protest the homogenization of Disney mdse

[dansyr2514]

Hi everyone.

I just got back from Disney a couple of weeks ago and the podcast prediction from March has come true. There is no resort specific merchandise left. Ok.. I lie.. I think there was one sweatshirt at GF and one T-shirt at the Poly. I was sure at least the DVC resorts would have something but alas no....now it has been dumbed down to just read DVC. We came back with nothing! When I got back, I promptly wrote guest communications an e-mail to let them know...without the resort specific merchandise we ended up buying nothing. I did receive a nice response saying they were interested in our feedback, however I'm sure that is a canned response. I spoke to a manager at the GF while we were there and he encouraged us to let Disney know about our feelings.
So I implore all of you ....write to Disney if you are not happy with the merchandise. Please do it in a constructive way, we don't want to sound like a bunch of raving maniacs. Maybe they will see our point if many of us who are frequent visitors let them know that we are not purchasing because we can get the same thing year after year. Even the shirt we saw for MNSSHP this year was kind of tacky ( my opinion only) .
Maybe if they see the point that they are not really saving money by making everything the same so they can sell it at every park is not really saving money because we are not buying it...they will reconsider their decision.
If you are with me and will write...post on this thread!

 

[SusanWasHere]

I had a very similar situation to you. In April I went to the French Quarter and was looking for a pin since I always buy a pin when I stay at a new resort. They only had a generic pin for "Port Orleans" that had Mickey fishing. I really wanted something FQ specific. I asked the guy at the gift shop and he told me they don't have them anymore. They only have the generic ones. So we got into this huge conversation about the homogenization of things and he said a lot of people complain. When I got back, I wrote a nicely worded email about my feelings. I also told them I hardly bought anything bc nothing was of interest to me.

Now on the other hand - I stayed at VWL this summer and they had tons of resort stuff. And between my parents and I - we bought almost everything! We got pins, towels, statues, frames, magnets, mugs, etc. that were for the Wilderness Lodge. I was sure to write another email when I got back expressing that we spent tons of money bc we knew it was stuff you couldn't get anywhere else. So maybe if we all continue to write, something will be done. LOL not that I really need to spend any more money on any more Disney stuff haha!!

 

[WaltD4Me]

I'm happy to write another letter. I've done one already but another can't hurt. It's good to emphasize that you didn't buy anything. Letters are great, but I think the only way Disney will really notice is when resort gift shop sales plummet. I can't for the life of me figure out how anyone could think it would be a good thing to stop offering resort specific merchandise. I guess it's the same person who thought it would be a good thing to put all the same stuff in every gift shop in the parks.

I think the park merchandise is a tougher battle IMHO. There will always be people buying things that say Disney World, no matter how generic and boring, but resort merchadise is different. People shopping in resort gift shops are looking for things....wait for it.....WITH THE NAME OF THE RESORT ON IT...DUH!

 

[MK4ever]

Took a survey at the end of our stay at BC and made sure to comment about lack of resort merchandise. I got a BC keychain on sale and CM at checkout said that is the last of resort specific merchandise.

 

[itch1]

I'm no good at it but if someone could come up with a constructive form letter I know many of us on here would use it.
Maybe we should get on a mailling schedule and have two seperate forms one for just after a visit and one for just just general disproval of this situation.
What do you think?
itch

 

[Let'sGoFlyAKite]

What is the address to write to?? I'd like some POR-specific merchandise for our upcoming trip next fall, but who knows if they will even get the problem corrected by then, if at all!
I'm happy to write if you guys can give me the correct address.

 

[mainegal]

We came back with nothing!

This would be perfectly okay with me. I have my memories and don't have to dust or store a myriad of tchotkes, gewgaws and knickknacks.

Maybe if they see the point that they are not really saving money by making everything the same so they can sell it at every park is not really saving money because we are not buying it.

Look at it a different way.
They are helping YOU save money when you don't buy their homogenized Disney stuff.

 

[Golf4food]

It stinks, for sure. We spend less now.

 

[BriarRosie]

I was surprised to see Old Key West specific merchandise there in July, because as you said, most resorts have cut back entirely, or nearly so.

I do remember years ago when there was resort-specific merchandise. However, on the flip side, I also remember seeing it at the outlet stores. Apparently some of the resort-specific stuff didn't sell well, and outlets got it.

It's cheaper for Disney to buy generic stuff in bulk, but I am still wondering why they still sell "year-specific" stuff. It's pretty much going to become outlet fodder when each year ends. I never buy the current year items because I go there year after year. Maybe those "once in a lifetime" folks want that reminder of which year they went to Disney?

 

[dansyr2514]

This would be perfectly okay with me. I have my memories and don't have to dust or store a myriad of tchotkes, gewgaws and knickknacks.




Look at it a different way.
They are helping YOU save money when you don't buy their homogenized Disney stuff.

You are probably right! lol
However, I would've like a t-shirt or something from the Beach Club since it is the first time we stayed there. DBF also golfed for the first time at Disney (not his first time golfing..just his first time at Disney) and couldn't find anything for the course he played either.

Normally we don't buy alot of Mickey stuff but we do like to pick up a resort item or 2.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I have railed against the homogenization of Disney merchandise for a while now.

I dislike things that say Walt Disney World on one side and Disneyland on the other. I dislike the Disney Parks branding even more.

I dislike the fact that you can find the exact same stuff in every merchandise location. Things used to be location specific.

I also dislike the fact that resort specific merchandise has disappeared.

Writing letters is a great idea. We have learned that physical letters often get a better / faster / more in depth response than emails.

Speaking with your dollars is also a great way to handle things.

 

[dunbarfamily]

I'm on board. We noticed in February that resort-specific merchandise was getting harder to find. Like many, I will not buy the same things trip after trip.

Since I haven't been since February, I won't write now because its almost too far after the fact. But if it is this way on our next trip, I'll certainly be writing a kind letter with my thoughts.

Thanks for starting this thread OP!

 

[DisneyKevin]

Guest Communications
Executive Offices
Post Office Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830-0040


www.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

 

[WaltD4Me]

If possible, actual letters have more impact than emails. I've sent many emails and IF I got a response, it was generic. I've also sent a few letters and two of them got personal responses.

 

[mnra]

I agree I just got back from a quick trip to disney this past weekend and every store carried the same things. I was surprised to see christmas stuff in every store and every location. It was simple for us we just didn;t buy anything and still had a wonderful time

 

[dansyr2514]

Thanks for the address Kevin! And it was listening to an old podcast that made me post the idea.

Also, as far as getting a form letter together I could try and work on something, however, I also think that everyone should add their own experience or feelings with the situation. I think it would be taken more seriously if every letter doesn't say the same exact thing.

 

[dansyr2514]

Here is the e-mail I wrote and the letter I received back. I deleted the names and personal phone numbers

Dear Ms. ,

Thank you for contacting us regarding our adult merchandise options for
our Resorts and Events.

I am glad you had a wonderful time overall. However, I am very sorry
for the disappointment you experienced during Mickey's Not So Scary
Halloween Party and the Food and Wine Festival. I wanted to personally
assure you that your feedback has been taken seriously and let you know
how much we appreciate your comments. Our Guests? feedback allows for
our continual growth and the preservation of the magic Walt Disney
dreamed about.

In addition, we realize our Guests enjoy purchasing resort specific
merchandise during their visits. I am sorry for your disappointment with
the merchandise currently available at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
and Disney's Beach Club Resort. Please know when we receive comments
from Guests, such as yours, they are shared with the various areas of
our organization.

I am available Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. EST
should you have any questions. You may also provide me with your
telephone number and the best time to call as a reply to this message. I
would be happy to contact you.

Ms. , thank you again for your honest and constructive feedback.

Best Regards,

Guest Communication Services
Walt Disney World Resort

/jm
2158512

Original Message Follows: ------------------------

Hello,

I wanted to give some feedback about our recent visit from 9/30/10
through 10/710. Let me first say that I love Walt Disney World. I have
visited at least once a year since my first visit in 1998. As a matter
of fact, I work a part time job for "Disney money" so that I can take
that one trip a yr without it affecting my everyday budget. When we do
go, I splurge as much as possible. I try to do due the nicest resort we
can afford, La Nouba, Deluxe dining plan, etc.
With that said, and letting you know we are adults without children, we
were very disappointed in the selection of merchandise for sale. This
year was our first time attending MNSSHP. I reallly wanted to get
shirts for us and bring home one for a friend. The shirts were
extremely tacky. I didn't buy one for any of us. I really wanted to
but they were just not anything any of us would've worn. I also found
this in the Food and Wine festival shirts. I found one that was ok to
bring home for a friend but none that my boyfriend or I liked. I
appreciate the artwork but the shirts were just too busy. My friend
actually asked me to pick up a shirt and a sweatshirt for her but there
were no sweatshirts.
My biggest complaint in the merchandising is the lack of resort specific
merchandise. A couple years ago my boyfriend bought a Coronado Springs
hat which he loves and wears all the time. This trip he wanted to pick
up another CSR hat and one for the Beach Club which we stayed at this
trip. Nothing! He even looked for one with the Golf course name that
he played at ...nothing again!
I know that the idea that you may be saving money by homogenizing
everything so it can be purchased in bulk seems like a good one to the
company. However, the company probably missed out on about $200 worth
of sales just from us. I know that may not sound like alot but I'm sure
there are alot more people like us. We ended up buying only the shirt
for my friend.
I want to buy souvenirs that bring back memories for us. A T-shirt that
says DVC....does not. One that said Beach Club Villas would have.
Please take this as positive feedback. I love Disneyworld and will
probably return many times in the future...however I probably won't
spend my money on the very generic and/or tacky merchandise that you are
offering currently. I think of Disney as a company with great
imagination, a company that makes their guests feel special.....which
makes me believe that they can do bettter than this with their
merchandise. Let's face it...as a 40 yr old woman... a tie dye looking
shirt that glows in the dark as the only merchandise available for
MNSSHP is not going to appeal to me.
Anyway, I don't want to come off as negative because we had a wonderful
time but I was disappointed that there was nothing I wanted to bring
home to bring back the memories. Something to consider ....especially
in conjunction with your new marketing campaign.

Thanks for taking the time to listen.

 

[FireDancer]

Of all the somewhat recent Disney trends this is one of the most annoying to me. Many times I understand the business decisions Disney makes even if I don't agree with them but I think this one is short sighted, at least as the resort merchandise goes.

It can't be cost prohibitive to make some merchandise with the specific resort names and logos on them. I think a couple of shirts, some hard items like key chains and ornaments, some glassware like a coffee cup and pint glasses, and some other items based on the resort should be done. They can be made in bulk since the resorts rarely change name or logos and I would venture that the additional sales from people who want something resort specific would make up for the slight increase in cost.

 

[WaltD4Me]

It can't be cost prohibitive to make some merchandise with the specific resort names and logos on them. I think a couple of shirts, some hard items like key chains and ornaments, some glassware like a coffee cup and pint glasses, and some other items based on the resort should be done. They can be made in bulk since the resorts rarely change name or logos and I would venture that the additional sales from people who want something resort specific would make up for the slight increase in cost.

ITA, it's really puzzling to me why they would get rid of the resort stuff. You have to assume it wasn't making money, but how is putting the same stuff you see in the parks in the resort shops going to help? I'd love to hear the reasoning on this...something other than "guest demand."

 

[kaligal]

They'll change if the accountants tell them to change and that's that.

The only thing I have bought with the "Disneyland Disney World" thing is the Dooney cartoon purse. It was too cute. An exception had to be made. But I'd like it much more if it were WDW only.

NO "Disney Parks" stuff. Perish the thought.