New Al Lutz: CL and BVS to Open in June, LMAUA Updates, Mad T Party

[HydroGuy]

Al Lutz of MiceAge has interesting rumors and updates in his update today. Here is a link:
http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al011712a.htm

Highlights include:

o Cars Land and Buena Vista Street - looks like they will open 2nd or 3rd week of June
o Ghirardelli chocolate factory to open same time as CL and BVS
o Matterhorn updates
o Snowman getting a tune-up
o Starbucks coming to DTD - maybe by La Brea Bakery?
o LM AA figure getting a new hairdo
o Other tweaks to LMAUA in the works
o Mad T Party coming late spring
o Pixar Play Parade coming back late spring
o Esplanade rework and/or fountain on hold
o Duffy-bear at DCA not catching on - phase out?

Interestingly (and sadly ) - no mention of the return of the Disney Electrical Parade to DCA. That would have really rocked DCA this summer if they had the DEP return to go along with everything else. Rumors on the WDW forum say it is leaving WDW this summer. So where will it go? Probably into storage...



Note: Al Lutz does not work for Disney. His posts are not Disney announcements. He has solid contacts inside Disney and is helpful in giving an indication of what Disney is planning and considering. People planning vacations should be very cautious about making plans based on Al's articles. That is not what they are intended for. Rather, Al tries to give an insider view of what Disney is thinking and planning for those interested in what the future may hold. This can and does change over time.

Here is the disclaimer that Al has at the end of his article.

Keep in mind updates only get posted when there is something to report on, and not before. It takes time to confirm things, and even then we can only offer a snapshot of a continually evolving story. (People do change their minds you know.) Just like the happiest place on earth, patience is a virtue; the queue may take a while before you can enjoy the attraction.

 

[nunzia]

Nice update..and thank heavens they are working on that odd scene in Little Mermaid..what, they couldn't use real water?

 

[nunzia]

oops double post

 

[PinkBudgie]

I'm interested in the Earl of Sandwhich being considered for DTD. I always hear WDW people talk about it and it sounds interesting. DTD needs a place to grab a good sandwhich. Also hoping for Starbucks.

I also hope they do finish in June. That will give me about a month before our trip for me to come up with a plan of attack based on first reports.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

It sounds like they are really going to make the new open of DCA a big deal! It's all so exciting! I wish I could go!! It's one of those once in a life time things that you would be able to tell stories about!
And on a side note I really hope that they do get Starbucks in DTD good coffee is very important to a mother of 5!!

 

[joelnkelly]

kind of sucks matterhorn isnt going to be opened until the 15th. we get in on the 6th and leave on the 16th. Hopefully it will be up before that.

 

[DLR29]

I'm interested in the Earl of Sandwhich being considered for DTD. I always hear WDW people talk about it and it sounds interesting. DTD needs a place to grab a good sandwhich. Also hoping for Starbucks.

I also hope they do finish in June. That will give me about a month before our trip for me to come up with a plan of attack based on first reports.

Having been at WDW all summer, I definitely welcome an Earl of Sandwich over on this coast. We would frequently go there and get yummy sandwiches!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Having been at WDW all summer, I definitely welcome an Earl of Sandwich over on this coast. We would frequently go there and get yummy sandwiches!

Yes Yes Yes!!!

 

[spacemermaid]

"Ghirardelli chocolate factory to open same time as CL and BVS"

This will be the perfect finishing touch to the San Francisco area of the park...sourdough bread bowls & Ghirardelli chocolate

(Not mixed together, of course )

 

[Tarijeno]

I still think the idea of a Starbucks on Main Street is beyond tacky. This is coming from the same guy who thought putting McDonalds fry-carts across from BTMRR was cheesy, too. I guess they could pull it off assuming they kept the branding fairly subtle (no giant Starbucks sign on Main Street). In my humble opinion, there's something intrinsically tasteless about bringing in this huge, multinational brand that we're all familiar with (there are four Starbucks within 5 miles of my apartment), planting it in the middle of Disneyland, and selling the exact same $3 product I can get at home for $12.

If they're going to bring in Starbucks, which sounds like a certainty according to Lutz, I hope they at least try and make it special. Make treats and drinks that you can only get at Disneyland.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I still think the idea of a Starbucks on Main Street is beyond tacky. This is coming from the same guy who thought putting McDonalds fry-carts across from BTMRR was cheesy, too. I guess they could pull it off assuming they kept the branding fairly subtle (no giant Starbucks sign on Main Street). In my humble opinion, there's something intrinsically tasteless about bringing in this huge, multinational brand that we're all familiar with (there are four Starbucks within 5 miles of my apartment), planting it in the middle of Disneyland, and selling the exact same $3 product I can get at home for $12.

If they're going to bring in Starbucks, which sounds like a certainty according to Lutz, I hope they at least try and make it special. Make treats and drinks that you can only get at Disneyland.

I read it as it was coming to Downtown Disney (possibly by La Brea or Compass Books) NOT Main Street.

 

[GrandBob]

"Ghirardelli chocolate factory to open same time as CL and BVS"

This will be the perfect finishing touch to the San Francisco area of the park...sourdough bread bowls & Ghirardelli chocolate

(Not mixed together, of course )

Why not?

I still remember going to Carnation Cafe for breakfast, a long long time ago, back when they had an indoor section and a full menu (all coming back again, yay!) Went with a GF at the time. We had Eggs Benedict with home fries, followed immediately by hot fudge sundaes for dessert. Yum! The start of a perfect day!

-Bob

 

[ArchOwl]

I still think the idea of a Starbucks on Main Street is beyond tacky. This is coming from the same guy who thought putting McDonalds fry-carts across from BTMRR was cheesy, too. I guess they could pull it off assuming they kept the branding fairly subtle (no giant Starbucks sign on Main Street). In my humble opinion, there's something intrinsically tasteless about bringing in this huge, multinational brand that we're all familiar with (there are four Starbucks within 5 miles of my apartment), planting it in the middle of Disneyland, and selling the exact same $3 product I can get at home for $12.

If they're going to bring in Starbucks, which sounds like a certainty according to Lutz, I hope they at least try and make it special. Make treats and drinks that you can only get at Disneyland.

The rumor posted by Lutz says Starbucks would be in Downtown Disney, not Main Street.

As far as all the other rumors go, it will interesting to see the changes to Little Mermaid and so glad that BVS and Carsland seem to be heading in the right direction for an earlier summer opening. I am thinking a good time to head in will be right after AP blockouts, if this rumor pans out. Lutz was not correct in his WOC predictions.

 

[GrandBob]

I still think the idea of a Starbucks on Main Street is beyond tacky. This is coming from the same guy who thought putting McDonalds fry-carts across from BTMRR was cheesy, too.

Walt was a big believer in corporate sponsorship, and brought big name sponsors into the park from Day 1 -- Kodak, Carnation, Coke, Chicken-of-the-sea; the list goes on. Think what you may of any particular vendors, it's a long-time tradition. I guess you would call Walt tacky, but I sure wouldn't!

-Bob

 

[Tarijeno]

Yes, corporate sponsorship has it's roots in Disneyland's history -- the parks wouldn't exist if not for it. I prefer the corporate sponsorship when it's "Hey, come check out this fun, immersive and exciting attraction that happens to be sponsored by Kodak" as opposed to "Hey, come buy a $12 cappucino that you could buy at home for $3!"

Now my reference to a Starbucks on Main Street refers to the article's mention of an apparently dead proposal to have Starbucks occupy the Market House on Main Street. I was just venting at that possibility and am glad that it's DOA. A big shiny Starbucks sign in the middle of 1920's America would just look weird IMHO.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Starbucks being in DTD, might be enough to sway DH into wanting to stay at DLH instead of either PP or GCH, so much easier for him to grab a grande drip with an add-shot if we are walking by anyway...

 

[CrazyDuck]

Well if they put a Starbucks in DTD I'd rather it be at LaBrea Bakery than the old Compass Books, because while staying at GCH there is no easy/quick way to get to Compass Books and there is no way I'm backtracking on my way into DL to buy a cappuccino for my DW!

 

[Gina421]

Thanks for the great info!! It's fun to read about and gets me more excited for our fall 12 trip!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Well if they put a Starbucks in DTD I'd rather it be at LaBrea Bakery than the old Compass Books, because while staying at GCH there is no easy/quick way to get to Compass Books and there is no way I'm backtracking on my way into DL to buy a cappuccino for my DW!

Excellent point. La Brea would be the better location. Also because as the article said its across from the tram drop off.

 

[ArchOwl]

Excellent point. La Brea would be the better location. Also because as the article said its across from the tram drop off.

Yes, but can you imagine the lines?! I would almost rather it be at the Compass location just because not as many people would walk over there...