Long Island DTD: is soft opening today?

5forDiz

DIS Veteran
Joined
Dec 13, 2001
Messages
3,366
had read post here around the time of preview event held at Garden City Hotel that it'd be October 17-18 but couple days ago read another post that said Sept. 17 is soft opening ? :confused3 Anyone over at Roosevelt Field Mall today or know more?

TIA :goodvibes
~laura
 
Yesterday (Sept 17th) was the soft opening of the store. I stopped by last night - friendly cast members, beautiful model of the Bay Lake Tower studio and 1BR unit, and nice to meet some fellow DVC'ers! There was no big fanfare or giveaways - they are probably saving all that for the grand opening celebration, which I believe is scheduled for October 17th .
 
Thanks for the info Mike :) We live around 45 minutes away (on the other island that a billionaire mayor oversees :rotfl: ) so wanted to be sure before making the drive out there.
 
I stopped by this afternoon. It was fairly empty. Not what I expected for some reason but it was nice to see the models since when I toured them in Florida in August I pretty much decided not to buy into BLT...lol!! Crazy me...

Anyway....you need to sign in at the front desk and someone needs to escort you through the model...there was a one bedroom and a studio. The balcony was definitely larger than it is in real life. I asked if the balconies are really that large and he said no...it was because they built it in a mall and there was construction constrictions?! (say that 3x's fast).... I also commented on the actual room that had the washer and dryer in the 1 BR and he said that not all 1 BD's will have a dedicated washroom...again...built in a mall. The room was rectangular and not triangular.....I think they really should have built it as it is in Florida because I can see people being upset comparing the real thing to the mall "thing".

There was a room set aside for little ones but I didnt look in there. There was a "theater" for presentations for potential buyers (behind a curtain).

The guide was really nice and since he said he figured I was a disney fan showed me the conference room...really cute/cool room all mickey'ed out!

From there I was shown the door! lol.....no chance to just browse there!! I did check out a few details here and there but was really hoping to be allowed to browse. I probably could have asked to stay longer except I would have been taking up the CM's time plus I felt like such a geek even being there.....

Next week is the grand opening and I'm kind of sad I went to day because I dont know if I can go again next week without feeling like a total nerd. (no offense to anyone)
 

When I read this thread I had to go and see for myself! We live 1.7 miles and 5 minutes from Roosevelt Field--it took 7 minutes today because of a long long light and a woman crossing the road very slowly--which shows how imaptient I was to get there!

Walking from the parking lot I was thrilled to see this sign over the doorway:
IMG_1972.jpg


IMG_1973.jpg


there were billboards in the mall too, and this banner
IMG_1974.jpg

Underneath the banner is an information desk with pamphlets but I couldn't get a good shot of it.

I walked upstairs and got a blurry shot of the storefront exit:
IMG_1975.jpg

The entrance is to the left of this shot--I didn't get a good shot of it because a couple of CMs were standing in the doorway and I felt a bit shy. But they asked me in and I took these shots of the anteroom:
IMG_1976.jpg


The doors behind Mickey lead to a room where they show a 3 minute film--the CM said that it's the easiest and quickest way to explain DVC. It didn't look like they had anything running at the time, though.

IMG_1978.jpg


IMG_1977.jpg


I told them I was a member and had heard that there were model rooms on display. So they asked me for my membership info and unlocked the door. Inside it looked like the lobby of a small hotel, with a reception desk, chairs, couches and a sideboard with a cooler with soda and water.
Liz, a nice CM, walked me through the model studio--I'd heard of the vanity and kitchenette combo but was still surprised by it. Otherwise I have to say that I liked it better in person--the photos that I've seen online don't do it justice! I thought it looked retro-60s in the picture but the colors were much nicer.
The incentives that they announced at the Garden City Hotel event have been extended until Friday for anyone who comes in to Doorway to Dreams. And on the Oct 17th opening they'll have performers in front of the Disney Store downstairs as well as the party upstairs.
 
Thanks for the pictures. We don't live anywhere near LI or Chicago, so we won't be seeing these in person any time soon. It must be great to have this so close so you can enjoy a Disney fix any time. ;)
 
Thanks for the info everyone & great pix GK90 :thumbsup2 Didn't get there last weekend, maybe tomorrow but also debating if I should just wait until official opening celebration :confused3 Sounds like there will be lots of great photo ops :)

ETA - I'm presuming official opening is open to the public no invitation necessary ? Does anyone
know for sure ? tia :-)
 
I went on sept 17 , and was one of 4 of the first set of people to enter it for the first time , they first showed us a movie it was about 5-8 minutes long then we signed ds 4 into the club house i had to go look it was amazing they had a white wall with disney designs that kids can just color on they had a tv , 2computers and video games . then we toured and before we went to sit in a room to talk to the cm dvc rep they had a one way window where we saw ds having a ball andhe was on full disney overload . They had a great deal we were only looking for an add on of 50 points , but it is not the right time for us to add right now . i have more pictures as soon as i can have my wife add them i will post them here . And i will say it is going to be a Big Day on October 17 , 2009 at rooservelt field mall cannot wait . :wizard::wizard:
 
We were there before they opened on Sept. 17th. Here are some pics I took.
picture.php

picture.php

picture.php

Above before the finishing touches. Below after the finishing touches.
picture.php

picture.php

Doorway to view kids room
picture.php

Inside kids room
picture.php

Inside kids room... This is a dry erase white board... believe the magic...
picture.php

The Lobby! Can I go in that suitcase Mickey?
 
I would just like to thank GK90 for the previous post on this thread. My family and I went to the presentation at the Garden City Hotel and had decided that day to purchase BLT. The best part was 2 days after the Hotel we were going to Disney, so we decided we would go and visit BLT and then close at SS that Friday. Well after we visited BLT and some cold feet we decided to cancel the transaction. Since we've been home we've been up and down about buying more points especially since we missed a great opportunity. Well last night I found GK90's post about the incentive lasting till this upcoming weekend. So what did I do this morning, drove straight to Doorway to Dreams and reactivated my paperwork. If if wasn't for GK90 I would never have done it. My husband's wallet thanks you too.
 
Does anyone know what specials or give-aways they will have at the Oct 17th opening? Been waiting for this and now I realize I will be away. :( So sad to miss this so close to home.
 
You're welcome lovedvc! Anything that makes addonitis a little less expensive is good :thumbsup2

Somewhere I have a postcard that they gave me about the Grand Opening that says it's in the mall, and from what the CM said I think it's open to the public.

I just realized we're supposed to go upstate that afternoon! Anyone know what time the event will be?

And disney67, I wish I could see your photos, they're not showing up for me. Have you tried uploading them to photobucket, or can you give us links?
 
I just received the postcard in the mail and the grand opening is from 10 am - 8 pm on Saturday, October 17th.
 
We haven't received our postcard yet. We're only 5 minutes from Roosevelt Field, and we plan to be there for the Grand Opening!
 
We got our post card yesterday. We are only about an hour and a half away, but we traveled to Boston over the summer for an event and added on then. I don't I want to risk another temptation.

It's a good thing this event is happening before our next trip, because we are staying at BLT and if it is everything I expect then I may have traveled to the opening if it was after my trip and been "forced" to add on.
 

















DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter DIS Bluesky

Back
Top