The Disney Store was never a thrilling experience, especially when the new concept stores became reality marketing to all pre school age demogrpahic and leaving nothing for other age groups.
That change is when the slow downfall began. Couple that with facts such as merchandise, was never, ever, as good as what mainstream retailers would carry of the Disney Franchises (Target, Walmart, ToysRUs, etc…)…You could always find mainline and fuller product in the mainstream stores.
Also the cast members of the Disney Stores, were most, not all, just so not the Disney type neded for a guest experience. Numerous complaints about cast member, hourly, and managers, horrid beahviour, unwelcoming guest services, distrust in guests, also contributed to the slow downfall.
Over the years guests became weary and tired of the experience. You honestly could go Target, Walmart or other, and have a better “experience” buying Disney merch.
DisneyStore cast were always trying to upsell you everything. A manager at the former Disney Store location at Woodfield Mall in Illinois, would become upset with guests if they did not buy into the upsell or promotion. There was an instance that on earth day, ine year the manager was so irrate with guests when they did not supply thwir own reusable bags, this is before the blue bags were introduced.
The above is just one of hundreds of complaints/incidents of horrid guest services.
Now, today look at ShopDisney.com, the offerings of merch are no better than the brick and mortar stores, and in the merch we see a definite demographic of the wealthy uppder middle class to the wealthy in the product offerings. Again the online website, is like the brick and mortar stores….Mirror Mirror on the Wall, the product is the same of all….
The question becomes, Disney didnt need the brick and moratr stores, and now they do not need the shopdisney website. The merch is so plentiful in mainstream stores this is the cost savings, having your various franchise ip’s products licensed and stocked in main stream retailers, not having to maintain a physical, nor a internet prescence.
As a previous Disney Store cast member, this makes my heart hurt. I’m devastated to hear you had such bad experiences but I can say without a shadow of a doubt that that was not the case everywhere. My store focused heavily on making true magic for guests. We reminded guests of the magic of going to the parks on a daily basis. I can’t imagine the Disney Stores being a waste of money. And our products were highly superior to the ones at other retailers – especially Walmart and Target. If we simply talked about costumes, I could prove how much better quality ours were compared to others that rotted away with every wear and tear. Yes, this was put to the test in my own family. And surely every place tries to upsell, but I didn’t try to push that onto other people. It sounds like the store you went to was not on par with the standards we set as an entity. I can assure you you would have felt a completely different environment in most other stores. Of course you’re always going to have bad eggs no matter where you work, but the essence of the Disney Store was to bring that love and magic that Walt believed in to every guest – no matter the age. And we sold plenty of different-aged products. There was an entire section dedicated to adults. It makes me wonder if your bad experience made it so you never went in again in years. Perhaps you sent while they were still owned by The Children’s Place? Cause I did hear that was awful. But once Disney bought the stores back, it was nothing but pure joy to be there. I miss my store and family greatly.
Disney should have a store in Denver to remind the kids and parents of how wonderful it is to have a magical day. Everything is going to online with so you get the feeling of excitement, the imagination that makes Disney so important for our kids. I think that Disney really needs to take a step back and think about what Walt was thinking when he started this wonderful company. Disney has ment so much to my life my dream was to work for Disney. I still Have that dream at the age of 50. This is feeling that I wish all kids could experience. Thank for the to express my thoughts.
They did. In the Park Meadows Shopping Resort before they shut us down. I might add that it had nothing to do with COVID or sales or anything of the sort. Our numbers were great and we were doing well. I can only imagine they got rid of us due to them deciding to put “Disney Stores” into the local targets to generate revenue that didn’t require cast members. It’s a dumpster fire now if you ask me. Our Denver Cast Members were the epitome of magic and love that brought Walt’s dream to life in everyone who came in. I miss my store and family…
Comments for The Disney Store Was a Waste of Money, Report Shows
Royz
Point of Order….
The Disney Store was never a thrilling experience, especially when the new concept stores became reality marketing to all pre school age demogrpahic and leaving nothing for other age groups.
That change is when the slow downfall began. Couple that with facts such as merchandise, was never, ever, as good as what mainstream retailers would carry of the Disney Franchises (Target, Walmart, ToysRUs, etc…)…You could always find mainline and fuller product in the mainstream stores.
Also the cast members of the Disney Stores, were most, not all, just so not the Disney type neded for a guest experience. Numerous complaints about cast member, hourly, and managers, horrid beahviour, unwelcoming guest services, distrust in guests, also contributed to the slow downfall.
Over the years guests became weary and tired of the experience. You honestly could go Target, Walmart or other, and have a better “experience” buying Disney merch.
DisneyStore cast were always trying to upsell you everything. A manager at the former Disney Store location at Woodfield Mall in Illinois, would become upset with guests if they did not buy into the upsell or promotion. There was an instance that on earth day, ine year the manager was so irrate with guests when they did not supply thwir own reusable bags, this is before the blue bags were introduced.
The above is just one of hundreds of complaints/incidents of horrid guest services.
Now, today look at ShopDisney.com, the offerings of merch are no better than the brick and mortar stores, and in the merch we see a definite demographic of the wealthy uppder middle class to the wealthy in the product offerings. Again the online website, is like the brick and mortar stores….Mirror Mirror on the Wall, the product is the same of all….
The question becomes, Disney didnt need the brick and moratr stores, and now they do not need the shopdisney website. The merch is so plentiful in mainstream stores this is the cost savings, having your various franchise ip’s products licensed and stocked in main stream retailers, not having to maintain a physical, nor a internet prescence.
Heidi
As a previous Disney Store cast member, this makes my heart hurt. I’m devastated to hear you had such bad experiences but I can say without a shadow of a doubt that that was not the case everywhere. My store focused heavily on making true magic for guests. We reminded guests of the magic of going to the parks on a daily basis. I can’t imagine the Disney Stores being a waste of money. And our products were highly superior to the ones at other retailers – especially Walmart and Target. If we simply talked about costumes, I could prove how much better quality ours were compared to others that rotted away with every wear and tear. Yes, this was put to the test in my own family. And surely every place tries to upsell, but I didn’t try to push that onto other people. It sounds like the store you went to was not on par with the standards we set as an entity. I can assure you you would have felt a completely different environment in most other stores. Of course you’re always going to have bad eggs no matter where you work, but the essence of the Disney Store was to bring that love and magic that Walt believed in to every guest – no matter the age. And we sold plenty of different-aged products. There was an entire section dedicated to adults. It makes me wonder if your bad experience made it so you never went in again in years. Perhaps you sent while they were still owned by The Children’s Place? Cause I did hear that was awful. But once Disney bought the stores back, it was nothing but pure joy to be there. I miss my store and family greatly.
Robby Hernbloom
Disney should have a store in Denver to remind the kids and parents of how wonderful it is to have a magical day. Everything is going to online with so you get the feeling of excitement, the imagination that makes Disney so important for our kids. I think that Disney really needs to take a step back and think about what Walt was thinking when he started this wonderful company. Disney has ment so much to my life my dream was to work for Disney. I still Have that dream at the age of 50. This is feeling that I wish all kids could experience. Thank for the to express my thoughts.
Heidi
They did. In the Park Meadows Shopping Resort before they shut us down. I might add that it had nothing to do with COVID or sales or anything of the sort. Our numbers were great and we were doing well. I can only imagine they got rid of us due to them deciding to put “Disney Stores” into the local targets to generate revenue that didn’t require cast members. It’s a dumpster fire now if you ask me. Our Denver Cast Members were the epitome of magic and love that brought Walt’s dream to life in everyone who came in. I miss my store and family…
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