Disney Stores used to be the go-to place for your Disney merchandise needs. It also served as a little dose of Disney magic between visits to a Disney Park. And now that source of retail therapy is disappearing as Disney Stores fade into a thing of the past. Read on for more information on the store closures as well as a glimpse into the last days of a Disney Store.
Since my last update in March, I am saddened to report that there has been another massive wave of Disney Store closures. At present, over 200 Disney Stores have either closed or are currently in the final stages of closing. That leaves only 25 locations in the United States, all of which are outlets (most likely to sell off the remaining stock), except for Times Square.
And rumors are floating around regarding Time Square’s future as well, that it may turn into a World of Disney or it may just close entirely once the lease ends. This unfortunate turn of events is the result of the current strain on retail chains, the pandemic, and the increased interest in online commerce, as well as a shift to working with partners (such as Target). There are no current plans to revive the Disney Store brand in the future that we are aware of.
When a store is closing, Lower Management employees and Cast Members are notified two to four weeks before it is shuttered. Some full time Cast Members receive a severance package determined by how many years they served the company. About 6,000 Cast Members were employed by Disney Store, and our hearts go out to each and every one of them. (We are basing this information on what a now closed Disney Store Manager explained to us, if you are/were a Disney Store employee and your experience was different, we’d love to hear from you.)
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And Now It’s Time To Say Goodbye
MiceChat’s own Trevor Perez paid a visit to his local Disney Store before it closed forever. The location in Mission Viejo, CA, is now only a memory.
What to Expect at a Closing Disney Store
There are several signs around the store, including one at the entrance, making sure that visitors know that this location will be permanently closing. In addition to general information about the closure, there are also signs and placards indicating that there is a liquidation sale, which includes a 30% discount storewide.
In addition to the liquidation sale, there is an in-store promotion. If you sign up for the online shopDisney store, you will receive a $10 off coupon that must be redeemed that day at checkout.
Disney Store Magic By Design
There have been many iterations of Disney Store design over the years. The most frequently found style was called “Imagination Park,” and was first rolled out in 2010. Former Apple CEO and Disney board member, Steve Jobs, helped design the stores, which brought a modern twist and a technical flair to the Disney pixie dust.
The retail chain has gone through several different looks before landing on the one in the photos above.
You might remember that for a dark period in the early 2000s, Disney sold the Disney Stores to the Children’s Place. The stores became basic, with increasingly fewer Disney touches. Eventually, Disney decided to buy the stores back and began closing ugly stores and building the new designs.
But the style that many of you fondly remember is the original, a whimsical Disney oasis that I vividly remember from my childhood visits to the mall. With giant cinema reels lining the top of the walls and large Disney statues scattered about, it had a feel similar to the original World of Disney design.
Here’s the very first Disney Store from 1987 in Glendale, Ca.
And remember those Mouseketeer-esque sweater costumes?
Recently, Disney had been tinkering with new prototype Store designs to eventually replace the Imagination Park stores. The most recent prototype is called Project 30, with just two stores of this design located in California: Century City and Northridge.
Sadly, we don’t expect any of the traditional Disney Stores to survive.
Disney has recently partnered with Target to add mini Disney Stores inside the discount retailer. Not exactly a magical replacement for the mall stores, but at least it’s something. Target is ramping up to add at least 100 more mini Disney shops nationwide by the 2021 holiday season.
It’s important to note that Disney does still operate hundreds of stores in its theme parks and World of Disney stores at their resorts as well. So, if you need that Disney shopping fix, you can visit the parks, shop online, or visit a Target store with a mini-Disney store.
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Let’s Hear from You
How do you feel about the loss of Disney Stores? Would you rather shop online or in person? Do you have a favorite era of Disney Stores? And what do you think of the new Target Disney shops? Let us know your Disney Store thoughts & wishes in the comments below.
An original version of this article ran on March 13, 2021. It has been updated to reflect the closure of most stores and the expansion of Target mini-Disney stores.
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