuff again. If they close now, it would be a shame. Now if they'd closed when they had all the JUNK, that would have been merciful.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree about the qaulity at the Disney Stores taking a down trend, but I don't think it is much better on the internet store or the parks. They have definately skimped on quality the past couple of years. We used to have 4-5 TDS around here, but I think the only one left is the one at the Mall of America.

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by Octoberbride03
Well, I don't have kids yet. And the last 4 times I went in there was really nothing for adults as far as clothing goes. I used to love having to go out of my way in King of Prussia Mall just to see what i could find in there, and i have some really nice shirts hanging in my closet right now. But for the past 2 years the selection has only gotten worse, unless you're a parent. I don't know if that's happened in all of em. But it definitely happened in mine.
So as long as the catalog shop remains open in Rehoboth Beach then I'll be happy. And I'll get my Disney fixes here.

Maureen

The TDS stores around here have started getting adult stuff here lately. WE bought a couple tshirts and a jacket for me just today. They are also getting other things other than little girl/little boy stuff - a whole line of new infant things. I just hope they don't end up closing them all. (which is still a rumor)

 

[ohanafamily]

I was at the scrap-booking store at WDW DD in February when I heard of the loss of Peter Whitford. IMHO he was a good bit of the problem. Not to get on my soap-box, but when a manager sends 15 letters from her best clients asking the store to keep the gallery department, and when the Regional Manager is asked not to forward the letters, and you are sent certified letters by one of these persons asking why there was no response, and that is ignored.....They were operating in the wrong business model, and I blame him....

I have some very loud views about why the Disney store went downhill. Several of their best CM's are gone, and the current manager for the 2 stores closest to me is very "Company Line" I cannot get any real information from her about what is going on in the company. Right now (through the holiday) they have some gift items...I have been waiting for years to get some of this stuff back, but I expect it will disappear next January.

The model that they are following is Highest profitability Items only (Plush) and focus on young girls 3-7 years of age. Nothing for adults or even boys. Since PW is gone, hopefully someone will do positive things.....

 

[Nutsy]

join the club.........our one & only closed back in January & we never even knew it existed until it was almost too late.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

We lost the one in my area 2 months ago and the mgr said that we'd prob loose one of the other 2 in my state...

grrr- course Walmart has a better disney section than the DS had...


-em

 

[catsrule]

 

[Mermaid02]

While I agree about the merchandise (or really lack thereof) I worked at TDS and I loved the people and the atmosphere so I am a bit sentimental.

It amazes me that corporate is "surprised" when the stores don't perform as well as they want (even if they are "making plan") when they let every Tom Dick and HarryMart sell Disney Merchandise- sometimes the EXACT same merchandise and a much cheaper price. It was always very frustrating.

Then they got rid of all the mugs, frames, adult clothes etc and basically turned it into "The Princess and Plush Plaza"

Anyway, I will miss the GREAT cast there and I will miss the look and feel of the store.

ChefBilly- it's the Bangor Mall store in Maine... you're safe! As safe as anyone is right now anyway.