Resort Merchandise diminishing?

[Disneygal1]

I apologize if this topic has already been discussed, but I couldn't find anything on the forums about this...

A friend of mine was just at Fort Wilderness a month ago and told me that she noticed the lack of individual resort merchandise. She stayed at Fort Wilderness, and was hoping to buy a sweatshirt and some other items. She told me she could not find anything with the resort name on it. She then asked a cast member why there was no fort wilderness merchandise. The cast member told her that Disney is slowly getting rid of individual resort merchandise because they want to become "one", whatever the heck that means. I was just at Ft. Wilderness two weeks ago, and I noticed the same thing. I really didn't look at the other resorts though. Is this true? Or is this just some silly cast member rumor?

 

[dxwwf3]

Not a new trend. We stayed at the Boardwalk for the first (and probably only) time on this past trip and I would have loved to buy a Boardwalk shirt or magnet, but they ONLY thing they had were two pins. I asked a few different people and that's the only Boardwalk merchandise they had. Animal Kingdom Lodge, however, does still have a decent amount of resort specific merch though.

 

[Bender!]

Having been to the Beach Club almost every year since 2004, I have to agree, this is what is happening. I remember back then every resort had its own "unlimited refill" mug. Now they've all be branded with the same generic one. The only Beach Club related things I could find last time were a few shirts and a pin, and whatever was in the hotel room.

I find it really sad, the Disney Resorts are already separate from each other except for their "clicks" (All-Star, Epcot Resorts, MK Resorts, etc.) Some people choose their resort because they love the atmosphere, and more resort-specific merchandise would definitely be a warm welcome.

 

[Figment1986]

it appears most of the "deluxe" resorts are keeping at least some specific merchandise (AKL, Contemp, Poly, GF) while the others were loosing them for whatever reason they decided...

 

[dxwwf3]

Sure it wouldn't make much sense to have 5 different All Star Sports shirts, but seriously for a resort like the Boardwalk to have NOTHING other than a couple of pins? That's pretty questionable.

 

[Disneygal1]

I can understand with the all stars because they are somewhat the same, but not Ft. Wilderness. I did notice merchandise in the deluxe resorts except for the Contemporary. I also didn't see any Contemporary merchandise except for pins. I really didn't check at the boardwalk, but that is very suspicious. I guess it's Disney's way of being cheap and saving some money:brick: Although, I know lots of people who want resort merchandise. You would think Disney would make more money making resort merchandise....

 

[Foolish Mortal]

Still plenty of good stuff to be found at the Poly, but thats about it. At least back in the middle of May their was. POP GF YC Contemp next to nothing-very little. Shortly after coming home from my May trip, I was sent a postcard to take a survey about my POP Century experience. For the most part I gave POP rave reviews. The only section I rated them poor was what I thought about my shopping experience. I let them know that I thought the lack of resort specific merchandise and 1 generic resort mug style was unimaginative, lazy, cheap and that I expected better from Disney. I let them know that I was sick of finding almost the same exact merch, EVERYWHERE I go. I also let them know that with most of the merch. becoming so generic that my souveneir buying has dropped off drastically.......and it honestly has. Hey Disney, have money willing to spend....give me something worth buying !!!!!

 

[marni1971]

Sadly it`s been happening for quite a few years.

 

[wedenterprises]

I always find it funny when you WANT to spend money at WDW but you can't.

I'd love to see more resort specific merch. The resorts have some really nice stores too - a few that come to mind are Coronado Springs, Wilderness Lodge and Poly.

Also with the new terrible DVC logo i'll have to go snatch up some old DVC logo merch before it's gone.

 

[TheDisneyMagic]

Yup, we have found this to become the norm gradually over the last 5 or 6 years, such a shame as it is nice to get a littler memorabilia from each place we visit or stay.

 

[llrain]

It has been happening for a couple of years now but back by popular demand, by the end of the year the beach club will resume selling beach club specific merchandise.
The marketplace manager whom i saught out to voice my distaste at the missing merchandise in April 2011 gave me some good happy news that they
are to resume. I just hope its there in October-November when i am there so i can finally get something.

I cant recall if this news meant that every resort would resume, I was too excited that the Beach and Yacht was resuming.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Didn't you hear? Everyone wants generic Disney Parks merchandise now. Nobody wants unique merchandise that caters to their specific likes and dislikes.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

The variety of resort-specific merchandise normally depends on the standard of the resort, value has nearly nothing ( I think only postcards) and deluxe has the most. When I stayed at the Poly last September they sold a large Poly towel (a beauty, I bought it among other Poly merchandise), a Poly t-shirt, a Poly tiki mug, a Poly coffee mug, Poly refrigerator magnets etc.
But I wouldn't be surprised if they would actually try to get rid of it, fit's into the tendency of WDW going downward in general.

 

[puntagordabob]

The Contemporary Resort has had virtually no resort specific merchandise beyond pins and such...


One notable exception was an artwork print by Mr. Dotson (going off memory so apoligies if name is incorrect) of the CR including the BLT.....even has monorail red cruising on the monorail line... nice matted artwork hangs here at home. Bought at the small marketplace (sells newspapers and such too) next to the Fantasia store in the Grand Canyon Concourse.

I have seen his artwork at the Art of Disney store....and it includes virtually every resort plus many Disney attractions (haunted manions etc)..... certainly worth a look.

 

[Bowler Hat Girl]

I was so disappointed about the lack of Contemporary merchandise when we went last November. Up to that point, I had always bought even just a little something from whichever resort I was staying in. I had heard they were phasing out resort merchandise, but they still had a good amount at the Poly and even some at GF. Oh well, that's a little money I saved for my next trip then!

 

[Master Yoda]

I have never understood why so many people put a nefarious, conspiracy theory like spin on the lack of a particular kind of merchandise, be it resort, attraction or whatever. Has anyone even considered that the stuff simply might not be a big seller? The lion share of the money WDW makes is from merchandise. Do you honestly think Disney would not make a product that was flying off the shelves for the sole purpose of uniformity? They would sell resort themed toilet paper if it would make them money.

 

[wdwmagic]

I have never understood why so many people put a nefarious, conspiracy theory like spin on the lack of a particular kind of merchandise, be it resort, attraction or whatever. Has anyone even considered that the stuff simply might not be a big seller? The lion share of the money WDW makes is from merchandise. Do you honestly think Disney would not make a product that was flying off the shelves for the sole purpose of uniformity? They would sell resort themed toilet paper if it would make them money.

LOL this exactly sums it up. Disney are not stupid - if the thing sells they will sell it, if it doesn't sell, it will be removed. The lack of resort specific merchandise tells us one thing, it wasn't selling. To many times people seem to think Disney have some master-plan to just annoy guests by removing something just to spite them. In almost all cases it is because whatever is removed is not successful.

I personally really like the resort merchandise, but it seems that we are in the minority who actually purchased it.

 

[durhay]

I have never understood why so many people put a nefarious, conspiracy theory like spin on the lack of a particular kind of merchandise,

When did they get you, Master Yoda? :lookaroun

 

[Master Yoda]

LOL this exactly sums it up. Disney are not stupid - if the thing sells they will sell it, if it doesn't sell, it will be removed. The lack of resort specific merchandise tells us one thing, it wasn't selling. To many times people seem to think Disney have some master-plan to just annoy guests by removing something just to spite them. In almost all cases it is because whatever is removed is not successful.

I personally really like the resort merchandise, but it seems that we are in the minority who actually purchased it.

I liked it them too but I only got them when I liked the shirts. I would not buy a shirt simply because the word "Polynesian" was on it somewhere. The issue I have had with Disney as of late is the quality of the shirts themselves. I have no problem paying $20-$25 for a good quality Disney shirt but I am not going to shell that out for the paper thin shirts that shrink 2 sizes on the first wash that they are currently selling. I have seen several shirts that I wanted to buy only to walk away because of the poor quality.

 

[Tigger1988]

Also with the new terrible DVC logo i'll have to go snatch up some old DVC logo merch before it's gone.

Good luck, it was hard enough to find DVC logo stuff when I went in mid May. That was before the new logo was announced.