Uncovering the Reason Behind the Scarcity of Disney's Latest Snow White Merchandise
Snow White's Bumpy Journey to Merchandise Stores
The journey of Snow White to theaters isn't the only bumpy road - the movie's merchandise journey has faced its fair share of obstacles too. Despite Snow White being one of Disney's most popular characters, merchandise availability has been sparse, leaving fans puzzled.
I, an avid Disney princess goods collector, have noticed a stark contrast in merchandise availability for Snow White compared to recent releases like Moana 2 and the live-action Little Mermaid. For instance, during the Mermaid campaign, there were numerous tie-in products for both little girls and adults, such as fashion and beauty collections, Loungefly bags, costumes, a wide range of dolls, and more.
Even for Moana 2, there were plenty of Moana dolls and toys related to her story available, such as the adorable new kakamora Kotu sidekick. However, for Snow White, the merchandise selection seems restricted.
Traditionally, dolls might be expected as a merchandise release. But with Rachel Zegler's Snow White, only two doll variants are available, both expensive collector pieces. These limited-edition dolls are priced at $150 and $75 respectively, which may not be affordable for many children who are eager to own a Snow White doll that represents them.
Though there are some affordable options, such as Funko's Snow White Pops, it's unusual that they seem to be one of the few affordable choices at the moment.
The Disney Store's offering for Snow White merchandise appears to be limited, with a few capsule collections and items launched by boutique, women-led companies. However, everything seems to be coming out in limited batches, which is perplexing.
One of the first collections available was a collaboration between Unique Vintage and Snow White. This collection, inspired by the film and the animated classic, features a range of sizes, including plus and sizes up to 3X. This is particularly good news for those who often struggle to find clothing that fits well in a junior size.
However, the focus seems to be more towards adult Disney Princess fans rather than children. While Disney jewelry, such as the collection from Kendra Scott, is gorgeous and evokes a vintage, Old Hollywood vibe, it's a bit pricey for children.
RockLove has come through with a movie-accurate version of Rachel Zegler's Snow White heart necklace, a key keepsake given to the new princess in the film, which could work for the older teen or cosplaying adult.
Another interesting turn is the merchandise coming from AMC Theaters. They have an oversized Dwarf mine cart popcorn bucket with giant gems in different colors, which can lock together forming a train. This feels like something you'd expect from Disney Parks rather than a theater chain. AMC's landing page for the Snow White merchandise is rather bare, so your best bet is an in-person visit to the concession stand fandom stop when you go see the movie.
My favorite release is the drink tumblers, which are beautifully designed and made of metal, unlike the usual themed fare you would expect to find.
When it comes to the parks, the situation is different. At Disneyland, there was a small selection of Snow White items available, including a mug and purse for adults with animated versions of the live-action characters, and typical Snow White merchandise for kids, such as costumes, dolls, plushes, and clothes. However, for a new mom to a young child from a Latina background, this lack of special themed merchandise was disappointing. It reinforced the feeling that Disney had preemptively prepared for potential backlash by limiting the marketing and merchandise campaigns for Snow White.
Furthermore, there's no planned meet-and-greet "face" character at the parks for Zegler's version of Snow White, unlike for previous adaptations. The lack of a popcorn bucket release is also worth noting.
This lack of Snow White merchandise is just one more example of Disney's attempts to navigate potential reactions to the film in increasingly conservative ways. While the film will undoubtedly make money regardless, it's disappointing to see the company's continued capitulation to the current cultural climate ultimately means that kids excited to see a Disney Princess who looks like them can no longer guarantee it.
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- The availability of Snow White merchandise is significantly sparser compared to merchandise for recent Disney releases like Moana 2 and the live-action Little Mermaid.
- While there are some affordable options like Funko's Snow White Pops, the majority of Snow White merchandise tends to be priced higher or is geared towards adults.
- The Disney Store's offering for Snow White merchandise largely consists of limited batch capsule collections and items from boutique, women-led companies.
- In contrast to the limited Snow White merchandise, there is a wide variety of merchandise available for Moana, such as dolls and toys related to her story.
