Overview
- Fans and resellers formed huge queues for the premium Disney Lorcana Curator’s Collection on Friday, July 17, leading the Oxford Street store in London to postpone and then cancel its in-store release for safety reasons.
- Witnesses said organized scalpers jumped the queue, pushed toward the entrance, and in some accounts stole or redistributed paper tickets, prompting store managers to call police and order crowd dispersal.
- Other authorized sites including Disney Springs, Downtown Disney and Disneyland Paris opened but used capped lines and experienced very limited on-hand stock as crowds overwhelmed capacity.
- The boxed Curator’s Collection retails for about $99.99 but immediately appeared on resale sites for many times that price, creating a strong profit motive for scalpers and worsening the disorder.
- Disney has apologized, said safety is its priority, and is reviewing distribution methods with authorities while promising to announce alternate purchase options that aim to keep product away from resellers and protect customers and staff.