What should Disney do to fix the Disney Store Park Pack mystery boxes?

[ethanwa]

OK, I think most of us here can agree that the Park Packs from Disney Store kinda suck. They are LE 500, but it's really more like LE 2000 with four variations of the same pin. The other two pins are OE.

My opinion:

So far the mystery pins have been.... meh. They are nice, but not the best, and definitely don't feel exclusive because they are just variants of each other. They also don't have any theme. For example, why didn't we get an Inside Out pin in June? Why not a 4th of July pin this month? It seems completely random.

The other two pins are basically OE pins that you will eventually be able to buy off the rack at the theme parks. And some are just really lame with no elements and some are borderline untradeable/unsellable. The value of the entire box is worth basically what you pay for. You aren't really gaining value off the purchase, which is not what most people would expect from something limited. Notice that the boxes each month seem to be selling out slower and slower, which is an indication people are not that happy.

My question is:

Do you agree/disagree? What can Disney do to correct this problem? At the same price point, what could they do to make this monthly box something truly special that you'd be willing to buy it again month after month?

 

[broncobilly83]

I have a lot of thoughts on this, and I need to mull it over, but two things before I post a more expanded answer

1) Thank you, Ethanwa, for starting this thread, as I was debating starting one when I got this month's pack. Remember everyone, you may not agree with someone's opinion but please be respectful

2) The first thing I would do is lower the LE, make it a true LE500, or if you insist on making it Le2000 with changing pins like the previous month's, make each LE500 truly different, not just changing the border. The Cheshire Cat ones were better IMO to the Frozen ones, as if you have all 4 Cheshire Cats, it would show a changing cat on each pin, and be desirable for all Cheshire Cat collectors.

 

[tiggeriffic]

My question is:

Do you agree/disagree? What can Disney do to correct this problem? At the same price point, what could they do to make this monthly box something truly special that you'd be willing to buy it again month after month?

I agree. I haven't purchased any and I don't expect to in the future. Why don't they make all 3 pins LE, 2 flat/plain pins and one special pin? Or instead of 4 variants, how about 4 LE500 pins on a theme or characters from a particular movie?

They will never be able to please everyone, but there should be some kind of fun and the pins should have some tradability.

 

[hdmichael]

I have been thinking about this. The idea is great, but the execution needs a bit of work.

1) I agree. Keep the number of available boxes at 2,000, but have four truly different LE 500 pins around the same theme and make sure it is UNIVERSALLY popular, such as the Fabulous Five, Lilo and Stitch, the Princesses, Up, etc.
2) Make the LE pins as attractive as those that used to be found on the Disney Cruise Line, now at the DHHS (for the most part), and at DLRP and TDR. For those of us who cannot get to Hollywood, etc, it would even the trading field, so to speak.
3) The two open edition pins is not a bad idea AS LONG AS they are the higher priced pins and are one of the more attractive pins. Many collectors can't get to the parks, so this can bring a bit of Disney magic to them. However, the pins need to be the type of open edition pins a collector would pick up at the parks if they could ONLY BUY TWO pins while they were at the parks. At this price point, the OEs cannot be "meh," they need to be "Oh, my, how pretty!"

How would I rate the first three boxes based on these criteria?
May box- 2/5- The LE pin fits the description, the two OE pins appear to be among the cheapest and plainest OE pins they make.
June box- 3/5- The LE pin is cute and detailed, and the NBC pin has the ties which make it somewhat detailed. However, the Mickey ghost pin is too generic and way too out of season- unless it has to be in the pack this early in order to beat the park release.
July box- 2.5/3- The LE pin is detailed, but come on, what percentage of pin collectors collect the classic Mickey and Minnie? (The boxes need to appeal to the majority of buyers either as keepers or good traders.) As far as I am concerned, they totally missed the ball here. Groot is a good character, but I am not sure about the Mickey hat.

I was at WDW in June, and there are so many gorgeous open edition pins available, I am disappointed in what Disney has shown to include in these packs.

 

[caw caw rawr]

I'd be more likely to buy if the boxes had 2 LE's (truly different LE's, not variants of each other) and one future OE.

 

[a4matte]

I actually have no problem with the way the boxes are right now.

I believe they were introduced to be marketed to NEW COLLECTORS. Not avid current collectors. They were meant to introduce people to collecting and for parents to buy their kids vs the ebay fakes. A whole lot less of a bang for your buck, but if they offered them dirt cheap like the ebay scrappers the avid collectors would buy them all to just resell anyway.

All of us who have experience collecting are a little let down by these releases, yes. But put yourself in the place of someone who does not yet collect, or a kid who is just starting out. I'd be THRILLED to have been able to get a Limited Edition pin in general.

 

[unibear]

So, once you receive the Park Pack set (and if you are underwhelmed), can you return these to Disney.com or are returns not accepted? I can imagine everyone who just received these saying "Meh" (or even "Bleh") and wanting to return them for a refund...

 

[starry_solo]

So, once you receive the Park Pack set (and if you are underwhelmed), can you return these to Disney.com or are returns not accepted? I can imagine everyone who just received these saying "Meh" (or even "Bleh") and wanting to return them for a refund...

Only if damaged.

 

[McMorgan]

I actually have no problem with the way the boxes are right now.

I believe they were introduced to be marketed to NEW COLLECTORS. Not avid current collectors. They were meant to introduce people to collecting and for parents to buy their kids vs the ebay fakes. A whole lot less of a bang for your buck, but if they offered them dirt cheap like the ebay scrappers the avid collectors would buy them all to just resell anyway.

All of us who have experience collecting are a little let down by these releases, yes. But put yourself in the place of someone who does not yet collect, or a kid who is just starting out. I'd be THRILLED to have been able to get a Limited Edition pin in general.

As a new collector I can say you are exactly right that I am thrilled to have an opportunity to purchase LE pins and even OE pins online, from Disney. However, even though I am new to collecting I know value, and these boxes have not been a good value for me as a new collector. My collection is very small and limited. Most of my pins are OE and I am trying to build up decent traders so that I can participate in the trading community.

I had high hopes that the Park Packs would
1) bring a bit of Disney magic home every month
2) offer LE pins I would be pleased to keep OR have some trading value
3) offer higher level OE pins that would add to my collection (or my daughters')

Yes, we are excited to open our boxes each month, but the excitement is waning after only two boxes!
The LE pins are boring and not different enough to feel special. (I agree the Cheshire Cat pins are the best LE so far)
The OE companion pins are terrible. They feel like leftovers or the pins they don't expect to sell well and want to move inventory.

I keep seeing all these lovely LE pins released to the parks, and I know that I have zero chance to own any of them unless I want to pay three times the original cost on ebay. That does not encourage me to continue in this hobby. With the OE pins, I understand that in order to include OE's in the Park Pack before they are released in the parks we would end up with Halloween pins in June and Christmas pins in August/September. It's already been said, and I agree, the OE pins should be really popular characters that new collectors would buy off the rack at the park. That being said, NBC is not my favorite movie and I can't see myself collecting items from NBC, but that's the best OE pin included in the PP so far and I think other collectors might be interested in trading for it. So while it doesn't grow my personal collection, I think it could be used in trade. I don't think I could give that Ghost Mickey pin away and have the recipient be happy about receiving it!

So yeah....even from the perspective of New Collector, these Park Packs miss the mark.

 

[pins4twin]

I have bought the park pack for each of the first three months, but not sure about next month. I was hoping to get some lower edition LE pins that would be desirable, but I think these will be hard to trade. I agree with hdmicheal that to make it better would to have true LE 500 pins. It would be nice to have four different, but similar pins centered around a theme. It would be great to get 4 characters from the same movie as pin on pin elements, like Anna, Elsa, Hans and Kristoff all on the same background, or Carl, Ellie, Russell, and Doug. As for the OE pins I will keep the the holiday related ones, because that is what I collect, but might try to return some of the others when I go down in September. I won't have a receipt, but will tell them I got them as a gift from a friend or something. Disney is pretty good about returns, they want to keep the customer happy.

 

[Damiens pins]

I would say just scrap the box completely and just release one limited edition pin on its own that's all it needs before coming up with this park pack why didn't they just look at the UK Disney store to see how well it works here and then just copy us I think they had just done the park pack just so they could squeeze as much $ out of people as much as they could

 

[pinnochiolover]

I think its the two OE pins in the box, that really let the "Park Pack" idea down. It could have been a great concept, but Disney are just not getting it right.

The Frozen pin with different coloured backgrounds and borders, isint too bad, its like a prototype pin in a way, with Disney producing different colours to see what works best, that appealed to me. The Cheshire Cat pin is definately a better variation of this, as Broncobilly83 said.

Going back to the subject of the OE pins, I think that:
1. they should be pins that are solely available in these packs;
2. so far have been rather obscure in theme, and not very appealling, and that Disney has underestimated the buyers, they need better designs going forward;
3. the pins could have perhaps kept the same theme as the main pin, this would have been more exciting;

At the moment it just feels like its a way for them to offload less desirable pins onto the buyer. They definately need to change their approach with these packs, if the idea is going to survive. We need some successes on the Disney horizon, because trading and collecting has had so many hits in recent times.

 

[bcol]

I received my third box yesterday and I have to say each month is a little more of a letdown. The variation idea of the same pin just doesn't hold up with the LE 500 / 2000. The four different characters on the same background would be a better idea if they are trying to squeeze 2000 pins out of this. I almost hope they don't release a pin I would actually want to keep. If I tried to get all 4 pins, it would "cost" almost $200 in cash or trades, and that would most likely be 2X if was Mulan themed. I would rather take the money and overpay for a BT pin I could not afford and yes, I will probably try this one more time again next month. :dunno:

 

[starry_solo]

I stopped after the first month (Frozen). That was a huge letdown. The mystery boxes should be like the ones of the past, where there are multiple mystery pins available, ranging in LE size, and it's a crapshoot as to which box you get.

 

[tiggeriffic]

I stopped after the first month (Frozen). That was a huge letdown. The mystery boxes should be like the ones of the past, where there are multiple mystery pins available, ranging in LE size, and it's a crapshoot as to which box you get.

YES! Those were fun and there were a good variety of characters for each set. Many sets had a great theme.

 

[figment919]

I wasn't a fan of this idea/concept when they vaguely explained it at the Pin event last September. I have not purchased any of the boxes and I don't think I will going forward. I really don't like the "lets use the same scene and add some color along the way" concept. Reminds me of years ago with the Gold/Silver/Black backgrounds on the DA pins, just a way to make more money IMHO.

Mike S.
Figment919

 

[McMorgan]

I really want this concept to be a success. I loathe paying leeches on ebay for pins- I'm pretty sure someone living close to the parks with an AP can make a living selling pins on ebay- and it's too expensive to try and purchase pins I want nevermind ones to trade.

Why can't they do a series similar to the PTD concept? Have a theme for the month, (be it one movie, princesses, villians, pixar, Fab 5, what ever) create 4 LE 500 pins, and have the companion pins be high level OE that follow the theme. The PTD are less than $20 each, but they are so incredibly cute! And the tend to feature secondary characters from popular movies. (As a Robin Hood fan I might sell my first born for that King Richard PTD. ::sigh:: ) I like the idea of pin-on-pin with similar background and different characters, too.

The common sentiments I see in these comments is
1) the need for a theme. Something to tie all the pins together for the month so the PP doesn't feel like a miscellaneous junk box.
2) better value, such as higher level OE pins or two LE pins, one with a large LE size included in all the boxes and one with a true LE 500 that is 1/4 in a series.

 

[momin.ator]

The one thing keeping me from even attempting to buy these pins is the cost. $40 for three pins is expensive to me,
especially when you don't know what you are getting and two of the pins are low-cost OE pins that are soon to be
available. I can buy pins I actually want and need for that price. I know I am cheap, really I am, but that is just a lot
of money to me.

 

[xkaokaox]

Lower the price, get rid of the OE pins (nobody wants those).

 

[sweetalissum]

My biggest problem with the park packs is definitely the lack of cohesion between the pins you get in a box. Each box needs a theme. I get that it's meant to be a mystery for the fun of it, but a vague theme each month would really go a long way to making them desirable. Loot Crate and other monthly box services do this and it's great to drum up excitement. Big fantasy fan? Sign up for June! It's dragon month! Prefer Scifi? August is robot month! That sort of thing would really make me more excited for the Park Packs even if they changed nothing else about them. Boring OE would at least work if you expected them to come in a certain theme (holidays, types of movies - princess, adventure, park attractions, Walt, etc). It's clear from this thread I'm not the only one who feels this way too.

 

[xdattax]

Hmmm. I'm not a new collector but on the other hand I don't have an extensive collection either (my first pins came in 2009 and then picked up again in 2012 and here I am now). I got the third pack, and I'm still hoping to see the other three variations on the LE pin so I can hopefully think I got the best one. I'm not displeased with the OEs this month, though one I'm not sure I'd have bought for my self but the other is quite nice; it might find its way with a metal pin back to my not-for-trade lanyard along with my country mickey heads and tinkerbell name pin.

I like the mystery box concept. I'm a sucker for blind boxes, it's why I have mini Funko MLPs all over including my desk at work: repeates. I didn't get the first two and I'm ok with that. I'll probably get more of them too, in the hope of Stitch, Maleficent, Jack, Pocahontas, or Jessica appears. I'm not as dissapointed as others are with the boxes though a known theme would be nice.

 

[Romancing_Train]

For reference:

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JUNE

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JULY

 

[Jedikitten]

To the person who commented about the UK store. You are right. They have awesome looking pins there and I've actually had a couple of friends order things from there for me (waiting on them to arrive now). The pin selection at disneystore.com for the USA is just dismal and disappointing. As far as the park packs.....the last one was the first one I ordered. Really not feeling the mickey head for my own collection. The LE is pretty and I may keep it (still debating). Groot, I'll probably end up trading. I may try for 1 more park pack just to see how it turns out since we're just starting collecting but I also feel that for $40.00 you should be getting more bang for your buck.

 

[maxtrexmom]

As someone who lives far away from the parks I am having fun getting the park packs. I like the idea of having the same style and doing one for each movie, kinda like BT. I thought the art on the Frozen pin was too generic but the Cheshire was better. I was able to trade the May and June LEs for other LEs that would have cost me more than the cost of the whole box to buy on ebay. I got decent trades for the OEs too so I really can't complain. I kept the Mickey ghost and I will probably keep all 3 of the July pack too because they fit in our collections. I do agree they could be a lot better though. Like others have said I would prefer a mystery pack with 5 LEs of all different sizes.

Some other suggestions:
- Have a variety of different OEs. Having them before they're out in the parks isn't that great when there are 2,000 of them available anyway. If they had several different ones it would be more exciting to see which ones you get and easier to trade.
- Make the LEs drastically different. Stay with the framed movie theme but make them a completely different scene. Like Frozen could have had one with A&E, one with Olaf, one with Sven, One with Anna & Kristoff. I just don't think most Frozen collectors would feel the need to have all 4 of the pins just because of the different frame colors. The Cheshire was better but maybe there could have been one version with Cheshire, One with Alice, Mad Hatter, or White Rabbit? That would make people want all 4.

 

[timeerkat]

Exactly what I was going to say - mix up the OE pins. Even if half of the people decided to keep the design (and that is being very generous), that is still 1,000 of the same OE pin flooding the market at the same time. Getting it a few months early doesn't matter if you're competing with 1,000 other people. If they had, say, 8 or 10 OE pin designs and you randomly got two of them, it would really help things out.