Disney Guests Struggle in Overwhelmed Park, “Screams of Despair” Heard
A recent merchandise release at Tokyo Disneyland spiraled into chaos as eager fans scrambled to secure the latest drop from the park’s “Imagining the Magic” collection.
Reports from guests on the scene described an atmosphere of extreme overcrowding, with some likening the experience to rush hour traffic and even noting “screams of despair” as shoppers fought to get their hands on the exclusive items.
Disney merchandise is known for driving intense demand, especially when it comes to limited-edition releases and park-exclusive products. Over the years, viral moments have emerged from parks worldwide as Disney guests rush to secure coveted items, often leading to massive resale markups.
A prime example was the Figment popcorn bucket frenzy at EPCOT in 2022, where resellers bought in bulk, causing prices to skyrocket on secondary markets like eBay.
Disney Guests Cause Merchandise Mayhem
International Disney parks have faced similar issues, with Tokyo Disney Resort being a hotbed for merchandise reselling, particularly when it involves Duffy and Friends collectibles.
Other locations, such as Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland, have also seen intense demand, with an eight-hour merchandise queue in 2024 requiring intervention from Disney security.
The latest release from the “Imagining the Magic” collection proved to be no exception. Fans arrived at Tokyo Disneyland in the early morning to secure items from the drop, resulting in extreme crowding.
The second round of merchandise from the Tokyo Disney Resort Photography Project “Imagining the Magic” will be available on February 13th!
The design conveys a sense of fun, using snapshots taken at the park by photographer Hideaki Hamada 📸
Check out the goods with photography and camera motifs here ✨
東京ディズニーリゾート・フォトグラフィープロジェクト「イマジニング・ザ・マジック」第2弾のグッズが、2月13日に登場！
写真家の濱田英明さんがパークで撮影したスナップショット作品を使った、楽しさが伝わってくるデザインです📸
写真やカメラに関連するモチーフのグッズはこちらからチェック✨… pic.twitter.com/QVXC1ayFHG
— 東京ディズニーリゾートPR【公式】 (@TDR_PR) February 10, 2025
“The crowds were as high as rush hour traffic,” one guest reported, while another described the scene as “packed like a dumpling with cast and guests crammed in.” One particularly shocking account noted, “There were so many people that shopping carts were hanging in the air.”
“I would like the sales method to be improved,” one guest suggested, while another proposed the use of standby passes to control crowds.
“Why do we have to compete in the land of dreams?” lamented one parkgoer, encapsulating the frustration shared by many.
With Disney merchandise consistently generating intense demand, the question remains: How can Disney Parks better manage resellers while ensuring a fair shopping experience for all guests?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
