Disney closes iconic store after 33 years | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

A beloved piece of Disney nostalgia is quietly disappearing, and a recent announcement has officially marked the end of an era.

The Disney Store first opened in 1987 in Glendale, California, quickly growing into a global retail chain selling Disney-themed merchandise.

For decades, these stores were staples of shopping malls and Disney Parks and Resorts worldwide. Their colorful décor, character statues, and walls filled with merchandise brought a small piece of Disney’s magic to fans everywhere.

While the concept proved successful and expanded rapidly, the retail business has undergone significant changes. This led The Walt Disney Company to close many of its Disney Store physical locations in recent years as part of a broader strategy to adapt to shifting consumer habits.

Disney began shuttering the stores in 2021, closing more than 200 U.S. locations to focus on e-commerce and reduce its brick-and-mortar footprint, according to The Wall Street Journal and Mice Chat. That same year, most stand-alone Disney Stores in Canada also closed, as reported by Global News.

The closures continued across international markets. In late 2024, 16 Disney Stores at Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts shut down, according to AllEars. By 2025, every Disney Store in Europe had closed except one, and now in 2026, that final location has met the same fate.

As of 2026, only 21 Disney Store locations remain open worldwide, according to the Disney Store locator.

Europe’s last Disney Store closes in Paris

The Walt Disney Company (DIS) permanently closed one of its last original Disney Store locations, at Disney Village in Disneyland Paris, on January 4, 2026, after 33 years. The closure was quietly revealed through the Disneyland Paris Resort app in November 2025, signaling the end of Disney’s classic retail presence in Europe.

While the closure is bittersweet for longtime fans, the move aligns with the company’s broader plan to modernize its retail offerings. The former Disney Store space will be transformed into a new shopping concept called “Disney Wonders,” set to open in summer 2026, according to DLP Report.

Disney closes its last European Disney Store in Disneyland Paris.

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A transformation of Disney Village

The Disney Store closure is just one part of a major overhaul of Disneyland Paris’ Disney Village. The park is undergoing a revamp aimed at delivering a more updated and exciting guest experience.

The current McDonald’s location will be replaced by a new Quick Service Spot version once it is completed in early 2026. Disney has also recently opened several new retail stores with a much more modern design, including the new LEGO Store, Disney Glamour, and Disney Style.

Global Disney parks updates

Although Disney continues to shrink its physical retail locations, it remains committed to investing in its Parks and Experiences division. The company regularly refreshes its offering with new attractions, creative food, exclusive merchandise, seasonal events, and immersive environments to stay competitive and meet evolving guest expectations.

“We are building on our best-in-class Parks and Experiences businesses, with more expansions underway around the world than at any other time in our history,” said The Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 earnings call.

“With ambitious plans ahead for all of our businesses, we’re not done building, and we remain optimistic about the company’s trajectory.”

At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney unveiled a wave of major projects coming to parks worldwide.

New and upcoming Disney Experiences

Disney Cruise Line Expansion: Four new ships will join its fleet between 2027 and 2031. (Source:Disney Parks Blog)
“Monsters, Inc.” Land at Hollywood Studios: Construction began in 2025 on the first fully themed “Monsters, Inc.” land, featuring Disney’s first suspended coaster. (Source: AllEars)
Piston Peak National Park at the Magic Kingdom: A Cars-themed land is under construction in a reimagined section of Frontierland. (Source:The Street)
Villains Land at the Magic Kingdom: A new land dedicated entirely to Disney Villains is already underway. (Source:Disney Parks Blog)
Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom: Opening in 2027, it will feature attractions inspired by “Indiana Jones” and “Encanto.” (Source:ITM)
“Avatar” at Disney California Adventure: An Avatar-themed experience with a new attraction is in development. (Source:The Walt Disney Company)
“Walt Disney – A Magical Life”: Debuting in 2025 at Disneyland Park, this show will feature the first-ever Audio-Animatronicsfigure of Walt Disney. (Source:The Walt Disney Company)
Avengers Expansions: Disneyland Park, California: Two new attractions are coming, including “Avengers Infinity Defense” and “Stark Flight Lab.” (Source: Blog Mickey)
Shanghai Disneyland: It will mark the park’s first major Marvel attraction and ninth themed land, which began construction in May 2025. (Source: Shanghai Disney Resort)

Hong Kong Disneyland: A new “Spider-Man” attraction is coming to Tomorrowland. (Source: Disney Tourist Blog)
“Lion King” Area and “World of Frozen” at Disneyland Paris: A “Lion King”-themed area with the first-ever ride of the franchise, alongside the “World of Frozen,” will open in 2026. (Source:The Walt Disney Company)
Disneyland Abu Dhabi: A new Disney theme park is expected to open in early 2030 on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island. (Source:Yas Island)

Disney’s financial performance

Disney’s Parks & Experiences division continues to perform well financially. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, total revenue increased 6% year over year to $8.76 billion, with domestic growth up 6% and international markets rising 10%.

Domestic Parks & Experiences’ growth was largely driven by Disney Cruise Line, thanks to increased passenger cruise days. International growth stemmed from higher attendance, guest spending, and new offerings, particularly at Disneyland Paris.

The evolution of the retail industry

Disney’s retail transformation follows a wider industry trend. Traditional brick-and-mortar stores are declining, as rising operating costs and the growth of e-commerce change consumer behavior, leaving shuttered retail locations across the country.

With 84.3% of Americans shopping online, U.S. e-commerce spending reached $1.34 trillion in 2024 and is projected to surpass $2.5 trillion in 2030, according to Capital One Shopping.

More The Walt Disney Company News:

Retailers announced 67% more store closures in 2025 than in the previous year, according to CoreSight Research.

“Thousands of workers are losing their jobs, many of them in communities where retail employment has historically been one of the biggest anchors,” said Approved Funding President and Chief Lending Officer Shmuel Shayowitz.

“Vacant storefronts are becoming an increasingly common sight, and declining commercial property values are the norm. And for consumers, the fallout means fewer choices, diminished access to in-person shopping, and, in some cases, higher prices due to reduced competition.”

Despite these changes, retail remains the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $5.3 trillion to the annual GDP and supporting more than one in four U.S. jobs, which totals 55 million workers, according to the National Retail Federation.