Sept 09, 2024

Today Park Mates is ceasing operations, up until now we were operating under the condition that a personal shopper was not a reseller since we were charging for labor/ service, Disneyland does not see it this way and we have seen, via 3rd party, language that supports this. We have always followed the rules and therefore we will stop our personal shopper service as of now.



We would like to make a statement to Disneyland, and hopefully open up some dialog.

Disney Magic for All:
How Banning Personal Shoppers Hurts the Fans They Claim to Care About


For decades, Disney has prided itself on being a beacon of inclusivity, a company that welcomes all guests, regardless of who they are or where they come from. From its public stance on diversity and equality to its commitment to accessibility for those with disabilities, Disney has built a reputation as a brand that cares deeply for all its fans. Yet, recent actions against personal shoppers—those who help bring Disney magic to guests who cannot visit the parks—have revealed a stark contradiction in their approach.

The Role of Personal Shoppers:
Connecting the Magic to Fans in Need Personal shoppers are a lifeline for fans who, due to illness, disabilities, long-term COVID recovery, financial struggles, or geographic limitations, are unable to visit the parks themselves. Unlike resellers, who purchase items in bulk and sell them at a marked-up price, personal shoppers perform a service: they charge a flat fee to go to the parks, purchase specific items (like collectible popcorn buckets and sippers), and send them directly to the fans who request them. It’s a gig, a labor service—far from the exploitative world of reselling.

Personal Shopper clients aren’t just anyone.
They are the long-time Disney enthusiasts whose love for the parks runs deep, but who, for a myriad of reasons, cannot experience the joy firsthand. A mother battling long-term COVID, a disabled child whose health prevents them from visiting Disneyland, a family facing financial hardship that makes a trip to the parks impossible—all of these fans rely on personal shoppers to bring a piece of Disney home.

You frequently tout your commitment to inclusivity, equality, and accessibility for all.
You have launched initiatives to support diversity in your workforce, promoted characters that represent underrepresented groups, and offer accessible features in your parks for guests with disabilities. But the decision to revoke the passes of personal shoppers, lumping them in with opportunistic resellers, contradicts those very values.

Personal shoppers don’t exploit Disney fans.
They provide a service, bridging the gap for those who You claim to care about most. If Disney’s mission is to make every guest feel included and valued, why is it punishing those who are doing just that?

The Reselling Problem vs. Personal Shoppers
Theres no question that resellers are a problem. They buy up exclusive Disney merchandise in bulk and sell it at outrageous prices online, capitalizing on the high demand. This practice hurts Disney fans and creates a barrier to access, but personal shoppers are not resellers. Personal Shoppers purchase items at their original price, and instead of making a profit by inflating the value, they charge a fair, flat fee for their time and service. By revoking their passes and placing them in the same category as resellers, Disney is not only missing the mark—they’re directly hurting the fans they claim to be protecting.

The Impact on Fans: Rising Costs and Lost Magic
The irony here is that by shutting out personal shoppers, Disney is making the reselling market worse. Without access to personal shoppers who provide an affordable way to get these coveted items, vulnerable fans are left with no choice but to turn to resellers who inflate prices. What was once a reasonable service now becomes an inaccessible luxury for those who need it most. For the fans who depend on personal shoppers, this is a devastating blow. A disabled guest who dreams of collecting the latest popcorn bucket now faces paying double or triple the cost. A child recovering from illness, whose only connection to the parks is through these souvenirs, is now priced out of the market. Is this the kind of “inclusive” experience Disney stands for?

At its core, Disney is about magic, and that magic should be available to everyone. By revoking the access of personal shoppers, Disney is turning its back on the very people it claims to care about. It’s time to live up to the values of inclusivity and accessibility that you so proudly promote and to recognize that personal shoppers are not resellers—they are the bridge to magic for fans who need it most.

Let's not forget that Disney allows a third party shopping company to service the hotels for items in the gift shops.