Disney Springs Impressions

[moremouse]

I won't pass judgment just yet. I agree with some others though. It looks very outlet mall to me. I WILL walk through and check everything out. It something new after all.

My concern is that while I'm on my "disney high" I'm going to walk into Sephora and just blow all my money. This will be tricky.

 

[hooch11bear]

I'm not sure exactly what everybody expected. They announced a while back what stores would be in this location. We have always loved Downtown Disney (Disney Springs). I might not be interested in shopping at some of the stores, but I am pretty excited to try some new desserts and food. We have always loved strolling around and enjoying the entertainment. It's a day off from the parks. We take the boat from Riverside and enjoy ourselves. We usually end up there a few times every trip. After seeing some of the videos, I'm pretty excited to see the new additions. Downtown Disney has always been a shopping area!!

 

[JimmyV]

I'm not sure exactly what everybody expected.

And I'm not exactly sure what people wanted. Downtown Disney/Disney Springs already has the single largest Disney Store and all of WDW has Disney stuff. How many more stores do people need that sell Mickey ears? It seems as if the folks who are complaining about the addition of national chain stores would rather have seen a teeny tiny Shopping Village that only had a few Disney themed stores. Been there. Done that.

 

[J'Adore Disney]

I went last Saturday, one day shy of the new store openings and I tried my best to keep an open mind. I kept repeating to myself "Around here we don't look backwards for very long...we keep moving forward etc." you know, Walt Disney's famous quote?

I believe Disney Springs is geared toward locals and out-of-towner's looking for entertainment outside their resorts and/or the parks. Its competition is Universal's CityWalk and I believe Disney will prevail.

As for me, I miss eating a hot dog at Goofy's Grill in the old Marketplace and dancing the night away at Mannequin's in Pleasure Island, both kept me immersed in the magic...Disney Springs does and probably never will.

 

[Lesverts]

I went last Saturday, one day shy of the new store openings and I tried my best to keep an open mind. I kept repeating to myself "Around here we don't look backwards for very long...we keep moving forward etc." you know, Walt Disney's famous quote?

I believe Disney Springs is geared toward locals and out-of-towner's looking for entertainment outside their resorts and/or the parks. Its competition is Universal's CityWalk and I believe Disney will prevail.

As for me, I miss eating a hot dog at Goofy's Grill in the old Marketplace and dancing the night away at Mannequin's in Pleasure Island, both kept me immersed in the magic...Disney Springs does and probably never will.

Comparing it to CityWalk is a false dichotomy. They have very different missions and demographics to please. Disney Springs needs to appeal to a wide-range of people, but for lack of a better reference, it is the soccer mom shopper and families that are going to drive business. Disney Springs is a shopping and dining venue with some entertainment. La Nouba, Splittsville, the AMC theatre being about the limit of its offerings. CityWalk is an entertainment district. It is meant to appeal to two separate but connected demographics. Young adults looking for nightlife and parents with teens looking for nightlife that is of the not intense variety. There is very limited shopping at CityWalk and what is there is rather uninspired. I think Comcast and Disney can look at each others districts and learn some things. Because right now Disney Springs could certainly benefit from including a place or two like Jellyrolls or Atlantic Dance Hall without the suck. But CityWalk can improve if they offered better shopping and there are some great brands that Disney does not have at the Springs right now.

Citywalk also has a tremendous advantage over Disney Springs. To go to Universal, you have to go through CityWalk. On top of almost no competition from in park resorts, CityWalk is always going to be very successful at what it does.

 

[IrishNYC]

I'm not sure exactly what everybody expected...Downtown Disney has always been a shopping area!!

When I was researching for our very first trip in a VERY long time last year, from the hype DTD go heret, I expected a very "DISNEY!!!!!!" experience. Instead it was just a hot, sun drenched, crowded version of any mall or big city with some Disney stuff thrown in.

 

[MainMom]

DTD used to be worth the hassle of getting there via bus for us. Now, I don't think it will be. We may try it in a couple of weeks, but the idea of the long bus ride for just the marketplace is not appealing. We have no interest in shopping in the new stores.

 

[yulilin3]

When I was researching for our very first trip in a VERY long time last year, from the hype DTD go heret, I expected a very "DISNEY!!!!!!" experience. Instead it was just a hot, sun drenched, crowded version of any mall or big city with some Disney stuff thrown in.

the bolded: things that Disney can't control.
I feel people are generalizing Town Center section as the whole Disney Springs...if you go in the evening (which is when most people visiting go, after the parks) you have a lot of varied entertainment all around, you could be listening to some cover bands, acoustic rock, spanish guitar, Irish acoustic, DJ dance parties for kids.
Plus all the different food offerings, a movie theater, bowling alley. It's much, much better than a shopping mall.

 

[JimmyV]

Because right now Disney Springs could certainly benefit from including a place or two like Jellyrolls or Atlantic Dance Hall without the suck.

If you can figure out how to remove the suck, you win!

.if you go in the evening (which is when most people visiting go, after the parks) you have a lot of varied entertainment all around, you could be listening to some cover bands, acoustic rock, spanish guitar, Irish acoustic, DJ dance parties for kids.

This cannot be emphasized enough. The area is designed with 6:00 p.m. to midnight in mind. Yes, it is open during the day. But this has "evening" written all over it. When viewed in this light (or twilight), it looks a lot different.

 

[DieHardJoe]

We were there a couple weeks ago on a grandparents trip. We loved DS, though we may not do more than walk through the new area. It reminded us how we have enjoyed many of the offerings over the years. Did we like all of them? Of course not. But there was always plenty we liked. Whether it was trips with no kids, trips with our two daughters, or a trip with our grandsons, we would always find things to entertain us. We easily spent up to an hour watching them work their magic with the Legos. Is there a Lego store near us? Somewhat near, but this was us enjoying time away with our family. They rode the carousel and train. I still remember when our daughters rode them. Again, is any of this awe-inspiring and something we've never seen before? No, but in the context of a family vacation, walking around, eating ice cream, watching the look on the little guys when they walk by the Disney Store and get squirted, it reminds us that even a few hours at DS can make some lasting memories.

 

[nicynot]

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.

hahah when i read this reallllly fast i read stripper.... oops

 

[JimmyV]

hahah when i read this reallllly fast i read stripper.... oops

 

[yulilin3]

hahah when i read this reallllly fast i read stripper.... oops

It could be called. ...Pleasure Island, the VIP room could be The Adventurers Club