Welcome Sunglass Hut to MK....

[Laketravis]

Outsourcing and contractors are part of the business model of the current WDW management. Expect more of this in the future.

Certainly does seem to be the next logical move; increase RPSF by realigning a retail spot selling high margin foreign made park themed merchandise into a retail spot selling high margin foreign made designer themed merchandise as demographics indicate a potentially large number of guests who will not only buy that over-priced merchandise but also buy a ticket to get into the "mall" that sells it as long as there are a few mediocre attractions to keep the kiddos occupied because the three FP's have been used up and Biff isn't about to waste time standing in a line when there's shopping to be had.

All while pocketing significant labor savings because Disney doesn't have to staff these locations with "real" Disney employees.

Overly dramatic statement, maybe. But I would expect to see more of this in the future in much the same way The Shops at Crystals and The Forum Shops at Caesars and their high priced merchandise racks have become the metaphoric equivalent of slot machines and roulette tables.

 

[Jennasis]

The Dole/Orange Julius comment was absurd. Sort of like saying: "OMG! Next thing you know, Disney's will change the Coke Club Cool into a Pepsi Pool Party!"

Ugh. Clearly the joke was lost on you and others. Indicative of a joke-fail. Oh well...i'll have to try harder next time. (I was joking about likening the change to mall offerings...but we all know if you have to explain the joke....)

 

[JanaDee]

Outsourcing and contractors are part of the business model of the current WDW management. Expect more of this in the future.

Blech

 

[LiveYourLife]

Meh. Doesn't bug me one bit. Smart idea if you ask me. Everyone needs sunglasses in FL, and if I lose or break a pair of sunglasses - I'd rather spend $150 bucks on a decent pair of Ray-Bans that will last me beyond my trip to WDW, as opposed to pissing away $25-$40 bucks on a pair of junk sunglasses at the Emporium or the like.

Plus those affluent tour groups that everyone likes to complain about....well that's one less store at the Outlets or Mall of Millenia that they'll be shopping at. So again, from a business standpoint....smart move by Disney.

 

[larryz]

Plus those affluent tour groups that everyone likes to complain about....well that's one less store at the Outlets or Mall of Millenia that they'll be shopping at. So again, from a business standpoint....smart move by Disney.

Sing with me...

"I'm walking right down the middle of Mall Street USA..."

 

[LiveYourLife]

Sing with me...

"I'm walking right down the middle of Mall Street USA..."

HA! You don't want me to sing anything, trust me

 

[BrianL]

Having sponsorship of outside brands is not a new thing at Disney Parks. Remember "Space Mountain brought to you by RCA?" Originally nearly every pavilion at Epcot had a sponsor (is Imagination still Kodak?). Even today, we have Test Track by GM, Spaceship Earth by Siemens, Coca-Cola's Club Cool (At DL there is also a Coca-Cola restaurant that is basically Casey's Corner in the same location), Dole Whips, and the Laugh Floor sponsored by Monsters, Inc. There are Pandora charms and Dooney & Bourke bags too.

I'm with the camp who feels as long as it is themed appropriately then I really have no problem with it. We'll see.

 

[Laketravis]

Having sponsorship of outside brands is not a new thing at Disney Parks. Remember "Space Mountain brought to you by RCA?" Originally nearly every pavilion at Epcot had a sponsor (is Imagination still Kodak?). Even today, we have Test Track by GM, Spaceship Earth by Siemens, .....

I think it would be great if Sunglass Hut or Coach or Louis Vuitton wanted to sponsor the next C,D, or E attraction.

But that's not the same as establishing a pure retail presence within the parks.

 

[ktlm]

For all those that are bummed...have you visited the surf shop at DTD? I found that they had a better selection of this type of clothing (most all of which was not branded Disney to start with) there.

I don't mind a different store with specialty sunglasses as long as it stays in the adventure land theme (which it will).

I'm not remotely interested in going to DTD for that. It wasn't about the selection or merchandise in the store, it was the theming. The store was really cute and fit in well with the Adventureland theme. It was fun to browse because they did have different stuff, and we did usually buy at least something in that store on each visit. I have zero interest in going to DTD to visit a surf shop. In fact, we quit going to DTD at all a couple of years ago. We used to try to get there once every trip. We finally decided, it was too much of a hassle to get there and back with the bus service, and all it had was either 1. things you could already find at the parks and resorts; or 2. things you can find in the mall. It just didn't seem special at all anymore like it used to. The only shop I miss going to, is the Christmas shop. Maybe when they finish redoing it, it will have some sort of personality again. That would be nice.

If they keep the theming in the Island Supply store and if they keep themed and Disney merchandise other than just the Sunglasses, I would be okay with it. I know that when DH forgot his sunglasses one year, we did complain that there was no place that carried a decent pair of sunglasses in the parks. I wouldn't mind that Sunglass Hut sponsored the area and put a lot of their stock in it, as long as it has other merchandise too and is not just a Sunglass Hut store. That really isn't that different than when Kodak sponsored the Imagination area, or when GM sponsored Test Track. What I do mind is if when they unveil it, it is nothing but a Sunglass Hut store. I guess we will just have to wait a few weeks to see. I guess most of the individual country World Showcase stores in Epcot are third parties. We found that out when we bought a WDW rain poncho in Mexico that turned out to be defective and to have no snaps at all on one side. We tried to exchange it in China and were told that they would not take it and that we would have to walk to Mexico (in the rain), if we wanted to swap them out. Our only choice in China was to buy another one, to wear instead of the defective one we got in Mexico.

 

[W.E.D.]

Having sponsorship of outside brands is not a new thing at Disney Parks. Remember "Space Mountain brought to you by RCA?" Originally nearly every pavilion at Epcot had a sponsor (is Imagination still Kodak?). Even today, we have Test Track by GM, Spaceship Earth by Siemens, Coca-Cola's Club Cool (At DL there is also a Coca-Cola restaurant that is basically Casey's Corner in the same location), Dole Whips, and the Laugh Floor sponsored by Monsters, Inc. There are Pandora charms and Dooney & Bourke bags too.

I'm with the camp who feels as long as it is themed appropriately then I really have no problem with it. We'll see.

This!
I used to get upset about stuff like this, but then I also remember that EPCOT is full of sponsors. Someone on here has a photo from DL, way back in the day, where there is a giant Folgers sign hanging on Main Street. It's always been there.

 

[conandrob240]

Double yuck. I don't mind these stores in an area like DTD but I think they are on a very slippery slope doing this inside the marks, especially MK. Where does it end? Will the castle be renamed and sponsored by a company like all the stadiums are now? Ridiculous.

 

[JimmyV]

This!
I used to get upset about stuff like this, but then I also remember that EPCOT is full of sponsors. Someone on here has a photo from DL, way back in the day, where there is a giant Folgers sign hanging on Main Street. It's always been there.

Not just Epcot. From Day One in 1971, Sara Lee and Carnation had a major presence on Main Street. Actually, I don't think that the Epcot sponsorships are on par with something like a Sunglass Hut. Space Mountain was sponsored by RCA/FedEx/Siemens. But the ride was never a point of sales for any of their products. But the Sara Lee Bakery was exactly like a Sunglass Hut. The products sold within the four walls were branded by the company in question.

 

[disnut8]

Having sponsorship of outside brands is not a new thing at Disney Parks. Remember "Space Mountain brought to you by RCA?" Originally nearly every pavilion at Epcot had a sponsor (is Imagination still Kodak?). Even today, we have Test Track by GM, Spaceship Earth by Siemens, Coca-Cola's Club Cool (At DL there is also a Coca-Cola restaurant that is basically Casey's Corner in the same location), Dole Whips, and the Laugh Floor sponsored by Monsters, Inc. There are Pandora charms and Dooney & Bourke bags too.

I'm with the camp who feels as long as it is themed appropriately then I really have no problem with it. We'll see.

I was going to post this but you beat me to it. Several years ago, I made a comment in a trip report that I was sick of hearing how much McDonald's contributed to certain attractions (I think Dinosaur was one?). Then we had McDonald's in the parks and now McDonald's is gone.

Who the heck cares that an outside sponsor has a shop or kiosk or whatever at Disney World? That is NOT why I go to Disney World.

Next thing, people will be saying there should only be Disney World beer at Epcot. Or the Studios. Or Animal Kingdom. Shove Budweiser out of there. Or, hey - Coke is an outside sponsor. Let's just have Disney World soft drinks.

 

[SmithSmith]

I was going to post this but you beat me to it. Several years ago, I made a comment in a trip report that I was sick of hearing how much McDonald's contributed to certain attractions (I think Dinosaur was one?). Then we had McDonald's in the parks and now McDonald's is gone.

Who the heck cares that an outside sponsor has a shop or kiosk or whatever at Disney World? That is NOT why I go to Disney World.

Next thing, people will be saying there should only be Disney World beer at Epcot. Or the Studios. Or Animal Kingdom. Shove Budweiser out of there. Or, hey - Coke is an outside sponsor. Let's just have Disney World soft drinks.

Agreed. Why should anyone care?

Island supply was just a glorified surf shop with brands like O'Neill, Reef, Element, Roxy, etc. I can find all those brands at my local mall, the merchandise was nothing unique or special to Disney.

 

[Marthasor]

Not just Epcot. From Day One in 1971, Sara Lee and Carnation had a major presence on Main Street. Actually, I don't think that the Epcot sponsorships are on par with something like a Sunglass Hut. Space Mountain was sponsored by RCA/FedEx/Siemens. But the ride was never a point of sales for any of their products. But the Sara Lee Bakery was exactly like a Sunglass Hut. The products sold within the four walls were branded by the company in question.

Exactly! The Disneys needed funds from corporate sponsors to build Disneyland and outside corporations have had a strong presence from the very beginning. And even outside of Disneyland they relied on corporate money to bring ideas to fruition and build new attractions. Anyone remember the Pepsi-sponsored, original it's a small world ride at the '64 World's Fair? This isn't new and it's not a brain-child of Bob Iger. It's Disney tradition.