Disney Springs Impressions

[jsrj21]

Caveat - I haven't been yet.....but...from the videos and pictures, doesn't the new area look alot like an outlet mall? Unless I've missed the memo, I didn't know if this was the "look" they were going for. It looks beautiful and I can't wait to see it myself in August but that was my first impression when I saw all of the Dis videos that were posted last night and today. Beautiful but outlet-looking.

 

[CAS239]

The new area that just opened looks like an outlet mall building wise..but idk how they would get around that look. The rest of Disney springs doesn't look like an outlet mall

 

[DOOM1001]

I was there yesterday for the grand opening and all the additions have a mish mash look to them,you have a Mediterranean style through most of Town center,then you have an old Florida/Southern look for some of the buildings near the springs like D-Luxe burger.The area with the covered roof looks like a train station and the parking garages have a more modern look to them.Some of the stores near World of Disney,Volcom and Amorette’s Patisserie do have a similar but different look than WOD that at least gives it a bit of a transition between styles.Overall it's a little wacky with all the styles but I have no problem with it,it looks nice,I do know a lot of people are comparing it to the outlets.I know I'm unlikely to be doing much shopping in the stores but I like the food additions and I'm anticipating some of the ones yet to open.

 

[winterwhite]

I was disappointed. It looks like an outlet mall, half of it isn't open so it has a very incomplete feel, it's hard to get to the lime garage coming from the resorts, and the new establishments that are here seem to be handling even very light crowds poorly. Overall, not impressed.

 

[Lesverts]

The first time I went to Disney Springs (was Downtown Disney) was October 2014. I know no other Disney Springs, but the one under construction.

I really do get the vibe that it is a converted Downtown area into a shopping/entertainment district. I think a few things could have completed the more urban renewal vibe. Putting a hotel in the area, on second and third floors to create a more mixed use area while making the entrances look like apartment walk-ups. That would have created a more 'town' feeling.

I think it is really funny that people are saying no one wants these retail stores while they are on their Disney vacation. Clearly they do by the number of outlet and full service malls that are close to Disney property. Disney is responding to changing demographics and tastes by creating a more inclusive on property experience. I know I would much rather go to Disney Springs for my Tommy Bahama fix then having to figure out which mall the store is located at.

Can anyone confirm if these stores are considered 'outlet' or full service'?

 

[zianha]

I was there last in February but I'm eager to see the new areas when I go back in a couple of weeks.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I just don't get the hype about this area in general. It's an outdoor, open air shopping center. Disney branded, sure, but can't you find any of these stores in any major suburban shopping mall?

 

[Puffin]

I was there yesterday on opening day and I really liked the whole atmosphere of Disney Springs. I can't compare with how it was before, without the new part, because yesterday was my first visit ever. The new part of Disney Spring might have an outlet feel in style of building, but having visited two outlet malls in the Orlando area a few days before, I must say I love Disney Springs way better. It's much more lively and has more variation as in food and entertainment. Overall I'm quite thrilled about Disney Springs and I might plan another visit this week.

 

[Networth]

I do enjoy some of the restaurants and specialty shops. Basically it will never beat PI but it's much better than DtD ever was.

 

[DOOM1001]

The first time I went to Disney Springs (was Downtown Disney) was October 2014. I know no other Disney Springs, but the one under construction.

I really do get the vibe that it is a converted Downtown area into a shopping/entertainment district. I think a few things could have completed the more urban renewal vibe. Putting a hotel in the area, on second and third floors to create a more mixed use area while making the entrances look like apartment walk-ups. That would have created a more 'town' feeling.

I think it is really funny that people are saying no one wants these retail stores while they are on their Disney vacation. Clearly they do by the number of outlet and full service malls that are close to Disney property. Disney is responding to changing demographics and tastes by creating a more inclusive on property experience. I know I would much rather go to Disney Springs for my Tommy Bahama fix then having to figure out which mall the store is located at.

Can anyone confirm if these stores are considered 'outlet' or full service'?

These are not supposed to be outlet stores,the 2 Premium outlet malls and the LBV factory stores will still be jam packed.

 

[Lesverts]

These are not supposed to be outlet stores,the 2 Premium outlet malls and the LBV factory stores will still be jam packed.

I ask because a lot of the stores that are new to Disney Springs don't have regular sales, but instead offer brand loyalty discounts. Classifying themselves as 'outlet' instead of main line/full service would get around having to accept those loyalty discounts. Some stores in The Crystals, The Forum Shops etc in Las Vegas have done this to get around accepting the loyalty discounts. Despite the fact that they carry the main line.

 

[jfk4]

I think it looks pretty good. The one thing I think it is missing, though, is entertainment. I imagine Disney knows their target demographic pretty well, but other than the Edison there doesn't seem like there is that much to do at night besides the restaurants and bars. I think a supper club with live entertainment would be a good addition.

 

[Accident]

I've always viewed DTD and now springs as a place to shop and eat so I dont think this is a far stretch. I'm 99% sure I'm not the demographic they are going for. Whenever I've been at WDW, Americans seem like the minority of who is visiting. When traveling international, I feel everyone shops more and dtd/springs was missing this type of store for that demographic.

This is mall like very much like the mall at Caesars palace in Vegas is. I think the reason the rest of springs doesn't feel like a mall is it's more detached from each other and the buildings look more fantasy, home store like and most are standalone or themed more like main street where 1 building can be made to look like many in a slightly disconnected fashion. I do hate the way it looks from photos of new springs looking onto old marketplace. It's like going into tomorrowland and finding it's not white anymore. White and clean is impressive if it stays like that.

I do like having a new place to roam around and enjoy, sit down and maybe get a small bite to eat. the burgers sounds exactly like what i've been looking for anywhere in the area. shopping? i'm really going to need something and it being the only place I can find it.

 

[yulilin3]

I think it looks pretty good. The one thing I think it is missing, though, is entertainment. I imagine Disney knows their target demographic pretty well, but other than the Edison there doesn't seem like there is that much to do at night besides the restaurants and bars. I think a supper club with live entertainment would be a good addition.

There's a lot of live entertainment once the sun comes down. Even during the day there was a duo playing across from D-Luxe burgers, but yeah, most of entertainment plays after 5pm.
Just off the top of my head:
West Side: Live group outside of House of Blues, Splitsville, Exposition Park (where the food trucks are), outside of Starbucks
The Landing: Live music at Waterview Park (next to Jock Lindsey's) Inside Boathouse, T=Raglan Rd, Riverboat, Paradiso37
Marketplace: DJ Kids dance parties at the Main Stage across from World of Disney and at the fountain stage, live music at Dockside Margarita
Town Center: Living Statues and live music at Welcome Center across from D Luxe Burgers

As to everyone's opinion about it being like a mall I have to agree that Town Center is basically a high end shopping center, the main goal is to have guests come here instead of the Florida Mall or even the Outlet Malls. I found some stores to be priced fairly and others way expensive, this will make a killing with the South American groups that come every year, I'm sure.
There's a story to the whole concept of Disney Springs so it was well planned out.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Grand opening of Sephora on Sunday looked as if it could be in any mall except that Minnie and Mickey were there for the ribbon cutting:

 

[CAS239]

I just don't get the hype about this area in general. It's an outdoor, open air shopping center. Disney branded, sure, but can't you find any of these stores in any major suburban shopping mall?

You can find a few of the stores in a mall..but majority of these stores you cant

 

[CAS239]

I think it looks pretty good. The one thing I think it is missing, though, is entertainment. I imagine Disney knows their target demographic pretty well, but other than the Edison there doesn't seem like there is that much to do at night besides the restaurants and bars. I think a supper club with live entertainment would be a good addition.

They announced something like 3 days a week there will be bands playing. Or maybe 3 bands a night will be playing somewhere. Can't remember what exactly it said just that entertainment would be coming

 

[yulilin3]

They announced something like 3 days a week there will be bands playing. Or maybe 3 bands a night will be playing somewhere. Can't remember what exactly it said just that entertainment would be coming

read my post above, they have entertainment every night, quite varied as well

 

[JimmyV]

There's a lot of live entertainment once the sun comes down.

We found that to be the case as well. There was a live band playing in an area just outside the Gelateria and they were really good.

I'm not exactly sure what people want or were expecting. The "original" part of LBV Shopping Village, (later DTD), is still mostly intact. The Christmas store is there. The World of Disney store is there. The pin store is still there. The little carousel is still there. And the newly built area is almost entirely restaurants and stores with some entertainment venues tossed in. What exactly would anyone want different? Frankly, I find it a bit refreshing to have a bit of real world stuff to try out and not have everything so overtly branded as Disney. Granted, the odds of me buying sunglasses or jewelry at WDW while on vacation is slim, but if you took out the retail, what would you replace it with? It seems that the only options would be to simply shrink the area, or add more restaurants. But you can't realistically have all of that square footage devoted to dining. It could never sustain itself. I think that what many visitors miss is that Disney Springs was built as much for (if not more for) the local community than it was for week-long visitors. Imagine for a moment that you live in St. Cloud. Would you rather have Disney Springs set up the way it is, or would you prefer that it be a giant Disney souvenir market?

 

[Gillyrose779]

We love the area between Rainforest and T-Rex- we love the food and the kids love the Lego store. Past that it just looks like a string of unnecessary/ overpriced shops. It was so uninteresting when we went down in Feb. I kept telling myself- this is it? These shops are horrible!