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Amorette's Patisserie reducing operating hours from today
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
Cue the D&G posts.
epcotisbest
Well-Known Member
We walked in a couple of times but left without making a purchase as it was just way too expensive for us. Beautiful pastries and cakes but I am too frugal I suppose.
Unplugged
Well-Known Member
This marks the beginning the down scaling of the Disney Springs offerings. All these high end "Vegas-like" offerings in a family vacation spot that has already become very taxing on the average (key word) guest, were inevitably going to have to scale back operating hours, offerings, or some may actually close in the future. The Town Center, IMFFHO (In My, Friends, & Family's Humble Opinion), in both design and store offerings feels a bit above the scope of what many of Disney vacationers are looking for. (Statement made from observations made over 2 trips).
I'm not knocking the businesses as I will stop in these types of places when in Vegas, but it just doesn't have the same comfort level for many as the rest of Disney. We've thoroughly enjoyed offerings at the Landings, and the traditional Market Place & West Side. But Town Center just doesn't have that Disney feel. I am comparing the feel to the parks and resorts. Had Town Center been scaled back in size and opulence just a bit, it would have been a better fit. I am curious to know how their revenue is against the projected, as I've been wrong before and will inevitably be wrong again.
Only my opinion.
I'm not knocking the businesses as I will stop in these types of places when in Vegas, but it just doesn't have the same comfort level for many as the rest of Disney. We've thoroughly enjoyed offerings at the Landings, and the traditional Market Place & West Side. But Town Center just doesn't have that Disney feel. I am comparing the feel to the parks and resorts. Had Town Center been scaled back in size and opulence just a bit, it would have been a better fit. I am curious to know how their revenue is against the projected, as I've been wrong before and will inevitably be wrong again.
Only my opinion.
bunnyman
Well-Known Member
Not for nothing, but coming from the NYC area we can already shop at many of those stores already. Quite frankly, when we're at WDW, we're not looking for high end shopping mall experience to buy what can be had at home. I much preferred finding unique Disney offerings, in both shopping and dining experience, rather than upscale chain offerings. But hey, that's just me.
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
It's not doom and gloom, but a bit suspect, don't you think?
First of all, they wouldn't limit operations of place unless they're looking to cut costs. Second, as a Disney owned and operated location, they can alter hours however they'd like, but would they let a tenant do the same? Malls generally require that all tenants be open during operating hours. Just wondering how they will handle non-Disney locations looking to cut hours to save money.
I've never been to Amorette's. Looking at reviews online it looks to certainly be high quality, but, wow, the price are just insane. But what else would one expect from a Disney operated location these days?
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
I agree with this. My thought is that with all the massive increase in food prices, ticket prices, and resort rates across property there's only so much money left to go around. In a way, by gouging customers for every last penny during their trip, they've cut away the amount of money guests are willing to pay for superfluous shopping items.
Maybe they saw that very few, if any, customers purchased items during those hours. Would you keep it open regardless?
Oh, and of course, multiple D&G posts have already arrived.
#blameshanghai
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
Well, it does seem obvious that few customers are buying items during those hours, otherwise they would be staying open. Is this because customers don't want desserts at those hours (but it seems like Sprinkles seems to still be quite busy). Or do customers not like the product? Or the price? Simply saying closing due to too few customers is sort of a given and really doesn't consider why that is the case. As members of Disney forum, I don't think it's all that surprising we'd discuss it.
Is asking these questions doom and gloom? I know myself and others have had concerns about the pricing and product mix at Disney Springs. I think your definition of doom and gloom sounds different from mine.
When Jock's added happy hour, there were posts to the effect that DS was failing. Figured that there would be more of the same here.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
And yet they obviously had a business plan that was based on 12 operating hours per day. Now they have cut down to 8 operating hours to save labor costs and try to revamp their business plan. That's not a good sign.
Why? Not every decision made by every company is a home run right out of the gate. Sometimes your plan has to be updated to reflect actual operations. I don't see it as a big deal, like some might. We certainly would never have bought items there during those times.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
True. These types of patisserie shops are everywhere in swanky Japanese hotels in Tokyo, and they typically don't open until the afternoon hours. You can spend 50 bucks on a couple of tiny cakes gorgeously wrapped in bespoke boxes to bring as hostess gifts. It's not unheard of to open in the afternoon.
But... they originally opened at 11am and now cut that back to a 3pm opening to save on four hours of labor costs. It doesn't appear that their original business plan is working out as they'd expected. It will be interesting to see what happens to these types of expensive shops/dining after Christmas. A story to watch, to be sure.
HiYa Pal
Active Member
I'd much rather see reduction of operating hours for something like this than an empty store front. Besides, I think it makes more sense operationally (who really wants a super sweet cake at 11am,) I mean the whole town center is technically an unproven experiment in Disney retail, so there's going to be adjustments as time moves along to get it "right"
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
Don't forget Sprinkles opens up at 10am and seems to be doing quite well.
Unplugged
Well-Known Member
Good question. I would keep it open both as the proprietor and as Disney. One has to let the scenario play out and either find it's market, or worst case, not. I agree too that those hours are not typically the busy hours based on Downtown's history. It may be different now, but I didn't see enough variance.
I'd love to see everything in the Springs succeed only to ensure we all (Disney guests from A to Z) have a variety, but my opinion is that they seem to have swung the pendulum a bit far with regards to the shopping while simultaneously raising costs across the board to a level that now seems to be pushing their luck with the majority.
Unplugged
Well-Known Member
I saw that too. My first impression wasn't that it's failing, but that they can scale back the offerings if business is good, or increase when business is sketchy (seasonal), but it should have been part of the plan. With dining & bars such as Jock's, I know they max out for the nightlife, but a happy hour is common at most places in an entertainment/shopping district.