Disney and Havaianas announce strategic alliance and will open dedicated flip-flop stores inside Disney theme parks

invaderAug 15, 2015

They actually don't. Luxottica owns Sunglasses Hut and is the manufacturer of all of sunglasses sold in their stores. Any type of sunglasses you buy are most likely made by the same company, Luxottica, which makes RayBans, Oakleys, Prada, Versace, the list goes on... They really are an Italian brand with only one of twelve manufacturing facilities in China. Look up the 60 Minutes segment on the company, very scary stuff... perfect example of the illusion of choice

JohnAug 15, 2015

I have no problem with any company selling merch on Disney property. But there should be a line drawn. Disney is allowing companies to partner themselves with Disney. All to the highest bidder. It just so happens that places like Sunglass Hut and Haviana's has the most money. IMO Disney is cheapening their "brand" by doing so. Sunglass hut doesn't make sunglasses...the Chinese do. Same with the flip flops. Put any store you want in DTD.....put up a parking lot....I don't care......ooooppps they did. But in the parks? I don't like Starbucks there and I don't like any of these other companies there. I get that companies have sold merch in the parks forever. But not like this....its an invasion thematically. Some people don't care...others do. So now its a fight between the dusters and the gloomers.....it never ends. Somehow I don't see a Starbucks or a Sunglass hut in what I think of as the "Most Magical place on earth" . Why do you think they put McDonalds out there in no mans land? Is that any different then this flip flop place? Oh they sell upscale Chinese flip flops....I get it now. What you say? Someone might need a pair of high quality flip flops while they are in the parks? What did they do before? Is there a rash of bare footed guest running around? Same with Sunglass hut.....what did we do all these years with out Sunglass hut? Don't even get me started with the bakery, one of the last bastions of Disney uniqueness. It went by the way of the antique store.....and Sids in its hey day or Starabilia. If anyone reading this doesn't remember these places......might not get it....WDW did fine with out these places....just don't see the over whelming need for them now.....I know I know.....Disney is a Business.

Disneyhead'71Aug 15, 2015

All I can say is, "Thank God!" The one thing that we have a severe shortage of here in Florida is places to buy flip flops.

draybookAug 15, 2015

But does it have a Disney store? Mine does.

bhg469Aug 15, 2015

Really? Id go straight to the sandals that wrap around your whole foot.

Tom P.Aug 13, 2015

My local shopping mall doesn't have Space Mountain. Or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Or Soarin'. Or Kilimanjaro Safaris. Or.... well, you get the idea. Disney sells stuff in its parks. Always has, always will. And Disney changes stuff, including the branding of their storefronts. Always have, always will. But Disney becoming a glorified shopping mall? Give me a break.

DocMcHulkAug 13, 2015

If I were supreme ruler of the universe, I would ban flip-flops from existence.

draybookAug 13, 2015

Take that, Universal!!

DisneyGentlemanAug 13, 2015

We have interpreted this all wrong... ... the flip-flops are for attraction planners.

Disneyhead'71Aug 12, 2015

Main Street......Jurassic World! Check out the list of vendors. And these aren't fake shops for the movie. They built actual retail shops and dining for the cast and crew. http://jurassicpark.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Street

bhg469Aug 12, 2015

This is sub mall, this is airport terminal shopping.

DisneyOutsiderAug 12, 2015

I understand. You will imagine the worst-case scenario, and possibly even expect that scenario, when it comes to park changes/announcements. Bad things have happened (or rather some things have had a dramatic lack of happening), and your reaction draws off of that. However, just because I don't think in the same manner doesn't mean I'm doing so blindly. I don't wish to over-analyze an announcement that is not very detailed, but I don't think you should mourn the demise of Main Street just yet. Though I would also prefer to have the bakery back, at the very least Starbucks, a coffee shop, is a thematic fit for Main Street and (imo) was tastefully done. If they did want to install a stand-alone storefront for these, it will not be on Main Street. Maybe Adventureland, but I don't think that's what they have planned.

note2001Aug 12, 2015

Note that Disney did not specifically exclude the possibility of developing dedicated stores within the four WDW theme parks either. Not taking what is announced at face value comes from historical announcements they've made in the past such as the addition of Starbucks brand coffee to the parks (hip hip hooray), but was then followed by Disney ripping apart the much loved Main Street Bakery location and removing other options (such as a relaxing place to enjoy main street in the morning) all for that beverage to be served up. The blind trust in announcement wording has disappeared for some of us and we question what the outcome may really be. It's not a bad thing to analyze announcements and question what may be written between the lines. However, I can understand how others feel we're spewing negative energy into a simple announcement. Which is not the intent. :)

DisneyOutsiderAug 12, 2015

The scope of this announcement's impact at WDW is new flip flop stores in the water parks.. and basically nothing else.. unless it just absolutely irks you that they will continue to sell flip flops in the Orlando parks or you are some sort of flip-flops aficionado who is not a fan of the brand. The announcement specifically mentions DCA as a future destination, so I imagine that the exclusion of any other WDW parks means that they only be added to the product line within existing stores at the four WDW gates, at least that is the implication by the way they have worded it.