My opinion and feel free to tell me I am wrong (it doesn't bother me, really) is that DS is not really for the avid American WDW visitor. I say that because where I live in Houston we have high end shopping that tends to be a little spread out but, we have one place in Houston (The Galleria) where there is a huge collection of high end stores in one mall with an Ice Skating ring (an oddity for Texas) two hotels, and Saks, and Tiffany's and all the other stores I care nothing about. I probably have not been there except for two business meetings in 20 years. Not my thing, not my friends thing, but they do massive amounts of business there. It also has one of the few remaining Disney Stores in Houston there. We go the the Disney Outlet store in the Outlet mall ourselves. What this place really caters to is out of town, mostly out of country folks. I cannot even tell you the number of wealthier Mexicans that stay in the hotels and shop for 4 days straight before returning home.
So my opinion is that DS is catering to those folks that look for "fun" shopping destinations and DS is catering somewhat to them. I say somewhat because there are still things someone like myself who is more "Disney" enjoys. I like several of the resturaunts, the World of Disney, The Christmas store, The Art of Disney, the Cooking Store, the Pin Trading Store, and the place that sells the D&B purses (my wife likes it). As far as a lot of the other stores go, no as a Disney addict I don't care for them as much, well except maybe the Pandora store (again for the wife). I don't complain about them, I just don't go to them or buy anything at them.
My philosophy when it comes to WDW is, was, and will be, if I like it, I'll come back again and do it, shop at it, ride it, or eat it. If I don't I won't.
Maybe it's my age, maybe it's because I am tired, but things like what has happened at DS just don't really make a blip on the radar screen for me anymore.
