Originally Posted By MPierce They are going to announce Imagination Park. A whole new way to shop Disney.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 ^^You're bad!!! If all the rooms they have on property were full at the same time, and everybody went to a park, how full would the parks be? Assuming 2.5 people per room.
Originally Posted By danyoung According to wikipedia - "As of April 2008 Disney owns & operates 25,126 rooms in the Walt Disney World Resorts." So multiply that times 2.5 and you get 62815. Divide by 4 and you have 15,703 in each park.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> They are going to announce Imagination Park. A whole new way to shop Disney. << >> ^^You're bad!!! << I wasn't kidding. <a href="http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hilll/archive/2009/06/24/disney-s-imagination-park-the-maleficent-movie-it-s-time-to-shine-a-spotlight-on-disney-s-newest-domain-names.aspx" target="_blank">http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/...mes.aspx</a> <a href="http://www.mouseinfo.com/forums/showthread.php?s=0f468e01085e4b45b0c0ae6511ef10d1&p=17322624#post17322624" target="_blank">http://www.mouseinfo.com/forum...17322624</a> <a href="http://www.domainnameforumz.com/showthread.php?s=beb945654b63344229f6b3f8e51d1cfa&p=10483#post10483" target="_blank">http://www.domainnameforumz.co...ost10483</a> <a href="http://www.photosmagiques.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=7282" target="_blank">http://www.photosmagiques.com/...0&t=7282</a>
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad While it is sort of a letdown, the Disney Stores really do need an overhaul. Their merchandise selection is very poor. Hopefully they will diversify the merchandise for the stores which will result in more original and innovative and unique items not only in the stores but in the parks.
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 I work at a Disney Store and have not heard anything like this. But then again we do tend to get the info last minute. If this is true ,I do hope it woks out we do need a overhaul.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad The stores are a real missed opportunity in my opinion. They are really not for anyone over 5 at present. At Halloween they should have every costume their is for Disney characters. The costumes never change so they can sell them year after year. A wide assortment of snow globes would be nice. High quality Barbie type dolls (the ones now look like what used to be available at the dollar store), Picture Frames, Lanyard pins, All their movies on DVD, Antenna toppers, Figurines and anything else that people might use daily. Maybe with all these stores they can bring back some of the unique merchandise that has been removed from the parks.
Originally Posted By dshyates OK, here is my prediction. Disney is going to announce that Legoland is coming to The WDW Resort. Yep, I believe the 5th gate will actually be Legoland.
Originally Posted By sjhym33 I think the Disney Store suffered from overexposure. When it went from being in a few malls to every mall it became just another store. When sales started to drop someone decided that the stores needed an overhaul and really dumbed down the place. They also filled it with kids stuff. Great if you have kids (though Walmart and K-mart sells Disney kids stuff cheaper) but my kids are all grown. It gave me no reason to even stop in. What a shame. I always liked the Disney Stores
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I think the Disney Store suffered from overexposure>> IMO, I think a good argument could be made that Disney milked the cash cow while they could, and got out when the novelty of themed entertainment retail stores had worn out. Sales didn't drop from overexposure per se, but because most people had moved away from wanting to buy Disney and other such themed merchandise. Also, the stores were heavily tied to studio production. The Disney Store's rise and fall mirrored feature animation's rise and fall. I believe Disney's current plan is to keep the new Disney Store limited, They'll likely do much of what fans want more of, but only in key markets.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I loved the Disney Stores when they began. We had one of the first ever right near me (Plantation, FLA). It was the original design. It was tiny by today's standards. It was dark. It had CMs wearing those sweaters. It also was the kind of place I could spend an hour in and walk out with hundreds of dollars on my Am Ex Gold card. It was special. It felt like an extension of the theme parks. It had cheap items, moderate items and very expensive items. It had everything from tees and plush to books and CDs and videos and watches and collectables. They were so clean. Sales were non-existent with the exception of a clearance rack/shelf every now and then. But that was the 1980s. And early 1990s. Disney Stores overexpanded and became glorified junk stores. They were often filthy. The merchandise became stuff only for the stroller brigade. I lost interest. Disney clearly did too. They dumped them on CP. Then bought them back for a fraction of what they wold they for. Now? Who knows? I'd love to see them become special again. But I also fear they're just planning on adding Jon-Benet and West Hollywood Captain Jack Boutiques as well as regular character meet, greet and gropes. That's ain't gonna fly in this economy. I don't care what the consultants have told them.
Originally Posted By MPierce From what I've gathered (remember this is all rumor), you are partially right Spirit. They are suppose to also have a wide selection of Disney merchandise including high end items. They will also have Character Meet, and Greets at the store. If they do it on a limited bases, and in the right markets, I think it will be a hit. Just remember Disney, this is a Redneck predicting your success.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 the 'need' for a 5th gate is debatable0 and should never happen before refreshs of the ones open now - especially MK & DHS.....however there may be a need one day.. Am I alone or is anyone else watching the opening date for the Harry Potter land in Uni ? I have allowed 2 extra days for our trip next year for that purpose - and I have not been to Uni in about 8 years....
Originally Posted By MPierce >> the 'need' for a 5th gate is debatable0 and should never happen before refreshs of the ones open now - especially MK & DHS.....however there may be a need one day.. << I agree VBDAD. They very much need to get their act together with what already exist. Park capacity has been diminshed at the MK, and the Studios seem to be suffering from an identiy crisis, while the DAK needs night time entertainment. Epcot really needs some cohesion at innoventions, and more Streetmosphere around WS. The key to WDW is making all the Parks equally attractive to spread out the crowds. You can only accomplish that with quality attractions, and increased hours. Give the folks a show which ever Park they choose.
Originally Posted By MPierce They already know all of that Bobbelee. Those folks are much smarter than I am or will ever be. They just don't have the desire to commit the money to a big old fat money making cow like WDW is. They have been gradually sucking the soul out of the entire resort because of that attitude.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 But, but maybe if they realize enough of the guests notice what's going on... they may make some changes for the good?? That's always my hope.
