Main Street is no place for corporate branding

[Planogirl]

Everyone was hoping for that in California, but so far nothing. I'd love a SB Disney mug.

A Starbucks Disney mug would be really cool! If it works maybe they could even sell them at Starbucks.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

A Starbucks Disney mug would be really cool! If it works maybe they could even sell them at Starbucks.

Now that would be a something I could handle.

 

[crazy4wdw]

There's an update on Disney Parks Blog.

UPDATE 11/12: Here’s some additional information about our Walt Disney World Resort Starbucks locations. The Main Street Bakery will keep its name and theming when it reopens in early summer. It’ll also continue to serve Disney favorites like cookies, brownies and seasonal cupcakes, in addition to Starbucks signature beverages and other items. And for those of you who asked in comments, the cinnamon rolls are available at Gaston’s Tavern in New Fantasyland, and the ice cream sandwiches are available at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street, U.S.A.

As we announced earlier this year, six Starbucks locations are planned at Disney Parks in Florida and California. In June, the first Starbucks location opened at Disney California Adventure park in the Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Café and is already a guest favorite.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

I haven't read this whole thread but I will say the title says it all: Starbucks does NOT belong on Main Street. Main Street should be the opening credits of the Magic Kingdom park and should give a feel of turn of the century American small town. Starbucks ruins that "feel" and taints the opening credits. I have no problem with Starbucks in parts of the parks where it doesn't diminish the theming but on Main Street it's just WRONG. All the justification of Walt using corporate brands is baseless, Walt's branding on Main Street always fit in with turn of the century America-Coke and Carnation were around in early 1900's.

I truly believe this is a bad move for Disney and is a corporate sell-out in the grandest sense.

 

[siskaren]

I haven't read this whole thread but I will say the title says it all: Starbucks does NOT belong on Main Street.

Clearly you didn't read the post just before yours. Main Street Bakery will keep its name and theming. If it's like the one in DCA, you'll really have to look to see the Starbucks signage.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Clearly you didn't read the post just before yours. Main Street Bakery will keep its name and theming. If it's like the one in DCA, you'll really have to look to see the Starbucks signage.

I did read the post before mine and I have seen the signage at DCA, but ANY signage or branding or icon, no matter how small or tastefully done has no business being on Main Street. There was no Starbucks in turn of the century Marceline MO, it doesn't belong.

 

[minnie mum]

I did read the post before mine and I have seen the signage at DCA, but ANY signage or branding or icon, no matter how small or tastefully done has no business being on Main Street. There was no Starbucks in turn of the century Marceline MO, it doesn't belong.

So corporate sponsorship and signage is OK as long as the name has been around since the turn of the century? Sorry, that is just about the most naive thing I've ever read.

 

[KellyNY]

So corporate sponsorship and signage is OK as long as the name has been around since the turn of the century? Sorry, that is just about the most naive thing I've ever read.

Well, not that it is actually happens in Disney but it is not naive. WWOHP does not have any advertisement as I heard, did not go there yet. Pretty much is to keep theme as true as possible.

 

[freshmanjs]

I did read the post before mine and I have seen the signage at DCA, but ANY signage or branding or icon, no matter how small or tastefully done has no business being on Main Street. There was no Starbucks in turn of the century Marceline MO, it doesn't belong.

um...have you ever actually been to Main Street at Magic Kingdom? there is signage and branding all over the place and has been since day 1!!!!!

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

So corporate sponsorship and signage is OK as long as the name has been around since the turn of the century? Sorry, that is just about the most naive thing I've ever read.

Walt Disney said, "For those of us who remember the carefree time it recreates, Main Street will bring back happy memories. For younger visitors, it is an adventure in turning back the calendar to the days of their grandfather's youth."

Starbucks doesn't belong in the days of grandfather's youth. Putting Starbucks on Main Street is contradictory to the feelings it was intended to provoke. Those feelings are critical to the mindset when entering MK.

I am not naive, I am a purist. I don't think Starbucks belongs on Main Street because it directly inhibits Walt's own intention of Main Street as referenced above. There is NO reason not to put the Starbucks somewhere else in thwe park where it doesn't go against the theming. It would be acceptable at Tomorrowland Terrace.

 

[MinnieMeaghan]

However "tastefully done" this will be (and it IS Disney, so it is sure to be well done), I do not agree with having a Starbucks on Main Street. My mind may change (I mean, there is an Edy's Ice Cream Parlor on the corner and I love it), but I just don't want another Starbucks. There are plenty to go around, and its not needed.

 

[freshmanjs]

However "tastefully done" this will be (and it IS Disney, so it is sure to be well done), I do not agree with having a Starbucks on Main Street. My mind may change (I mean, there is an Edy's Ice Cream Parlor on the corner and I love it), but I just don't want another Starbucks. There are plenty to go around, and its not needed.

why is starbucks a problem when other brands like coke, nescafe, edy's and previously sara lee are not? what is is about starbucks?

 

[freshmanjs]

Walt Disney said, "For those of us who remember the carefree time it recreates, Main Street will bring back happy memories. For younger visitors, it is an adventure in turning back the calendar to the days of their grandfather's youth."

Starbucks doesn't belong in the days of grandfather's youth. Putting Starbucks on Main Street is contradictory to the feelings it was intended to provoke. Those feelings are critical to the mindset when entering MK.

I am not naive, I am a purist. I don't think Starbucks belongs on Main Street because it directly inhibits Walt's own intention of Main Street as referenced above. There is NO reason not to put the Starbucks somewhere else in thwe park where it doesn't go against the theming. It would be acceptable at Tomorrowland Terrace.

would you also be in favor of removing all modern items from main street section of the park? light up toys, electronics, modern brands and products?

if not, then why is starbucks different?

 

[WDSearcher]

I did read the post before mine and I have seen the signage at DCA, but ANY signage or branding or icon, no matter how small or tastefully done has no business being on Main Street. There was no Starbucks in turn of the century Marceline MO, it doesn't belong.

There also weren't Nestle Toll House Cookies at the turn of the century in Marceline, MO (they came along in the 1930s), so I guess they should be gone too? There also probably weren't any African-American people working along Main Street in turn of the century Marceline ... or people singing and dancing on trollies ... or a barbershop that put sparkles in your hair ... or a store that sold iPhone cases ... or mylar balloons ... or air-conditioning ...

When Disneyland opened in 1955, there were plenty of brands on Main Street -- from Carnation to Kodak. There were Gibson greeting cards and Blue Bird children's shoes. Walt had them there from the beginning. So if you truly believe that no signage or branding or icon belongs on Main Street, then you're in direct disagreement with Walt on that issue.

I think you might be forgetting that Main Street USA is inspired by, not a literal representation of, Main Street in Marceline. Disney World is a theme park, not a history museum. (Although I'll bet that every single shop in Marceline back then had some sort of signage out front that stated the brand, from Woolworth's to Harry's Hardware!)

 

[DebbieB]

However "tastefully done" this will be (and it IS Disney, so it is sure to be well done), I do not agree with having a Starbucks on Main Street. My mind may change (I mean, there is an Edy's Ice Cream Parlor on the corner and I love it), but I just don't want another Starbucks. There are plenty to go around, and its not needed.

There's not going to be a "Starbucks" on Main Street. It will still be called Main Street Bakery and they will serve Starbucks drinks instead of Nestle. Did you object to the "Nestle" under the current Main Street Bakery sign?

 

[Clover_Girl]

I've tried to figure out why having Starbucks on Main Street bothers me more than other corporations, and it boils down to a couple things for me.

First, the "cult" of Starbucks. There are so many people I know for whom their morning Starbucks is a ritual. People act in a certain way inside a Starbucks (in my town, often hurriedly, rudely, blinders on to the rest of the world until they get their fix), they have their own culture (got the whole country to say 'Venti' instead of 'Large'). People seem proud of how complex and difficult their orders are, as though it's a badge of honor, and the company encourages this. My fear is that this corporate culture and the Starbucks "groupies" behavior will bleed into Main Street.

Second, because as someone above said, there's going to be an obnoxious line out the door first thing in the morning, crowding up the street right at a time when a lot of people are passing through.

(I have to admit to agreeing a tiny bit with the poster who says that it doesn't fit in with the turn-of-the-century theme, although it's true that this has never stopped Disney before.)

I could be wrong on all counts. I so hope I am.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

There also weren't Nestle Toll House Cookies at the turn of the century in Marceline, MO (they came along in the 1930s), so I guess they should be gone too? There also probably weren't any African-American people working along Main Street in turn of the century Marceline ... or people singing and dancing on trollies ... or a barbershop that put sparkles in your hair ... or a store that sold iPhone cases ... or mylar balloons ... or air-conditioning ...

When Disneyland opened in 1955, there were plenty of brands on Main Street -- from Carnation to Kodak. There were Gibson greeting cards and Blue Bird children's shoes. Walt had them there from the beginning. So if you truly believe that no signage or branding or icon belongs on Main Street, then you're in direct disagreement with Walt on that issue.

I think you might be forgetting that Main Street USA is inspired by, not a literal representation of, Main Street in Marceline. Disney World is a theme park, not a history museum.

I have no problem with Starbucks coffee being served IN Main Street Bakery but a STARBUCKS storefront is totally different from the things you mention above. Of course there will be A/C etc on Main Street but the Starbucks storefront is unprecendented. A list of storefronts on Main Street would include all sorts of stores that are in keeping with the theme of turn of the century: Emporium, Ice Cream Parlour, Barber Shop, Newstand, Penny Arcade, Confectionary, Clothiers, Shooting Gallery, Cone Shop, etc. Adding a Starbucks storefront is not in line with this. The brands that were on Main Street in signage, etc were in keeping with this theme: Coke was around, Carnation was around , Gibson Girl was around...I don't see how this concept is not embraced by true Disney fans. I don't think this Starbucks storefront is going to be without signage and logos, and THAT is my problem with this.

 

[dzaharchuk]

Good grief I can't believe I am wasting my time commenting on this, but this thread is so convoluted and the arguments so petty...

I like Starbucks just fine, and I know that there are corporate sponsors, etc and yes, they sell coke. However, when I go on vacation to DISNEY WORLD, I want to go to Disney World, which is supposed to be a magical fantasyland. When I am walkin' right down the middle of Main Street USA, I don't want to see a Starbucks or a McDonald's. I can stay home and see that. I'd rather drink bad coffee with grounds in it. The Main Street Bakery is a iconic part of Main Street, or it was.

Unbelievable.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

There's not going to be a "Starbucks" on Main Street. It will still be called Main Street Bakery and they will serve Starbucks drinks instead of Nestle. Did you object to the "Nestle" under the current Main Street Bakery sign?

Where did you get this information? Please point me to the source. Thanks.

 

[freshmanjs]

I've tried to figure out why having Starbucks on Main Street bothers me more than other corporations, and it boils down to a couple things for me.

First, the "cult" of Starbucks. There are so many people I know for whom their morning Starbucks is a ritual. People act in a certain way inside a Starbucks (in my town, often hurriedly, rudely, blinders on to the rest of the world until they get their fix), they have their own culture (got the whole country to say 'Venti' instead of 'Large'). People seem proud of how complex and difficult their orders are, as though it's a badge of honor, and the company encourages this. My fear is that this corporate culture and the Starbucks "groupies" behavior will bleed into Main Street.

Second, because as someone above said, there's going to be an obnoxious line out the door first thing in the morning, crowding up the street right at a time when a lot of people are passing through.

(I have to admit to agreeing a tiny bit with the poster who says that it doesn't fit in with the turn-of-the-century theme, although it's true that this has never stopped Disney before.)

I could be wrong on all counts. I so hope I am.

This is so great! Finally, a poster has presented an intelligent and rationale argument for why they are opposed to this that is actually consistent with the facts of the situation. I don't agree but totally respect this view. Well done!