Island Supply in the Magic Kingdom's Adventureland to close next week

[Goofyernmost]

Walt Disney always intended the shops at Disneyland (DL) to be entertainment but was severely limited by money when he first opened DL.

Walt Disney went deeply into debt to fund DL. If DL had been a failure, it would have sunk the company and Walt.

Walt Disney Productions (WDP) was a small company until the mid-1950s. At the beginning of that decade, gross annual income was about $6M. After the opening of DL, it jumped to $27M. By the end of the decade, it was up to $70M. That still made WDP a relatively small company with great brand name recognition. As examples, WDP made $3.4M in the 1958-59 fiscal year but lost $1.3M the year after. In Walt's last full fiscal year (1965-66), company profits were up to $12M.

In order to fund DL, the Disney brothers had to sell off much of DL's ownership. For $500K cash and a guaranteed loan for another $4.5M, they sold 34% interest in DL to ABC. Another 13.8% went to Western Printing and Lithographing for $200K. Walt himself purchased 17.5% ownership for $250K. Bank of America funded most of DL with an $11M loan.

At the time, Bank of America was nervous about that loan amount, believing the company would not survive if DL failed. Walt reportedly was about $100K in debt until DL's success, at which point his personal worth quickly recovered. DL was a huge financial risk and it took several years to pay off the original loans.

Eventually, WDP bought back 100% ownership of DL (using more loans to do it), including purchasing Walt's share and buyouts of all the concessionaires in DL. Walt resented having to pay ABC $7.5M to buy back their interest in DL, Walt feeling ABC hadn't done anything to deserve it. Regardless of what Walt felt, they couldn't have pulled off the deal without ABC's backing.

The simple truth is that Walt Disney had to fund DL with sponsorships. As he bought out those sponsorships at DL, he replaced them with concessions he felt were more appropriate to his vision of DL, even if they were not big money makers. He continued to use sponsorships where he thought they were appropriate but placed onerous conditions on them regarding what they could sell and how the stores had to be themed.

Today's The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) has no such excuse. TWDC is richer than most of the corporations it seeks sponsorships from. Today's TWDC is all about maximizing profits, regardless of what it means for the theme parks.

As correct as that all probably is, the fact that it was what it was back then, did not prevent DL from becoming hugely successful. That implies that it really was not an issue back then as it shouldn't be now. If Disney, or any company for that matter, can make money by leasing out space to outside vendors and are losing money by trying to create themed stores that do not represent much more then overhead, why would we expect them to do it.

Having a store that sells PoTC merchandise, for example, does nothing to change my enjoyment of the ride and as often as I have been forced to walk through that store, have never found myself either stopping to look at the merchandise or certainly not buying any of it. It is meaningless, other then a minor annoyance to me, to the overall experience I am looking for in the park. I know some like them and spend money in them, but, they are not the attraction and should never be considered one, in my opinion. In fact, the idea that so many rides end in a gift shop has been a source of laughter for many years. In my mind it wasn't laughing with, it was laughing at.

 

[ford91exploder]

The problem with moves like this inside the berm, is by placing generic merchandise in formerly themed shops it removes by degrees the reasons to visit, I have no problem with Oakley sunglasses being on sale at Disney perhaps add some feature which makes those Oakley glasses only available at Disney.

But when you drop a generic sunglass hut into a themed land it damages the immersive experience of the land, example Starbucks all the seating and fresh treats went away to be replaced by the flash frozen mush which I refuse to eat at airports much less pay an inflated price at Disney, A main st bakery sponsored by Starbucks and serving Starbucks coffee and some of its signature Fresh treats would have been awesome, Now the bakery is just another place I avoid at WDW

 

[ParentsOf4]

Having a store that sells PoTC merchandise, for example, does nothing to change my enjoyment of the ride and as often as I have been forced to walk through that store, have never found myself either stopping to look at the merchandise or certainly not buying any of it. It is meaningless, other then a minor annoyance to me, to the overall experience I am looking for in the park. I know some like them and spend money in them, but, they are not the attraction and should never be considered one, in my opinion. In fact, the idea that so many rides end in a gift shop has been a source of laughter for many years. In my mind it wasn't laughing with, it was laughing at.

The issue is not a themed store such as the one at the end of POTC. That store pretty much screams "pirates" and is consistent with the attraction itself.

The issue is opening an anywhere-mall store such as a Sunglass Hut right in the middle of Adventureland.

I have no problem with a Sunglass Hut at Downtown Disney or at Universal's Citywalk. However, it seems woefully inappropriate for one of WDW's most immersive lands.

Walt Disney didn't suggest that there should not be restaurants or shops, only that they should be heavily themed to contribute to the overall experience, and that the merchandise they sell should be appropriate to the theme.

A pair of sunglasses hardly screams 18th Century pirate or 19th Century African safari.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

You can go to Six Flags all your life - but once you go to WDW, that forever changes your opinion of what a theme/amusement park could and should be. By taking away from the theming, you are taking away what separated Disney from the rest. Sure, it's a small thing... Until it happens more and more. Remember, "it's the little things" just as much (if not more so).

As for gift shops being a laughable thing... For sure - no doubt. It's a joke to many that every ride (it sometimes seems) ends in a gift shop. Hey, I don't fault Disney. Kids really love some rides, and Disney knows that they'll wear their parents down when they go through the gift shop... Because you know full well that kids and families aren't going to beeline for the exit like most of us do.

Besides, being themed, it's not jarring as a McDonalds or a Pumpkin Spice Mickey Latte in your face. You can easily ignore it.

 

[AgeEight-E]

The problem with moves like this inside the berm, is by placing generic merchandise in formerly themed shops it removes by degrees the reasons to visit, I have no problem with Oakley sunglasses being on sale at Disney perhaps add some feature which makes those Oakley glasses only available at Disney.

But when you drop a generic sunglass hut into a themed land it damages the immersive experience of the land, example Starbucks all the seating and fresh treats went away to be replaced by the flash frozen mush which I refuse to eat at airports much less pay an inflated price at Disney, A main st bakery sponsored by Starbucks and serving Starbucks coffee and some of its signature Fresh treats would have been awesome, Now the bakery is just another place I avoid at WDW

Very much agree with this. I can visit a Sunglass Hut or a Starbucks at home; why would I pay a small fortune to do so at a Disney park? If this happens in enough places, Disney parks just start to look like your average shopping mall.

Unfortunately, I think the reality is that we are in the minority. Most people seem to be extremely attached to brands, and will gravitate toward them wherever they are.

I was waiting for a flight at Boston's Logan Airport a couple of months ago, early in the morning at around six am. Right near our gate there were two options to grab breakfast. One was a cool little no-name Middle Eastern cafe that was serving these great little wraps you could fill with any ingredients you wanted, they were a good size and inexpensive and tasted great. They also had fantastic coffee and snack pastries that looked homemade. The other option was a Dunkin Donuts. Want to guess which one had a huge line in front?

 

[RSoxNo1]

The issue is not a themed store such as the one at the end of POTC. That store pretty much screams "pirates" and is consistent with the attraction itself.

The issue is opening an anywhere-mall store such as a Sunglass Hut right in the middle of Adventureland.

I have no problem with a Sunglass Hut at Downtown Disney or at Universal's Citywalk. However, it seems woefully inappropriate for one of WDW's most immersive lands.

Walt Disney didn't suggest that there should not be restaurants or shops, only that they should be heavily themed to contribute to the overall experience, and that the merchandise they sell should be appropriate to the theme.

A pair of sunglasses hardly screams 18th Century pirate or 19th Century African safari.

It seems we're all missing the obvious connection here: When the two new US Ambassadors to North Korea (James Franco and Seth Rogen) went on their recent adventure on Naked and Afraid, Ambassador Franco brought along his designer sunglasses. Clearly without proper sunglasses, no journey through Adventureland could possibly be satisfied.

 

[ford91exploder]

Very much agree with this. I can visit a Sunglass Hut or a Starbucks at home; why would I pay a small fortune to do so at a Disney park? If this happens in enough places, Disney parks just start to look like your average shopping mall.

Unfortunately, I think the reality is that we are in the minority. Most people seem to be extremely attached to brands, and will gravitate toward them wherever they are.

I was waiting for a flight at Boston's Logan Airport a couple of months ago, early in the morning at around six am. Right near our gate there were two options to grab breakfast. One was a cool little no-name Middle Eastern cafe that was serving these great little wraps you could fill with any ingredients you wanted, they were a good size and inexpensive and tasted great. They also had fantastic coffee and snack pastries that looked homemade. The other option was a Dunkin Donuts. Want to guess which one had a huge line in front?

I agree we are in the minority here, As to brands look at the peer pressure to conform to the herd in school and it continues as an adult. You want associate with the current in-group

It was the Dunkin's to be sure, I've eaten at that cafe before and it is pretty good overall I hate Logan almost as much as LaGuardia but Logan has always had local restaurants as well as the chains which is one of the compensations. Also in terminal A departures there is an 'Earl of Sandwich'.

 

[note2001]

This change to go from a store so rich in textures and music to a run of the mill plastic peddling chain store is a shame. Island Supply was one of the few stores my daughter and I looked forward to visiting each time we were in the MK. Over the years it did start to reflect the store over at the poly more, so at least that one still exists and if I can stomach the changes to the lobby there we'll be visiting that instead.

 

[Goofyernmost]

The issue is not a themed store such as the one at the end of POTC. That store pretty much screams "pirates" and is consistent with the attraction itself.

The issue is opening an anywhere-mall store such as a Sunglass Hut right in the middle of Adventureland.

I have no problem with a Sunglass Hut at Downtown Disney or at Universal's Citywalk. However, it seems woefully inappropriate for one of WDW's most immersive lands.

Walt Disney didn't suggest that there should not be restaurants or shops, only that they should be heavily themed to contribute to the overall experience, and that the merchandise they sell should be appropriate to the theme.

A pair of sunglasses hardly screams 18th Century pirate or 19th Century African safari.

Or a bright sunshiny day at WDW and a forgotten pair of sunglasses and who wants to go to DtD to pick up a pair at that point. It's actually a handy thing to have available at Adventureland if you need it at the time. But, heck we wouldn't want to make the guests visit handy when we can display spears and not sell them.

 

[lebeau]

Or a bright sunshiny day at WDW and a forgotten pair of sunglasses and who wants to go to DtD to pick up a pair at that point. It's actually a handy thing to have available at Adventureland if you need it at the time. But, heck we wouldn't want to make the guests visit handy when we can display spears and not sell them.

Adult diapers might also be handy. Doesn't mean they should sell them in Adventureland.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Adult diapers might also be handy. Doesn't mean they should sell them in Adventureland.

I think that they should, it would make the entire experience so much more magical if you have a lengthy wait in the standby line.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Or a bright sunshiny day at WDW and a forgotten pair of sunglasses and who wants to go to DtD to pick up a pair at that point. It's actually a handy thing to have available at Adventureland if you need it at the time. But, heck we wouldn't want to make the guests visit handy when we can display spears and not sell them.

There's a world of difference between having a faux bazaar with all sorts of interesting and unusual merchandise selling a few sunglasses for those in need versus turning Island Supply into a Sunglass Hut.

Instead of opening a Sunglass Hut, how about a discreet case near the cash register selling a few sunglasses?

If you really want to make things 'handy' for Guests, why not simply turn Island Supply into a 7-Eleven?

After all, everyone needs a place to buy their smokes and lottery tickets.

 

[Goofyernmost]

There's a world of difference between having a faux bazaar with all sorts of interesting and unusual merchandise selling a few sunglasses for those in need versus turning Island Supply into a Sunglass Hut.

Instead of opening a Sunglass Hut, how about a discreet case near the cash register selling a few sunglasses?

If you really want to make things 'handy' for Guests, why not simply turn Island Supply into a 7-Eleven?

After all, everyone needs a place to buy their smokes and lottery tickets.

Good idea. It would solve many problems that guests encounter including the high cost to snack food in WDW. Maybe someone from corporate will see that suggestion and got on that project immediately. They probably wouldn't be able to sell lottery tickets though because who has enough money left to gamble with after going to WDW.

 

[MissM]

Thing is, Island Supply already had sunglasses! In fact, they had a glass display case with designer glasses available right next to the counter. I never once saw someone buy any, let alone even ask to look at them! We ALWAYS hit that store because Love always had to pick up a new surf shirt. So we would be there a lot.

I don't know that there is any huge demand for $200 sunglasses in the park. I just can't see it. Doesn't seem like the kind of impulse purchase you make in a theme park to me.

I certainly can't make use of it as I wear prescription glasses and have prescription sunglasses as well. I'm bummed at the loss of the store and really baffled by the replacement. I don't always immediately think "no outside shops!" like some people. If it fits and it's a good compliment, I'm ok with it. But this...? So odd. And just so out of place. Disappointing.

 

[Bairstow]

I don't know that there is any huge demand for $200 sunglasses in the park. I just can't see it. Doesn't seem like the kind of impulse purchase you make in a theme park to me.

For normal American families, no.
For visiting foreign young adults and teenagers coming from countries with stronger economies and their parents' charge cards, yes.

It's the same reason you have an Oakley store in IOA.

From earlier:

For someone coming from the UK, even if Disney price exactly the same as the mall Oakley store, it still works out cheaper for me due to the exchange rates. A lot of the branded goods sold will be to non-US guests. Also the old store sold Quiksilver and other surfing brands so replacing some extreme sports brands with a different extreme sports brand isn't a huge deal to me. Although a Jungle Cruise themed shop would have been better, sunglasses in Adventureland is a better fit than in the rest of the park.

 

[Incomudro]

There's a world of difference between having a faux bazaar with all sorts of interesting and unusual merchandise selling a few sunglasses for those in need versus turning Island Supply into a Sunglass Hut.

Instead of opening a Sunglass Hut, how about a discreet case near the cash register selling a few sunglasses?

If you really want to make things 'handy' for Guests, why not simply turn Island Supply into a 7-Eleven?

After all, everyone needs a place to buy their smokes and lottery tickets.

Oddly enough, the past two seasons that I've gone to WDW I've actually purchased two pairs (one each season) of those inexpensive WDW sunglasses, so I can leave my Ray Bans in the hotel room and not worry about losing them somewhere in the park.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Thing is, Island Supply already had sunglasses! In fact, they had a glass display case with designer glasses available right next to the counter. I never once saw someone buy any, let alone even ask to look at them! We ALWAYS hit that store because Love always had to pick up a new surf shirt. So we would be there a lot.

I don't know that there is any huge demand for $200 sunglasses in the park. I just can't see it. Doesn't seem like the kind of impulse purchase you make in a theme park to me.

I certainly can't make use of it as I wear prescription glasses and have prescription sunglasses as well. I'm bummed at the loss of the store and really baffled by the replacement. I don't always immediately think "no outside shops!" like some people. If it fits and it's a good compliment, I'm ok with it. But this...? So odd. And just so out of place. Disappointing.

Nothing to be baffled about really. Disney doesn't give a rats behind who they rent retail space too as long as they will be able to get their monthly lease payment out of them for the duration of the lease. They don't care if SH doesn't sell one lousy pair of sunglasses. It's not their problem until they have to lease out the space to someone else. If it's not sunglasses it will be some other specialty the either will or will not succeed.

 

[ford91exploder]

Nothing to be baffled about really. Disney doesn't give a rats behind who they rent retail space too as long as they will be able to get their monthly lease payment out of them for the duration of the lease. They don't care if SH doesn't sell one lousy pair of sunglasses. It's not their problem until they have to lease out the space to someone else. If it's not sunglasses it will be some other specialty the either will or will not succeed.

And that in a nutshell is the problem at WDW, They just don't CARE as long as it makes money.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

Apparently, there's more fun in store... Singapore Sal’s at Typhoon Lagoon will also become a Sunglass Hut location, renamed “Sal’s Shades”. More locations may be on the way after these two open in the coming weeks.

 

[Incomudro]

Apparently, there's more fun in store... Singapore Sal’s at Typhoon Lagoon will also become a Sunglass Hut location, renamed “Sal’s Shades”. More locations may be on the way after these two open in the coming weeks.

Well, if it's going to be dubbed Sal's Shades, than at least it's a Sunglass Hut in disguise, no?