Parks and Resorts- The Transformation of the store inside the park

Topic #1- Distinctive Stores

Remember when the stores inside the park were all different and sold different merchandise? What happened to that idea? Why do they all sell the same stuff now?

Don't get me wrong, every store should have the basics (camera, poncho, etc), but beyond the basics, each store should not only be themed differently, but stocked differently. Lately, each store has become less visually stunning, distinct, and fun. They all stock the same items (with a few exceptions) and have become all the more "vanilla". Though this helps control inventory and accessibility to items, there is something to be said for a particular store having particular items. Disney needs to return to this idea that the store should have the according items as the land calls for. Here are some examples where Disney does this perfectly

- The Heritage House in Liberty Square is distinct and sells colonial and Presidential history merchandise. The setting is appropriate and the items are unique to this store.

- Remember a villains store in Fantasyland at Disneyland? That store was distinct, sold only villains merchandise, and had an exciting flavor.

- The Art of Disney store at EPCOT.

- The Christmas stores in several parks.

Unfortunately, many of the recent stores are becoming more homogenous in their look and inventory. Main Street shops, and especially The Emporium, are meant to be the stores that sell everything the guest may have missed. Stores in each separate land SHOULD NOT sell all the same merchandise because that ruins the flavor of that particular store. Each store should feel like its own attraction of sorts that helps to tell a story. I should not see the same Mickey Mouse T-shirt in Frontierland that I do in Tomorrowland...something is wrong here.

Topic #2- The greatest marketing ever created

Want to know the best marketing technique ever created by man? It's the store at the end of the attraction, where the guest cannot help but walk through the shop after stepping off the attraction, and almost feels compelled to purchase a memento to memorialize the experience of the attraction. The shop is no longer a store, but is AN EXTENSION OF THE ATTRACTION, now what better marketing technique is there than that? If you're a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean, wouldn't you like to buy a memento from the official pirates store? And it is the official store because it is connected to the attraction. THIS IS BRILLIANT. These stores are in a much better position to sell merchandise than stand alone stores.

Additionally, with all the upgrading and re-designing going on at the Haunted Mansion, I am confused why Disney has not created a specific Haunted Mansion store. The detached cart simply doesn't cut it and needs to be discarded for a proper connected attraction shopping experience. ALL ICONIC RIDES SHOULD HAVE THEIR OWN ATTRACTION SHOP WITH DISTINCT MERCHANDISE FOR THE ATTRACTION. So, the Haunted Mansion shop should have the LARGEST AND BEST SELECTION for Haunted Mansion merchandise. The Emporium should not have better Haunted Mansion merchandise, but should have a sufficient amount as a "catch all", in the same way that the hotel gift shop and the airport should all have some sort of merchandise.

The store can help sell the attraction and make it iconic by making it fun. They need more good stores. Guests should have favorite stores they like to shop in because the merchandise is unique and fun, reflecting their personality and interests. Every fan walking around the park should ideally be wearing merchandise of their favorite attractions that they got after riding that attraction. That is also brilliant marketing.