OPINION: Why Disney Should Reopen Physical Disney Stores

With the news of a new physical Disney Store opening in London - "for the first time in forever" - comes the plea from fans to reopen Disney Stores across the UK.

What Happened To The Disney Stores?

The Disney Store was present in a lot of towns and cities across the UK. Where my local Disney Store was located is now a Costa Coffee, how depressing is that? In 2017, the Disney Store brand was replaced with "shopDisney", which further cemented the company's focus on its online Disney Store, which raised alarm bells about the future of the physical Disney Stores at the time.

Soon after the COVID pandemic Disney Stores around the UK began to shut down at an increasing rate. Disney CEO (at the time) Bob Chapek said on an earnings call that Disney intended to remove some physical store locations in the US and Canada, but did not specifically call out the UK; however, it was clear it was happening over here as well. Local papers were reporting the closure of their local stores across the country as they were shuttered one at a time.

At the time, a spokesperson for Marlands Shopping released the following statement.

One of the longest-serving stores in the centre, we understand this closure is part of the planned review by Disney of the number of their physical stores across Europe, following a similar review in North America, acknowledging the shift in their shopper behaviour for certain types of purchases to their online platforms.

Why Did The Disney Store Fail?

I'm not sure they did fail, and while we won't know the store's individual sales and whether they were profitable, foot traffic was undoubtedly down as it is on the high streets in general. However, like with the removal of Disney's Magical Express at Walt Disney World, the impact, in my opinion, goes far beyond the cost of running that individual service.

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The New Physical UK Disney Store

In 2024 shopDisney rebranded back to "Disney Store", which got people excited again for the possibility of new stores. Although at the time, Disney said, "We currently do not have plans to open any further dedicated Disney Stores." However, something must have changed. Enter 2025, we have a new physical store (albeit a pop-up one) at Westfield, London. While we're not sure why they're testing a new store in London - which is only a couple of Tube stops away from the current London Disney Store - remains unclear, but perhaps it's because it's simply easier testing a location that's near to their London HQ.

People Want Disney Stores To Return

After sharing the news (which got a lot of traction) of the new Westfield store, people have come out and said how much they loved and miss their Disney Store. Whether the crowds of people who want them return is enough to sustain the stores is unclear, but we've had more people than I realised say they refuse to buy on the online store because it's such a "soulless experience" (although there's still magical touches when shopping online). Disney came out and said when closing the stores that it was (at least partially due) to shopper behaviour changing and moving online, and that well could be true for your average Disney fan, it's unknown how many of us hardcore fans there are that enjoyed the physical Disney Store experience compared to the casual consumer - It's hard to really tell what the reality is. Here's just a tiny selection of the feedback we've received on this news:

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"Wish they'd open one in Manchester. I miss my Disney store fix."
"Could have at least brought us one up north and put in Metrocentre for us Northerners when London already had the only one in England.I myself kept Disney in business all the stuff I've bought off them over the years."
"Please open more stores, I miss my store ðŸ˜ž"
"Since Disney went online only I have never bought anything from them."
"They should never have shut all the stores in the first place â€¦.!! My daughter worked at the Manchester store and loved every minute of it - she was devastated when it closed. She'd go back in a heartbeat."
"Manchester or Leeds or even further north would have made more sense. I used to shop all the time in my local Disney store but only managed to get to the London one once since ours closed. I haveno been buying online either because I like to see what I'm buying if spending Disney prices ( pattern placement on loungfly etc) such a shame."
"I used to love popping into the Disney Store! It is good that they are bringing one store back temporarily, but browsing in a local store was such fun! Please bring back permanent local Disney Stores! I miss our one so much!"
"I miss my store so much. I think my expenditure has reduced by about 97% since it closed. I can't be bothered with the website and just lived going to look."
"I wish they bring the stores back I loved the one by me. Feel the magic as you walked in and got a feel or stuff and look at things."
"I hardly buy anything from Disney anymore, when there was a physical shop I brought loads. I miss the shop. "
" I do wish they brought more stores back permanently tho ðŸ™ it's not the same shopping online."
" My whole family often says I wish there was a local Disney store , again as children love going in on a Saturday to spend there pocket money, definitely need to bring back the Disney stores. "
" They took the magic away by getting rid of the stores. I get no personal experience or joy by looking online, in fact I NEVER look online at all now."

Why Disney Stores Should Return

I think it would be great for Disney to scatter a few Disney Stores around the country - although not to the volume it was before. Most High streets aren't viable anymore with falling foot traffic and high costs, but shopping centres - like the new Westfield store - can be a good place for them, in my opinion. I get that running physical stores is tough and expensive, especially when it comes to promotions like free keys with purchases. If a store runs out, it's not really fair on the other customers. That sort of thing is easier to manage online, but Disney is full of smart people who I'm sure can figure something out.

What Disney are excellent at, is synergy - and a part of that is being "left on the table" as it were, without a physical Disney presence throughout the UK. Even if we for a moment completely ignore the individual store costs and how much money it makes, the effect that missing Disney Stores has is that people forget how Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris and Disney Cruise Line feels. I remember my trip to Walt Disney World last month and remember how good it felt, but you can't recreate how you felt until you're back there again. Disney Stores give people that little twinkle and reminder of that feeling. Having that physical experience while out shopping gives people the slight nudge to be like "Hey, my favourite husband, I think we should go to Florida next year..." While here at Mickey From The UK we do our part to share and remind you of the magic, a physical presence across the UK would only enhance that.

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The stores did (and do) give people a taste of the parks, and that's something that doesn't appear to be taken into account when crunching the numbers to run the stores - it may not have appeared in the cost-benefit-analysis. Open some more Disney Stores and make them a reminder to people how much they miss being at the parks and create a unique store experience to get draw people to them. I think the LEGO stores that have popped around the country do this quite well, with kids' play areas and more. Let the kids play while the adults look around and spend their wages on plushies while they dream of returning to Walt Disney World.

Until then, we have the new Disney Store in Westfield London to enjoy!

OPINION: Why Disney Should Reopen Physical Disney Stores

Why we think the Disney Stores should to add some magic to our hometowns.

What Happened To The Disney Stores?

Why Did The Disney Store Fail?

The New Physical UK Disney Store

People Want Disney Stores To Return

Why Disney Stores Should Return