New Blog: Starbucks to Replace the Main Street Bakery at Magic Kingdom

[ArthurFiggis]

If I can survive the removal of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride from the Magic Kingdom, everyone else can surely get over and survive Starbucks being served on Main Street USA.

As to the PP that talked about staffing being outsourced, I'm 99.9% that the semi-baristas will be Disney employees still. I know that in similar cases, like Universities, the staff are either work study students, university employees or employees of the general food contractor--which in this case would be Disney.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

heir specialty drinks (Mochas, Fraps, etc.) will be made there, and the only thing that makes those taste better is a heck of a lot of sugar, cream, and syrups...

Sbucks Fraps can not hold a candle to the Main Street Bakery's Frozen Latte

 

[Metsoskil]

Sbucks Fraps can not hold a candle to the Main Street Bakery's Frozen Latte

I agree, but that got removed a few yrs. ago.

 

[Disneyandphilliesfan]

The Magic is something thats made with the memories just keep that in mind no matter how much things change.What makes Disney special is the way they do things.Also remember they are a business with share holders like I was recently told by a senior emplpyee.They need to keep share holders happy and making money.As far as product quality it has gone downhill over the last 5 years but I will still buy shirts with the year on it to have and keep the memories alive.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I agree, but that got removed a few yrs. ago.

This...

This is what is missing from the "coffee bean outrage" sentiment.
The way they used to operate is LONG gone. It's not going to reverse now.

 

[slg4crzn]

Today when I was in the Main Street Bakery a CM told me that she was told it will be a full blown Starbucks and all the employees would be Starbucks employee. She would not be working in the bakery and doesn't know where her job would be after Starbucks takes over. So sad and so NOT WALT!

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

The Magic is something thats made with the memories just keep that in mind no matter how much things change.What makes Disney special is the way they do things.Also remember they are a business with share holders like I was recently told by a senior emplpyee.They need to keep share holders happy and making money.As far as product quality it has gone downhill over the last 5 years but I will still buy shirts with the year on it to have and keep the memories alive.

No offense, but what crap! You can't have it both ways! Disney "magic" was created directly from the way they operated (quality first, exceed guests expectations, use of imagination), this in NO WAY can be attributed to the current corporate Disney culture which doesn't give a darn about ANY of those things I mentioned.

Disney magic lives on the residual effect of Walt's genius (for us oldsters) and brilliant marketing to the masses (like coca cola, Walmart or McDonalds). By standing by and purchasing the crap you give rise to the notion that good enough is all they need to strive for. For shame!

By all means enjoy the good that Disney gives us, there is still plenty to enjoy, but DO NOT let them slide on the crap. Call them out and tell them no more!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I was doing a pretty good job of holding it in check on this one, Pete...

I'll move around and concentrate on the left flank

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Today when I was in the Main Street Bakery a CM told me that she was told it will be a full blown Starbucks and all the employees would be Starbucks employee. She would not be working in the bakery and doesn't know where her job would be after Starbucks takes over. So sad and so NOT WALT!

Walt died in 1966...and he would have gone bankrupt and failed 1000 times over after about 1972...because the world changed in business dramatically. He is often quoted as saying "in the end, quality will win out."

The Walton's have sunk that belief like an Italian battleship

But beyond that...the whole point of the third party vendors at WDW is to reduce the overhead...which is why dumping the staffing on Starbucks is nearly the best thing about it.

And you know what the reality is? Starbucks has higher paid, happier employees.

WDW is not a great place to work for a large percentage of the staff. Especially the non management crowd (though they are often pretty unhappy too)

There are many reasons (too many to keep it brief)...but really what will happen is a higher quality, happier run spot that WDW only supplies parking spots and tickets (which they will use to give their wages back to Disney) to the employees.

I still don't get it...a 10-15 percentage hike ACROSS THE BOARD on annual passes goes almost without comment...
And this is what stirs the kids up?

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Walt died in 1966...and he would have gone bankrupt and failed 1000 times over after about 1972...because the world changed in business dramatically. He is often quoted as saying "in the end, quality will win out."

The Walton's have sunk that belief like an Italian battleship

But beyond that...the whole point of the third party vendors at WDW is to reduce the overhead...which is why dumping the staffing on Starbucks is nearly the best thing about it.

And you know what the reality is? Starbucks has higher paid, happier employees.

WDW is not a great place to work for a large percentage of the staff. Especially the non management crowd (though they are often pretty unhappy too)

There are many reasons (too many to keep it brief)...but really what will happen is a higher quality, happier run spot that WDW only supplies parking spots and tickets (which they will use to give their wages back to Disney) to the employees.

I still don't get it...a 10-15 percentage hike ACROSS THE BOARD on annual passes goes almost without comment...
And this is what stirs the kids up?

I don't disagre that Walt would have eventually failed but don't you think it would have been more due to his huge aspirations than anything else? He would have eventually gotten into city building (urban planning) and would have succeeded wildly or gone under with that ship. He was long over theme parks and cartoons by his death. But this is a different discourse altogether.

You are spot on as usual with what stirs folks up around here. Disney is very good at marketing to be sure ... Nothing I think should be admired in the least.
Raising park prices, unfair FP distribution, hotel rates beyond belief, food fit for a k-mart cafeteria? These things don't bother many around here it seems ... But it's magical at least.

 

[slg4crzn]

As for me, I prefer not to see a big ugly Starbucks sign when I look down Main Street. An employee in fear of losing her job is not a good thing. I drink Starbucks at least 3-4 times a week so I'm not a Starbucks basher. My desire would be for Disney to keep the outside structures of Main Street as originals.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

As for me, I prefer not to see a big ugly Starbucks sign when I look down Main Street. An employee in fear of losing her job is not a good thing. I drink Starbucks at least 3-4 times a week so I'm not a Starbucks basher. My desire would be for Disney to keep the outside structures of Main Street as originals.

I don't believe you'll see a "Starbucks storefront" in the magic kingdom...nor would Disney consider that.

Perhaps the interior elements to a certain extent and "imagineering approved" exterior marking of somekind.

Remember: they have a captive audience...they have NO NEED for corporate identification or brand capture tactics. It's not like this thing is on John Young Parkway.

Now perhaps the one at EPCOT...and most likely the future resorts that will have them...maybe a little more established...but I wouldn't worry to much about "commercialized junk" in the magic kingdom...

Wait...except for the ENTIRE PARK

 

[michelleiada]

Today when I was in the Main Street Bakery a CM told me that she was told it will be a full blown Starbucks and all the employees would be Starbucks employee. She would not be working in the bakery and doesn't know where her job would be after Starbucks takes over. So sad and so NOT WALT!

So not the Disney we've all come to know and love! I find this very disappointing also.

 

[tjkraz]

I am just dumbfounded over the outrage this has garnered.

You can't play the "Walt wouldn't..." card because corporate names were slapped all over Disneyland from Day One. Maxwell House...Carnation...Chicken of the Sea, just to name a few. More recently McDonald's, Landry's and many more are (or have been) in the parks.

Assuming the jobs will be outsourced, that's been going on for years, too. IT, valet parking, some custodial, DME, luggage handling...just off the top of my head.

If you're worried about your favorite 1500 calorie sweet roll disappearing, as long as it was a money-maker I'm sure it will simply be moved to a new location.

Really, anyone who is surprised by this just hasn't been paying attention for the last decade.

 

[eliza61]

I wouldn't say I'm "outraged" I guess "concerned" is probably a better descripition. I have been paying attention the last decade and quite frankly all the changes that disney has implemented have not been shall we say "winners"

1) outsourcing. Yep, my worst trips lately have been to deluxe resorts where they have outsourced valet parking. Now I'm fully aware that in the grand scheme of things parking is not a big deal, but neither is coffee IMO. anyhoo since day 1 of the new company getting your car has resulted in longer waits and let's just say not as nice attendees. last august, 30 mins wait most evenings to get car from Grand floridian.

2) IT. don't even get me started on that plummet in service. LOL. Where did they get these tech service guys? Are they the lost survivors from the Mayan Inca civilization?

3) Pleasure Island/DTD. Oh yeah they pulled out that entertainment area for.... wait for it.... empty buildings? for a while there were rumors of some sort of rehab but as of yet, it's an ugly, warehouse stroll. whatever happen to "Hyperion wharf"?

3) dining Plan. So depending on your view the food has become medicore because of it or because of the general economy. who knows. but when it first came out, it actually did save you money. Boy did htey change that quick fast and in a hurry.

I'm a "lets do some thing different" type of gal. I like doing things that are "special" and "out of the normal". that's one of the great things about the mouseworld. You can visit a mini La Tour eiffel, soar through california then have lunch under the sea all in one afternoon. You can see a pretend Yeti (when it works) or take an African safari

What's so special about starbucks? The same stuff they sell in the starbucks in Target can be found in a starbucks in Chicago. Stand alone stores look the same whether your in NYC, Orlando or Texas.

I'm also more of a "wait and see" type gal. Reports from DL in California give me hope that it will blend in nicely. I saw the pictures from that venue and it's nice looking, disneys track recorded lately on the other hand, does not inspire confidence.

Just my opinion.

 

[DanBoris]

As for me, I prefer not to see a big ugly Starbucks sign when I look down Main Street. An employee in fear of losing her job is not a good thing. I drink Starbucks at least 3-4 times a week so I'm not a Starbucks basher. My desire would be for Disney to keep the outside structures of Main Street as originals.

There is no reason believe that there will be a big ugly Starbuvcks sign. Here is what the Starbucks looks like on Buena Vista Street in DCA:

 

[NurseAllen]

This is an absolutely terrible idea. There is a Starbucks on every street corner everywhere in the country. Magic Kingdom is supposed to be special and magical. There is absolutely nothing magical about yet another Starbucks.

I concur, I concur!

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

I love me some Starbucks, but I'd rather have Nescrap and the Main Street Bakery than NO Main Street Bakery and Starbucks. Wahhhhhhh!!!!!

 

[HippieChickadee]

Don't know if anyone has heard or not, but they have changed their minds on this. They will keep the bakery as is and serve Starbucks rather then make it a starbucks

http://www.disneyparksplanning.com/...0047169-main-street-bakery-to-serve-starbucks

 

[disneyworld1977]

I am not getting back on this craziness...but I don't know why I posted anything in the first place. I am bored I guess