Disney Springs Town Center Grand Opening Mega Thread!!

[winterwhite]

Sprinkles was and is expected to be popular. I'm guessing D-Luxe was not expected to be that popular and it's a quick service it's not a sit down meal.

Quick service should be quick...but ordering took about 10 times longer than getting the burger.

 

[rteetz]

Really thats not quickserve though...order as you go and a 20 minute prep time isn't really quickserve.

Earl of sandwich and walk up window at bongos is really all
You got.

Its considered quick service on the dining plan thats why i said it. I haven't eaten at Earl yet.

 

[rteetz]

Quick service should be quick...but ordering took about 10 times longer than getting the burger.

Watching videos of it later you had a ton of bloggers and such filming the tire process that probably had something to do wth long lines as well.

 

[donnsuz]

I was all excited to check this out until my husband looks over and says that it looks like a nice outlet mall...and he's right! It does!! Oh well, we're here anyway and we'll go check it out to see what the hype is, once it stops raining....

 

[nelsonj3]

Opening day crowds are more than usual. Sprinkles was by far the most popular place yesterday. I think what would be telling is if they can't handle crowds in the coming days when the grand opening rush dies down. Sprinkles also had two major lines one to go inside and one for the cupcake ATM. Sprinkles doesn't just do cupcakes either that do ice cream sundaes as well.

I was really struck by how busy Sprinkles was compared to the rest of the Springs. In fact, I thought the rest of the Springs "seemed" much less crowded than normal due to the fact that the crowds had so much more room to spread out on so many new walkways. Just an observation.

The CM at Sprinkles was very nice, and allowed me to videotape inside without waiting in the super long line. (Don't worry! I didn't get in anyone's way or impede the process at all.)
I have another video coming that showcases the insides of the shops and restaurants. That video will be edited and uploaded sometime tomorrow. (It's a complex edit with all of the different shots I had to use).

Also, I learned that you can't film in a jewelry store... Lol. I really should have known that, but I wasn't thinking. They were very polite about it, and I promised to delete the footage.

 

[winterwhite]

Sprinkles still had a ridiculous line at 1045pm today and the vending machine only had one flavor so they obviously aren't restocking it. Despite several employees standing around smiling at people.

In the 10 minutes we waited for the ATM, the regular line did not move at all and nobody left the store. Inefficient and disappointing.

Also, after the past two days, I wish Disney would crack down on unofficial media presence. It is really obnoxious to have people stopping every two feet to take yet another picture. It slows everything down everywhere and the people filming the star wars fireworks were ridiculous.

 

[rteetz]

Sprinkles still had a ridiculous line at 1045pm today and the vending machine only had one flavor so they obviously aren't restocking it. Despite several employees standing around smiling at people.

In the 10 minutes we waited for the ATM, the regular line did not move at all and nobody left the store. Inefficient and disappointing.

Also, after the past two days, I wish Disney would crack down on unofficial media presence. It is really obnoxious to have people stopping every two feet to take yet another picture. It slows everything down everywhere and the people filming the star wars fireworks were ridiculous.

Interesting. I just watched a periscope and they showed sprinkles and there really wasn't a line it looked relatively quiet but not dead. I think they are still working out the kinks, they didn't have a soft opening to do that.

 

[KYMickey]

Why is there so much excitement about the opening of a new shopping mall? Isn't Disney supposed to be about rides, attractions and characters and not shopping malls?

 

[rteetz]

Why is there so much excitement about the opening of a new shopping mall? Isn't Disney supposed to be about rides, attractions and characters and not shopping malls?

WDW has had a mall since it opened. It was originally Lake Buena Vista shopping village. Heck Disneyland had lots of shopping when it opened in 1955. Disney has always had a shopping element. This shopping area is really something you can't get else where. Yes there may be other malls with the same look or stores but you don't get the story, high quality dining, and intense theming anywhere else.

 

[Madteaparty001]

Wasn't sprinkles giving away free cupcakes with sign up for their first month? That would explain a lot of foot traffic, plus people getting up to the counter and taking 5 minutes each to decide what they want.

 

[pineapplechips]

Im sure your refrain will be common...I'm sure with me.

It's just not that unique...but I'm
Sure many will love it that don't have as much exposure to these names. The question is: will that equal sales. I think this may be window shopping central for many. The airlines penalize you for bags...which is why I have and continue to advocate that Disney work up a shipping system/partnership...combine brick and mortar with Amazon...in a way.

I'm glad it's not gonna be a semi abandoned, mothballed mess anymore...but that is a low standard to meet.

Very common low standards now in the swamp.

Let's face it...most of us will be happy if the avatar thing just works...regardless of what it is.

To be quite honest, I don't think most of these stores are for American tourists. They're for locals, or they're for South American tourists. If you've ever been to the outlets in Orlando, you know that it is common practice for South Americans to purchase luggage there, and then buy stuff to fill it. They want those popular American brands.

 

[merrick]

looks way nicer than last time we were there.... so much stuff was boarded up and it was tough to imagine what it was going to look like. of course, i never saw it before the reno either. i think those things in the water look like lanterns that would look really pretty at night!

 

[book_junkie]

Wasn't sprinkles giving away free cupcakes with sign up for their first month? That would explain a lot of foot traffic, plus people getting up to the counter and taking 5 minutes each to decide what they want.

Yep. Free one for signing up for the perks program and another free one on your birthday so I wouldn't be surprised if A LOT of people suddenly had an amazing amount of birthdays on their vacations.

My mom and I went yesterday (Monday) as she wanted to see the shops. Pandora was crazy, and didn't have the earrings she had seen at the Pandora corner at MK.

Alex and Ani was swamped, and you could only tell the salespeople by the nametags- never did get helped there.

Sprinkles was empty at 11 am but the queue was full and beyond at 2 pm, and the patisserie was full at noon.

I think what she was most disappointed in was that they didn't have specific merchandise- the Vera Bradley stuff she could find anywhere and the Disney patterns are the same. Same with Alex & Ani, and Pandora. Only about 1/3 of the stores are open, and while it's nice, it's pretty obvious who they're trying to compete with.

Only positives were that a. The lime garage was finally open so no long boat ride or walk around the Springs and b. With the Town section open you can cut through there instead of going through the restaurants to get to the Marketplace and to the theaters- it gets so congested right around the Landing and paradisio that Mom gets antsy.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

To be quite honest, I don't think most of these stores are for American tourists. They're for locals, or they're for South American tourists. If you've ever been to the outlets in Orlando, you know that it is common practice for South Americans to purchase luggage there, and then buy stuff to fill it. They want those popular American brands.

No doubt that's what THEY think...

But the core of WDW business has and always will be Americans from other places.

Orlando is not high income - a lot of these places are well beyond their limits.

And the European travelers will definitely buy - they always do.

Brazil is gonna collapse...there economy is heading towards major collapse/depression scenario (phoney credit does that)...that spigot is going to almost turn off and it may never comeback.

If that's what they are hoping for - bad management. Wouldn't be the first time though.

 

[Planogirl]

WDW has had a mall since it opened. It was originally Lake Buena Vista shopping village. Heck Disneyland had lots of shopping when it opened in 1955. Disney has always had a shopping element. This shopping area is really something you can't get else where. Yes there may be other malls with the same look or stores but you don't get the story, high quality dining, and intense theming anywhere else.

You might be surprised at how many of these outdoor malls with high quality dining and theming already exist. I don't know about story but really this addition is nothing unique.

That said we will check it out and I still look forward to dining there.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

You might be surprised at how many of these outdoor malls with high quality dining and theming already exist. I don't know about story but really this addition is nothing unique.

That said we will check it out and I still look forward to dining there.

Agree...Disney "springs" is big, and I'm sure cost more than most retail developments - but it's nothing new

 

[rteetz]

You might be surprised at how many of these outdoor malls with high quality dining and theming already exist. I don't know about story but really this addition is nothing unique.

That said we will check it out and I still look forward to dining there.

I've been to a few outdoor type malls and none of the ones I've been to don't look like this. I'm not saying they don't exist but I think this one is a bit more unique than some think. When you double the amount of stores you have to add stores that make it look like a mall and everything can't be Disney. I'm excited to check out the new dining additions especially.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I've been to a few outdoor type malls and none of the ones I've been to don't look like this. I'm not saying they don't exist but I think this one is a bit more unique than some think. When you double the amount of stores you have to add stores that make it look like a mall and everything can't be Disney. I'm excited to check out the new dining additions especially.

Woah...you haven't been there...and there are nice development in warm/upscale areas that have lots of similar elements.

There are outdoor venues in Miami, palm beach and even city walk that arent light years behind. Universal is also doing another, are they not?

The thing Disney does always have is size and scale. That is the point down there.

 

[Planogirl]

I've been to a few outdoor type malls and none of the ones I've been to don't look like this. I'm not saying they don't exist but I think this one is a bit more unique than some think. When you double the amount of stores you have to add stores that make it look like a mall and everything can't be Disney. I'm excited to check out the new dining additions especially.

Like Logic said I think that location makes a big difference. There are outdoor malls that have streams and waterfalls and all types of theming. Outdoor malls are popular in the south and can be particularly fancy in well to do areas. I don't see the attraction myself because I love air conditioning when it's 90+ but others seem to enjoy them.

I am also interested in the new dining additions. They've been good so far.

 

[rteetz]

Woah...you haven't been there...and there are nice development in warm/upscale areas that have lots of similar elements.

There are outdoor venues in Miami, palm beach and even city walk that sent light years behind. Universal is also doing another, are they not?

The thing Disney does always have is size and scale. That is the point down there.

My point was that there are unique elements in the new section of Disney springs. A lot of people complain that it's just a mall but what else would it be?