Fountain View Ice Cream closing in early April for Starbucks conversion

[TP2000]

Im hoping that is the case that it is integrated and done properly. I did not see them in DCA when I was there so I cant tell you.

If you entered DCA through the main entrance at any time since June 15, 2012 you walked right past the new Starbucks.

But you probably didn't recognize it since it's not really a Starbucks, it's actually the Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Café (get it?), which is a café run by the famous singing Silverlake Sisters on 1930's Buena Vista Street.

Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Café (Starbucks) on Buena Vista Street - Disney California Adventure, 2012

http://originald.com/matt/updates/2012-07-04/DCA/Large/IMG_9646.jpg

Even if you went inside, you wouldn't have recognized it as a Starbucks. It's a 1930's neighborhood café, and the Silverlake Sisters are the proprietors and they've got a bunch of their singing career memorabilia up on the walls.

http://www.disneylandgazette.com/images/100_8948.JPG

Even when you place your order with a café employee, you still wouldn't read it as your local Starbucks in the strip mall down the street. They are 1930's café employees. Smiling and polite ones, too.

http://i1.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/photo-3-9.jpg

You have to look up on the menu board to figure it out - Oh! They can make my favorite white chocolate mocha here! It's a Starbucks!

But if you don't like Starbucks, or even the taste of coffee, that's cool too. Just skip the whole thing and go get your Fastpass for Radiator Springs Racers and get on with your day.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

I'm hearing ya, but you know, coffee at starbucks is about the same as it is everywhere else. I've never understood the perception of it being so much more money than your local coffee shop. It's right around $2 for a 16 ounce cup in most starbucks. Even their specialty drinks are on par with other coffee shop pricing.

Also, you WILL have other choices. In fact Starbucks isn't even the coffee that's replacing Nescafe...it's Joffreys.

True, if you go with a "regular coffee" (Cafe Americano or whatever they call it) it's reasonably priced, and on par with other vendors. But anything beyond that (including espresso, capps, etc.) is a "specialty drink" at considerably higher prices. I guess it does work out on average. Can't say I frequent SB locations to speak with any authority.

As long as there are options. "I want coffee-flavored coffee" - Dennis Leary

No markup for Starbucks coffee in the parks....

Oh, well thank goodness for that!

 

[dannyboyindc]

True, if you go with a "regular coffee" (Cafe Americano or whatever they call it) it's reasonably priced, and on par with other vendors. But anything beyond that (including espresso, capps, etc.) is a "specialty drink" at considerably higher prices. I guess it does work out on average. Can't say I frequent SB locations to speak with any authority.

As long as there are options. "I want coffee-flavored coffee" - Dennis Leary


Oh, well thank goodness for that!

Ha! Well definitely try Joffreys. They've had a presence in the parks for a while, but apparently are completely taking over wherever Nescafe was/is sold. It's not bad!

Some of the best coffee on property can be had at Kona cafe. Try a french press there next time you're at WDW!

 

[BoarderPhreak]

Ha! Well definitely try Joffreys. They've had a presence in the parks for a while, but apparently are completely taking over wherever Nescafe was/is sold. It's not bad!

Some of the best coffee on property can be had at Kona cafe. Try a french press there next time you're at WDW!

Now you're talking. French press, yum! And I'd expect something good with Kona in the name... I plan to hit Poly anyway (next week!) for a Dole Whip on a non-MK day, so I'll do just that! Thanks for the tip.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Good points raven24, but you are fighting against a revisionist history where young people in the 21st century think that Disneyland and WDW in the 20th century somehow made everything in-house and never let the outside world in. The reality is the exact opposite.

In fact, Walt Disney tried to get as much of the outside world into Disneyland through corporate sponsors as he could. It was cheaper for him that way, and he just made sure his Imagineers dressed the corporate locations up nicely and made sure their sales pitches were graciously presented by good looking young hostesses, with corporate logos prominently sewed onto their Disneyland uniforms. When WDW opened in 1971 that practice continued, and reached its zenith with Epcot Center in 1982 where nearly EVERYTHING in the park was sponsored by corporate America.

In the 1960's Walt didn't even need big corporate names to sponsor stuff. He let his good friend and Hollywood actor Don Defore open up the Silver Banjo Barbeque restaurant in Frontierland, right next to the Aunt Jemima Pancake House. Don Defore's Silver Banjo Barbeque was leased out to the Defore family to run inside Disneyland for years.

http://www.yesterland.com/images-frontierland/silverbanjo2.jpg

Can you imagine that type setup today? Today's equivalent of that Walt business arrangement would be...Bob Iger lets his golfing buddy Bob Costas own and operate a Bob Costas Café in Disney Hollywood Studios? But Walt did it, and Disneyland continued to thrive. To suggest Disney theme parks have operated differently in the past is simply revisionist history at worst, or uniformed chatter at best.

Thank you for this post.

 

[71jason]

Outside companies and labels have had a presence inside the parks since the beginning, the opening day of Disneyland. This isn't anything new. The Starbucks will be themed accordingly. You have nothing to worry about.

The current Fountain View is just an Edy's Ice Cream Shop. You can visit essentially the same store on 192, except that I think that one has more flavors. There's nothing particularly "Disney" about it. For that matter, the ice cream is good but nothing spectacular--give me an in-park Ben & Jerry's like Universal any day over Edy's.

 

[Californian Elitist]

The current Fountain View is just an Edy's Ice Cream Shop. You can visit essentially the same store on 192, except that I think that one has more flavors. There's nothing particularly "Disney" about it. For that matter, the ice cream is good but nothing spectacular--give me an in-park Ben & Jerry's like Universal any day over Edy's.

There you go. Another brand. No surprise there!

Ben & Jerry's is delicious... Wish I had some now. I would welcome a Ben and Jerry's.

 

[TP2000]

True, if you go with a "regular coffee" (Cafe Americano or whatever they call it) it's reasonably priced, and on par with other vendors.

If you'd like coffee at Starbucks, you simply order a coffee. That's also how it's listed on all their menu boards. Coffee, hot or iced.

A cup of coffee at your local Starbucks generally runs from $1.75 to $2.25, depending on the city and location.

If you want a Café Americano, they can do that too, and that's usually an extra 10 or 15 cents over the coffee price. But an Americano is a shot made with espresso beans with hot water added after, not roasted coffee beans brewed together, and it's a different thing entirely.

I just stick to a medium coffee when I stop by a Starbucks, with a splash of cream and half a Splenda. Usually runs me two bucks. And it's good, quality stuff served professionally.

 

[WDWFanDave]

Great news! Now if we could only get Via Napoli converted to a Pizza Hut!

That made me laugh! I enjoy Starbucks, and will enjoy it being available at WDW.

Along with Pizza Hut in Italy, perhaps Tim Hortons in Canada, Taco Bell in Mexico, Panda Express in China and of course, McDonald's at The American Adventure? (These are all additional attempts at humor/sarcasm, in case that's not coming through loud and clear)

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

One other thing I do hope they won't lose is that Smooth Jazz Loop that plays in Fountainview...

 

[flynnibus]

people cried like the sky was falling about starbucks in DL too.. until they saw the final product. Now their complaint is only that it's too busy.

The bar has been set.. anyone who has seen the Ghirardelli's and the Pig cafe in DCA know they've handled both with flying colors.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Do we know for sure that the ice cream/breakfast offerings are going away?

NO, we are not! In fact, based on the other Starbucks locations in Disney Parks, it is unlikely that anything will change other then the Coffee Brand.

 

[BrianLo]

Along with Pizza Hut in Italy, perhaps Tim Hortons in Canada, Taco Bell in Mexico, Panda Express in China and of course, McDonald's at The American Adventure? (These are all additional attempts at humor/sarcasm, in case that's not coming through loud and clear)

I know this was a completely sarcastic post, but Tim Horton's is not an American imitation of "Canada" - it is a chain Canadian's take personal pride in and identify with (or at least Provincially in Ontario). I think all the Winter crowds coming down would absolutely love it.

Plus, if they ran a version of Roll up the Rim (the best restaurant contest) 365 days a year - we might actually call it an E-ticket....

Maybe even get a Sponsorship from them....

But yes, the other chains would be a travesty to any of their pavilions.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Latest dates for the closure now at http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/foun...g-in-early-april-for-starbucks-conversion.htm

I see they pushed it back a week; the original date was 3/31. I guess someone looked at the calendar and figured out their timing was off....

 

[PhotoDave219]

That is correct. It should be open by June. Also, for those wanting to know, the set opening date for Starbucks at MK is currently scheduled for June 19, 2013.

..... as long as they don't break any more water mains while constructing a coffee shop. I peaked through a crack in the door the other day - its a bare concrete slab and bare walls. Still a LONG way to go.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Never went in for ice cream. Won't go in for coffee. Pray that I don't have to see a big Starbucks logo.

You wont. It wont say Starbucks at all.

 

[BrianLo]

Has anyone who is against the idea actually been to DCA to see their Starbucks?

I know where it was, had been there previously in the summer, but still was unsure last week when I walked in whether I was in the right place. You honestly can not tell they serve Starbucks until you approach the counter. Now that they have proven how they can handle it I think it's a pretty asinine thing to take issue with.

 

[PhotoDave219]

As long as there are options. "I want coffee-flavored coffee" - Dennis Leary

They got mochachino, they got chocochino, frappachino, cappachino, rappachino, alpacino, what the f(rak)?​

 

[BoarderPhreak]

^ FTW!

 

[BoarderPhreak]

NO, we are not! In fact, based on the other Starbucks locations in Disney Parks, it is unlikely that anything will change other then the Coffee Brand.

I've heard this also.