Resort Logo Merchandise

[Cheshire Figment]

I have recently heard, from a very reliable source, that WDW is phasing out all specific resort logo merchandise with the exception of a few items for the upper scale deluxe resorts.

 

[mrsR123]

Booo!

I reject the continuted blandifying of WDW. Down with "DisneyParks"; I want uniqueness!

 

[OKW Lover]

Wow. Just wow.

When I read the title of this story my immediate reaction was "no way". Then I saw who posted it and that made me consider it a bit more since much of what CF posts come true.

But I'm still having a difficult time with this one. If they homogenize the resort specific merchandise, they'll actually windup hurting sales in the longer term. Lots of folks buy something from the resort they are staying at as a souvenir. If they already have a shirt/class/hat/etc that says generically "WDW resorts" why would they buy another one when they visit WDW again the following year but stay in a different resort.

Again, not questioning the accuracy of the rumor. Heaven knows that I don't understand the business reason behind everything Disney does.

 

[GrimGhost]

Cheshire Figment,

Any way of confirming whether it will be all deluxe and what merchandise?

 

[StrawberryMin]

I sure hope it's not true. Some of my favorite souveniers are the shirts that are from the Poly and Wilderness Lodge...people always comment about them.

 

[Kim&Chris]

I guess I saw this coming. It's harder and harder to find resort-specific merchandise. Very sad. I used to really love the uniqueness of the resort merchandise, but I guess this is just another cost cut for Disney.

 

[deej696]

If this turns out to be accurate, which given the track record of the last several years I tend to think it is, it would be a dumb move amongst many other dumb moves of late. I'm already disappointed with the amount of resort specific stuff currently available. I'm one of those guys that wants a polo from the hotels I visit, and I only have one from Disney and that was GF. Its just a continuing dumbing down of the offerings at Disney that I've come to accept....

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We were told about this in a team meeting.
2) Seems there is a "survey" that says guests prefer Disney merchandise.
3) They, further, do not favor resort-specific merchandise.
4) Exceptions, per the "survey", are Deluxe and DVC resorts.

NOTE: My, aren't those "surveys" good for addressing guests' issues.

 

[deej696]

I wonder if in those same surveys they ask those who prefer "Disney/Non-Specific Merchandise" how much $ they actually spend on souveniers, compared to the amount spent by those who do prefer specific offerings. Now those are some figures I'd like to see...

Me personally, I'd gladly pay $50 for a resort polo, but I wouldnt think of dropping $20 on a "DisneyParks" polo...

 

[GrimGhost]

1) We were told about this in a team meeting.
2) Seems there is a "survey" that says guests prefer Disney merchandise.
3) They, further, do not favor resort-specific merchandise.
4) Exceptions, per the "survey", are Deluxe and DVC resorts.

NOTE: My, aren't those "surveys" good for addressing guests' issues.

Did it sound like ALL Deluxe and DVC would be exempt?

 

[tjkraz]

Sadly, I fear sales numbers are the only place to point a finger.

We often stop by the outlet stores while in town and resort is among the most plentiful. Having to mark the stuff down 50% just to unload it speaks volumes.

Also, I don't think I have ever seen someone walking the streets (away from Orlando/WDW) in anything other than generic merchandise. All of those shirts with the big "2009" on them or the generic images of Mickey, Minnie, Pooh, etc....that's all I ever see away from the parks. I have ZERO INTEREST in that stuff myself, but to the casual park-going public, that is apparently what interests them.

The only shirt I bought on my last trip was a Saratoga Springs tee. I hope it's true that the deluxes and DVCs are exempted. It seems reasonable that the higher-end resorts sell more merch than the All-Stars, POR, etc.

Nevertheless I do think that we die-hard Disney fans mis-judge the sorts of things that appeal to casual guests. We may seek-out more unique designs as long-term vets. But I suspect a far greater number of people really want that generic shirt with the castle, characters and date-of-visit plastered across the front.

 

[DOOM1001]

I love Disney but you will not catch me with generic Disney apparel,that's the kind of stuff that you can buy at Mal Mart,I need unique Disney shirts like resort shirts.I have an ESPN Club shirt that says Disney World resort near the bottom also I've been meaning to get this long sleeve Magic Kingdom Fire Department long sleeve t-shirt on my next trip to MK.The day I started seeing the cups just saying Disney parks I feared some of this might start to happen,hopefully they'll realize it's not the smartest way to go.

 

[DC7800]

2) Seems there is a "survey" that says guests prefer Disney merchandise.
3) They, further, do not favor resort-specific merchandise.
4) Exceptions, per the "survey", are Deluxe and DVC resorts.

Surveys, especially where Disney is concerned, have the nasty habit of being used to confirm or support a previously made decision, rather than actually revealing factual information. Ask the right people the right questions, phrased properly, and you get the answer you were looking for.

You also have to be careful how you interpret the results. Consider how many might buy a Polynesian Resort shirt - a popular choice because of the theme of the resort - not, of course, just because its a deluxe. Now, consider how many might prefer a "Do the Funky Chicken" Pop Century shirt over a generic Mickey Mouse. Plenty of surely good selling Pop Century souvenirs out there - and certainly they ought to remain so (better to sell me a PC shirt at only a slightly-reduced profit than not sell me any shirt at all). They aren't less desirable, perhaps, because they come from a 'value' resort - its because they come from tacky decorated Pop Century as opposed to the immersive theming of the Polynesian.

 

[Chuck-PA]

We always buy a shirt or souvenir with the name of the place we stay.
If this is true we will surely miss it.

We do not like the YEAR being posted on anything. We refuse to buy it.
We do not like to advertise how long we have owned something.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

I must say I'm not surprised - I have watched it happen.

About 6 years ago I got caught at the Beach Club during a very cold snap in December - I bought a Beach Club sweatshirt (which I still have). It was $38. The following year the exact came sweatshirt was $68.

As time has passed, we have all seen the unique character of resort gits shops change to more represent what you find in Mousegear, DTD or other gift shops - why? Margin.....everything is about margin.

Disney pays FAR less p/sweatshirt for 750,000 sweatshirts than they do 100,000 sweatshirts.

I have watched the clothing at resort gift shops all begin to look alike......now even THAT will disappear.

How sad.

Bottom line - I'll spend less. I rarely will open a pocketbook for something you see everywhere ---- give me something special --- I can't keep the money from flying out of my wallet.

 

[Jessfrogger88]

This kind of mainstreaming of the giftshops has been going on since I've started visiting in 2007. Mostly everything in the giftshops these days can be found in all the other giftshops.. I find it kind of sad..

 

[Snowgod]

I have been collecting shot glasses for many years from Disney shops in both the resorts and parks. Last trip I was at SSR and loved it but I could not find a resort specific shot glass as I have in the past. Checked other resorts and noticed only a few left over from previous but they seemed in short supply. Some MBA at Disney Corporate must have figured they don't need them anymore as they did with Customer service and maintenance.

 

[fantayzya]

While I can see why...I guess. I too hope this isn't true.

And if it is true. I really hope they can't accomplish it before I get there a month from now. I'm one that tends to grab keepsakes from the resort I stay at as much if not more than from the parks and as has been posted generally won't grab the items that are available everywhere unless it's really special in some way.

As for 'dated' items, again, only if they're really special or some sort of commemorative thing. I do have some from 2000.

Glad to hear the deluxe resorts may be exempt as they tend to have some rather cool themed items. That said, one of my favorite (and unfortunately worn out) items was from CBR. The moderates have some great themes IMO as well.

I guess we'll just wait and see.

 

[Snowgod]

duplicate

 

[LarryM]

I guess I should have taken better care of my Dixie Landing's Polo I bought many years ago. We are DVC and we do buy the specific resort stuff more than the genaric merchandise.