It's the end of the world all over again...

[ArthurFiggis]

Alcohol served in the Magic Kingdom? End of the world and Walt spins in his grave.

Princesses get an updated look? End of the world and now they all look like prostitutes.

Menu changes at your favorite restaurant? End of the world, Disney is ruined forever and service is dead.

Starbucks on Main Street USA? End of the world and Walt spins in his grave.

Are we all so adverse to change that everything is the end of the world?

New Fantasyland? Belle and Beast meet and greets gone. End of the world.

Even the blog posts make it sound like WDW is ruined forever, and that makes me saddest of all. Why do we seem so ready to write off something we apparently like so much?

 

[donalduck]

why is it the end of the world?

Alcohol served in the Magic Kingdom? End of the world and Walt spins in his grave.

Princesses get an updated look? End of the world and now they all look like prostitutes.

Menu changes at your favorite restaurant? End of the world, Disney is ruined forever and service is dead.

Starbucks on Main Street USA? End of the world and Walt spins in his grave.

Are we all so adverse to change that everything is the end of the world?

New Fantasyland? Belle and Beast meet and greets gone. End of the world.

Even the blog posts make it sound like WDW is ruined forever, and that makes me saddest of all. Why do we seem so ready to write off something we apparently like so much?

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I get your point. People hate change, in general. Especially Disney vets who have such precious memories invested in an attraction or shop.

Disney himself would have embraced the changes and additions.

 

[Princess on the Run]

I'll be the first to admit that I hate change. I still refer to buildings as their old names instead of their new names (like the Sears Tower and Comiskey Park). I used DOS for ages (and UNIX too) before I would learn to use windows. The only apple product I own is a shuffle and as much as I'd love an iPad, my own stubbornness prevents me from getting one. My firm upgrades software or gets new program for something and I am always the last one digging in my heels refusing to learn how to use it. I admit I am ridiculous about this stuff and sometimes I even end up liking the new stuff once I get over myself and give it a try.

I don't like the new princesses or Starbucks being there because I feel like it's a step in the wrong direction. I don't think Starbucks is going to single-handedly ruin WDW but a big part of my fear of change is the slippery slope argument. Today Starbucks, tomorrow CVS and then a big ol' Walmart. I know that's not likely to happen, it's just where my mind jumps the minute someone whispers about change.

I am excited about New Fantasyland though because as far as I am concerned that's the absolute best part of WDW so having it bigger is all good!! (just please don't put a Target there )

 

[CastawayJP]

I agree! I have seen on other threads people saying that alcohol being served at Be Our Guest and Starbucks taking over Main St Bakery makes Disney no different than any other vacation destination.... Funny, I see the differences between Disney and Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas, even Busch Gardens... A Starbucks on Main St doesn't change that!

 

[lugnut33]

Just got back from WDW.

Loved the change they made to Country Bears, much better now.

Loved the new Fantasyland Expansion.

Love some of the princesses new dresses.

Love the new Star Tours.

Love the new circus area that replaced Toon Town.

OK, maybe I'm just a fanboy but I'm content with the changes that I've seen.

 

[Joseph Robinson]

Wait...there's going to be a Starbucks on Main Street?!

 

[lugnut33]

Wait...there's going to be a Starbucks on Main Street?!

It's going to look as much like a Starbucks as the old french fry carts looked like a McDonalds.

 

[wiigirl]

I get your point. People hate change, in general. Especially Disney vets who have such precious memories invested in an attraction or shop.

Disney himself would have embraced the changes and additions.

I agree!

 

[eliza61]

I get your point. People hate change, in general. Especially Disney vets who have such precious memories invested in an attraction or shop.

Disney himself would have embraced the changes and additions.

How do we know disney would have loved the changes. Disney himself had some control over the company. Now it's not the same it's profit driven.

And let's not pretend that disney has not laid some eggs.

Pleasure Island.. pretty much a wasted dump.
DTD. conglomerate of stores,
the stitch ride
dumbing down of menus (I don't blame the ddp, I'm leaning more toward cost cutting but the menus are sad and please don't try to justify it with "you don't go to disney to eat").
new uniforms at the American adventures that makes even the smallest cast member look like a 90 year old lump of clay.
Generic souvenieers (sp) although I did read a blog here that said disney finally got the message and is bringing back nicer quality merchandise.


I'm a wait and see type of gal but I admit that if I had my druthers I would not have went with a Starbucks. Sorry I can get starbucks every 50 ft in Philly. I'm like that no matter where I travel. When I go to Paris, I'm not going to Mcdonalds, that makes absolutely no sense. I go for the stuff that makes places special.

I'm not throwing in the towel on the mouseworld by any means but I can't say I'm overjoyed by the prospect of a big ole starbucks sign on Main street.

Just my take.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I'm a wait and see type of gal but I admit that if I had my druthers I would not have went with a Starbucks. Sorry I can get starbucks every 50 ft in Philly. I'm like that no matter where I travel. When I go to Paris, I'm not going to Mcdonalds, that makes absolutely no sense. I go for the stuff that makes places special.

I'm not throwing in the towel on the mouseworld by any means but I can't say I'm overjoyed by the prospect of a big ole starbucks sign on Main street.

Just my take.

I agree with this 1000%.

I always try to take advantage of what's the local best.

That being said....there isnt a great Mom and Pop coffee shop selling amazing coffee anywhere in the Magic Kingdom.

There are many other locations in the park selling the same swamp water Nescafe / "coffee".

I would also reserve judgement as to how this is going to be advertised and marketed. After visiting the DCA location, there is very, very little to let you know that it's a Starbucks location. I would assume that this would be the same for Main Street.

As others have pointed out, they sell Edy's Ice Cream in the Ice Cream Shop and there isnt a neon sign or a sign twirler outside hawking that fact.

Disney is very tough in maintaining their brand. I wouldnt expect a Starbucks Mermaid outside the Main Street Bakery.

 

[TheWho]

I agree with this 1000%.

I always try to take advantage of what's the local best.

That being said....there isnt a great Mom and Pop coffee shop selling amazing coffee anywhere in the Magic Kingdom.

There are many other locations in the park selling the same swamp water Nescafe / "coffee".

I would also reserve judgement as to how this is going to be advertised and marketed. After visiting the DCA location, there is very, very little to let you know that it's a Starbucks location. I would assume that this would be the same for Main Street.

As others have pointed out, they sell Edy's Ice Cream in the Ice Cream Shop and there isnt a neon sign or a sign twirler outside hawking that fact.

Disney is very tough in maintaining their brand. I wouldnt expect a Starbucks Mermaid outside the Main Street Bakery.

I agree also. (Please imagineers, keep it subtle, no big green sign, please please please.......)

 

[GrumpyFan]

Fan bois are so fickle. They're not happy with things staying the same, but when things do change, they're not happy about that either.

Why can't we just wait and see what they're going to do before we start with all the ranting and raving? Walt Disney World & Disneyland have changed many, many times over the years and will continue to do so. So what, if it's largely money-driven, is that really so bad? I mean, if you give guests what they want, they will spend money and come back again to do it over. If not, they will go elsewhere. So, while it may seem mostly money driven, it's also about listening to the guest/customer and what they want.

The Starbucks change is one MANY a Disney fan here and elsewhere have complained about over the years. The stuff they chose to serve was absolutely nasty, and not deserving to be called "coffee". But, now that they're trying to change to something better, some of us go and get our panties in a wad and get all dramatic about them trying to improve something we've complained about. It should be noted that Disney themselves have said the Bakery is NOT going away. Repeat, THE BAKERY IS NOT GOING AWAY! So, why so much drama? Disney has had sponsorships from the very first day that Disneyland opened. In fact, some of the shops actually sold NON-DISNEY related merchandise like women's underwear and tobacco. But, where are those now? They're gone because nobody wants to buy them in the park any more. All I'm saying is, let's give this a chance first, before we start with all the drama and hysterics. Until it's done, we really don't know what it will look like or what they will offer. If we/you don't like it after it opens, then go complain, but to do so before it even starts construction is just plain silly.

 

[jpeka65844]

Is the coffee in other locations still going to be Nescafe?

 

[JimmyV]

I agree with this 1000%.

I always try to take advantage of what's the local best.

That being said....there isnt a great Mom and Pop coffee shop selling amazing coffee anywhere in the Magic Kingdom.

This may be the single most overlooked facet of this entire issue. This is not a mom-and-pop ACE Hardware being displaced by Home Despot. This is corporate Disney's mass-produced "just add water" excuse for coffee being replaced by America's #1 coffee shop. Disney's cinnamon rolls are not being made by a grey-haired granny in the pantry. They are assembly line pastries that could just as easliy be branded as Entenmann's or Hostess. Or Cinnabon. Starbucks is not replacing a "local" establishment. The branding is of no moment. What matters is the theming. Put Starbucks products into a turn-of-the-century structure and you will have a winner. Same as Casey's. Same as the Crystal Palace. The vacation immersion comes entirely from the theming and not from the source of the product sold. Were it the latter, no one would eat a single food item in the Magic Kingdom. Everything sold there is big corporate "Buy-N-Large" stuff and none of it is locavore, family-run fare. To equate the Main Street Bakery with a centuries old Parisian patisserie is ludicrous.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Fan bois are so fickle. They're not happy with things staying the same, but when things do change, they're not happy about that either.

Why can't we just wait and see what they're going to do before we start with all the ranting and raving? Walt Disney World & Disneyland have changed many, many times over the years and will continue to do so. So what, if it's largely money-driven, is that really so bad? I mean, if you give guests what they want, they will spend money and come back again to do it over. If not, they will go elsewhere. So, while it may seem mostly money driven, it's also about listening to the guest/customer and what they want.

The Starbucks change is one MANY a Disney fan here and elsewhere have complained about over the years. The stuff they chose to serve was absolutely nasty, and not deserving to be called "coffee". But, now that they're trying to change to something better, some of us go and get our panties in a wad and get all dramatic about them trying to improve something we've complained about. It should be noted that Disney themselves have said the Bakery is NOT going away. Repeat, THE BAKERY IS NOT GOING AWAY! So, why so much drama? Disney has had sponsorships from the very first day that Disneyland opened. In fact, some of the shops actually sold NON-DISNEY related merchandise like women's underwear and tobacco. But, where are those now? They're gone because nobody wants to buy them in the park any more. All I'm saying is, let's give this a chance first, before we start with all the drama and hysterics. Until it's done, we really don't know what it will look like or what they will offer. If we/you don't like it after it opens, then go complain, but to do so before it even starts construction is just plain silly.

I will never understand why the "calm down, wait and see" side cares so much about what the other side thinks or does. Talk about hysteria...your last paragraph seems to be getting a little hysterical to me. I don't recall seeing any posts by anyone who is not happy with the change or signing the petition calling those who are okay with the SB any names. You have your opinion, other people have theirs...I don't think that makes them hysterical whiners......and even if they are, it's no skin off your nose. Seems your panties are in as much of a bunch as anyone else's might or might not be.

It just so happens that I think it's silly to wait until it opens. By then it's too late and someone will surely say...."Well why didn't you say something sooner? It's too late to do anything about it now."

 

[GrumpyFan]

I will never understand why the "calm down, wait and see" side cares so much about what the other side thinks or does. Talk about hysteria...your last paragraph seems to be getting a little hysterical to me. I don't recall seeing any posts by anyone who is not happy with the change or signing the petition calling those who are okay with the SB any names. You have your opinion, other people have theirs...I don't think that makes them hysterical whiners......and even if they are, it's no skin off your nose. Seems your panties are in as much of a bunch as anyone else's might or might not be.

It just so happens that I think it's silly to wait until it opens. By then it's too late and someone will surely say...."Well why didn't you say something sooner? It's too late to do anything about it now."

I've seen and heard numerous hysterical fan bois who are being very dramatic about this. In fact, listen to the latest Podcast by the Pete and the gang and he goes almost berserk over this.

It's never too late to protest, and you're right, in some sense it's never too soon to protest. I think a good case in point is with the original plans Disney had for the Fantasyland expansion and it leaning heavily toward girls. The fan's protests seem to have made a difference there and made them change direction and add the Seven Dwarves Mine Train. However, for that expansion, we actually had a lot more information on what they were planning.

My point was that we should at least know what it is we're protesting first. The fact that they've said they are changing the Main Street Bakery doesn't really tell us HOW they are changing it. I'm just suggesting wait until we know more. Who knows we might actually like what they do in the long run.