I know that many of us who play VMK are not able to go to WDW or Disneyland. I live about 12 hours away from WDW, so I’m not really able to go there to do quests or do in-park things. However, at my local Mall we have a store called The Disney Store, where they sell all sorts of Disney propaganda. Wouldn't it be cool if you could go to one of these stores and buy cards for vmk items? Tell what you think! :Tongue:

i have a place called the disney store in the mall close by that would be great

Nice as it does sound...I do not think that will happen. The Disney Store is owned by "The Children's Place". They still do keep the "Disney" name of the store though. :)

There isn't much incentive for "The Disney Store" to do anything with VMK. As noted, they're not really part of Disney anymore (and it shows!) and only have the smallest of promotions for Disney theme parks. The Childrens Place wouldn't benefit much from doing any cross promotion, so they would be unlikely to do anything.

i have never seen a disney store in real life.. must be because disney hates canada :(

i live about 45 minutes away from WDW so i can go to there stores plus buy codes and they are so cool!

Well i would think it would be pointless no offense but when u go too Disney your not paying for codes you earn them although u pay for the admission to the park your still having fun there its like VMK is just a pit stop. Besides I wouldnt want to pay for virtual items I think that is pretty odd.

There isn't much incentive for "The Disney Store" to do anything with VMK. As noted, they're not really part of Disney anymore (and it shows!) and only have the smallest of promotions for Disney theme parks. The Childrens Place wouldn't benefit much from doing any cross promotion, so they would be unlikely to do anything.

The incentive is in Disney's favor. They are called the Disney Store after all, and it is the best public outlet for Disney to consider if they want to reach a broader audience of fans. So, althought it may not make much difference to The Children's Place, the idea of the game is to hype theme parks and vacations (both now and in the future) for Disney Company.

Rather than sell cards, they should be promotional items with a purhase. The more you buy the better the cards (or the more you get) for example.

I am personally finding the items in the stores now to be much better for the price then what it was about a year back when Disney tried to sell cheaper items.

The incentive is in Disney's favor. They are called the Disney Store after all, and it is the best public outlet for Disney to consider if they want to reach a broader audience of fans.

Note that I didn't ask what the incentive was for Disney, I asked what the incentive was for "The Disney Store". There is a difference.

In order for Disney to get something into the Disney Store nowadays, it has to sell the idea and product to Childrens Place. Disney can't dictate anything about the stores anymore since they don't own them. (Well, ok, they can probably dictate that only their authorized stuff can be sold there, but they can't force the store to sell something is my understanding.)


So, althought it may not make much difference to The Children's Place, the idea of the game is to hype theme parks and vacations (both now and in the future) for Disney Company.

So, I'll repeat the question - why would The Children's Place want to participate in this? What incentive do they have? Especially when they are cutting costs in their stores by eliminating a lot of what used to make the Disney Store so unique. If they have no inherient incentive (or don't see one), what would it take (ie - how much money) for Disney to convince them to do so, and why would Disney do that?


I am personally finding the items in the stores now to be much better for the price then what it was about a year back when Disney tried to sell cheaper items.

Sadly, that has not been my experience. There is very little for adults there now (no surprise, given the current owners, but also definately showing my bias) and the quality of what they have has declined. Wheras the old Disney Store would carry the Widescreen version of DVDs which you could get as part of a DVD/litho combination, the new Disney Store only seems to sell Fullscreen, if they carry any at all. The pile of plushies is now smaller and less interesting than it used to be. The vacation information is limited to one poster hidden around the corner from the cashier. While two years ago it would not be unheard of for me to spend money in a Disney Store monthly, I do not think I have bought anything since then.

Most criminal about the sale, in my mind, is that it really doesn't serve as a promotion for Disney anymore. Upcoming movie previews aren't shown on the big screen. There is no mention of Disneyland's celebration anywhere in the store. There is a total lack of synergy everywhere, and that is quite a foolish thing from Disney's point of view.

Note that I didn't ask what the incentive was for Disney, I asked what the incentive was for "The Disney Store". There is a difference.

In order for Disney to get something into the Disney Store nowadays, it has to sell the idea and product to Childrens Place. Disney can't dictate anything about the stores anymore since they don't own them. (Well, ok, they can probably dictate that only their authorized stuff can be sold there, but they can't force the store to sell something is my understanding.)



So, I'll repeat the question - why would The Children's Place want to participate in this? What incentive do they have? Especially when they are cutting costs in their stores by eliminating a lot of what used to make the Disney Store so unique. If they have no inherient incentive (or don't see one), what would it take (ie - how much money) for Disney to convince them to do so, and why would Disney do that?



Sadly, that has not been my experience. There is very little for adults there now (no surprise, given the current owners, but also definately showing my bias) and the quality of what they have has declined. Wheras the old Disney Store would carry the Widescreen version of DVDs which you could get as part of a DVD/litho combination, the new Disney Store only seems to sell Fullscreen, if they carry any at all. The pile of plushies is now smaller and less interesting than it used to be. The vacation information is limited to one poster hidden around the corner from the cashier. While two years ago it would not be unheard of for me to spend money in a Disney Store monthly, I do not think I have bought anything since then.

Most criminal about the sale, in my mind, is that it really doesn't serve as a promotion for Disney anymore. Upcoming movie previews aren't shown on the big screen. There is no mention of Disneyland's celebration anywhere in the store. There is a total lack of synergy everywhere, and that is quite a foolish thing from Disney's point of view.

I'll just say wow and totally too much thought on the matter. lol

If Disney wanted the cards in the store it would be up to them to do so. Disney Store is the most logical choice. I don't think I was contradicting you as much as you were hoping. lol

On the store offerings... it seems our stores are quite different from yours. Lots of Adult Clothes again... finally. And we have widescreen DVD's. No celebration stuff, but we have tons of previews on the screens. One incentive for Disney Store would be increased sales. As I said... offering better or more options for the more you buy. There is no reason for them not to do this if Disney wanted to and was backing it. Seems to be their target audience anyway.

i have never seen a disney store in real life.. must be because disney hates canada :(

disney does not hate canada there was a disney store in calgary alberta b4.. i don't know if its still there tho :mickey2: :goofy: :mickeymo: :minniemo: :wave2:

it is too bad about the disney store's downfall. at one time it was a great store. i would be nice if they sold some VMk items, but iam not hoding my breath. :goofy:

Wow, it has been so many years since I've purchased something at a Disney Store. They used to be so awesome, a true extension of Disney magic. They have been slowly declining over the past few years, but they have finally reached an all time low. I think I would have just about the same shopping experience there now as I would if I went to the Gymboree store next door. :Tongue:

If VMK would have been around during the glory days of The Disney Store, the virtual prize card thing probably would have been great. But as TDS is now I don't see the point.

I think thats a great idea, i live in new york, and its about a days worth of driving, luckily i have family here in florida, so i come to orlando often. but for those times that i cant make it out here, and for those who live far as well, i think its a great way for all of us to still have the same advantages, the disney store being our source. We should really work on this, maybe it could actually happen.

since the purpose of this game is obviously to promote Disneyland, I believe you will nrver find vmk things in a disney store. They want people to have to make the trip to a disney park to get then. if you notice they are also promoting Tuuntown online which , while it is a great game, does cost to play. it's all about the money in the long run.

i live in new york

If this were to happen anywhere, it would happen in the World of Disney store in New York City. Why? Because this is the one store in the US that is owned by Disney itself, in fact it is operated by the same division that runs DL and WDW.

Personally, I continue to think it is a shame that VMK is very narrowly targeting the parks and not more broadly promoting a wider range of things that Disney offers (their musicals, Radio Disney, new movies, etc). Not that this would help get anything into The Disney Store since that isn't a Disney property anymore.

Some people have a narrow scope on marketing. The Disney Stores, not being owned by Disney is where you want to be. Kellogg's is not owned by Disney and they are promoting VMK all kinds of ways. It is to Disney Stores advantage to offer VMK items. Not the items you can get at the parks, but smaller things based on what and/or how much you buy... even if it's just a 500 credit card. It is to Disney's advantage to get VMK in their stores to promote the game and the parks more and make people aware of the game.

Granted, World of Disney is a good choice, and easy one. But to say Disney should not go to Disney Store because Disney does not own them makes no sense... they have Disney in the title, what better place to promote Disney than in a Disney exclusive store.

If you can explain reasons why it would hurt Disney or The Children's place to work mutually on this I may understand better. Far as I can see, it can only help each.

The Disney Store is still, regardless of who owns it, a great place to buy Disney items WAY cheaper than at WDW and DL. Before our trip in April we bought t-shirts and fans for our kids for about 1/2 the cost of what they were at WDW.

I think selling VMK items defeats the whole purpose of VMK. Having a promotion (giving away code cards with purchase) to promote VMK would work, but again would be up to The Children's Place as they apparently own the stores.

Last week I went to the mall and we went to the Disney store. We asked them if they had anything of ' virtual magic kingdom. ' The lady knew what we were talking about, but she said they didn't have it. She also said I think it might come out, not sure...

Some people have a narrow scope on marketing.

Meaning me? {:

I actually like to think I have a pretty broad scope of marketing. From a marketing perspective, creating The Disney Stores was about the only good thing Paul Pressler ever did for Disney, and selling them was one of the more foolish things Disney has done.

From a marketing perspective, again, Disney has an amazing ammount of internal power - which it has marshaled since very early on. (Remember - Disneyland, the tv show, served the dual purpose to fund Disneyland the park, as well as promote it. An hour long commercial every week!) I think this has waned recently as the different divisions don't really understand how to work with each other, and there is no central authority that can correctly coordinate them. But I digress.


The Disney Stores, not being owned by Disney is where you want to be.
Kellogg's is not owned by Disney and they are promoting VMK all kinds of ways.


Not necessarily. You want to be where people already are.

Kelloggs is in peoples faces - on their kitchen tables at breakfast, at eye level in every supermarket in the country. Disney and Kelloggs have a long-term partnership that benefits both sides: Disney gets the eye-level exposure. Kelloggs leverages Disney's name to get people to ask for Disney themed toys. With the VMK/Funtown promotion, both sides get the other side's playes to join their own game, and hopefully keep the brand name in their face some more.

The Disney Store is in a bunch of malls. If you want to target where people are, you need to get your promotion in Target or Wallmart. This is part of why Disney sold the stores in the first place - they wanted to be able to sell more to stores like Target.


It is to Disney Stores advantage to offer VMK items. Not the items you can get at the parks, but smaller things based on what and/or how much you buy... even if it's just a 500 credit card.


This is not inheriently obvious to me. I do kinda see what you're getting at, but it isn't clear why the lure of a VMK promotion would drive enough traffic to a Disney Store for them to want to participate. As far as I know, The Children's Place does not run any promotions like the stores did when they were run by Disney.

So, why does Disney think that the lure of the quest items would draw people to Disneyland? They are playing for the long-term. The coupons expire in 2006 - after the current celebrations are over. VMK is not a short term promotion - it is meant to build players over time who will get their families to plan for a vacation. Just like Disneyland, the tv show, did 50 years ago. The Children's Place does not have such lofty goals - they have to get people into the store over and over again as quickly as possible.


It is to Disney's advantage to get VMK in their stores to promote the game and the parks more and make people aware of the game.


It would be nice if they promoted the parks more than they did in The Disney Store to begin with. {:

While it is to Disney's advantage in this case, yes, I would think it would be even more to their advantage to do the VMK promotions in several of the forums they currently own: Disney Channel and Radio Disney being the two most obvious ones to me. I don't think Disney would want to spend much money on this front, and since I don't think it is in The Children's Place advantage to do this, really, I think Disney would have to pay them to do it.


But to say Disney should not go to Disney Store because Disney does not own them makes no sense... they have Disney in the title, what better place to promote Disney than in a Disney exclusive store.


In Target! Far more traffic to Target than to a Disney Store.

And I don't say that they "should not", just that I don't think the advantages are high enough for The Children's Place for them to do it, and not powerfull enough for Disney to pay them to do it.


If you can explain reasons why it would hurt Disney or The Children's place to work mutually on this I may understand better. Far as I can see, it can only help each.

And I just don't see how it would help The Children's Place.