The Disney Store is officially winding down operations in one region.While Disney’s theme parks worldwide are home to their fair share of Mickey ears, t-shirts, pins, keychains, plushies, and other Disney-themed merchandise, the Disney Store has always provided an easier option for those who can’t regularly access the parks themselves.Credit: DisneyIn recent years, Disney has axed a lot of its physical Disney Store locations. The likes of Dubai and Abu Dhabi may have received new brick-and-mortar Disney Stores ahead of Disneyland Abu Dhabi’s construction, and Selfridges stores across the United Kingdom may have added mini-Disney stores to sell high-end Disney merch, but Mickey Mouse’s footprint remains much smaller than it once was.That’s why the Disney Store’s online services have become a lifeline for many fans — and why the latest move is likely to disappoint so many.Disney Store Winds Down Services in One CountryAccording to Topick.hket, the official Disney Store shopping website in Hong Kong will close on December 29.Customers can continue placing orders until the shutdown, and Disney says all purchases made before the deadline will still be delivered as planned. The short transition period gives fans a final opportunity to secure items before direct access is removed.Credit: DisneyOnce the site closes, shoppers will be redirected to Buyee, a third-party service that lets Hong Kong customers buy select products from the official Disney Store Japan website. The change replaces Disney’s in-house platform with a proxy model that adds new steps to the buying process.Buyee will manage payment, delivery, and after-sales support. However, proxy fees and international shipping charges mean the overall cost of purchasing official Disney items will increase noticeably for Hong Kong shoppers.The Japanese Disney Store site is primarily in Japanese, though pop-up instructions in English and Traditional Chinese are available. Even with this support, Japan’s membership benefits program does not apply to proxy-assisted orders, limiting rewards for frequent buyers.Credit: Jeremy Thompson, FlickrMany fans expressed disappointment, particularly since only “selected merchandise” will be available through Buyee. The restricted range may prevent collectors from finding the full assortment of items previously offered through Hong Kong’s official online store.The added expense has also become a major concern. With proxy fees and multiple layers of shipping, customers say the new system makes Disney merchandise significantly less accessible. Some are urging Disney to consider opening a physical store in Hong Kong to restore more convenient shopping options.Of course, an alternative option is to purchase merchandise directly from Hong Kong Disneyland. The park has undergone a major transformation in recent years with the opening of World of Frozen, the Castle of Magical Dreams, and the Stark Expo expansion of Tomorrowland. Hong Kong Disneyland has also managed to work its way back up to profitability after several years of losses, compounded by repeated COVID-19 closures.Do you regularly purchase items from the Disney Store?The post CONFIRMED: Disney Store Permanently Axing Online Orders for Many Fans appeared first on Inside the Magic.