CityWalk Orlando Updates & Changes General Thread

[Alicia]

The parking is filled to capacity at times and they are building more. I would say that indicates it is doing well. It could be that Disney doesn't feel like they are squeezing enough money out of people there though.

DS is always packed when I visit now.

 

[Nick]

The parking is filled to capacity at times and they are building more. I would say that indicates it is doing well. It could be that Disney doesn't feel like they are squeezing enough money out of people there though.

Parking was a nightmare there over the holidays and I was just there on 1/29 (a date I wouldn't consider within "busy" season) and it was packed. Stores and walkways were packed and all restaurants looked pretty full. The third garage is definitely needed.

It should be noted that the third garage is mainly going to be used as employee parking and overflow parking for guests. However, that will fill up about 2 floors between the Orange and Lime Garage as employees park on the bottom floor of both garages.

 

[Disneyhead]

I believe it has more to do with the metric that now that Universal owns the lions share of restaurants in CityWalk, they will make more off of the few non-FL residents that will visit than they would from parking.

This only effects non-FL residents who drove down and are staying off property or flew down, rented a car, and are staying off property. Not locals passing CityWalk headed to Disney Springs. Taking that into consideration, I would think that the plussing of South I-Drive (Mango's, Red Robin, Longhorn, I-Drive 360, Pointe Orlando, Del Frisco's Double Eagle, etc.) is more an issue than Disney Springs.

 

[GadgetGuru]

It'll be interesting to see how the I-Drive crowds will begin to diverge / converge with the Disney + Universal crowds.

I personally think that, in the long-term future, I-Drive will begin going after substantially different people than Disney + Universal. I-Drive is building a lot of incredibly elaborate chain restaurants and tourist attractions. It seems like Orlando could start getting one crowd of people going for Disney/Universal, while more of a Myrtle Beach crowd hangs around I-Drive.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

This is just Universal being nice to everyone...

 

[SeventyOne]

Interesting. Are they hurting after the Disney Springs re-do or something?

Revitalized Pointe and I Drive 360 probably play a role as well, at least the market this is targeting (guests at OCCC with a car).

 

[Nick]

It's just common sense to allow free parking to all after 6 honestly. The parks stay open until 10 at the latest on a non-HHN night and that's not even that often. If people are going through those gates at 6 or later, it's to SPEND MONEY. Why should they have to pay to park if they are just going to eat though? I can go to eat pretty much anywhere else in Orlando and avoid paying to park, so that's just bad business to make people pay.

Also - and I think this is probably a big factor in why they are doing this too - free parking means less hours of staffing the booths. So Comcast is not just making money from the guests that come to eat, but they are saving money on hourly costs for TMs.

 

[adjjb]

This is business. There must have been a drop-off in dining, shopping, theatergoers, etc.

I agree, Disney Springs with the free parking and new restaurants had to have been taking away customers for Uni to not charge tourists now after 6.

 

[Nick]

I agree, Disney Springs with the free parking and new restaurants had to have been taking away customers for Uni to not charge tourists now after 6.

Disney Springs/DTD has always had free parking though.

Disney Springs is a good 15-20 minutes away from Universal so i'm not sure I buy that this is related to DS. More likely I-Drive if anything, but as I mentioned above, it also cuts overhead as well as they can stop staffing the booths after 6 now. Business wise, that's going to save them a lot of money while the people going in are spending money.

 

[GadgetGuru]

I'd be surprised if parking booth staff played into account for this. It seems like that staff more than pays for itself.

 

[Nick]

I'd be surprised if parking booth staff played into account for this. It seems like that staff more than pays for itself.

The move was clearly so people wouldn't have to pay if they just wanted to eat, but i'm just saying that the fact that they would be able to save money doing it probably crossed their minds too.

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

I think its more so a good will move. When people don't feel nickeled and dimed, they are more likely to have a better time.

There was a reason we drove all the way to Disney Springs instead of City Walk where we would have rather gone to see a movie the other day. Maybe a small reason, but that reason was parking.

 

[mainejeff]

Went to DS for the first time on Friday and LOVED what they have done/are doing. Used to hate going to DD...will make the effort to visit DS multiple times. DS totally crushes CityWalk IMO.

 

[GadgetGuru]

CityWalk is really weak on the shopping front. I feel like CityWalk isn't actually competing with Disney Springs. CityWalk, imo, isn't strong enough to warrant a separate trip. It only works because you pass through it to get to/from the parks.

 

[epcyclopedia]

Citywalk nicely accents the parks with more food and some minor entertainment.

Disney's parks are too far removed from DS for it to really be lumped in as an extension of the parks. So the parks need more dining and evening entertainment.

 

[Mad Dog]

Citywalk nicely accents the parks with more food and some minor entertainment.

Disney's parks are too far removed from DS for it to really be lumped in as an extension of the parks. So the parks need more dining and evening entertainment.

I agree. Really comparing apples & oranges. CitiWalk is a nice compliment to the parks & resorts. Shopping is just a very minor factor. Dining & entertainment is what CitiWalk is about. It doesn't aspire be a shopping mall. Universal & Disney business plans are completely different. Disney Springs is primarily set up to operate through a basic shopping mall rental & fee agreement system while Universal is extending their operation of full or partial ownership of most of the establishments. And then there's the huge discrepancy in size. Each is doing what their primary objectives are. But they are two very different creatures.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Citywalk nicely accents the parks with more food and some minor entertainment.

Disney's parks are too far removed from DS for it to really be lumped in as an extension of the parks. So the parks need more dining and evening entertainment.

Universal pushes people from the resorts and parks to CityWalk, which I don't think is needed now that the parks are pulling in over 8-9 million guests each a year. Outside of these being places with restaurants, movie theater, some entertainment, and shopping the places are way different. I agree.

 

[shiekra38]

Universal pushes people from the resorts and parks to CityWalk, which I don't think is needed now that the parks are pulling in over 8-9 million guests each a year. Outside of these being places with restaurants, movie theater, some entertainment, and shopping the places are way different. I agree.

We've made it a habit of eating lunch and dinner in City Walk rather than the parks recently...I just can't resist Toothsome, NBC or Cowfish

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

Universal doesn't know it but they have made Cabana Bay a Destination. With Bowling,Lazy River, Family Suites , and a World Class Water theme park right next door, Cabana Bay is more than just a standard resort.

Universal of today can do this with city walk. Sure Disney Springs absolutely crushed city walk but there is no reason Universal can't make city walk a destination again.

I honestly think city walk should have had a bowling alley a long while ago but glad Cabana Bay has one.

 

[Joel]

Universal doesn't know it but they have made Cabana Bay a Destination. With Bowling,Lazy River, Family Suites , and a World Class Water theme park right next door, Cabana Bay is more than just a standard resort.

Universal of today can do this with city walk. Sure Disney Springs absolutely crushed city walk but there is no reason Universal can't make city walk a destination again.

I honestly think city walk should have had a bowling alley a long while ago but glad Cabana Bay has one.

I agree that it can be improved. Take out all non-Universal retail and replace with more activities.. for kids and adults. Bowling alley (the night club-style kind with music, lights, projectors, etc.) Change AMC to iPic style theater.. more restaurants