The Disney Store at White Rose shopping centre expected to close down

The Disney Store at the White Rose Shopping Centre is expected to close.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Rumours have been circulating for weeks that Disney will close all its UK stores, except the flagship Oxford Street store in London.

Read More
The 10 shops in White Rose Shopping Centre that have permanently closed

Disney has not formally commented, but staff at the White Rose store are expecting it to close - although they have not been given a firm date.

White Rose Shopping Centre.White Rose Shopping Centre.
White Rose Shopping Centre.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Earlier this year, the global giant revealed plans to focus on its e-commerce business and "significantly reduce its brick-and-mortar footprint".

Store closures have been confirmed in York, Southampton, Blackpool and Sunderland in recent months.

Ex-staff members expressed their sadness about the impending closure on Facebook.

The Disney Store in White Rose Shopping Centre (photo: Google).The Disney Store in White Rose Shopping Centre (photo: Google).
The Disney Store in White Rose Shopping Centre (photo: Google).
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

One said it was "really sad", while another said she was "so gutted" for existing staff.

One Disney lover has created a petition calling on Disney to rethink its plans.

Sam said: “The stores will all be closed by September 2021.

“This means all of the magical Disney stores that have been on our high streets for many years will soon disappear.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Not everyone is fortunate enough to live near the Oxford Street store and the UK doesn’t have its own Disney Park, the closest being Disney Land Paris which is not even in our country.

“These stores are our gateway to the magical world of Disney.

“It allows the people of the UK to experience the Disney magic first hand - but soon all that will be gone.

“We can’t let these magical places disappear.”

Speaking about North American store closures earlier this year, Stephanie Young, president, Consumer Products Games and Publishing at Disney, said: “While consumer behavior has shifted toward online shopping, the global pandemic has changed what consumers expect from a retailer.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Over the past few years, we’ve been focused on meeting consumers where they are already spending their time, such as the expansion of Disney store shop-in-shops around the world.

"We now plan to create a more flexible, interconnected e-commerce experience that gives consumers easy access to unique, high-quality products across all our franchises.”

A spokesperson for White Rose declined to comment.

Disney did not respond to a request for comment.

Support the YEP and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news and the latest on Leeds United. With a digital subscription, you see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe