The "new" Disney Store

[nancycels]

ours is going the way of the new stores... no more collectibles for me to spend a couple
hundred dollars on! guess they lose me as a customer! half the time i'd go in just to see
what was new in art and collectibles, if they are going to take them out of most of the
stores and replace them w/toys r us type merchandise i'll never go in! bad move from where
i sit. a group of us all collect dis art and sculpture, i guess we'll have to go elswhere!

 

[Peter_noPan]

Thanks all of you.

I'm glad it isn't just me.

Is there any part of the Disney Magic that the current managament can't screw up?

 

[hellokitty]

i am thinking real hard.......
hey they havent taken away priority seating yet!!
whew.

 

[jfap]

If you want to check out the new style store, run over to Hulen Mall in Ft. Worth. They changed over right before Christmas. Haven't heard how it is going over.

 

[BostonTigger]

I can tell you that many of the Cast Members who work at the Disney Store hate what's going on with the company. I for one hate the changes.

 

[Planogirl]

Chuck S, I know that you don't like the new-style store but I am personally relieved that the DS at the River Center is still old-style. We always end up there when we visit your city.

I think that I could even put up with the new-style stores if they just stocked any decent merchandise. I have the hardest time finding anything I want now and I used to buy tons. It's very frustrating.

 

[mmouse37]

Disney has definitely gotten away from Guest Service. It seems to be all about profits now and pushing the sell on guests. The only Adult clothing the Disney Stores will now carry are PJ's and seasonal items and some sweatchirts. I liked it better the old way.

Why can't the Disney Stores carry the merchandise like the shop in MGM that has all the housewares, pillows, kitchen stuff, etc. That store is cool, the one right near where Beauty and Beast plays.

MJ

 

[Beast]

The stores aren't the only problem! Disney really seems to have something against men in general. We just got a Disney Catalog last week and, pardon this, but it SUCKS!!!! Nothing personal ladies but unless your a woman or under twelve years old, this catalog was nothing more but another piece of junkmail! Not a thing for guys!

They really like to push the "Princess" line of merchandise, why not a "Prince" or even better a "Hero" line?

I don't know if it would help or not, but I think a "DIS-wide" letter writing campaign might get their attention. But it would have to be an enormouse (enor-MOUSE? sorry. ) assult! Probably even recruiting people from other Disney fans web sites.

They might get the idea. Might.

As far as to many stores? We have to travel one and a half to two hours to get to a Disney Store. So, it's not TOTALLY saturated. Just not well spaced.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I spoke with a CM who worked at a store that recently closed. She said right after the store closed for good, Disney had people come in to destroy the displays. The picture bakgrounds were painted over. The characters, figures, etc were destroyed. She said it was heartbreaking.

 

[dunningdisney]

My family is also very disappointed with the "new" Disney Stores. All of the magic is gone.
You used to get a little bit of Disney when you visited the Disney Stores. Now it's just BLAH!
That's too bad too because all of the CMs at the store were very excited to be getting the new store and how they were going to have activities for kids. Well, our store has one, yes (1) computer, some coloring pages and some dress up clothes--but no room to use them.
My kids can do these things at home. I thought maybe they would have some "special" things for the kids to do.

I did get a phone number to call from one of the CM to call with my opinion. Sorry, I don't have the number handy. I will try to call, if for nothing else, my own piece of mind knowing that I tried to save the magic in own towns.

 

[maleficent1959]

The number is 1-818-265-3435.

 

[JudithM]

The poor quality & uninspiring selection of merchandise & the sterile new store design are the direct brain child of Bob Bell, who is about to depart as President of Disney Stores North America. He came from another consumer goods company & apparently did not have the understanding of the Disney culture - pixie dust, guest service, etc.

 

[RumpleMom]

Previous to the Disney store redesign, my teenage DD always headed directly there to shop when they went to the Mall. They always purchased something there for their friends' birthdays. We used to always find a great gift for their friends there. Trust me teenage girls go to a lot of birthday parties! $$$ DD went to WDW with 11 friends for their high school graduation trip. The 12 friends all love Disney.(boys and girls)

My kids would buy me a new sweatshirt ( nice and embroidered) there for Christmas, B-day, etc. My DH and I walk the Mall several times a week, we stop in , look around , there's nothing to buy for parents and teenagers. Hint to management- we are at the stage of our life when we have more money to spend, we have 0 children to buy toys for, not even relatives. When my kids were little, dollars were scarce.