My Thoughts on resorts specific merch

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

When I heard Pets rant and the discussion about it on the show it made me think maybe the reason why the resorts other than the DVC ones don't have it because it doesn't sell. The majority of guest who go to WDW are happy buying the generic stuff and don't really think to pick up something from their resort, whereas the majority of DVC guest eithem own at the resort they are staying at or at another DVC. I think it may be more of a matter of someone saying hey I own a timeshare here hence why the DVC resort merch also has the DVC log on it as well.

 

[mytripsandraces]

You may be right, though I suspect that it's cheaper to buy the same merchandise for all of the resorts than it is to buy smaller amounts for each resort. I'm not a DVC owner, but I like having resort-specific merchandise. Luckily for me, I'm limited to pins, which are, happily, cheaper than t-shirts and mugs and smaller and easier to pack.

 

[Kingdome8]

I like to get things from where I stay like pins and coffe cups or a picture frame

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

You may be right, though I suspect that it's cheaper to buy the same merchandise for all of the resorts than it is to buy smaller amounts for each resort. I'm not a DVC owner, but I like having resort-specific merchandise. Luckily for me, I'm limited to pins, which are, happily, cheaper than t-shirts and mugs and smaller and easier to pack.

They may be doing more pins for that kind of stuff as they are easy to pack and don't take up luggage space especially since more and more airlines are charging for second bags or even first bags. People just don't have the extra space they used to have in their checked bags if they do have any.

 

[SaraMc]

I don't have DVC and I would like resort specific merchandise. Even if it was just the refillable mug like in the old days, not all the same.
I get that its cheaper for their bottom line and to mass produce, but I can't see all 1st time guests being also homogenized that they want just Disney parks everything.

 

[kbelle8995]

You might have a point. However, I seem to recall a friend who bought nothing but basic Mickey mouse T-shirts and me who wouldn't buy anything so generic. I would love to see more merchandise with Adventureland themes and not just Pirates. You are starting to see more of this especially at Marketplace Co-op.

I think that not every tourist wants generic merchandise which is most of what Disney offers

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Since my blog on resort-specific merch awhile back, I've been keeping tabs on what resorts have some and update it when I am in town. Here are the resorts with the merch as of right now:

AKL
GF - Nothing for GFV though
OKW
AoA
SSR
WL

As far as reasoning behind it, I have heard everything under the sun from merchandising and management. Pete is very right in encouraging people to contact Disney about this. You can use the resort direct line and ask to be transferred to the shops. We have a list of phone numbers on wdwinfo:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/contact.htm

Although this is primarily used for ordering merch, guests can also use the below email address to contact the merchandising department. It's another way to get the word out that those resorts without specific merch need it:

Merchandise.Guest.Services@DisneyParks.com

 

[kbelle8995]

Since my blog on resort-specific merch awhile back, I've been keeping tabs on what resorts have some and update it when I am in town. Here are the resorts with the merch as of right now:

AKL
GF - Nothing for GFV though
OKW
AoA
SSR
WL

As far as reasoning behind it, I have heard everything under the sun from merchandising and management. Pete is very right in encouraging people to contact Disney about this. You can use the resort direct line and ask to be transferred to the shops. We have a list of phone numbers on wdwinfo:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/contact.htm

Although this is primarily used for ordering merch, guests can also use the below email address to contact the merchandising department. It's another way to get the word out that those resorts without specific merch need it:

Merchandise.Guest.Services@DisneyParks.com

An excellent point. My favorite resort Port Orleans Riverside when it used to be Dixie Landings and they had beautiful resort merchandise with pink roses. I miss it.

Perhaps I should let Disney know how much I miss it.

 

[hedberg1661]

Like Pete I too would love to see Resort specific merchandise. My trips have been so influenced by my choice of resort. It would be great to have a shirt (polo) that had their logo on it.

I have found that many of the performance golf polos are missing from many places throughout the world.

 

[Allison]

I don't know that I agree with the statement that the majority of guests are happy with generic merchandise and I don't think that is a statement that can be made with certainty. I don't own DVC and I want resort specific merchandise. I want a memento of where I stayed and always bought something like that when it was available.

 

[hedberg1661]

I don't know that I agree with the statement that the majority of guests are happy with generic merchandise and I don't think that is a statement that can be made with certainty. I don't own DVC and I want resort specific merchandise. I want a memento of where I stayed and always bought something like that when it was available.

I agree. The "average guest" may not know any different if they never had any of this Merch before.

 

[PrncessA]

When we were at Yacht Club last week I was very disappointed with the one YC shirt offering. I was hoping for a coffee cup at least! When I was at the BC marketplace they had a TON of BC items. I didn't notice if it anything had a DVC logo on it or not.

When we were at WL they had a lot of different options for resort merchandise, without DVC on it.

 

[Batgirl67]

I miss the resort specific items. It helps me to remember a specific trip. I still have a really cool CBR ceramic bottle (think message in a bottle) from 1990 and awesome stone coasters from WL from 1996. Plus a few more. I like items I can place throughout my home to help keep the Disney feel all year long.

 

[DLM1980]

Since my
As far as reasoning behind it, I have heard everything under the sun from merchandising and management. Pete is very right in encouraging people to contact Disney about this. You can use the resort direct line and ask to be transferred to the shops. We have a list of phone numbers on wdwinfo:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/contact.htm

Although this is primarily used for ordering merch, guests can also use the below email address to contact the merchandising department. It's another way to get the word out that those resorts without specific merch need it:

Merchandise.Guest.Services@DisneyParks.com

So I emailed Merchandise Guest Services last week....

I've been to disney world a few times now and I'm deeply disappointed in the lack of resort specific merchandise. Everything is so generic as well as the same in all shops I've visited it

It's got so bad that I don't even visit most stores anymore because I know I can just visit world of disney downtown and see everything there. There is no "hunt" for the perfect item, because everything is the same in all the stores

I want polo shirts with resort logos. I collect shot glasses of places I've stayed in Vegas, I have a "toothpick holder" of walt disney world, however, I would love disney resort labeled shot glasses aka "toothpick holder". I don't do pins! I do want a resort specific mug.

Please consider some new non-generic merchandise. Especially for the Caribbean beach resort, my resort of choice!

Thank you for your time and I hope to see some great new merchandise for my visit this September!

and last night received their response, however generic it is.... I love how I told them I don't do Pins but they are proud to have a pin of each resort...LAME!

Thank you for taking a moment to share your thoughts and interest in resort specific merchandise.

We make every attempt to provide our Guests with a broad range of products and merchandise. Unfortunately, we are limited as to the scope of what we are able to carry at any given time due to the huge diverse nature of our company and its history. We discontinue and introduce new merchandise as often as we can in an attempt to meet the many requests for specific types of products. When we receive comments such as yours, they are shared with various members of our organization. The input we receive from our Guests lets us know what we are doing right and what we can do better.

While the selection of resort specific items may be limited at some of our resort hotels, we are proud to remind our Guests that each of our resorts carry at least one uniquely designed collectible trading pin.

We appreciate your observations and will share them at the appropriate levels.

Have a Magical day!

Sincerely,
Barbie 6/16/14
Merchandise Guest Services
(877) 560-6477 Merchandise.Guest.Services@DisneyParks.com

 

[WaltD4Me]

Personally, I wish they would up the quality on some things first, then do the resort specific. Cleaning some closets lately and going through my Disney clothes is just sad, the quality used to be soooooooooooooooooooo much better.

I totally agree about the resort merchandise, but if it is of the same sad quality of the homogenous park merchandise they can keep it. I just don't understand why they can't have crappy quality and at least some higher quality. I can't tell you how much I miss the well made, clever, unique embroidered t-shirts they used to sell.