Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>WoD resembles a Circuit City these days ... and people still are mostly looking, not buying.<<< Well it doesn't help that most of the merchandise is poor quality and of little interest too.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt <<I have seen many ducks, yes (as well many other critters on the drive up, including more gators than I think I have ever seen along the FLA Turnpike>> There's the answer!! The gators are eating the ducks!!
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 <<There's the answer!! The gators are eating the ducks!!>> Is that because of less tourists around to eat?
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I have seen many ducks, yes (as well many other critters on the drive up, including more gators than I think I have ever seen along the FLA Turnpike) << I'm talking about in the Parks. Not the road kill you saw on your drive there.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Someone, (Carribean Queen) was lurking here earlier, and she called to ask me why you're so interested in the ducks.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Well it doesn't help that most of the merchandise is poor quality and of little interest too.>> Retail is a disaster. Some things I liked ... it was nice to see Nemo and Buzz along with Mickey and the gang on the 2009 logo merchandise instead of Stitch. It also was nice to see the ORIGINAL/CLASSIC WDW logo on all the 2009 MK merchandise instead of the overused Walt Disney signature that the company began slapping on everything a decade ago. It was nice to see Prez Obama's book being sold in Liberty Square (even if much of the Disney base think Rush Limbaugh is what America should be about). It was nice to see some western items at Big Al's, even if you had to push past princess crap to find them. And World Showcase is still largely filled with quality merchandise from the countries represented. I was even pleasantly surprised to see the Tower shop actually sold 80% ToT merchandise (no Pirates crap anymore) and had it's NBC stuff off in a corner. But beyond that ... Yeah ... crap all over. Stuff where it doesn't belong. Lines mixed. But what really bothers me most is how they allow things to be used in a place they shouldn't. The dragon mouse-eared symbol for HKDL has no business being sold as a pin, trading medal (whatever those are) or tees at WDW. I don't care if someone at merchandising thinks it's a kewl logo and might appeal to younger demos (mostly male, probably) ... it has no place. It would be like selling SSE pins or tees in Paris or Anaheim. But what do I know? I didn't buy a single thing. ~Pass the Pixie Dust~
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 But what Spirit said is a start in the right direction for WDW. May it continue and grow.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Someone, (Carribean Queen) was lurking here earlier, and she called to ask me why you're so interested in the ducks. << I love ducks. I would raise ducks if I could, but my wife won't let me. She saids she doesn't want anything around that she will get attached to. Kind of makes me wonder sometimes.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> It was nice to see Prez Obama's book being sold in Liberty Square (even if much of the Disney base think Rush Limbaugh is what America should be about). << Rush Limbaugh does have a following, and this is America where you can believe any philosphy you choose to. Even when it may differ from yours Spirit.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 >>I didn't buy a single thing.<< and that says alot yet look at the stuff for the HM 40th in DL....it's great. 999 Haunts always has great merchandise. DL's 50th had some very nice stuff I have in my house-- what it shows is that they are capacble of producing the kind of stuff you used to buy - and I do and lots of fans do.... but they're too lazy to put anything like this out except in small quantities for special events. It's not the creativity that's gone - it's marketing direction. They somehow believe 95% of the people who walk thru the gates are morons when it comes to quality merchandise - why ? It didn't used to be thatway. See I agree that finding quality items to bring home from trips rarely happens anymore- I don't even save for it any more ... however I am still buying Disney Merchandise - but I have to go through events to get it.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad I agree vbdad, the creativity is missing. There just isn't much in the stores now where you see it and say "this is different". It makes it so we don't buy anything immediately because we know the same merchandise will be at another store later if we want to buy. There is just not as much impulse shopping. The one place Disney saves me money and here I don't appreciate it. Ha Ha
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I love ducks. I would raise ducks if I could, but my wife won't let me. She saids she doesn't want anything around that she will get attached to. Kind of makes me wonder sometimes. >> It's at time like this I really wish we could get Mrs. Pierce to post. I truly wonder what she would say ... ~Pass the Pixie Dust~
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Rush Limbaugh does have a following, and this is America where you can believe any philosphy you choose to. Even when it may differ from yours Spirit.>> I don't care what political philosophy one chooses to believe. And I have never made mine public despite what some may believe. But Rush is simply a disgusting hateful pig, who would likely be in jail or at least unemployed for his drug offenses if not for the fact he has become the mouthpiece for far right wackos. I suppose when people talk about how anything is possible in the USA, Rush is a prime example of how you can have little intelligence, lousy people skills, break laws and still make tens of millions annually. I need a national talk show and then I'll come clean about my addiction to the dust. ~Pass the Pixie Dust~
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt <<I would raise ducks if I could, but my wife won't let me.>> My neighbors have ducks, you can eat the eggs! Some have blue shells, they are very pretty, it's almost a shame to crack 'em open!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >>I didn't buy a single thing.<< and that says alot <<yet look at the stuff for the HM 40th in DL....it's great. 999 Haunts always has great merchandise. DL's 50th had some very nice stuff I have in my house-- what it shows is that they are capacble of producing the kind of stuff you used to buy - and I do and lots of fans do.... but they're too lazy to put anything like this out except in small quantities for special events. It's not the creativity that's gone - it's marketing direction. They somehow believe 95% of the people who walk thru the gates are morons when it comes to quality merchandise - why ? It didn't used to be thatway. See I agree that finding quality items to bring home from trips rarely happens anymore- I don't even save for it any more ... however I am still buying Disney Merchandise - but I have to go through events to get it.>> I agree on all points. But, again, it isn't as if there isn't items I'd buy because there are. It's just I am at the point where I no longer want to give Disney very much of my money, especially in Orlando. They have done nothing to earn it. I bought some things on my last visit to DL (and will likely buy more when I am out there shortly). I also bought plenty last summer in Hong Kong. But I almost feel like I am supporting the status quo and rewarding it if I come home with a nice trinket ... and I think I'm very much like you in that if I buy something, it's likely to be something very nice and cost more than a whole bunch of tees and Miley Cyrus CDs (by the way, will someone teach her how to sing and act? ... oh yeah, doesn't matter). A few friends offered me their CM 50% merchandise discounts at the holidays ... and I thought about it, but decided against having them pick anything up. I really feel now, more than ever, Disney needs to earn my business. They've taken it for granted for far too long. ~Pass the Pixie Dust~
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I suppose when people talk about how anything is possible in the USA, Rush is a prime example of how you can have little intelligence, lousy people skills, break laws and still make tens of millions annually. << I merely find him boring. For a centrist you certainly have some very strong issues with him. How about Michael Moore, George Soros, and the countless other left wing nuts that use their money to drive their agenda. Remember, you have to be fair, and go after them too. You can't be a centrist unless you see the evil, and speak out about it no matter from which side of the aisle it comes.
