Disney Springs Discussion

[epcyclopedia]

Yes, it's a fricken mall.

But what people were complaining about was what you categorize as "MALL". That's a true categorization, but the point is, there's more to the springs than the bland stores in Town Centre.

But the vast majority is Towne Centre (which I've already accidentally called Landings because there is so little fundamentally distinct about the two).

What's being introduced is mostly mall stores and not even particularly good ones.

 

[epcyclopedia]

This is the real oversimplification. I understand Towne Centre is a mall, but the rest is too unique to be considered a real mall.

If I was from Ohio I'd agree (and I've no idea if you or anyone else here is from Ohio, but I know the boring that is Ohio).

But having been to various malls and shopping districts around central Florida, California, Chicago and Paris I think this looks just like a boring typical mall.

 

[Disneyhead]

It's not a "Mall". It is a "Lifestyle Center".

That's what we call malls these days.

 

[epcyclopedia]

It's not a "Mall". It is a "Lifestyle Center".

That's what we call malls these days.

I threw up a little in my mouth.

 

[Jon84]

It will work though, in the UK we don't have Sephora, and my wife will now doubt spend plenty of time in there, at least I can go grab a coffee and sit by the lake or something instead of an oxygen starved mall.

 

[GAcoaster]

I don't get why this is a shock to people. I thought it was pretty obvious that Disney was essentially building a mall to separate the Brazilians (and other tourists) from more of their money ON PROPERTY rather than lose it to the malls outside the park. I'm only surprised that they didn't get an Apple Store and some of the other places that the tourists drop tons of cash so they can take the stuff back with them. Maybe that will come later or in a later announcement.

 

[Nick]

I don't get why this is a shock to people. I thought it was pretty obvious that Disney was essentially building a mall to separate the Brazilians (and other tourists) from more of their money ON PROPERTY rather than lose it to the malls outside the park. I'm only surprised that they didn't get an Apple Store and some of the other places that the tourists drop tons of cash so they can take the stuff back with them. Maybe that will come later or in a later announcement.

Apple Store is coming from all accounts (unless something has changed).

Town Center has 56 available tenant buildings. As of right now, 43 have been announced. The most recent batch is expected to be fully open by summer's end. Town Center itself will open starting in May.

 

[Mad Dog]

I don't get why this is a shock to people. I thought it was pretty obvious that Disney was essentially building a mall to separate the Brazilians (and other tourists) from more of their money ON PROPERTY rather than lose it to the malls outside the park. I'm only surprised that they didn't get an Apple Store and some of the other places that the tourists drop tons of cash so they can take the stuff back with them. Maybe that will come later or in a later announcement.

Yeah, I think you hit it right on.

 

[IzzyB]

I am not sure why anyone has an issue with this. The core part which is what used to be Downtown Disney is not going away. It will still have the same unique shops everyone loves and knows. The dining will be unique in most cases all over the place. The parking garages are actually pretty nice and for anyone that used to go there prior to the garages knows how awesome these garages are. Sure they are "ugly" but so is every other parking garage that exists in this world. But man, they were REALLY needed. The other garage is going to lead you to the shopping "mall" on one side and the Marketplace (old part) on the other side. I can't wait for that thing to open since it will be easier to get to the Marketplace. The other garage leads you right into a bunch of unique restaurants.

I rip Disney a new one on a lot of stuff (like how painfully slow they are or how their parks have blatant holes that need to be fixed - looking at you Epcot), but I personally think this is the one project that have done a pretty good job with. They added shopping that out of country visitors will love and means they won't need a rental car or taxi to complete their shopping. They have kept the parts that were popular and have the unique shops (Marketplace). They have added much needed restaurants and counter service (Seriously eating there in the past meant long long long waits even at counter service). They fixed the mess that was getting in and out of that place with all the great new ramps removing slow moving lights and they added garages that tell you where the open spots are so you don't have to roam around for 20 minutes (yes one time I actually roamed around for 20 minutes trying to find a spot, I would have left if I was not meeting family I had not seen in awhile) to find a parking spot. I personally think they thought of it all and since this was a Disney project I am honestly quite shocked at how well and how fast this project has moved. I personally can't say too many bad things other than DisneyQuest needs to be changed and there is no plans yet for that since NBA fell thru (which seriously was a bad idea to begin with) and they could beef up their entertainment a little more. But overall it is going to make Disney Springs a popular place to go to for the old looking for unique and the new looking to get their shopping fix. Plus I don't know what outdoor malls you guys have been to, but very few are going to have the water features and other nice to look at things that this is going to have.

 

[Mad Dog]

I am not sure why anyone has an issue with this. The core part which is what used to be Downtown Disney is not going away. It will still have the same unique shops everyone loves and knows. The dining will be unique in most cases all over the place. The parking garages are actually pretty nice and for anyone that used to go there prior to the garages knows how awesome these garages are. Sure they are "ugly" but so is every other parking garage that exists in this world. But man, they were REALLY needed. The other garage is going to lead you to the shopping "mall" on one side and the Marketplace (old part) on the other side. I can't wait for that thing to open since it will be easier to get to the Marketplace. The other garage leads you right into a bunch of unique restaurants.

I rip Disney a new one on a lot of stuff (like how painfully slow they are or how their parks have blatant holes that need to be fixed - looking at you Epcot), but I personally think this is the one project that have done a pretty good job with. They added shopping that out of country visitors will love and means they won't need a rental car or taxi to complete their shopping. They have kept the parts that were popular and have the unique shops (Marketplace). They have added much needed restaurants and counter service (Seriously eating there in the past meant long long long waits even at counter service). They fixed the mess that was getting in and out of that place with all the great new ramps removing slow moving lights and they added garages that tell you where the open spots are so you don't have to roam around for 20 minutes (yes one time I actually roamed around for 20 minutes trying to find a spot, I would have left if I was not meeting family I had not seen in awhile) to find a parking spot. I personally think they thought of it all and since this was a Disney project I am honestly quite shocked at how well and how fast this project has moved. I personally can't say too many bad things other than DisneyQuest needs to be changed and there is no plans yet for that since NBA fell thru (which seriously was a bad idea to begin with) and they could beef up their entertainment a little more. But overall it is going to make Disney Springs a popular place to go to for the old looking for unique and the new looking to get their shopping fix. Plus I don't know what outdoor malls you guys have been to, but very few are going to have the water features and other nice to look at things that this is going to have.

Ditto. And as GA Coaster sums up, it's to keep people on Disney property. Not surprising since that was one of the basic tenets of Next Gen My Magic + effort also. I just wish they'd make as much effort into keeping their parks " the best they can be" to keep people on property too.

 

[IzzyB]

Ditto. And as GA Coaster sums up, it's to keep people on Disney property. Not surprising since that was one of the basic tenets of Next Gen My Magic + effort also. I just wish they'd make as much effort into keeping their parks " the best they can be" to keep people on property too.

Agreed, if they put this much effort into fixing their holes in their parks like they did with Disney Springs we would be better off as fans. I do have to say as much as I was not a fan of the Avatar property being used at Animal Kingdom, they are also doing a nice job of rounding out Animal Kingdoms weaknesses. Adding rides which were needed and adding nighttime stuff which was needed. I think the biggest issue is that Epcot and DHS are such huge projects to fix all of the weaknesses in those parks they are a bit overwhelmed and moving at snails pace because they are a little lost. Now so far their plan for DHS I like, but if the slow timeline rumors are true I am saddened because that park needs fixed now, not in 5 years. Also, I don't think SWL and TSL fix that park fully. They need at least a phase 3 to fix that park. And Epcot needs about 8 phases before it can be fixed lol

 

[Mad Dog]

Agreed, if they put this much effort into fixing their holes in their parks like they did with Disney Springs we would be better off as fans. I do have to say as much as I was not a fan of the Avatar property being used at Animal Kingdom, they are also doing a nice job of rounding out Animal Kingdoms weaknesses. Adding rides which were needed and adding nighttime stuff which was needed. I think the biggest issue is that Epcot and DHS are such huge projects to fix all of the weaknesses in those parks they are a bit overwhelmed and moving at snails pace because they are a little lost. Now so far their plan for DHS I like, but if the slow timeline rumors are true I am saddened because that park needs fixed now, not in 5 years. Also, I don't think SWL and TSL fix that park fully. They need at least a phase 3 to fix that park. And Epcot needs about 8 phases before it can be fixed lol

I fully agree. Looks like it will take forever to get Toy Story & Star Wars on line. And, one thing people forget is that even when those two lands come on, DHS still won't have adequate capacity. And four years from now, some of their present offerings will be four years older and some outdated. iitto with Epcot. They're so far behind the eight ball that those two park's problems probably will never be solved. I think ROL & Avatar basically fix AK's problems and that park will be fine.

 

[IzzyB]

I fully agree. Looks like it will take forever to get Toy Story & Star Wars on line. And, one thing people forget is that even when those two lands come on, DHS still won't have adequate capacity. And four years from now, some of their present offerings will be four years older and some outdated. iitto with Epcot. They're so far behind the eight ball that those two park's problems probably will never be solved. I think ROL & Avatar basically fix AK's problems and that park will be fine.

Agreed, which is why I was so disappointed when I heard the new timelines. They needed TSL in 2018 and SWL in 2019 early 2020 at latest. If not they are just getting more and more behind. Because DHS won't be complete at the end of this as capacity will still be shot. They need a phase 3 and honestly phase 3 needed to be opening in 2021, early 2022 at the latest. They also needed to start Epcot in 2018 to start doing something over there. Which I don't see it happening with the delayed timelines. They have the construction crews because look at the amount of projects they have going on now. So they COULD do it, but they don't want too, which saddens me as a theme park fan.

I do want to say the pixie forum I am on now has of course tons of fans. And even they have noticed there is nothing in DHS and that it is not worth the ticket prices. So I think DHS after April 2nd is going to piss a large amount of people off when they buy a ticket and see what little there is to do.

 

[Mad Dog]

Agreed, which is why I was so disappointed when I heard the new timelines. They needed TSL in 2018 and SWL in 2019 early 2020 at latest. If not they are just getting more and more behind. Because DHS won't be complete at the end of this as capacity will still be shot. They need a phase 3 and honestly phase 3 needed to be opening in 2021, early 2022 at the latest. They also needed to start Epcot in 2018 to start doing something over there. Which I don't see it happening with the delayed timelines. They have the construction crews because look at the amount of projects they have going on now. So they COULD do it, but they don't want too, which saddens me as a theme park fan.

I do want to say the pixie forum I am on now has of course tons of fans. And even they have noticed there is nothing in DHS and that it is not worth the ticket prices. So I think DHS after April 2nd is going to piss a large amount of people off when they buy a ticket and see what little there is to do.

The mood on the Disney sites has changed drastically since the news of cuts came out. Lot's of watered down pixie dust & more realism out there now....But they still have plenty of people coming to DHS, probably in large parts due to the "very deceptive" Star Wars marketing campaign. The general public is often easily fooled by slick marketing.

 

[IzzyB]

The mood on the Disney sites has changed drastically since the news of cuts came out. Lot's of watered down pixie dust & more realism out there now.

Agreed. Some people are talking about not renewing when their passes are up and stuff like that. Others seem perfectly ok with everything. Others are in the middle. I am in the middle of everything. I know I will still go and I just renewed my pass. Because my daughters have fun and as a parent seeing them have a good time is all that matters. I mean look at this face:



So as long as my kids have fun, we have fun, and it is a good day out and about we will continue going. Also, I very rarely watched street shows to be honest with you. We are too busy riding Space Mountain 5 times

 

[SeventyOne]

Ditto. And as GA Coaster sums up, it's to keep people on Disney property. Not surprising since that was one of the basic tenets of Next Gen My Magic + effort also. I just wish they'd make as much effort into keeping their parks " the best they can be" to keep people on property too.

The Premium Outlet Mall is the #2 attraction in Florida. Let that sink in. Not Harry Potter. Not Sea World. Disney's main competitor, the #1 reason guests rent cars, is to shop. (I'm not even taking into account the other four malls around the area.)

The faux outlet mall makes a ton of sense. Yeah, I miss Pleasure Island. And I still think the attempt to replicate "Restaurant Row" in DS is misguided. But these stores make a lot of sense.

 

[Mad Dog]

Agreed. Some people are talking about not renewing when their passes are up and stuff like that. Others seem perfectly ok with everything. Others are in the middle. I am in the middle of everything. I know I will still go and I just renewed my pass. Because my daughters have fun and as a parent seeing them have a good time is all that matters. I mean look at this face:



So as long as my kids have fun, we have fun, and it is a good day out and about we will continue going. Also, I very rarely watched street shows to be honest with you. We are too busy riding Space Mountain 5 times

Great to see a happy smiling child. That one picture says a lot. Congrats on a nice family.

 

[Mad Dog]

The Premium Outlet Mall is the #2 attraction in Florida. Let that sink in. Not Harry Potter. Not Sea World. Disney's main competitor, the #1 reason guests rent cars, is to shop. (I'm not even taking into account the other four malls around the area.)

The faux outlet mall makes a ton of sense. Yeah, I miss Pleasure Island. And I still think the attempt to replicate "Restaurant Row" in DS is misguided. But these stores make a lot of sense.

Exactly.

 

[SeventyOne]

Yeah I didn't get outlet feel either with the released list.

Just the first 10 (I got bored):

• Anthropologie—Millenia
• kate spade new York—Millenia/Premium Outlets
• LACOSTE—Millenia/Premium Outlets
• Under Armour—Millenia/Premium Outlets
• M·A·C Cosmetics—Millenia/Florida Mall
• Vince Camuto—Premium Outlets
• Vera Bradley—Millenia/Premium Outlets
• Lucky Brand—Millenia/Premium Outlets
• Oakley—Florida Mall/Premium Outlets
• Coca-Cola Store--unique (used to be in Mercado back in the day)

70% are replicated in the Outlet Mall. All but one of the rest in Millenia. Have you ever been to an outlet mall? This list screams "outlet mall."

If anything, this is a shot across the bow of Millenia. Curious to see how they respond.

For me, the real questions are:

• Can 50-ish stores compete with the 200+ at the outlet malls?
• Can DS survive without traditional outlet "anchors" like Polo, Coach, Hilfiger, the various athletic shoe manufacturers, etc.?
• Will the perception that outlets offer better deals still draw guests over DS?

 

[IzzyB]

Just the first 10 (I got bored):

• Anthropologie—Millenia
• kate spade new York—Millenia/Premium Outlets
• LACOSTE—Millenia/Premium Outlets
• Under Armour—Millenia/Premium Outlets
• M·A·C Cosmetics—Millenia/Florida Mall
• Vince Camuto—Premium Outlets
• Vera Bradley—Millenia/Premium Outlets
• Lucky Brand—Millenia/Premium Outlets
• Oakley—Florida Mall/Premium Outlets
• Coca-Cola Store--unique (used to be in Mercado back in the day)

70% are replicated in the Outlet Mall. All but one of the rest in Millenia. Have you ever been to an outlet mall? This list screams "outlet mall."

If anything, this is a shot across the bow of Millenia. Curious to see how they respond.

Honestly I don't go to outlets and I go to Millenia for a couple stores and pay no attention to the rest. Probably why it didn't scream outlet to me. It screamed high end places I will never shop at. Seeing concept art I pretty much knew it would be a bunch of places to shop in a unique setting (water, plants, etc). So I guess I was already prepared for that type of list. I am more interested in the eateries and seeing those concepts. As I normally go down there for dinner and browsing the old school stores like Lego. Now I probably will add Coke to my list of shops I go to while down there. I just don't see an issue with what Disney is doing. They are keeping guests on site and still keeping the old parts people love, while fixing the traffic/parking issue that plagued that place. Honestly. since they fixed the parking/traffic issues I see more locals coming down here for the eateries.