Disney store closure reasons and peak?

The 2021 mass Disney store closures remind me a lot about the 2001 liquidation of Warner Bros stores. 

Online I found that Disney stores are closing because Disney wants to focus on their online presence, slipping store sales, Disney parks’ money losses, COVID and customer’s changing shopping habits. I think UK is losing all Disney stores. The U.S. is losing about a third of Disney stores, maybe more as the rest of 2021 goes on. 

Do you think more reasons besides these exist on why Disney stores are closing? I have a gut feeling Disney might be hiding more reasons that they are not sharing with the public. Disney stores telling their employees to not talk about the store closures are shady. 

I guess this is a reminder of malls changing and evolving. I find it a shame that the first ever Disney store at Glendale Galleria Mall is closing. 

I find this sad, but not as sad as Toys R Us going out of business in 2018 when I was 20 years old, which is a harsh reminder that my childhood is over. Disney store closures is another harsh reminder of this now that I am 23. 

When do you think Disney Stores peaked? I think I will go with the 1990s because of the Disney Renaissance. I think they already showed signs of struggle in the 2000s. I remember Disney closed all their Australian and or airport stores in the early 2000s. Disney stores were purchased by Children’s Palace in late 2004, so Disney did not own their stores for some years. Disney brought their stores back in 2008. 

I do not know why but the Disney store closure situation also reminds me of what happened with Toys R Us and KB Toys.