The model that made the soaps, shampoos and tub merchandise that outlined the “odor of trip” at Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line has closed. That’s the dangerous information. The excellent news is that the ‘scent spirit’ of H2O lives on on the resort inns! (Up to date February 14, 2025.)
The underside line is that nothing has actually modified from a guest-facing perspective. Disney acquired the rights to the components for the H2O tub merchandise and is continuous to supply them beneath their very own private-label Disney resorts model as of 2025.
The one distinction eagle-eyed followers may be capable to spot is that new bottles have been launched that take away the H2O branding. That, and you’ll now not buy H2O merchandise in resort present retailers or on-line. In any other case, the shampoo, conditioner, cleaning soap–and so forth–scents and merchandise followers have come to like over the past decade-plus are unchanged at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
This isn’t a whole shock. There have been rumors that Disney’s cope with H2O allowed the corporate to proceed utilizing tub merchandise minus the branding, and this was confirmed by a Disney Trip Membership consultant throughout final yr’s rental affiliation assembly. Since then, we’ve seen precisely that–the long-lasting H2O scents nonetheless getting used, however minus traces of the model itself.
All recently-redone resort rooms have new bottles that don’t have the H2O brand on the labels. Similar goes for brand-new resorts, such because the Island Tower on the Polynesian or Villas at Disneyland Lodge. Ditto Disney Cruise Line, the place the Treasure has new bottles.
Under is an instance of the brand new label, with the outdated one after that.
On the present resorts and in rooms that haven’t been not too long ago redone, there are sometimes stickers over the outdated dispensers (though a few of these have been changed solely), too. It’s price noting that that is all fairly hit and miss and much from throughout the board. Some stragglers nonetheless have H2O labels.
What’s nonetheless unclear is the logistics of this alteration. H2O’s mother or father firm nonetheless exists, so it’s potential that they’re persevering with to supply the bathtub merchandise for Disney on a private-label foundation. That’s what we’d guess is going on. That’s rather more logical than Disney instantly turning into a cleaning soap producer, particularly given how a lot Disney already outsources.
It’s additionally barely extra logical than Disney shopping for the components and taking it to a competitor to supply. That state of affairs is actually believable, however why would the mother or father firm of H2O go up the chance to maintain a colossal consumer? Looks like a win-win for them–retire a model that wasn’t doing so effectively, however retain the Disney contract.
Anyway, we’re simply speculating–whatever the purpose or mechanics, the result for friends continues to be the identical: Disney’s tub model has ended, however it doesn’t a lot matter, as a result of its spirit will linger on…in scent kind!
February 14, 2025 Replace: Whereas it’s not essentially an replace to this story about H2O merchandise being retired, it did catch our consideration that Disney Experiences has introduced a brand new partnership with Tub and Physique Works. As a part of this new deal, there’s a fascinating new assortment that options six model new fragrances impressed by among the most beloved Disney Princess characters.
That includes scents impressed by Disney’s Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Moana and Tiana, the gathering is on the market beginning February 16, 2025 in Tub and Physique Works shops and on-line at bathandbodyworks.com.
The 85-product assortment contains superb perfume mist, physique wash and physique cream, lip gloss, candles, hand cleaning soap and sanitizer and ornamental residence equipment. The six totally different scents have been designed to embody every Disney Princess character’s distinctive character traits.
As quickly as we heard this information, we thought in regards to the Parks & Resorts, and risk that Tub and Physique Works may quickly begin producing tub merchandise for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line. It could actually make sense for this new company alliance to increase to the merchandise utilized in visitor rooms. Possibly not instantly, however someday down the highway. We’ll maintain you posted about any future updates.
What follows is the unique announcement in regards to the tub model ending and our commentary from the unique H2O announcement…
H2O+ posted on its official web site thanking prospects for 33 years, together with this: “After 30+ wonderful years of innovation, we have now made the very tough choice to retire the model on the finish of the yr.” H2O+ additionally indicated that you just prospects can “store your favorites on Amazon whereas provides final.”
Frequent guests of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or Disney Cruise Line will immediately acknowledge the H2O+ title. It’s the corporate that makes all of these tub and physique merchandise–from shampoo and conditioner to foot scrub–which are offered in resort rooms and staterooms.
Featured gadgets at Walt Disney World and past embody the H2O Plus premium Sea Salt and Sea Marine SPA strains, signature blue Tub Aquatics assortment, and tub and physique care merchandise in Blushing Orange and Grapefruit Bergamot scents. H2O Plus merchandise are additionally out there in resort present retailers and on-line at shopDisney.com.
H2O Plus is a subsidiary of Pola Orbis Holdings, based mostly out of Tokyo, Japan. In a press launch, the Pola Orbis group acknowledged that it has positioned the enlargement of its enterprise portfolio as “the brand new pillar of its methods, whereas aiming to additional improve profitability by pursuing reforms of its model portfolio within the present cosmetics enterprise” for Imaginative and prescient 2029, which is its a hundredth Anniversary plan.
With that, Pola is eliminating H2O Plus Holdings Inc. Since becoming a member of the group, H2O Plus has been engaged within the manufacture and sale of cosmetics primarily within the US. Nonetheless, the enterprise setting surrounding the wonder model has turn into “extraordinarily tough,” with gross sales falling in need of expectations. Pola acquired H2O Plus in 2010. On the time of the acquisition, Pola mentioned it will develop the model in Asia.
Based on the corporate, H2O Plus will fulfill its contractual obligations to produce merchandise in accordance with agreements with its enterprise companions, and proceed with dissolution procedures throughout the second half of 2023. Subsequently, the liquidation can be concluded upon the completion of the mandatory procedures.
On condition that, it’s possible that H2O+ merchandise can be out there in Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and DCL rooms by way of a minimum of the tip of 2022. No phrase but from the Walt Disney Firm on what model will exchange H2O, however our “vote” goes to a different Japanese model: Kao Company, sponsor of Tokyo Disney Resort and producer of the long-lasting Mickey Mouse head cleaning soap dispensers (which odor nice).
The Walt Disney Firm and H2O Plus have had a fruitful relationship for over 15 years. The 2 started working collectively in 2006, when Walt Disney World teamed with H2O Plus to “present our friends with high-quality, in-room facilities similar to shampoos, conditioners and physique lotions,” mentioned Michael Cohen, vice chairman, Disney Company Alliances.
If I recall appropriately, H2O merchandise have been solely supplied at Deluxe Resorts and Disney Trip Membership properties initially. Somebody be happy to appropriate me if I’m mistaken, however I may swear we nonetheless obtained the old-fashioned Mickey Mouse stuff on the All Stars and Port Orleans Resorts in 2007.
Again in 2013, the 2 companions introduced a multi-year strategic relationship that took that even additional. On the time, Cohen mentioned that Disney was “excited to develop upon this relationship and stay up for introducing H2O Plus merchandise to Disney friends across the globe.”
Then, H2O+ went from the main in-room facilities supplier for Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line and Disney Trip Membership properties, to increase the H2O Plus presence internationally.
By means of that deal, H2O Plus merchandise have been added to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris, and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii. As well as, H2O Plus grew to become sponsor of a number of runDisney races at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts.
“We’ve loved an exquisite, long-standing relationship with Disney and we’re happy with the chance to additional collaborate with one of the crucial beloved corporations on this planet” mentioned H2O Plus CEO, Rick Ruffolo on the time. “This expanded settlement will allow us to offer H2O Plus to a fair broader Disney viewers who can now get pleasure from the perfect in marine-based skincare merchandise.”
Whereas that partnership was important information on the time, the most important story involving H2O Plus and Walt Disney World was, naturally, an issue. A minor change that garnered disproportionate backlash.
Again in 2017, Walt Disney World started changing individually-packaged soaps and shampoos with bigger, refillable dispensers within the bathe. This was one in all a number of unpopular adjustments made on the resorts in 2017-2018, overshadowed solely by the addition of resort parking charges and pet-friendly resorts. (Parking charges are nonetheless a giant deal, however the different two “points” appear downright quaint as in comparison with the adjustments of the final couple years.)
These refillable dispensers have been first added at Worth and Reasonable Resorts and finally prolonged to Disney Trip Membership Resorts and past.
For these protecting rating at residence, the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser formally grew to become the most costly “resort” to have the refillable dispensers when it debuted earlier this yr.
This has been a bit hit and miss, although. Some Deluxe and Villa resorts have the refillable shampoo, conditioner, and physique wash dispensers, whereas others don’t.
Throughout our keep within the Grand New Rooms at Walt Disney World’s Flagship Resort, we have been shocked to search out particular person toiletries. (Not that any of you truly care–however I discover it fascinating to see which new rooms do and don’t do issues like this and mattress runners.)
I’ve been of two minds about this. On the one hand, that is extra environmentally-friendly, and is a pattern within the bigger resort business far past Disney. It’s particularly common in Europe (we’ve skilled this even at excessive finish and boutique inns there), however has been customary apply in U.S. Nationwide Park lodges for some time, too.
The flip aspect to that’s it’s one other reduce at inns with ever-increasing costs. It’s a type of issues that simply looks like a cost-savings measure being carried out beneath the guise of environmentality. It’d be one factor if this financial savings have been handed alongside to friends or used to enhance one other amenity, however I believe everyone knows that’s not the way it has performed out.
Every time we keep in a resort at Walt Disney World, we fill up on H2O+ merchandise.
Some time again, I admitted in our High 10 Scents of Walt Disney World that I hadn’t purchased shampoo in years. Whereas that’s now not true, it’s not because of the refillable dispenser swap–I nonetheless have sufficient H2O Plus merchandise to final a lifetime.
As agency believers in scent-evoked nostalgia, that’s why we proceed to gather the little bottles and have fairly the stockpile.
We use numerous H2O+ tub merchandise on “particular events” or when wanting to begin our day without work on the proper foot. Sure discontinued scents or tub merchandise from particular inns nonetheless conjure up reminiscences and emotion from previous journeys, and it’s good to revisit these infrequently.
Sarah and I started visiting Walt Disney World collectively in 2006, simply earlier than H2O Plus started its relationship with Disney. (I assume–our first journey featured the old-fashioned black and crimson Mickey Mouse toiletries.)
Ever since then, H2O Plus merchandise have been a defining scent of our holidays. The “turquoise taste” nonetheless immediately transports me to staying at Saratoga Springs in 2007-2009, the “inexperienced taste” is related to our first keep on the Grand Californian. And so forth. That is in all probability very inconsequential information to most conventional folks and even informal guests, however it’s large to us. Calling it the tip of an period might sound hyperbolic–and possibly is–however that’s a bit how this feels for us.
Finally, that’s exactly why the information of Walt Disney World’s tub merchandise model being retired is such “massive” information regardless of being comparatively inconsequential within the grand scheme of issues. It’s why so many different followers additionally stockpile these toiletries (for those who thought it was frugality, you’ve missed the purpose–nobody who can afford a $200+ resort room can’t afford a $2 bottle of Suave). It’s additionally why it was such a giant deal for therefore many when the swap was made to refillable dispensers.
The excellent news is that Walt Disney World and the opposite locations will exchange H2O Plus with totally different tub merchandise (presumably–in all probability shouldn’t get forward of ourselves with that assumption given current penny-pinching) and that model may have its personal distinct smells (additionally presumably). It’ll take a while earlier than nostalgia is fashioned round these new scents, however it would occur finally. Right here’s hoping they’re nearly as good as those made by H2O Plus. Really the tip of an period…and hopefully the start of one other!
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Your Ideas
Will you miss the nostalgic scents of H2O+ tub merchandise at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or Disney Cruise Line? Is that this the ‘finish of an period’ for you…or is that this inconsequential information? Are you a fan of H2O Plus, or prepared for one thing totally different? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even once you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
