\u2018Disaster\u2019: Sad $10m feud split cult Aussie empire<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018No longer\u2019: Cult store to abolish Aussie cafe scene<\/a><\/p>\n By March 2003, Disney shut all 16 Australian Disney Stores stores. Picture: Supplied<\/p>\n The retail stores selling premium imported merchandise. Picture: Supplied<\/p>\n The closures triggered months of tense lease negotiations with major shopping centre landlords.<\/p>\n Westfield was hit hardest across eight locations nationwide, including Melbourne\u2019s Southland and Doncaster, Sydney\u2019s Parramatta and Miranda, Perth\u2019s Morley Galleria and Carousel, Adelaide\u2019s Marion, and Canberra\u2019s Belconnen.<\/p>\n At the time, The Disney Store was one of 12 businesses operated in Australia by the Walt Disney Company.<\/p>\n There were more than 800 such stores worldwide but it was believed the business model has not suited Australia\u2019s retail environment.<\/p>\n As of 2026, there are about 21 standalone Disney Stores left operating across North America, Europe, Japan, China, and the Philippines.<\/p>\n Disney Stores sold imported items, usually at a premium compared to locally made products, which were sold under licence at outlets such as department and toy stores.<\/p>\n Following the shutdowns, Disney shifted its focus to online sales, pop-up shops, and selling products through retailers like Target, Big W, and Myer.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Disney sailed out of Australia for good earlier this year.<\/p>\n Cruises Axed from Sydney<\/p>\n From shopping malls to Sydney Harbour.<\/p>\n Despite launching local sailings in late November 2023, Disney Cruise Line announced it would stop operating out of Sydney, ending a brief two-year run.<\/p>\n One of the reasons cruise goers cited for Disney\u2019s oceanic demise was sky-high prices compared to other cruise lines sailing out of Sydney which offered much more affordable options.<\/p>\n Aussie fans are now forced to travel to Singapore for the nearest Disney cruise experience.<\/p>\n There were only six cruise dates left to book for 2026, five in January with the final one sailing out of Sydney Harbour on February 2nd.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland during its 70th Celebration on May 17, 2025 in Anaheim, California. Picture: Getty<\/p>\n No Disneyland Down Under<\/p>\n Disney has also crushed long-running rumours that Australia would ever get its own Disneyland.<\/p>\n Speculation had swirled for years around potential sites in Victoria\u2019s Werribee or Queensland\u2019s Gold Coast.<\/p>\n However, Disney executives confirmed Australia\u2019s population of 27.6 million, even with 8 million annual international tourists, is simply too small to justify the massive investment.<\/p>\n By comparison, California holds 33.5 million residents while Tokyo sits at 39 million, leaving Australian fans permanently snubbed on home soil.<\/p>\n MORE: $100m burger empire\u2019s huge Aussie rollout<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/capi_90c9b1603ab1fc111eae9e85370935c8_cffda1057212eef35ae0ede5c789550a.jpeg\")
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