So disapointed with the Disney Store.

[WDW1974]

The World of Disney store at DLR is pretty sad compared to the one in WDW.

Really? Why?

I've been in them both many, many times and I find them quite similar. I like DL's better for two reasons: it is easier to navigate due to its layout and it doesn't have as much filthy disgusting carpet as the one in Florida does. Also, a much better selection of collectable items in Anaheim.

Of course (and I apologize for the brief thread drift here), DtD in general is a joke at DLR compared to the one in WDW. I realize there is no chance of Disney ever doing this, but since they got rid of the Pleasure Island clubs at WDW, I wish they would have just moved the concept to Anaheim and replaced all the chain stores in their DtD with PI clubs. Oh well, a guy can dream I guess.

It's a matter of taste, I'm sure, but I'll take Anaheim's DD over O-Town's any day. Take it over Disney Village at DLP too. Anaheim's has a wonderful natural feeling layout with lots of fountains and greenery ... lots of patios to dine al fresco ... many more none-Disney locations that are quality (dining here ... I think I'll take Catal over McDonald's and Tortilla Joe's or Naples over T-Rex!)DD Anaheim just has a very relaxed SoCal vibe ... of course, back 20 years ago I'd take WDW's before it became a huge Disney mall.

On the topic of The Disney Store, though, I went into the one at our local mall last night (for the first time in at least a couple of years). It was horrible. Nothing like the Disney Stores used to be. It's very sad.

They've all become crap stores. They were the last 2-3 years under Disney, they were when CP owned them and they remain that way now that Disney has taken them back.

So different from what they started out as ...

 

[LenYJr]

I'm wondering if they're still in transition - getting through the stuff that were on shelves/on order before Disney bought the stores back.

At most stores, I haven't had too much trouble finding some things in adult sizes, in fact last week, I grabbed the first ever Uncle Scrooge shirt I've ever seen - he's pretty much my favorite character.

I will also endorse the NYC World of Disney store, however I will admit that clothing-wise for adults it's only NYC themed. The pins, candy & collectibles do make up for that though.

 

[adamcav]

I was wondering the same thing. Has the transition of operations back to Disney been completed? I know that the company had been dissapointed with The Children's Place for "not maintaining the Disney standard." I do know that the Children's Place had agreed to provide "support" (whatever that means) for 6 months, that was some time in May. I continue to hold out hope that in the end, and it may not been soon, but in the end the Disney Store of old will return.

 

[the-reason14]

They changed my local disney store. The whole look of it is different, much more up to date I guess, but I miss how it used to look. It used to have mickey, donald, and goofy in the window display. And when you got in the store, they had the tv that played all the disney advertisments and if you looked up, you could see more disney characters. Mainly those from the old disney afternoon, but it was still wayyyyyyyyyyy better than what is there now.

Then all the other malls in my area kinda got rid of their disney stores.

 

[wedway71]

I have to admit, I wonder what Disney is waiting on. I have been in Retail Management for 20 years so I understand the business.

They got the stores back in May. I was really excited to hear this since I thought going to CP was a big mistake.

I know they cut the number of stores to be able to refocus on their core brand of Disney Retailing and Synergy.

I have not seen or heard of any major marketing pushes of any magnitude. Being in retail, I understand that 6 months of new ownership isnt that long but it seems as if nothing has changed.

I was expecting new uniforms, new adverstising, and more. I was a buyer at one point so I understand that it takes sometimes a full year to cycle out of the merchandise since it can be prebought 12 months in advance. Even though they prebought probably from last year, they still could rebuy and add new lines of merchandise such as more adult merchandise.

I just dont see anything going on yet.

Maybe I am jumping the gun...:shrug:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

As long as they have the little WALL-E Model on sale come Friday morning for an after Christmas Sale, The Disney Store is in pretty high standing with me.:lol::lol:


(seriously...I REALLY miss the old stores from the 90's. Those were Epic.)

 

[AliceinWhoville]

Who used to love getting your Disney Store catalog and wishing you could afford it all? They had the nicest things in there along with the stores.

Disney Stores in the mid to late 90's was the best. I still have a sorcerer mickey keychain from 1993, its that well made

Of cource I happened to have a girl in 2004 and by the time I wanted to order anything from them there was no more catalog and some cruddy website with the smallest type in grey. Never knew back then it was bought by TCP but I remember how little of cute, fun items, household items were to be found after that.

Maybe with fewer stores they can go back to what they once were
and bring back the collectibles in store.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

As long as they have the little WALL-E Model on sale come Friday morning for an after Christmas Sale, The Disney Store is in pretty high standing with me.:lol::lol:


(seriously...I REALLY miss the old stores from the 90's. Those were Epic.)

And yeah, the Disney Store is in verrrrry low standing with me right now. No WALL-E Sales.:fork::fork::lol:


Toy's R Us on the other hand...

 

[celticdog]

We stopped in at the outlet store in Potomac Mills just before Thanksgiving. I was dissapointed. As others mentioned, it was full of cheap toys for kids. There was nothing meaningful for adults. A lot of the stuff I had seen earlier in the year at the local Disney store that ultimately closed. I did manage to spend around $30.

 

[agdbeanie]

We lost our Disney Store years ago...
but who really cares when you can get such great deals online?!

We buy clothes for our kids all the time online. You can't beat their outlet prices. $3.99 or $4.99 for a Disney shirt is a great deal!
They even have great adults stuff too.