Originally Posted By MsLindanne I've read that the discount stores that I have been going to for so many years are going out of business. I am so sad to hear about this!! Does anyone know why? And what is going to happen to all of the future merchandise that doesn't sell at the parks,and normally it would go to these asset mgmt. stores?? Will they still do the online version? So many questions.....thanks everyone!!!
Originally Posted By LVdisneyfan The Vegas store once had great merchandise. I bought letterboxes, a 50th disneyland anniversary for $65.00, etc...But the company switched to the Character Depot. At that point the quality and the special items became few and far between. In the last year, the merchandise became something you would find at an indoor swap meet. The Fullerton store, I bought a set of 50th anniversary lithographs for $50.00. (I finally got the last of them framed, and they look beautiful.) I think what happened and am only hypothesizing is that now that there is no longer a slow time of year at Disneyland, DL no long shipped some of the nicer items, so to keep merchandise the company had no choice and become the "Character Depot." In Vegas, there are three Disney stores in which Disneyland can still ship items to. The one store at the outdoor mall, actually has a segment of the store for Disneyland merchandise. It is still upsetting however to see any store that carries Disney merchandise go out of business.
Originally Posted By LVdisneyfan Forgot to say it was a leather jacket, that retailed for close to $300.00
Originally Posted By MsLindanne Well, that explains why the name change to character depot. I haven't been to the store in Vegas or Fullerton in several yrs, but always went when I was in town. Now, I am in Texas and there is a store that sells Disney items, but it is about 2 hrs from where I live. We also have the classic Disney Store in a mall that is closer but they seem to have nothing but childrens clothes.. I am really going to miss these stores, but like anything, times change and I guess we need to change with them. Sounds like you've gotten some great finds. So have I like the lady in red from the Pirate of the Carribean ride....she is a rare find and something I treasure. Thanks for the info!!
Originally Posted By LVdisneyfan The Disney Outlet stores (Character Depot) really had it's heyday around '05-07' The place was a treasure trove of great Disneyland merchandise.
Originally Posted By hopemax Wow. Interesting. I too wonder what DL will do with its clearance merchandise now. They can't sell it all through Company D. WDW runs their own discount stores, so I guess DL could too.
Originally Posted By leemac <<I too wonder what DL will do with its clearance merchandise now.>> The Disney Store Outlets have been shifting WDW and DL merchandise for a while now. Last month I saw rack after rack of DL clothing in the one in Paramus, NJ. No idea why there wasn't the same volume of WDW stuff. I presume AMS still operate the three Character Depots - they presumably can't make them pay if they are pulling out.
Originally Posted By schnebs A decent amount of DL stuff also shows up at the Disney Store Outlet in Camarillo (about 1 1/2 - 2 hours up from the Park on U.S. 101). I wouldn't make a trip up here just to shop the Outlet, but if you're in the neighborhood anyway... Leemac, my guess would be that since WDW has a couple of outlet stores in Orlando, they don't have as much need to dispose of surplus WDW merch at the Disney Store Outlets, where DL has no other way of getting rid of their stuff since the contract with AMS ended.
Originally Posted By basil fan Now if only there was stuff like that on my coast. *sigh* Star Wars Glitches <a href="http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/glitch/swglitch.html" target="_blank">http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/...tch.html</a>
Originally Posted By MsLindanne We've been to a discount Disney store near WDW and it was great. It was in an outlet mall too so we will hit it when were in town in September. Thanks for all the responses everyone! I guess if you want some deals, y'all need to go to Florida. I am in Texas but there is a discount store in an outlet mall here too but several hours away. Heck, I am a gultten for a good deal! ha..ha..
Originally Posted By leemac <<Leemac, my guess would be that since WDW has a couple of outlet stores in Orlando, they don't have as much need to dispose of surplus WDW merch at the Disney Store Outlets, where DL has no other way of getting rid of their stuff since the contract with AMS ended.>> WDW Co. has definitely sold excess merch to Disney Store Outlets in the past - but most of it seems to be the dated stuff. I guess it just depends on what they are left with. The WDW outlets have only ever handled a minority of discounted merchandise - the majority is still shifted through CM sales and destroyed. A lot is still destroyed.
