No More Resort Merchandise?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

CR Resort Fan . . . so I might have found a BCR-pin somewhere else (even another resort)? I guess that would've worked--I never thought to look for it somewhere else. It just doesn't seem right somehow. Call me crazy the 'where I bought it' is important too (although it still would be from WDW). (I buy a Pandora-type bead on every trip I take and had a hard time finding one at DL ... I came home and ordered one from an Anaheim jewelry store (when I could have bought the same thing locally!!) just so it came from "near-DL"

Yes you can find resort pins at the other resort stores and all other pin locations around WDW.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

We returned from a trip to both WDW and DLR a couple weeks ago. I made a specific effort to scope out the resort merchandise, as well as talk to the store CM's (managers when possible).

The Beach Club has zero merchandise, and is not planning on getting any. The Polynesian had a couple things, but not a lot. The WDW deluxe resort with the most stuff that I saw was the Wilderness Lodge, and that was only three or four different items. The manager said that was staying with no plans to discontinue.
Didn't check GF, YC, or BW.

Okay, out of ALL the resorts, the Grand Californian had by far the best selection of resort merchandise. In fact, they were putting new items on the shelf (resort logo wine glasses) as I spoke to the CM about it. She also told me it was staying, but she did say they used to have a lot more.
DLH and PPH had zero.

MG

 

[Markstudy]

Did that reporter ever write a story about this topic?

I use to love shopping at Disney World. They had professional buyers that stocked the stores with the coolest stuff I'd ever seen. I remember in the Tomorrowland gift shop they use to sell real sci-fi treasures. Back in the 1990's you might find a $2,000 movie prop from Star Wars for sale... this was so cool

Now its just T-shirts in the Tomorrowland gift shop

And the loss of the monsters, magic, and joke shop on Main Street was the most depressing thing to happen at Disney World since they wiped-out 20,000 Leagues under the Sea.

 

[L&Lfan]

I always like purchasing a tee or sweat shirt from my resort, so I'll definitely miss not having the opportunity; however, in the long run this will save me bucks as I don't purchase generic Disney stuff....

 

[mdsd8700]

Not having resort specific merchandise stinks! Half the fun of a trip to WDW was going to each resort/theme park stores and looking around and buying different types of items. Sweatshirts, mugs, ornaments (love those with the resort/year on them!!) or whatever else caught my eye. Knowing that if I seen something I really liked I should snatch it up. I rarely purchase the "generic" merchandise, I like to celebrate all the resorts I have stayed at and when I would wear/or bring that stuff out it would bring back all the great memories. This change will definately save me money, but it really makes me sad. I wish there was some way we could get Disney to change their mind.

 

[Glenn]

Shopping both at the resorts & in the parks used to be part of the fun. Now most of the unique things are gone & you can get the same stuff anywhere. As a result I look around but mostly dont buy anything as compared to earlier trips. They might make more money on the 1 trip in a lifetime person but lose on the repeat customers. On my last 3 trips I've only bought 2 CD total. And we have all lost lots of the fun. I wonder when all the cut backs & so on will just cause to go back less & less.

 

[sjs314]

I noticed last year when I stayed at OKW there was not much resort merchandize, in fact I always buy a resort tee shirt but not last year since DH picked up one for DS back home and I did not want the exact same shirt even if it was in a different color. Seems like a major error to me unless Disney wants to sell less so they can cut down on employees in the stores.

 

[hkeller27]

I just bought myself a hoodie last week at the Boutiki that says "Disney's Polynesian Resort". I actually felt like there was a good amount of resort merchandise there. Not everywhere else?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I just bought myself a hoodie last week at the Boutiki that says "Disney's Polynesian Resort". I actually felt like there was a good amount of resort merchandise there. Not everywhere else?

During my previous vacations to WDW with my most recent being in December 2009 I thought the Boutiki store at the Polynesian had the best amount of resort merchandise, so when I am back there this August it will be intresting to see how much of those items they are still selling.

 

[Lightgician]

I was at Fort Wilderness yesterday specifically to purchase a new tag for the front of my MH. Someone literally ripped mine off, left pieces. No luck, as has been said there was no, none, resort specific merchandise. This is a decision that I find hard to understand. Anybody got a clue?

 

[Queenofspoons]

Last time I was a the polyensian they had a nice assortment of resort merch, such shirts, pins, keychains, and picture frames with this cool new logo with tikis on it, they also had lilo stitch themed frames and sold tropical candy (which is sold at other places).

I've never actually seen Grand Floridian or Contemprary themed resort items, Shame if they replace it with that generic merchindise thats found every where, I guess the Polyensian has a better theme to market or something.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I've never actually seen Grand Floridian or Contemprary themed resort items, Shame if they replace it with that generic merchindise thats found every where, I guess the Polyensian has a better theme to market or something.

In August 2009 I purchased a sweathsirt at the Grand Floridian.

 

[CandyMandy]

Earlier this month, we stayed at the Boardwalk where we own as DVC members. I checked out both the main store there (on the Boardwalk level) and the small shop on the DVC side of the lobby. The main store -- which years ago used to have a large amount of resort items -- had nothing other than some prints off in the discount area.

I spoke to CMs there and asked about what happened to all the Boardwalk shirts, hats, bags etc. I remembered. They told me (quote) "they haven't been re-ordering those types of items - there may be some left upstairs in the shop near the lobby."

So off we go to the latter. They had some DVC items there (generic ones, not resort specific) but only one -- repeat, one -- Boardwalk item: a rather cheap looking rubber picture frame. It was clearly old overstock that hadn't sold well and was discounted.

Bottom line: Disney is cutting back.

 

[LovesHerTaurus]

Or just in the dark since this is our first trip

BUT in DTD can't you make your own tshirt and make it resort specific if you wanted to? Not quite the same as buying from the resort, but an idea.

Or is it not worth the trip and money to visit the tshirt shop?

 

[midnightlouise]

I wondered about this very thing while staying at CSR earlier this month. Last year I got a really cool mug from CBR and was looking for something similar only to be told they didn't have anything. I was like, "Really? You have nothing?" Like others here, the unique shopping experience was part of the fun. I think I spent about $22 this year, as opposed to years past when I could easily drop $100 in the blink of an eye. Perhaps this is a good thing...for my wallet anyway...

 

[mikeymouse1]

Last fall my wife and I bought an old travel trailer. After many months of work and rebuilding almost half of the camper we were off on our maiden voyage to Fort Wilderness. We were both excited because we now had a spare tire and Fort Wilderness sold Fort Wilderness spare tire covers. When we went to the Trading Post to buy one the only resort wares left were kids canteens. We asked about this and found that tire covers and all other resort merchandise was discontinued. But I could get stuff that says Walt Disney World on one side and Disney Land on the other. And I can get these same items in any store on property or even at the Disney Store In Atlanta Ga. Now I save my money and go to Whole Foods or to The bass Pro Shop!

 

[Golf4food]

Now I save my money and go to Whole Foods or to The bass Pro Shop!

That's the only thing that will work. If we all stop buying as much WDW generic merch and spend our money on other things, complain enough... maybe then they'll bring back some non-generic items for sale.

 

[fairestoneofall]

We just got back from a week at the World. I was really disappointed in the continued generic merchandise being offered. I picked up a cool retro Epcot shirt for DH (who couldn't go on our trip). I wanted a similar retro shirt, but one that said Magic Kingdom. I could not find it anywhere. Everything I found just said Walt Disney World. If I could've found a Magic Kingdom tee, I would've bought it.

I was thrilled to pick up a Mr. Toad's Wild Ride tee while I was there. And it is retro and says MK on it (on the inside 1971 magic kingdom). But still, I wanted a specific MK tee.

At the character outlet, I found all kinds of resort-specific merchandise. They had a huge selection of Yacht Club and Disney Cruise Line merchandise. And I found a Grand Floridian plate (for display--it was clearly marked poisonous when used with food) for 99 cents!

 

[fairestoneofall]

i also want to say that i was VERY disappointed in the Villains In Vogue store at HS. there was a VERY tiny little area that had a few villain things. Gone were the villain tees and mugs and everything else. It was all Alice in Wonderland, Goofy's Candy Company and Nightmare Before Christmas.

 

[hkeller27]

We just got back from a week at the World. I was really disappointed in the continued generic merchandise being offered. I picked up a cool retro Epcot shirt for DH (who couldn't go on our trip). I wanted a similar retro shirt, but one that said Magic Kingdom. I could not find it anywhere. Everything I found just said Walt Disney World. If I could've found a Magic Kingdom tee, I would've bought it.

I was thrilled to pick up a Mr. Toad's Wild Ride tee while I was there. And it is retro and says MK on it. But still, I wanted a specific MK tee.

At the character outlet, I found all kinds of resort-specific merchandise. They had a huge selection of Yacht Club and Disney Cruise Line merchandise. And I found a Grand Floridian plate (for display--it was clearly marked poisonous when used with food) for 99 cents!

I know someone with a retro Magic Kingdom tee, and I was on the hunt for it everywhere a few weeks ago but found it nowhere But I did find a sort of retro Small World tee (for $11 - woo hoo!), and I also saw that Mr. Toad tee you got - very cool!!!

I would love to see more things like this in the future!