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Disney to Close Sawgrass Mills Character Warehouse on April 15

Employees cite a lease non-renewal driven by reseller pressures.

Overview

  • The Sunrise, Florida, outlet will shut permanently on April 15, 2026, with staff and multiple reports saying Disney chose not to renew its lease.
  • Disney has not issued a formal statement on the closure, and mall owner Simon Property Group has not commented, according to recent reporting.
  • Cast Members and coverage point to heavy reseller and live-shopping activity plus the store’s distance from Walt Disney World as key operational strains.
  • The two Orlando-area Character Warehouse locations at Vineland and Orlando International Premium Outlets remain open for now.
  • A systemwide all-sales-final policy began Feb. 1 at Character Warehouse and Cast Connection to deter resellers, and local reports anticipate dwindling Sawgrass inventory as the shutdown approaches.