Exiting Through the Gift Shop: The Psychology Behind Disney Merch (Ep. 37)

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Tv & Film, Society & Culture, Places & Travel

4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 27 February 2025

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey uncover the fascinating history of why Disney fans always exit through a gift shop. From strategic design choices to corporate sponsorships, Disney has perfected the art of making sure you leave with a little extra magic in your bag. The Origins of Exit Gift Shops – How early Disney parks positioned stores for maximum spending. Mattel’s Surprising Role in Disney’s Retail Evolution – How a 1990s partnership changed the way we shop at theme parks. Bath & Body Works x Disney Princess Collection – Lauren reviews the viral scents, ranking the best and worst. Pandora’s Disney Princess Rings Drama – Why some fans are up in arms about these new jewelry designs. Vegas & Disney Crossovers – Lauren preps for her first trip to Las Vegas and hunts for Disney magic in Sin City. And this is just Part One! Stay tuned for the next episode, where Jim dives even deeper into how Disney perfected its in-park shopping experience. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform! Be Our Guest Vacations Planning your next Disney vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations is a Platinum-level Earmarked travel agency with concierge-level service to make every trip magical. Their team of expert agents plans vacations across the globe, from Disney and Universal to cruises and adventures, ensuring you have the best possible experience without the stress. Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:30.1	Welcome back to I Want That 2, the podcast where Disney merch meets Disney history.
0:36.1	I'm entertainer writer Jim Hill, and as always, I'm joined by the lovely
0:41.2	Lauren Hersey. Hi, Jim. How are doing? Oh, we are doing well. We are doing well. And is this the part of the show
0:49.0	where we talk about how you're soon to board a plane for Sin City?
0:55.7	I suppose this is the part of the show.
0:59.0	Okay.
0:59.2	I feel like I've got a couple gray hairs in the process with this trip.
1:04.7	But what Jim is alluding to is that Eric and I are going to our very first visit. I don't know if you know that, Jim,
1:12.6	to Las Vegas next weekend. Okay. Wow. All right. That's intriguing just in and of itself.
1:22.5	And you won this trip. Is that right? Yeah. So I won the trip at an auction last year. I'm coming up
1:30.0	on my window to be able to use it. And it was originally supposed to be a Vegas slash Disneyland
1:38.0	trip for my kids for spring break. I mean, we've been planning it for a long time. And my daughter's school now,
1:47.6	they don't really have like spring break as much as the other two. So I made it a girls trip
1:54.1	with my girlfriend, Jen. And then something happened and that no longer would work. So last week we made the decision that my mom said she would watch our children.
2:06.1	And Eric and I are just going to go.
2:08.1	So do you have any recommendations?
	...

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