New Blog: Starbucks to Replace Main Street Bakery at Magic Kingdom - UPDATED 11/10!

[WaltD4Me]

Because location counts. Starbucks isn't going to pay Disney the money it has paid and then settle for the noodle station.

I actually agree. Although, I think no matter where they build it, people. will. come. (imagine my best James Earl Jones voice) I highly doubt SB gets to pick what ever spot they want though either, so I think another location could be agreed on. I just don't understand cramming two such popular entities into one location.

 

[jcb]

I actually agree. Although, I think no matter where they build it, people. will. come. (imagine my best James Earl Jones voice)

I'm not so sure I agree. Not everyone is a rabid Starbucks fan and would seek them out no matter where they put the shop, especially if there is only one Starbucks per theme park. I can see Starbucks wanting a high traffic area.

Remember, most folks don't obsess over Disney the way we do. They won't know Starbucks is in the theme parks unless they see the mermaid logo.

I mean, there are people who weren't aware Disney canned Lights of Winter.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I'm not so sure I agree. Not everyone is a rabid Starbucks fan and would seek them out no matter where they put the shop, especially if there is only one Starbucks per theme park. I can see Starbucks wanting a high traffic area.

Remember, most folks don't obsess over Disney the way we do. They won't know Starbucks is in the theme parks unless they see the mermaid logo.

I mean, there are people who weren't aware Disney canned Lights of Winter.

I'm guessing the same company that told JK Rowling "nevermind" because she wanted too much control isn't going to let SB push them around.

I don't think you need to be a rabid SB fan to find a coffee spot in MK, even if it is off the beaten path...personally speaking I would have climbed the Swiss Family Robinson tree for a good cup of coffee in MK long before I ever heard of Starbucks. Maybe everyone doesn't obsess over Disney the way we do, but coffee drinkers know how to find coffee.

 

[DisneyKevin]

So all the more reason not to put it in MSB no? I agree the SB in DLR does look nice and is well themed, but it doesn't seem like there is as large a space for it using MSB. Since the line there already goes out the door sometimes, imagine what it'll be like adding time consuming to make drinks to the mix? SB people are aware and used to this, but it's going to stink and possibly be a deterrent for the folks just wanting a cinnamon roll or ice cream cookie sandwhich. So why not a different location and thus two places earning good revenue?

We've all been told to "write a letter to Disney" and tell them we want better coffee. "Stop at Guest Services and let them know what you think of the coffee" has been a bit of a rallying cry.

Well....Disney has listened. "Due to Guest Demand", we are getting better coffee. We might not like where they are putting it....but they have responded to the problem.

Make no mistake about this.....this is a financial decision.

If Disney can keep the situation at status quo...meaning that they keep the same crowd, same line and same demand....but get a corporation to pay for the opportunity to take care of the same line.....this is a win win.

As has been pointed out....this very much models Walt's first vision of Main Street. He had corporate vendors pay to sell their wares on his "Main Street".

 

[k5jm]

I mean, there are people who weren't aware Disney canned Lights of Winter.

THEY CANNED THE LIGHTS OF WINTER???

 

[k5jm]

...personally speaking I would have climbed the Swiss Family Robinson tree for a good cup of coffee in MK long before I ever heard of Starbucks.

I would climb the Tree House too for GOOD coffee, but not Starbucks. I do not consider SB good coffee. It is just OK and a step above NESCRAPE.

 

[TheWho]

I'm checking the calendar, it's not April 1? This is the worst thing I ever heard. And I like Starbucks.

 

[Blissikins]

Disgusting, absolutely disgusting.

The whole point of MK to me is that it is a whole other fantasty world, away from real life. Starbucks already monopolise the market and kill off small family-owned businesses in "real life", now they have to close down Main St Bakery too?!

I'm beyond disappointed that Disney have done this, to me it opens the door for other brands (McDs? Burger King? Subway?), and MK loses that special "other-worldliness" that so many of us cherish. No matter how they Disneyfy it, nothing is better than the Disney food and drink experience.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Starbucks' products, but there is a time and a place, and Main St USA is NOT the place.

 

[rotlex]

Love this idea. I'm sure Disney will make sure it's kept in theme and heck, as far as baked goods, Starbucks ain't bad.

I have to admit too, I love Starbucks coffee. Not quite sure why anyone has a problem with it. Frankly, I like strong black coffee, so maybe that's why. For anyone that doesn't like it, I'd have to ask if you ever tried the newer "blondie" blend they have? It's good, but more on par with a Dunkin' Donuts flavor of coffee.

 

[WaltD4Me]

We've all been told to "write a letter to Disney" and tell them we want better coffee. "Stop at Guest Services and let them know what you think of the coffee" has been a bit of a rallying cry.

Well....Disney has listened. "Due to Guest Demand", we are getting better coffee. We might not like where they are putting it....but they have responded to the problem.

Make no mistake about this.....this is a financial decision.

If Disney can keep the situation at status quo...meaning that they keep the same crowd, same line and same demand....but get a corporation to pay for the opportunity to take care of the same line.....this is a win win.

As has been pointed out....this very much models Walt's first vision of Main Street. He had corporate vendors pay to sell their wares on his "Main Street".

I really don't have a problem with SB being on Main Street. I just think Main Street should have a Bakery and a coffee shop. At DLR they had the luxury of everything being re-done for Buena Vista Street so they could make that nice big combo bakery/coffee shop, but I can't see how they will be able to do that at WDW. I don't know the plan of course, maybe they have more space available than I think. Time will tell.

 

[KKDonaldFan]

I predict that the lines will be enormous.

While this may upset some fans, this is going to be very popular.

I agree with Kevin....and I'm not even a coffee drinker. Sure, this will piss off a part of the Disney community....but the reality is that this will be very popular.

 

[AndyPok1]

Disgusting, absolutely disgusting.

The whole point of MK to me is...

And herein lies the problem. WDW, and MK specifically, mean something different to every person. 17 million people visited Magic Kingdom last year. That's a lot of different viewpoints, so any change is going to upset some segment of those people.

I understand that MK is seen as an escape from reality for many, and that is something that should be cherished. However, remodeling the bakery to serve Starbucks items is no different than every restaurant selling Coca-Cola. Those products exist outside of the fantasy world.

It will NOT look like a Starbucks! In fact, I'm quite positive that it will look like any other quick service location on Disney property and that you'll have to look closely to even know that they serve Starbucks items!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

And herein lies the problem. WDW, and MK specifically, mean something different to every person. 17 million people visited Magic Kingdom last year. That's a lot of different viewpoints, so any change is going to upset some segment of those people.

I understand that MK is seen as an escape from reality for many, and that is something that should be cherished. However, remodeling the bakery to serve Starbucks items is no different than every restaurant selling Coca-Cola. Those products exist outside of the fantasy world.

It will NOT look like a Starbucks! In fact, I'm quite positive that it will look like any other quick service location on Disney property and that you'll have to look closely to even know that they serve Starbucks items!

Starbucks has a VERY distinctive smell that is kinda burnt, much different than the MK bakery. It's not going to be hard to tell.

 

[AndyPok1]

I think that the bakery smell that is pumped onto Main Street is already partially artificial. No reason to believe that will change.

 

[ADP]

After digesting the news and giving some thought of how this could play out it may not be as bad as we think. Not to say it's going to be good or all rainbows and roses (because it won't). I just don't think it will be as bad as we all think.

I mean look at it this way. The Main St. Bakery's next door neighbor is in a similar situation. It's sponsored by Eddy's ice cream. Guests go in there all day long to get an ice cream cone made with Eddy's ice cream. Starbucks won't be much different at all. Our treats that we loved in the bakery will probably get dispursed throughout the rest of the park. The giant ice cream cookie sandwich will be at Sleepy Hollow, the giant warm cinnomon rolls will end up in the new Fantasyland, etc, etc. What we really lose in all this is the convenience of our favorite treats sold in one very good location. Oh! And Disney becoming a bit more commercialized.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

After digesting the news and giving some thought of how this could play out it may not be as bad as we think. Not to say it's going to be good or all rainbows and roses (because it won't). I just don't think it will be as bad as we all think.

I mean look at it this way. The Main St. Bakery's next door neighbor is in a similar situation. It's sponsored by Eddy's ice cream. Guests go in there all day long to get an ice cream cone made with Eddy's ice cream. Starbucks won't be much different at all. Our treats that we loved in the bakery will probably be dispursed throughout the rest of the park. The giant ice cream cookie sandwich will be at Sleepy Hollow, the giant warm cinnomon rolls will end up in the new Fantasyland, etc, etc. What we really lose in all this is the convenience of our favorite treats being in one very good location. Oh! And Disney becoming a bit more commercialized.

I disagree with that. MK Bakery has HUGE selection of stuff that cannot be found elsewhere in the park.

 

[ADP]

I disagree with that. MK Bakery has HUGE selection of stuff that cannot be found elsewhere in the park.

Not yet. But hopefully they will make most everything available elsewhere. I think there's a great chance the most popular items will be made available elsewhere.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Not yet. But hopefully they will make most everything available elsewhere. I think there's a great chance the most popular items will be made available elsewhere.

I thought the general consensus was that the entire reason for doing this was so that Disney could "farm out" their baking products, though.

 

[ADP]

I thought the general consensus was that the entire reason for doing this was so that Disney could "farm out" their baking products, though.

Although I believe you are partially right (we won't see all of the same items that were in the MSB) the most popular ones will end up in the park somewhere. As for farming out there pastries I don't think all of the pastries that Disney makes will go away....Just the least popular ones.

 

[AndyPok1]

I thought the general consensus was that the entire reason for doing this was so that Disney could "farm out" their baking products, though.

It's a "general consensus" because of the Disney fan echo chamber. It is something someone said and then people ran with it. Disney has never said anything of the sort.

The reason for doing it is pretty simple:

Guests complain about bad coffee --> Disney/Starbucks make an agreement to put one in each park --> Part of the agreement is that Starbucks has to be allowed to sell their full compliment of items --> Where we are

They just started selling a new cinnamon roll in the Fantasyland Expansion. Why would they be adding pastry-type products if the intent is to farm it out?

The whole theory is baseless in my opinion.