It makes me sad to hear the Disney Store going away. The Disney Store has ALWAYS been my favorite store when I was very young. It was always a fun place to go to. Especially when you’re not at Disneyland or Disney World. I heard the one at the mall my family used to go to back in Indiana, University Park Mall, shut down as well. I just wish they reconsider and rename the store shopDisney, like the website.
Here’s the thing: I worked at store #877 for 5 years. Backstory: Since I was 13 I was home schooled so I could take care of my Grandma who was, luckily, a retired teacher of 40 years, but very physically limited in her mobility and prone to bouts of pneumonia. After she had a stroke when I was 32 she became nearly paralyzed. Around this time my Mom retired and was able to help with the things that weren’t physically taxing for both of them like medication distribution, food and laundry. I went to work for TDS when that happened. It was a wonderful time pause where I had a great time with events, loved coming up with new Disney language to use with guests, little Mouseketeers coming in on their birthdays so we could sing the birthday song to them and watching first time visitors come in and celebrating with them. A few months in to my time my Grandma ended up passing away and Disney mourned with me and comforted me. Fellow CMs, guests and the company as a whole provided a support system I didn’t know I had. During my time my nephews were born, my Mom was diagnosed with cancer, I was able to fulfill my lifelong dream of being a part of the backstage wardrobe crew for the Phantom of the Opera tour because my SM fought tooth and nail to help adjust my schedule and we all mourned and comforted each other during the Paradise fire. So many milestones, so many memories. When we got notified that we were all having a conference call a day after the announcement of shut downs, well…the writing was pretty much on the proverbial wall. We all grieved, but knew that the guests would be too. The guests were upset too. Some were angry, some shed tears, but so many of their personal memories were shared. There were so many stories like mine! Going into a Disney Store provided enough pixie dust and warmth that their own worries were not gone, but they weren’t not in the forefront either. Guests actually asked many of us if we could become their Facebook friends because we had become a part of their kid’s lives, as well as their own. When we officially closed, we all cried at the loss, smiled at the memories and told stories of our favorite experiences. It is missed. It is missed so much. I am currently fortunate enough to be a seasonal to one store 30 miles away, but two of our cast members have actually gone to a store with a round trip of 140 miles! What can I say? We’re a dedicated lot ? I know when my chapter as a seasonal has come to an end in a few months that my heart will be broken. I live almost 500 miles awsy from the closest park and, as I mentioned with my theater work/joining my IATSE local union work and now being a union officer, a transfer is not in the cards and I worship my nephews too much to leave. My heart aches at the prospect of not being part of the story again. I will always be a guest, but will miss the family. Thank you if you got this far into my ramblings. You folks have a magical day!! ❤?✨
Comments for First-Ever Disney Store Closes Doors For Good
Tracy
It makes me sad to hear the Disney Store going away. The Disney Store has ALWAYS been my favorite store when I was very young. It was always a fun place to go to. Especially when you’re not at Disneyland or Disney World. I heard the one at the mall my family used to go to back in Indiana, University Park Mall, shut down as well. I just wish they reconsider and rename the store shopDisney, like the website.
Jonathan Harriman Lhota
I am gonna miss the original location. I think people will be buying it on Amazon.
Brittney
BUCKLE UP FOR A LONG ONE
Here’s the thing: I worked at store #877 for 5 years. Backstory: Since I was 13 I was home schooled so I could take care of my Grandma who was, luckily, a retired teacher of 40 years, but very physically limited in her mobility and prone to bouts of pneumonia. After she had a stroke when I was 32 she became nearly paralyzed. Around this time my Mom retired and was able to help with the things that weren’t physically taxing for both of them like medication distribution, food and laundry. I went to work for TDS when that happened. It was a wonderful time pause where I had a great time with events, loved coming up with new Disney language to use with guests, little Mouseketeers coming in on their birthdays so we could sing the birthday song to them and watching first time visitors come in and celebrating with them. A few months in to my time my Grandma ended up passing away and Disney mourned with me and comforted me. Fellow CMs, guests and the company as a whole provided a support system I didn’t know I had. During my time my nephews were born, my Mom was diagnosed with cancer, I was able to fulfill my lifelong dream of being a part of the backstage wardrobe crew for the Phantom of the Opera tour because my SM fought tooth and nail to help adjust my schedule and we all mourned and comforted each other during the Paradise fire. So many milestones, so many memories. When we got notified that we were all having a conference call a day after the announcement of shut downs, well…the writing was pretty much on the proverbial wall. We all grieved, but knew that the guests would be too. The guests were upset too. Some were angry, some shed tears, but so many of their personal memories were shared. There were so many stories like mine! Going into a Disney Store provided enough pixie dust and warmth that their own worries were not gone, but they weren’t not in the forefront either. Guests actually asked many of us if we could become their Facebook friends because we had become a part of their kid’s lives, as well as their own. When we officially closed, we all cried at the loss, smiled at the memories and told stories of our favorite experiences. It is missed. It is missed so much. I am currently fortunate enough to be a seasonal to one store 30 miles away, but two of our cast members have actually gone to a store with a round trip of 140 miles! What can I say? We’re a dedicated lot ? I know when my chapter as a seasonal has come to an end in a few months that my heart will be broken. I live almost 500 miles awsy from the closest park and, as I mentioned with my theater work/joining my IATSE local union work and now being a union officer, a transfer is not in the cards and I worship my nephews too much to leave. My heart aches at the prospect of not being part of the story again. I will always be a guest, but will miss the family. Thank you if you got this far into my ramblings. You folks have a magical day!! ❤?✨
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