Disney Springs construction begins

[djlaosc]

Can you explain it to me then? I can't think of a project like this in recent memory in central Florida that didn't at least announce anchor tenants by this point in construction. If deals are signed, they're signed, and if they're big enough that might attract other tenants. Even just announcing some Disney-owned tenants would build buzz and show the Mouse has "skin in the game" this time, unlike Hyperion Wharf or Flamingo Crossing.

What I've read on here when I've previously asked this question was that they would want to announce it closer to opening, and about how shareholders in the vendors would react or something like that....

I can understand that there will be reasons why not everyone would want to announce this early, but, as you said, they could have at least announced some anchor tenants and Disney-owned tenants.

If there are going to be an additional 70+ shops/restaurants, a list of 5 or 10 vendors announced with the project would at least give us something to discuss and allow us to see the type of vendor that they are wanting. Looking at the vendor logo idea pictures posted a while ago, as well as looking at the type of shops that I would want to see, then if they had announced Disney Springs along with...

• Beautifully Disney (from the logos)
• Food Truck Row (from the logos)
• fye (what I would like to see - a replacement for the old Virgin Megastore)
• Lululemon Athletica (from the logos)
• Mac Cosmetics (from the logos)
• Superdry (from the logos)
• The Edison (from the logos)
• Topshop/Topman (from the logos)
• Trader Sam's (from the logos)
• Walt's Place (from the logos)

...then at least there would be something for us to be interested in and discuss.

The success of this mall will all depend on the shops/restaurants they have. They can have all the vendors lined up, but if what we get is 35 more LittleMissMatched stores and 35 more Basin stores (or similar), then I'm not going to be spending anymore money there than I currently do, and this project will pretty much be a failure for me (and probably most of my gender), no matter how "pretty" it looks.

 

[Thrill Seeker]

In other words, no real construction has started. ... Just prepping and even prepping for prepping!

I did hear the cast cafe has closed and isn't supposed to reopen anywhere else.

That's sad. I liked that place. Back when I worked merch at DTD I was deployed to West Side for 3 weeks and ate there fairly regularly... It was good.

 

[Thrill Seeker]

So does Pollo Campero close this week as well?

Was it ever actually confirmed this was closing? It's a fairly new and popular restaurant. I find it hard to believe it's closing this early in it's lifespan...

 

[Thrill Seeker]

A Cheesecake Factory would be wonderful.

I also say a video game store akin with Gamestop would also be a nice addition. Maybe a Marvel Comics Store?

 

[djlaosc]

I also say a video game store akin with Gamestop would also be a nice addition. Maybe a Marvel Comics Store?

Exactly, when I think about the non-attraction based items (Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, Kennedy, etc.) that I have bought, it has been CDs, DVDs and Videogames that I cannot buy in my country, along with some clothes. Virgin Megastore was great for some of this, and then you have Gamestop and fye in the malls.

Having a Gamestop of fye onsite would be useful for those staying onsite as it would allow you to be able to go there at night just to browse and look around and be able to take your time (ie, one night just look at CDs, another night DVDs, etc.), rather than try to have a quick look around the entire store because you don't want to spend hours at a mall that you won't be back to on your holiday and others in your party want to look in other stores. It would also be useful if you were trying to get something but it was out of stock, because if they could order it into the store because you leave WDW, it would be easier to just be able to hop on a bus to Disney Springs and pick it up rather than having to drive back to the mall to pick an item up (which is something we did back in 2011).

 

[Hakunamatata]

A decent camera shop would be nice.

 

[JEANYLASER]

A Cheesecake Factory would be wonderful.

I also say a video game store akin with Gamestop would also be a nice addition. Maybe a Marvel Comics Store?

I would like GameStop would also be nice addition and also Marvel Comics store as well and Also I would like to see some Disney Comics and Disney DVD in the Disney Comics Store at the Disney Springs!

 

[SirLink]

A Cheesecake Factory would be wonderful.

I also say a video game store akin with Gamestop would also be a nice addition. Maybe a Marvel Comics Store?

I would imagine for the right sum of money Nintendo would drop a Nintendo World store in Disney Springs.

 

[GoofGoof]

What I've read on here when I've previously asked this question was that they would want to announce it closer to opening, and about how shareholders in the vendors would react or something like that....

I can understand that there will be reasons why not everyone would want to announce this early, but, as you said, they could have at least announced some anchor tenants and Disney-owned tenants.

If there are going to be an additional 70+ shops/restaurants, a list of 5 or 10 vendors announced with the project would at least give us something to discuss and allow us to see the type of vendor that they are wanting. Looking at the vendor logo idea pictures posted a while ago, as well as looking at the type of shops that I would want to see, then if they had announced Disney Springs along with...

• Beautifully Disney (from the logos)
• Food Truck Row (from the logos)
• fye (what I would like to see - a replacement for the old Virgin Megastore)
• Lululemon Athletica (from the logos)
• Mac Cosmetics (from the logos)
• Superdry (from the logos)
• The Edison (from the logos)
• Topshop/Topman (from the logos)
• Trader Sam's (from the logos)
• Walt's Place (from the logos)

...then at least there would be something for us to be interested in and discuss.

The success of this mall will all depend on the shops/restaurants they have. They can have all the vendors lined up, but if what we get is 35 more LittleMissMatched stores and 35 more Basin stores (or similar), then I'm not going to be spending anymore money there than I currently do, and this project will pretty much be a failure for me (and probably most of my gender), no matter how "pretty" it looks.

Here's my theory. Disney would prefer that all or at least the vast majority of places are run by 3rd party vendors. Plan B would be to open Disney run locations if they can't find enough vendors. For example, If they announce a Disney owned burger joint (my vote would be Goofy's Burger Palace - Goofy is way cooler than Bobby Flay) other burger franchises may be discouraged from also signing on figuring they don't want to have to compete directly with Disney on their turf. Same goes for a place like Trader Sams which is rumored to be a possibility. They would rather find a vendor willing to open a similar type place. If there are no takers they might consider opening it themselves. The reason we haven't heard the vendor list yet is likely because they want to exhaust all efforts to sign vendors first before announcing any Disney run operations. Just a theory. I have no inside info, but it seems in line with the current direct Disney is heading in with DTD.

 

[GoofGoof]

I would imagine for the right sum of money Nintendo would drop a Nintendo World store in Disney Springs.

I would like GameStop would also be nice addition and also Marvel Comics store as well and Also I would like to see some Disney Comics and Disney DVD in the Disney Comics Store at the Disney Springs!

This is the direction they should look to go in. I would think along with Nintendo and Marvel they could add in a large Apple store and some niche type shops not necessarily found everywhere. If they go with internal brands the place is prime for a Star Wars store. A few decent props outside to draw people's attention and everything Star Wars inside. Costumes, toys, models, posters, collectibles and even some high end unique items like signed posters or real props from the movies. I would blow all my allotted Disney dollars there for sure. Star Wars Land would be great, but there is no reason to wait that long to build a store and capitalize on merchandise sales. Think how much they would pull in for Star Wars weekend alone not to mention the times around the premiers of each of the new movies. Literally a gold mine.

 

[SirLink]

This is the direction they should look to go in. I would think along with Nintendo and Marvel they could add in a large Apple store and some niche type shops not necessarily found everywhere. If they go with internal brands the place is prime for a Star Wars store. A few decent props outside to draw people's attention and everything Star Wars inside. Costumes, toys, models, posters, collectibles and even some high end unique items like signed posters or real props from the movies. I would blow all my allotted Disney dollars there for sure. Star Wars Land would be great, but there is no reason to wait that long to build a store and capitalize on merchandise sales. Think how much they would pull in for Star Wars weekend alone not to mention the times around the premiers of each of the new movies. Literally a gold mine.

I have heard some things about the team wanting to expand their global presence of Nintendo stores in "strategic global positions" I would have to imagine that the use influx of international tourists would make it a prime location. I do know that they were talking to a few companies in London to try and acquire the "right" property, although I will add that was about 12-18 months ago when they weren't taking such a beating.

 

[GoofGoof]

I have heard some things about the team wanting to expand their global presence of Nintendo stores in "strategic global positions" I would have to imagine that the use influx of international tourists would make it a prime location. I do know that they were talking to a few companies in London to try and acquire the "right" property, although I will add that was about 12-18 months ago when they weren't taking such a beating.

Can't get much more prime of a location. Getting a piece of the 17M tourists funneling through MK every year has to be appealing.

 

[djlaosc]

I would imagine for the right sum of money Nintendo would drop a Nintendo World store in Disney Springs.

Would there be any issue with the Mitsukoshi Department Store in Epcot? I'm sure they wouldn't like for Nintendo to have their own store on Disney property, but unless they have exclusive rights, there would be nothing they could do about it I suppose...

 

[71jason]

A Cheesecake Factory would be wonderful.

The other ten places around DTD to get a burger or a chicken Caesar aren't enough? I think the customer base would disagree.

Maybe a Marvel Comics Store?

Not as cut-and-dried as a theme park ride, but the Universal/Marvel contract would probably preclude this.

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

Not as cut-and-dried as a theme park ride, but the Universal/Marvel contract would probably preclude this.

Disney's good to go on a Marvel store, since like the monorail wraps, it isn't in the parks.

 

[71jason]

I disagree. The Turkish Bizarre could be a unique attraction by itself. Also talk of a permanent outdoor entertainment stage with a variety of street foods. I think they are on the right track to capitalize on all the incredible investment going on in the region. I-Drive is on the rebound big time.

To me, this sounds as desperate and cheesy (no pun intended) as the indoor flea market with world's largest pizza parlour that almost opened in Dixie Stampede. I just don't see the appeal to the general public.

 

[SirLink]

Would there be any issue with the Mitsukoshi Department Store in Epcot? I'm sure they wouldn't like for Nintendo to have their own store on Disney property, but unless they have exclusive rights, there would be nothing they could do about it I suppose...

I don't see why there should be - to be honest like I said they definitely want(ed) a store in Central London - if Disney were to pay up initial costs and sales were constant with low rates I think there would be a good chance.

 

[71jason]

Disney's good to go on a Marvel store, since like the monorail wraps, it isn't in the parks.

Nope. Wrong clause. Marvel is specifically prohibited from opening a "Marvel store" within X miles (I want to say 90) of IoA.

Don't take this the wrong way, but clients who charge ahead with something sure they know the law when they in fact know a tiny bit about one aspect of it are what made my 6 weeks of practicing law a living nightmare.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Disney's good to go on a Marvel store, since like the monorail wraps, it isn't in the parks.

Why not read the contract?

Nope. Wrong clause. Marvel is specifically prohibited from opening a "Marvel store" within X miles (I want to say 90) of IoA.

Don't take this the wrong way, but clients who charge ahead with something sure they know the law when they in fact know a tiny bit about one aspect of it are what made my 6 weeks of practicing law a living nightmare.

It's 60 miles.

 

[djlaosc]

I don't see why there should be - to be honest like I said they definitely want(ed) a store in Central London - if Disney were to pay up initial costs and sales were constant with low rates I think there would be a good chance.

Yeah, I doubt there would be any issues legally, just that Mitsukoshi may not be happy, as they are the current "Nintendo/Pokémon" store on property. Mind you, they probably do so well at Epcot (Nintendo/Pokémon will just be one small area of what they sell) that they wouldn't threaten to pull out of Epcot Nintendo did open their own store in Disney Springs.