Disney Springs Discussion

[epcyclopedia]

So, there aren't going to be any moderately high-end stores? Even DTD had a few...

Faux high end. The level to which it reminded me of Artegon is stunning. Artegon is a flea market with set dressing. Lipstick on a pig. The new "boutique" stores at DtD are much the same.

 

[s8film40]

Foreigners tend to spend a ton of money shopping at local malls while in Orlando, so i'd argue for them (who it's mostly aimed at) it adds convenience, but overall I get your point for everyone else.

I have no doubt it will make a ton of money. My point is just because it adds convenience doesn't mean it should be a part of WDW. It is essentially turning into an extreme version of Crossroads. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if at some point in the future Disney gets tired of managing it and just sells it off much like they did Crossroads. A business needs to stay focused and really at some point they're going to look at the question what does this add to the WDW experience and when the answer is nothing they may decide to reevaluate being in the mall business.

 

[UNIrd]

There is nothing wrong with these shops coming to DTD/DS though. If there's one thing I would fix about CityWalk, it's the retail.

 

[Nick]

I have no doubt it will make a ton of money. My point is just because it adds convenience doesn't mean it should be a part of WDW. It is essentially turning into an extreme version of Crossroads. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if at some point in the future Disney gets tired of managing it and just sells it off much like they did Crossroads. A business needs to stay focused and really at some point they're going to look at the question what does this add to the WDW experience and when the answer is nothing they may decide to reevaluate being in the mall business.

I wasn't arguing that. However, I do think that the area where most of the retail shopping is in is distinctly themed and at least as a local, will be a nice place to go and just sit by the springs, especially at night.

If anyone should be against anything, it should be the Sunglass Hut in Adventureland or the Starbucks in the parks. Those things take you out of the theme much more than a mall having mall things.

 

[epcyclopedia]

How exactly are flipflop stores themed or local?

 

[Nick]

There is nothing wrong with these shops coming to DTD/DS though. If there's one thing I would fix about CityWalk, it's the retail.

Unfortunately there's not much room.

 

[Nick]

How exactly are flipflop stores themed or local?

I didn't say the stores were themed, the area is. I'd hope you aren't that dense that you couldn't figure that out.

 

[epcyclopedia]

Unfortunately there's not much room.

There's a ton of room. It's taken up by crisscross pathways, pavement deserts, and fake "Springs."

 

[s8film40]

I wasn't arguing that. However, I do think that the area where most of the retail shopping is in is distinctly themed and at least as a local, will be a nice place to go and just sit by the springs, especially at night.

If anyone should be against anything, it should be the Sunglass Hut in Adventureland or the Starbucks in the parks. Those things take you out of the theme much more than a mall having mall things.

Yeah as a local this is all a positive for me. If I were visiting for vacation I think I may be more likely to skip it as it is more like a "generic mall" like I may have at home. If I had planned going to a mall into my trip then I might go here instead of one of the other area malls.

 

[Nick]

There's a ton of room. It's taken up by crisscross pathways, pavement deserts, and fake "Springs."

You realize we were talking about City Walk, right?

 

[epcyclopedia]

I didn't say the stores were themed, the area is. I'd hope you aren't that dense that you couldn't figure that out.

How is it themed to anything other than "random sort of upscale facade" - there is no intricate theme occuring.

Theme is not items, a time period, nor a location. It's a statement that the elements of the design convey when combined.

What supposed theme is Disney Springs conveying?

"Gee, the world doesn't need this many flipflop stores?"

 

[Nick]

How is it themed to anything other than "random sort of upscale facade" - there is no intricate theme occuring.

Theme is not items, a time period, nor a location. It's a statement that the elements of the design convey when combined.

What supposed theme is Disney Springs conveying?

"Gee, the world doesn't need this many flipflop stores?"

The entire area is themed to Spanish era Florida. It's a light theme, but it's something.

I honestly don't know why I bother with you because you have some crazy anti-mall fetish. The area that Town Center is in was a PARKING LOT before. How is this worse than a parking lot? And we got 2 garages out of it.

I'm sure you'll have some excuse though because you hate it unconditionally. And I honestly could care less if it existed.

 

[MillenniumDragons]

I leave for a week (I'll be here weekends only for the next couple weeks) and you guys are arguing over this? Nobody's forcing you to go there for Walt's sake!

 

[epcyclopedia]

A) Walt is dead. He has no sake.

B) If you don't care but feel obligated to defend poor design choices on the internet perhaps it's time for some introspection.

 

[Nick]

B) If you don't care but feel obligated to defend poor design choices on the internet perhaps it's time for some introspection.

This is the type of thing people say when they can't defend what they're saying. Obviously I care to an extent or I wouldn't be involved in theme park websites. But life would go on perfectly fine if it didn't exist.

 

[MillenniumDragons]

Because in the grand scheme of things, complaining about a refurbished entertainment district on a theme park forum is not worth my time. Hopefully it's not worth yours either.

 

[epcyclopedia]

No - you haven't listed a single design element that contributes to the supposed "theme" of Disney Springs.

You have a fundamental misunderstanding of themed design and are trying to bully and intimidate your way through maintaining your personal beliefs against logic and reality. Why? Because you have a bizarre brand affinity that is bordering on an unhealthy obsession.

 

[RevFreako]

I dig Disney Springs myself. We spent two half days there on our last trip and had a blast.

 

[Nick]

No - you haven't listed a single design element that contributes to the supposed "theme" of Disney Springs.

You have a fundamental misunderstanding of themed design and are trying to bully and intimidate your way through maintaining your personal beliefs against logic and reality. Why? Because you have a bizarre brand affinity that is bordering on an unhealthy obsession.

I could care less what you say at this point. You just want to argue.

 

[WAJAS]

No - you haven't listed a single design element that contributes to the supposed "theme" of Disney Springs.

You have a fundamental misunderstanding of themed design and are trying to bully and intimidate your way through maintaining your personal beliefs against logic and reality. Why? Because you have a bizarre brand affinity that is bordering on an unhealthy obsession.

Ok, you need to chill man. The theme does in fact exist even if it is a light one. It is themed to a generic old Spanish Florida small town that was established due to its proximity to a fresh water spring and a railroad line. This town grew out of its original bounds as it aged and the railroad line even went out of use. The locals turned to tourism in a last ditch effort to keep there beloved town afloat. The old fashioned water tower, the elevated railroad, the spring, and the design of the buildings all contribute to this theme.

I would say the idea takes more than a few similarities from Winter Garden and Apopka in Florida.

The general nature of the theme (at least in the middle two "lands") is just as present as the general theme of "Adventure" in AdventureLand.