30 venues announced for Disney Springs

[rteetz]

30 new shops and dining have been announced for Disney Springs today that will start opening May 15th, 2016. Most of these locations will likely be within Town Center which has been rumored to open in May.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ingexperiences/?CMP=SOC-TWITTER20160229153600

 

[jlundeen]

I have to say that other than the big DISNEY store, (and everything that is there can now be found in practically every other Disney store in the resorts and parks), I have no interest in going to Disney Springs. Seems to be just another mall/shopping center to me, and my time at WDW is too limited to spend it at a shopping mall. Maybe I'm missing something here.

 

[rteetz]

I have to say that other than the big DISNEY store, (and everything that is there can now be found in practically every other Disney store in the resorts and parks), I have no interest in going to Disney Springs. Seems to be just another mall/shopping center to me, and my time at WDW is too limited to spend it at a shopping mall. Maybe I'm missing something here.

While true, there are some unique ones here. I mainly go for dining And the Disney shops like marketplace co-op but will definitely will at least check town meter out.

 

[rteetz]

Here is a break down of what each store or dining experience is including what is happening to Fultons during the refurb.

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/02/break...of-all-new-disney-springs-offerings-for-2016/

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Disney's main strategy here is to appeal to locals looking to do something during the weekend, but not necessarily interested in going to the parks. You could easily spend a day at Disney Springs. I know I would be there every weekend if I lived nearby.

But - this is also huge for guests. There's no mall that I know of nearby, nor am I taking the trip to one. I know there's a Target, etc. but if you don't have a car, you need to Uber or grab a taxi - and I'm not going through that much work.

This past Christmas it was HOT. The weather forecast (literally up until we boarded to head to Disney) called for a few hot days to start the trip, then rain, then the temperature would "drop" into the 70s. Okay. I know packing for Disney during December requires a plethora or clothes. I pack t-shirts, shorts, jeans, long-sleeve shirts, hoodies, scarfs, gloves, etc. I pack for every season. So this year, I packed a good amount of t-shirts for the first few days, then a bunch of long-sleeve shirts and shorts.

Well, the rain never came and the heat never broke. I love Disney, but I rarely rock any Disney gear. If I'm gonna buy clothes, I'd like to to be something I wear. At Disney, I had a choice between buying a Mickey shirt, buying some surf t-shirt from Disney Springs or doing laundry. I did a lot of laundry. It's nice to know that if the weather is too hot (or too cold) I can run and grab a Lacoste polo or a sweatshirt from Columbia.

 

[TisBit]

I thought the was to appeal the locals, but with this line up I think it is more to try to keep guests on site and possibly pull in some that are not going to the parks. These stores are the almost the exact same as you will find at Vineland, which is always packed. I know these aren't outlets stores, but honestly Vineland isn't much of an outlet center either.

 

[loves to dive]

I have to say that other than the big DISNEY store, (and everything that is there can now be found in practically every other Disney store in the resorts and parks), I have no interest in going to Disney Springs. Seems to be just another mall/shopping center to me, and my time at WDW is too limited to spend it at a shopping mall. Maybe I'm missing something here.

I agree, while I like to shop at Trend D and the big Disney store there and maybe grab something to eat at one of the dining establishments, getting there if you are staying on site is such at PITA that I just don't go any more. The buses can take longer than a hour and every single time I've gone, it doesn't matter what resort I'm staying at, I've sat at the stop there at DS for at least 45 min, sometimes a hour just waiting for a bus. If the buses would go directly there and not stop at the water parks, I might go even with the horrible waits but going to the water parks just makes the trip longer and I always wonder why they do it. It's not like you are going to leave a water park in your wet suit or carrying your wet suit and go shopping. I have a car since I drive down but I'm not going to fight that traffic and fight for parking just to go shopping, not worth it for me.

 

[Flyerjab]

I have to say that other than the big DISNEY store, (and everything that is there can now be found in practically every other Disney store in the resorts and parks), I have no interest in going to Disney Springs. Seems to be just another mall/shopping center to me, and my time at WDW is too limited to spend it at a shopping mall. Maybe I'm missing something here.

I have to agree with @rteetz on this one. As DTD evolves in Disney Springs, it has slowly become a destination for us on our trips, if for no other reason than the dining. We fit in as many sit down dinners as we can afford on trips, and the Boathouse has become a regular stop for us. Sitting outside on the dock for dinner when the sun is setting at that restaurant is a great experience. The food is expensive, but we realize that and plan accordingly. We also like Morimoto's Asia, Raglan Road and Ghirardellis. And then there will be STK, The Edison, Walt's, and other brand new locales. Also, the flagship Starbucks in The West Side has a great back porch that overlooks the water and Saratoga Springs - another great spot to relax. And this place will be beautiful once the Springs are open to walk around. What once was an after thought for my family is now a definite visit each time we go to WDW.

 

[JRennie]

I have to say that other than the big DISNEY store, (and everything that is there can now be found in practically every other Disney store in the resorts and parks), I have no interest in going to Disney Springs. Seems to be just another mall/shopping center to me, and my time at WDW is too limited to spend it at a shopping mall. Maybe I'm missing something here.

I read an article somewhere not that long ago that speculated it was to keep guests from going into orlando to the outlets and other malls there. Why would you leave property if everything you want is at Disney Springs? I've got the same thoughts as you though. ... I came to disney to do disney things, not shop at a mall.

 

[PuppyJonathan]

My family has always went to Downtown for dining and window shopping at the stores we didn't have by where I live. We did shop here though. I have to double check but I believe I was told when I was little "if I found something I wanted in the parks, wait until we find it in Downtown Disney" since there it was easier to carry around shopping bags. Personally I don't mind the addition of additional shops as long they don't take away the ones I look forward to every time (World of Disney, Pin Traders, Once Upon a Toy and the Lego store). I'm interested to know what the Coca-Cola store is going to be like if it's something more like the museum in Atlanta or a larger Club Cool and I want to see this "Welcome Center" because that sounds nice . Other than that I do feel like there are some missed opportunities (I would've loved to see some museums here, like an east coats Family Museum or maybe a WDW History museum) but I'll have to wait and see how it is really like

 

[sachilles]

I still maintain some sort of pay per ride attraction would be a welcome addition. I think parents would also enjoy the addition of something like the Agent P's adventure or Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom to help keep the younger non shoppers busy.

 

[Spacedog1975]

30 new shops and dining have been announced for Disney Springs today that will start opening May 15th, 2016. Most of these locations will likely be within Town Center which has been rumored to open in May.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ingexperiences/?CMP=SOC-TWITTER20160229153600

Starting understand and appreciate why people are criticizing DS as a glorified mall.

 

[rteetz]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/d-lu...-burger-concept-opening-at-disney-springs.htm

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/amor...s-patisserie-announced-for-disney-springs.htm

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/fron...-for-chef-rick-bayless-mexican-restaurant.htm

 

[Eoghann]

Starting understand and appreciate why people are criticizing DS as a glorified mall.

That's exactly what it is, but I guess my question is... what else would it be?

 

[SureAsLiz]

Starting understand and appreciate why people are criticizing DS as a glorified mall.

That's basically what it's supposed to be.

There are several major outlet malls nearby, and Disney loses guests to those malls.

I'm sure it's a big issue come tour group season time. Almost every mall and major store in the area has a team dedicated to helping out South American groups, and that's revenue that Disney has lost out on. Havaianas is a big example of that - it's a Brazilian store opened at DS to keep Brazilian tourists on property.

I went to a college with decent Brazilian population, and the stores on the list are the types of items that I saw them purchasing to send back home.

 

[robinb]

*yawn* More high end shopping. Whoop dee freaking doo.

 

[Bobb_o]

I enjoy the Disney-centric stores, Lego store, and the restaurants. The whole west side or whatever they call it I can do without. I really don't head past Raglan Road.

 

[Spacedog1975]

That's exactly what it is, but I guess my question is... what else would it be?

That's basically what it's supposed to be.

There are several major outlet malls nearby, and Disney loses guests to those malls.

These are hardly outlet priced locations.
And in terms of what it could be... I guess that heads back to the halcyon days of Pleasure Island. I'm interested in Disney themed shopping. I'm interested in dining, and I'm interested in activities... like if they ever kept DisneyQuest updated.

It is what it is. I still may pop down for Morimoto or the Hangar Bar, or World of Disney, but it seems like for most of this, I am not the target audience. Not that I need to be.

 

[SureAsLiz]

These are hardly outlet priced locations.
And in terms of what it could be... I guess that heads back to the halcyon days of Pleasure Island. I'm interested in Disney themed shopping. I'm interested in dining, and I'm interested in activities... like if they ever kept DisneyQuest updated.

It is what it is. I still may pop down for Morimoto or the Hangar Bar, or World of Disney, but it seems like for most of this, I am not the target audience. Not that I need to be.

Even not being outlet priced, it's still a better deal for these groups to buy and send back.

I'm not saying that it's the sole reason or a perfect one, but it is a big one

 

[rteetz]

These are hardly outlet priced locations.
And in terms of what it could be... I guess that heads back to the halcyon days of Pleasure Island. I'm interested in Disney themed shopping. I'm interested in dining, and I'm interested in activities... like if they ever kept DisneyQuest updated.

It is what it is. I still may pop down for Morimoto or the Hangar Bar, or World of Disney, but it seems like for most of this, I am not the target audience. Not that I need to be.

Well they have added a ton of dining and will be adding even more.