In the late 1990s it wasn’t uncommon to find a Disney Store in your local mall. In fact, there were 749 Disney Stores around the world in 1997. When the recession hit the United States economy in 2008, Disney Stores downsized massively to around 220 stores. Today there are around 320 Disney Stores worldwide, so there hasn’t been a full recovery from the Disney Store’s glory days. The Disney Store has had a weird history. At one point the Disney Stores were a licensed operation. In the early 2000s the Oriental Land Company brought the Japanese stores, and most North American stores were sold to The Children’s Place. Today all the Disney Stores are owned and operated once again by The Walt Disney Company. It seems like the Disney Store has never been a big priority of The Walt Disney Company, but I am hoping that will change. Regardless of the Disney Store’s weird history I am hoping now that the United States’ economy is getting better that The Walt Disney Company will beginning opening back up the stores that were closed.
It is time for the Disney Stores to make a comeback. Unfortunately, due to the success of DisneyStore.com, I am worried we won’t see as many physical stores as we had in the late 1990s. I hope I am wrong. The Disney Store offers a glimpse into the magic that the Disney parks provides. Long term I think being able to introduce Disney, through a physical location, into the lives of children will be a good business plan for them. It sure worked on me. It is a store that children love to explore, and it provides a good break for the “boring stores” that children hate at the mall. Growing up I remember walking into the Disney Store at the mall, and being relieved that I had a break from JCPenney, Macy’s, and Sears. There are many families who cannot afford to visit Disneyland or Walt Disney World, but the Disney Store is like a peek into the magical world of the Disney Parks.
Recently I visited a Disney Store in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah at The City Creek Center. As I walked in I heard the Soarin’ soundtrack playing in the background, and I immediately felt at home. As a Disney Parks nerd I feel for other Disney nerds who may no longer have a local Disney store at their mall due to the downsizing that happened after the recession hit. Being able to get a small dose of Disney no matter where you live is so important. The Disney Store is more than just a store. The Disney Store is an experience for the whole family to enjoy. That is why I hope more of them are built. Disney shut down more than 425 locations across the country and around the world. Now that The Walt Disney Company is doing better than ever I think it is time they start to opening up the Disney Stores that they closed after the recession.
Something you rarely see in a Disney Park are sales, but at the Disney Store sales are very common. Yes, you heard that correctly. You can actually get shirts, coffee mugs, and so much more on sale. This is such a foreign concept to those who have only bought Disney memorabilia in the parks. It is just another reason why I love the Disney Store experience. If you are going to be visiting the Disney Parks soon I actually recommend looking to see if the Disney Store near you has any clothes on sale. It is a great way to get genuine Disney merchandise at a fraction of the cost for your family’s Disney vacation.
