Over the years the Disney theme parks have tried with various attempts to attract more guests into the various boutiques. In the recent years one of the latest tricks has become to have shops built right at an attraction’s exit so that guests have to walk through the shop to exit the attraction building. One of the latest example of this can be found in the Walt Disney Studios with the Twilight Zone Tower of Tower.
When Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast replaced the Visionarium in Discoveryland the adjacent Constellations boutique received a complete make-over to a Buzz Lightyear / Space Control theme, however, even so the exit ramp of the attraction ended just opposite of one of the shop’s entries guests were still free whether to walk into the shop or turn sharp left to exit bypassing the shop. Soon enough shop displays were added in the area between and the floor received large stickers guiding guests into the shop. However, it seems to many guests resisted these gentle hints for the liking of the resort’s management. Hence, earlier this year the outdoor shop displays and the graphics on the floor disappeared to allow for the installation of a solid metal fence forcing guests to enter the shop when exiting the ride.
On the upside this has created additional space for stroller parking next to the fence in a covered space. On the other hand Constellations frequently was one of the most busy shops feeling rather congested already prior to this measure as it (different from the shop of the Tower of Terror) attracts a large number of guests who did not ride Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast prior). So forcing the constant flow of guests from the extremly popular attraction to walk through the shop might be counter productive – not to mention the fact that guests may feel a strong dislike to being forced to walk through a shop and fight the crowds in there.