castlecake2.0
Well-Known Member
so do you order at the display case and pick it up at the register?
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News Magic Kingdom's Main Street Confectionery closing for refurbishment
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
I don't think it looks that bad compared to some of the botched jobs lately (Polynesian porté cochere I'm looking at you...) but worth noting even the FB/Twitter pages that are generally super positive about these things find this plain and boring. Can't tell if that's because Toy Story characters aren't plastered everywhere or because they actually care about the theme.
Disney Analyst
Well-Known Member
So weird, we have a completely opposite perspective on this. I often avoid the stores in the parks. The clutter everywhere made me feel claustrophobic and nothing would draw my eye. If I went in I’d browse quickly and want out.
The newer designs are far more appealing for me.
Casper Gutman
Well-Known Member
To each there own, I suppose. But I go to theme parks for theming. I don't go to buy things in an airy space - I don't go anywhere for that, I have the internet. If you want me to come into a brick-and-mortar establishment, you better give me a reason.
And Disney (and Uni) know this - as others have pointed out, the IP lands like Batuu, HP, and Carsland feature unique merchandise in heavily themed spaces that are somewhat cramped to be consistent with the theming. Disney just seems incapable of translating that idea out of the IP lands - part of their larger inability to understand that PARKS ARE IPS, a completely baffling oversight considering Disney has made hit film franchises out of Pirates, JC, and is trying to launch one based on HM. Its actually kind of insane.
To bring up Uni again, look at what they did with the HHN Tribute Store. Its a temporary store that will stand for three months or so before being torn down forever. But it features heavy, varied theming in each of its four rooms and on its facade, massively more theming then anything Disney has built outside of Batuu in many many years.
Honestly, it can't be said enough - the HHN Tribute Store stands as a massive rebuke to Disney's entire retail space philosophy. It also features another gimmick Uni is much better at right now then Disney - the store/museum exhibit. The Tribute Store, Legacy Store, and Prop Shop all double as museums of Uni history, with exhibits among the merchandise. And that gets me to go in and linger. And buy. Yet Uni has NOTHING like the history - and history obsessed fans - of WDW.
Of course, when stores get too congested, no amount of theming will get me in, either. But that's not an argument against theming, it's the oft-repeated argument for offering enough capacity (in desirable spaces) throughout a park.
A huge part of the problem here is that Disney management doesn't like theme parks.
Disney Analyst
Well-Known Member
If im 100% honest… I don’t go to theme parks to shop so I honestly mostly avoid the stores, so I may not have any nostalgia towards them or the old theming. And I must admit, I do actually love a good themed space like in Harry Potter or Galaxy’s edge - it’s been so long since I’ve been in a park I forgot how great some stores are inside.
I just feel the confectionary still looks great
Karakasa
Well-Known Member
I think whoever was in charge of this redesign forgot that Magic Kingdom has well-defined theming. This looks like a candy store from the early 2000s trying to look fancy-shmancy in the manner of a Cheesecake Factory, not a confectionery from the late 1800s/early 1900s.
In a vacuum, it's a well designed store, and I have no issue from that POV. But this looks like what should be at Disney Springs, not Main Street USA. :/
In a vacuum, it's a well designed store, and I have no issue from that POV. But this looks like what should be at Disney Springs, not Main Street USA. :/
Hcalvert
Well-Known Member
I get that some people are resistant to change, but geez, It is just a store. It serves it purpose and I guess I am not as invested in the historical aesthetics and backstory that others are going on about. As a casual customer, I am happy there is more open space to get around as I found myself often feeling claustrophobic while shopping there when it was busy---and this particular place always seemed to be extremely busy and overly crowded.
Karakasa
Well-Known Member
Make no mistake, I get the claustrophobia angle completely. But I feel like ought to have been a way to keep it thematically sound while also making it more open.
It's not the end of the world, just disappointing.
It also doesn't help that WDW merchandising team have spent the last 20+ years taking out all of the interesting variety in the shops. It's the same Disney branded stuff, mostly for kids, everywhere. Gone are the days when you could get interesting trinkets and curios that were truly unique to the themed lands they were in. Places like The King's Gallery, which had interesting European imports and "medieval" merchandise or Sid Cahuenga's, which featured real movie memorabilia. Yes, there is some attraction specific merchandise, but 90% of the inventory is stuff you can find at World of Disney.
yensidtlaw1969
Well-Known Member
The whole thing is that a shop on Main Street has two jobs - Sell merchandise, and look like it belongs on Main Street.
Previously the shop was doing gangbusters on one and merely passing on the other.
Now it’s likely to continue making money, while completely giving up on looking like a Turn-of-the-Century Sweet Shop.
They should have been able to have a field day with an assignment like that. This could have easily turned into one of the most fun stores in the park. Instead it looks like a Forever 21 that’s started selling lollipops for some reason.
matt9112
Well-Known Member
castlecake2.0
Well-Known Member
If you don’t like it, share your feedback:
guest.services@disneyworld.com
yes you’ll get the standard fluff email in response, but your feedback will be sent on to the right people/departments. If no one tells them otherwise, Disney may just keep thinking “job well done!”.
guest.services@disneyworld.com
yes you’ll get the standard fluff email in response, but your feedback will be sent on to the right people/departments. If no one tells them otherwise, Disney may just keep thinking “job well done!”.
jmuboy
Well-Known Member
Overall thoughts:
-Are there any period themed light fixtures at all? The over use of can lights is disappointing.
- overall, look of the store id ok and just as bland and boring as it looked before
- Mars candy is fine with me and happy for onstage kitchens
- losing the chapeau is a real crime. We need a dedicated hat store and embroidery on Main Street
-Are there any period themed light fixtures at all? The over use of can lights is disappointing.
- overall, look of the store id ok and just as bland and boring as it looked before
- Mars candy is fine with me and happy for onstage kitchens
- losing the chapeau is a real crime. We need a dedicated hat store and embroidery on Main Street
jmuboy
Well-Known Member
Nooooo wayyyy- this store was never charming. It was a bit garish and 90s with the tacky broken ceiling conveyance.
the new store is just super bland - and not charming.
castlecake2.0
Well-Known Member
I thought the same about the light fixtures but looking back at previous photos it never really had much to begin with. The emporium on the other hand has an overwhelming amount.
Saying that, it could do with more. The light should look like it’s coming from period fixtures and be supplemented by the can lights, not the other way around.
JoeCamel
Well-Known Member
Ebay, you don't leave your couch
matt9112
Well-Known Member
Or we could just have a little character and stop trying to "sleek" everything up.
The world of disney store is one of the most egregious examples. Went from at least fun and playful to open and empty and drab. The omly redeeming quality is the tinker bell and photo effects at check out. The entire store experience is sub par.
ToTBellHop
Well-Known Member
I do chuckle at people claiming the backstory is unnecessary while wearing an Orange Bird shirt and lamenting overuse of company IP elsewhere…
Fun fact, one of the characters is the first LGBTQ Disney Parks original character. About time!
Fun fact, one of the characters is the first LGBTQ Disney Parks original character. About time!
castlecake2.0
Well-Known Member
One could argue that the current version of WoD fits the actual theme of Disney Springs far better than the previous version ever could. Former WoD was a holdout of the Eisner retail era. Having oversized fixtures and character props doesn’t equal theming.
Rbenz81
Member
So I literally just stepped out of the modern design of the new Confectionary. It did not remind me of an old candy store. Too sleek and very little woodwork which you would find in a turn of the century early 1900s shop. The bigger disappointment is the lack of original goodies the store used to offer. No more original fudge. Only fudge being offered is topped with either M&Ms or Skittles. Anyone ever tried to chew a skittle? Just yet another Blah disappointing refurb IMO! The cast member I spoke with tried to claim that the current offerings were because they just opened. However when I pressed about the Mars sponsorship she said I was right about my assumption.