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Credit: DisneyThe beloved and missed Disney Store has been confirmed by the House of Mouse to make a triumphant return after being rebranded some time ago.
Disney Store Is Coming Back After Closures, Rebranding
Disney announced that shopDisney will rebrand to the Disney Store on February 14, 2024. The new website will be DisneyStore.com.
The rebrand is intended to make it easier to find Disney merchandise across parks, cruise lines, hotels, and vacation destinations. The catalog of items will remain the same, including exclusive collections and park merchandise (Disney consumer products). Guests from the United States and the world can shop anytime at the soon-to-be Disney Store.
The announcement comes on the heels of Disney attempting to remedy the loss of having a Federal Court judge dismissed its First Amendment lawsuit against Ron DeSantis.
The announcement occurred just one week after the online Disney retailer disclosed plans to lay off 150 Cast Members from The Walt Disney Company, effective March 24, 2024. These affected Cast Members played crucial roles in supporting online retail operations and contributing to Disney Parks Merchandise Guest Services and D23 Guest Services.
This move represents a reversal of the branding change implemented in September 2017 when the Disney Store transformed and rebranded as shopDisney. The retail Disney stores were revamped to showcase a more modern aesthetic. Unfortunately, this evolution led to the closure of most Disney Store locations in North America in 2021, including the original store in Glendale, California.
Interestingly, in the same year, Target unveiled plans to introduce Disney Store “shop-in-shop” areas to 160 additional U.S. locations, building on the initial concept revealed in 2019. Only 21 Disney Stores remain in North America, highlighting the evolving landscape of Disney’s retail presence and the dynamic changes within the company’s strategic approach to consumer engagement.
ShopDisney is the official online store (until February 14) for Disney and offers a wide selection of merchandise from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. The site includes products like toys, accessories, collectibles, and gifts.
ShopDisney also has an online waiting room that automatically loads when a customer’s turn comes. Customers have 10 minutes to shop and add items to their bags.