Not only the quality of the merchandise, but also the packaging. The new Bambi parka has crooked stitching, most have zippers cutting Bambi right in half, others Bambi is complete on one side. The packaging has gone from Disney-esque fonts, designs to what looks like generic lettering and descriptions. It’s extremely noticeable, and has stopped me from buying anything in a box, packaged post 2019. And yet the crooked, poorly stitched Bambi parka is $90, along with everything else that’s doubled in price at the stores in 2022.
I returned from the parks only to find one of the gifts I purchased didn’t work. I called the non-reservation help number at (407) 939-2273 and they transferred me to someone in merchandise who took my info. then sent me an email to file for support.
I ended up getting the toy working by removing the tiny button cell batteries, which turned out to be corroded in a brand new toy, and just replacing them. It works fine now. But seriously, corroded batteries in a brand new toy? And this was our 2nd one because we discovered the first one was broken before we left WDW for home (that one was missing a part as well as likely had bad batteries since it wouldn’t turn on).
Hmmm…maybe if people stop buying from resellers, they won’t be as much of a headache for the average WDW guest? I can’t say I feel an ounce of sympathy for somebody who purchases an item from a reseller and then isn’t happy with the quality.
It is not just Disney theme park merchandise, it’s ALL Disney merchandise that is suffering from a lack of quality. From Disney Princess dolls with heads that pop off; to mugs with designs that wash off on first washing (and we don’t even use a dishwasher); to ornaments with faces painted that barely resemble Disney characters, I have seen Disney merchandise go from being incredible to awful.
Like many people, I no longer buy official Disney merchandise. I turn to generic brands that make Disney merchandise and Etsy small shops to avoid giving Disney money for the absolute junk they put out. This has been happening for a long time.
When the singing It’s A Small World dolls came out years ago, I tried to get a good doll from the Disney Store website. The first had no skirt (this is the Hawaiian doll); the second had a box that had the clear window completely removed and you could see the marks where the window had been; and the third doll had the head detached when they shipped it (there’s no way it got broken in transit). Items from the Disney Store (before they closed ours) were misshapen (like ear headbands), the wrong color, had misspelled words, etc.
The junk that Disney puts out now and the prices they charge is ridiculous. But I’ve said it before and I will say it again. As long as people keep buying expensive Disney merchandise, Disney will keep turning out junk and making a larger and larger profit per item.
Purchased sweatshirt and pants for $130. They piled up and after washing look like dollar store clothing. Really Disney! You know we’re back home now and can’t return them.
This article makes no sense, like many on this site. The lack of quality and high prices from resellers have nothing to do with each other. High resellers prices have always been a thing with Disney merch. And if the product is low quality why would the resale market command a high price? Is junk with more than quality product? Why would you repurchase if it is junk in the first place?
The article is trying to address 2 problems. Basically Disney makes products that people want so they buy it and fall in love with it even with the high price. But it’s junk so it breaks and when they go to get it replaced the resellers have bought them all and are selling at twice or three times the price. So then people either don’t have the item they had wanted, or they pay for another from a reseller.
Personally, if I had a product fail horribly like the mug for example, I’d be asking Disney for my money back rather than a replacement even if it was in stock because the next one is going to be the same quality. No way I’d pay even more to some reseller.
Not only lack of quality, but lack of merch period. We were at DLR in October, and there was literally not one thing I wanted to buy, nothing…zero. Unfortunately, Husband and I are going to WDW in May (trip is already paid for), and I’m not expecting much in way of experience or merchandise. I’ll keep my money and spend it in Japan (hopefully) in Sept.
Overall, after WDW, we won’t be returning. It’s sad… the magic is completely gone.
I was disappointed that while I was down there people were such a-holes buying things to resell online that there were things we couldn’t get for our own enjoyment. I’m sorry people but you don’t need 5-6 Figment popcorn buckets to sell online that you take the enjoyment away from little kids.
You want to hear about bad quality for merch and reseller issues, ask the runners who just did marathon weekend. Vinyl peeling off shirts and tank tops, womens and mens sizes mixed up so people didn’t get the right size they wanted and needed, resellers buying everything there and leaving the racers with little to choose from. But by far the worst was the medals. The medals that they pay so much for are peeling and chipping. Have you seen those medals?! Those were the best ones I’ve ever seen for RunDisney and the fact that they are peeling and chipping is just plain sad.
Reading about the food and the merchandise–it just seems that Disney is getting trashier by the week. Do they think we don’t notice? Do they think all those years their parks had such a good reputation it wasn’t because the food was good and the merchandise high-quality,even if expensive??? And what with Genie+ making lines longer overall, and mobile ordering a total fail (at least at Disneyland), even if all you wanted to do was enjoy the rides and eat a meal, it’s not pleasant. The magic is dead.
I couldn’t even find the merch I wanted – a 50th magnet and ornament – when I went to WDW in late October into early November. I bought a resort mug to save $ on drinks. I wasn’t spending more on merch since I bought Genie+ and individual LL, due to ridiculously long waits. I did end up buying magnets on eBay. The 50th castle magnet was very tiny compared to other years’ magnets, and was poorly painted, so I got the rubberized magnet, which looked much better. Some items just aren’t offered online at Disney’s site.
the quality is not as good as before, I buy very little there and am in a park quite often. Food we carry some of our own, and carry a drink of our own to save money , ( I wont pay 5 dollars for a pop ) we do buy an occasional snack or a gift for one of our grands, or kids, but pretty much thats it. They do have some cute pants but they dont have pockets so I dont buy them either.I saw this morning that one of the figment buckets was for sale I think on ebay for 1500 dollars……..I am sure that someone will waste their money on it…… the fact that the trams apparently arent running in the morning hours at the magic kingdom, but they were out in the afternoon, really bothers me . Its quite a walk from the parking lot to the monorail…….I guess they want us to pay 25 dollars more to park up front. we only go to a park once a week now because with LL and genie it makes the regular lines about 90 minutes plus long…….the lines moved a lot faster when there was no LL or genie. And now they raised the price of popcorn refills again…..Not much but still is it worth it to haul a bucket around for it?
I don’t know about this. The way that letter is peeling off looks like it’s just a mug with vinyl stickers on it from a Cricut machine, not an official painted, baked on design.
I wasn’t impressed by the quality or designs of the merch from our last trip in November. We found a few gems, but few and far between.
Regarding Disney’s views on reselling, I’m sure they’re probably the same overall, but the quote taken from the Annual Passholder agreement only indicates that you’re prohibited from using your special passholder discounts to make extra profit reselling. It says nothing about normal reselling and, like it or not, that is a fact of life for all merch everywhere in the eBay era. There will always be an expensive aftermarket for anything with a limited supply.
I was at DLR in late December and was totally disappointed with the quality and ridiculous prices for everything. I couldn’t find anything that reminds me of the Disney I grew up with. I understand that Disney is evolving and trying to attract younger buyers, but it just seems like a money grab on Disneys part. The magic is gone in a lot of ways – I’m hoping enough people make their feelings known so that some of the magic comes back!
Merchandise quality has been going downhill for years while the prices continue to escalate. I have t-shirts from 10 years ago that are still going strong, but the current t-shirts are tissue paper thin and are not lasting 2 years.
Bob “show me the money” Paycheck is having a field day with this because now people have to update their souvenirs more frequently.
Comments for As Disney Parks Merch Quality Declines, Resellers “Make a Profit”
Brooke
Not only the quality of the merchandise, but also the packaging. The new Bambi parka has crooked stitching, most have zippers cutting Bambi right in half, others Bambi is complete on one side. The packaging has gone from Disney-esque fonts, designs to what looks like generic lettering and descriptions. It’s extremely noticeable, and has stopped me from buying anything in a box, packaged post 2019. And yet the crooked, poorly stitched Bambi parka is $90, along with everything else that’s doubled in price at the stores in 2022.
Marnie
Do you know who to contact at Disney for defective merchandise? I have 2 items that are defective and I don’t know how to get it resolved. Thank you!!
Kate
I returned from the parks only to find one of the gifts I purchased didn’t work. I called the non-reservation help number at (407) 939-2273 and they transferred me to someone in merchandise who took my info. then sent me an email to file for support.
I ended up getting the toy working by removing the tiny button cell batteries, which turned out to be corroded in a brand new toy, and just replacing them. It works fine now. But seriously, corroded batteries in a brand new toy? And this was our 2nd one because we discovered the first one was broken before we left WDW for home (that one was missing a part as well as likely had bad batteries since it wouldn’t turn on).
Sara M
Hmmm…maybe if people stop buying from resellers, they won’t be as much of a headache for the average WDW guest? I can’t say I feel an ounce of sympathy for somebody who purchases an item from a reseller and then isn’t happy with the quality.
SarahELuvsDisney
It is not just Disney theme park merchandise, it’s ALL Disney merchandise that is suffering from a lack of quality. From Disney Princess dolls with heads that pop off; to mugs with designs that wash off on first washing (and we don’t even use a dishwasher); to ornaments with faces painted that barely resemble Disney characters, I have seen Disney merchandise go from being incredible to awful.
Like many people, I no longer buy official Disney merchandise. I turn to generic brands that make Disney merchandise and Etsy small shops to avoid giving Disney money for the absolute junk they put out. This has been happening for a long time.
When the singing It’s A Small World dolls came out years ago, I tried to get a good doll from the Disney Store website. The first had no skirt (this is the Hawaiian doll); the second had a box that had the clear window completely removed and you could see the marks where the window had been; and the third doll had the head detached when they shipped it (there’s no way it got broken in transit). Items from the Disney Store (before they closed ours) were misshapen (like ear headbands), the wrong color, had misspelled words, etc.
The junk that Disney puts out now and the prices they charge is ridiculous. But I’ve said it before and I will say it again. As long as people keep buying expensive Disney merchandise, Disney will keep turning out junk and making a larger and larger profit per item.
Jacque
Purchased sweatshirt and pants for $130. They piled up and after washing look like dollar store clothing. Really Disney! You know we’re back home now and can’t return them.
Confused
This article makes no sense, like many on this site. The lack of quality and high prices from resellers have nothing to do with each other. High resellers prices have always been a thing with Disney merch. And if the product is low quality why would the resale market command a high price? Is junk with more than quality product? Why would you repurchase if it is junk in the first place?
Kate
The article is trying to address 2 problems. Basically Disney makes products that people want so they buy it and fall in love with it even with the high price. But it’s junk so it breaks and when they go to get it replaced the resellers have bought them all and are selling at twice or three times the price. So then people either don’t have the item they had wanted, or they pay for another from a reseller.
Personally, if I had a product fail horribly like the mug for example, I’d be asking Disney for my money back rather than a replacement even if it was in stock because the next one is going to be the same quality. No way I’d pay even more to some reseller.
Cookie
Not only lack of quality, but lack of merch period. We were at DLR in October, and there was literally not one thing I wanted to buy, nothing…zero. Unfortunately, Husband and I are going to WDW in May (trip is already paid for), and I’m not expecting much in way of experience or merchandise. I’ll keep my money and spend it in Japan (hopefully) in Sept.
Overall, after WDW, we won’t be returning. It’s sad… the magic is completely gone.
NoTicket
I hate to break it to you folks but the quality of Disney across the board is in decline.
If I didn’t have kids to take I would never go back unless something changes
DianaPrince
I was disappointed that while I was down there people were such a-holes buying things to resell online that there were things we couldn’t get for our own enjoyment. I’m sorry people but you don’t need 5-6 Figment popcorn buckets to sell online that you take the enjoyment away from little kids.
LoneWolf
You want to hear about bad quality for merch and reseller issues, ask the runners who just did marathon weekend. Vinyl peeling off shirts and tank tops, womens and mens sizes mixed up so people didn’t get the right size they wanted and needed, resellers buying everything there and leaving the racers with little to choose from. But by far the worst was the medals. The medals that they pay so much for are peeling and chipping. Have you seen those medals?! Those were the best ones I’ve ever seen for RunDisney and the fact that they are peeling and chipping is just plain sad.
pattimarie
Reading about the food and the merchandise–it just seems that Disney is getting trashier by the week. Do they think we don’t notice? Do they think all those years their parks had such a good reputation it wasn’t because the food was good and the merchandise high-quality,even if expensive??? And what with Genie+ making lines longer overall, and mobile ordering a total fail (at least at Disneyland), even if all you wanted to do was enjoy the rides and eat a meal, it’s not pleasant. The magic is dead.
Freedomrocksusa
I couldn’t even find the merch I wanted – a 50th magnet and ornament – when I went to WDW in late October into early November. I bought a resort mug to save $ on drinks. I wasn’t spending more on merch since I bought Genie+ and individual LL, due to ridiculously long waits. I did end up buying magnets on eBay. The 50th castle magnet was very tiny compared to other years’ magnets, and was poorly painted, so I got the rubberized magnet, which looked much better. Some items just aren’t offered online at Disney’s site.
Lorraine
the quality is not as good as before, I buy very little there and am in a park quite often. Food we carry some of our own, and carry a drink of our own to save money , ( I wont pay 5 dollars for a pop ) we do buy an occasional snack or a gift for one of our grands, or kids, but pretty much thats it. They do have some cute pants but they dont have pockets so I dont buy them either.I saw this morning that one of the figment buckets was for sale I think on ebay for 1500 dollars……..I am sure that someone will waste their money on it…… the fact that the trams apparently arent running in the morning hours at the magic kingdom, but they were out in the afternoon, really bothers me . Its quite a walk from the parking lot to the monorail…….I guess they want us to pay 25 dollars more to park up front. we only go to a park once a week now because with LL and genie it makes the regular lines about 90 minutes plus long…….the lines moved a lot faster when there was no LL or genie. And now they raised the price of popcorn refills again…..Not much but still is it worth it to haul a bucket around for it?
Lighten up Francis
Saw the disney dog bowl that they sell at the disney springs co op on wayfair priced at $104 (it’s only $22). Ridiculous.
Chris Kinney
I don’t know about this. The way that letter is peeling off looks like it’s just a mug with vinyl stickers on it from a Cricut machine, not an official painted, baked on design.
Brian
I wasn’t impressed by the quality or designs of the merch from our last trip in November. We found a few gems, but few and far between.
Regarding Disney’s views on reselling, I’m sure they’re probably the same overall, but the quote taken from the Annual Passholder agreement only indicates that you’re prohibited from using your special passholder discounts to make extra profit reselling. It says nothing about normal reselling and, like it or not, that is a fact of life for all merch everywhere in the eBay era. There will always be an expensive aftermarket for anything with a limited supply.
Michelle
I was at DLR in late December and was totally disappointed with the quality and ridiculous prices for everything. I couldn’t find anything that reminds me of the Disney I grew up with. I understand that Disney is evolving and trying to attract younger buyers, but it just seems like a money grab on Disneys part. The magic is gone in a lot of ways – I’m hoping enough people make their feelings known so that some of the magic comes back!
Mickeymouse3
Merchandise quality has been going downhill for years while the prices continue to escalate. I have t-shirts from 10 years ago that are still going strong, but the current t-shirts are tissue paper thin and are not lasting 2 years.
Bob “show me the money” Paycheck is having a field day with this because now people have to update their souvenirs more frequently.
Comments are closed.