Disney's flagship London store on Oxford Street was forced to close on July 17, 2026, due to overwhelming crowds and alleged attempts by "scalpers" to storm the premises during the launch of a new limited-edition set of Lorcana trading cards. The highly anticipated Curator's Collection: Heroines Edition was scheduled to be available at only five global locations, including the London store.
Fans began queuing as early as July 16, with some waiting for approximately 15 hours for the release. However, the situation devolved into chaos, with witnesses reporting that gangs of scalpers attempted to jump the queue and force their way into the store. Police were called to manage the crowd and ensure safety.
Collectors expressed disappointment and frustration, with many having traveled significant distances, including from Edinburgh, and some accompanied by individuals with disabilities. Attendees claimed that despite warnings about potential disorder and attempts to organize the queue with ticketing systems, store management did not adequately prepare for the demand or prevent scalpers from disrupting the line.
"I went from work to Disney Store for 12 hours, back to work, to get 0 product because of these gang members," one collector stated. Another described the situation as "terrifying" when attempting to disperse through a group of "hostile scalpers."
The release was ultimately cancelled, and the store was closed until further notice. Disney stated on social media that information regarding future purchase opportunities would be shared soon and thanked those queuing for their patience, without issuing a direct apology for the disruption.
The Lorcana Curator's Collection: Heroines Edition was also scheduled for release at World of Disney at Disney Springs in Florida, Disneyland Resort in California, Disney Village at Disneyland Paris, and the Disney Store on Grafton Street in Dublin. The sets feature six rare cards depicting Disney characters and were priced at approximately £100 per set.