Replacements for Quicksilver at DtD

[Darkbeer1]

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/shop-733397-announced-space.html

>>The Disneyland Resort announced on its blog that two new shops would fill the space, Pandora, a jewelry shop, and Sammy Duvall’s Curl Surf, a shop specializing in items related to the surf lifestyle including fashions, sunglasses and more.

They will be located between the Jamba Juice and Sunglass Icon shops.<<

 

[TP2000]

Just more of the same. Pandora Jewelry replaces Something Silver, which became a cupcake shop. Curl Surf replaces Quicksilver, so Canadian tourists can buy "surf clothes" to bring back from their "trip to LA" to impress the neighbors. My young nephew, who is a legit surf rat on the South Orange County surf scene, says he wouldn't be caught dead wearing anything they sell to tourists in Downtown Disney. But the Canadians don't know that, of course.

So when does the real Downtown Disney makeover happen? Christie Fleischer (sp?), the VP that Miceage says was brought in to redo Downtown Disney, bailed and left town in September after just nine months. I'm thinking they really don't have much of a plan for Downtown Disney for the next couple years. Maybe in 2020 or so?

 

[Darkbeer1]

Pretty sure I talked about this in another post, but Disney is treating DtD as a step-child. Yes, they brought in Ms. Fleischer to try and help, but she couldn't do it.

Disney does need some sort of DtD, especially in the Grand Californian Hotel Room area (some rooms are above the shops), but they can downsize it a bit, and focus more on the 4th Hotel. DtD is not a big money maker at the Resort, but is a needed amenity to help support the hotels.

As TP2000 noted, the new shops are designed for visitors, and that looks like the trend for DtD, giving up trying to get the locals to come (too many other choices, and parking issues), and just try to keep a few shops open (non-Disney owned) that are "tourist shops". And I mean things like the Pick a pearl .stands you can find at Fisherman's Wharf, Hawaii, etc. I also would say that Rainforest Cafe is located in tourist spots, as are things like Build a Bear, etc...

 

[indianajack]

I think DtD is a failure as a place to get locals to come to shop. It never could have the wide array of clothing shopping choices that a big mall in Orange County would have. But it could be a success as a place to get locals to come have fun. I don't think tourists, for the most part, come to Disney to watch a movie at the cineplex. Parking is certainly an issue when compared to the mall, but the entertainment options at DtD are better than the mall, and being outdoors is a nice plus as well.

 

[Darkbeer1]

I think DtD is a failure as a place to get locals to come to shop. It never could have the wide array of clothing shopping choices that a big mall in Orange County would have. But it could be a success as a place to get locals to come have fun. I don't think tourists, for the most part, come to Disney to watch a movie at the cineplex. Parking is certainly an issue when compared to the mall, but the entertainment options at DtD are better than the mall, and being outdoors is a nice plus as well.

Have you looked at what the nearby The Outlets at Orange offers? (Outdoors)

http://www.simon.com/mall/the-outlets-at-orange/stores

A VANS Skate Park
Dave & Busters
Lucky Strike Lanes
AMC Movie Theaters

Plus a LOT of Dining options,along with bars.

Heck Anaheim GardenWalk, we have the upcoming House of Blues, BowlMor (Upscale Bowling), Billy Bees, the Heat Nightclub and lots of Diving. (Outdoors)

MainPlace Mall has Round 1 Entertainment, Picture Show Theaters, and lots of Dining (Interior Mall).

All offer free regular parking, and even Valet Parking (which DtD has stopped offering).

Edited to add the Buena Park Mall (Indoors for the most part).

BigAir Trampoline Park
John's Incredible Pizza Co. (includes large arcade, and even a few small amusement park rides)
Krikorian Theaters,

Lots of dining options, some as part of the main mall, some in the parking lot.

Also two options have Buffalo Wild Wings, so similar to the ESPNZone for sports viewing.

All in a 5 mile radius of the DLR.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Thought of one more, a bit farther away, the Irvine Spectrum Center, large outdoor mall, with a large Ferris Wheel, Carousel and Ice Skating Rink, Improv Comedy Club, the Ride 7D, large Movie Theater complex and Dave & Busters. Plenty of free parking including multiple parking structures. It has also hosted multiple Cirque du Soleil and similar shows in a temporary tent in the parking lot.

 

[indianajack]

But you're assuming consumers make rational choices, when they actually make emotional ones for entertainment. As long as Disney keeps somewhat in the neighborhood with the offerings you cite, then Disney will attract more locals... because DtD has the Disney imprimatur. That's why Garden Walk is empty, even though it's quite nice.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Guess you haven't been to The Oulets at Orange on a Friday or Saturday night, where the entire main parking lot is full, and they need to use overflow lots (mainly the nearby office building parking lots)..

 

[Darkbeer1]

Let me add as a local, there is no way I am driving to Downtown Disney for entertainment, what is currently offered? Basically nothing, except music groups trying to sell CD's.

Restaurants are nice, but no "WOW' ones.

If my wife wants Sephora, she prefers to go to the Brea Mall location.

Parking is a big pain, and usually costs money (very little time in validation, especially if they are forcing you to the Simba lot and make you walk to DTD.

 

[NobodyElse]

Parking is a big pain, and usually costs money (very little time in validation, especially if they are forcing you to the Simba lot and make you walk to DTD.

Just take that cute omnibus next time. Oh, wait...

 

[Darkbeer1]

OK, I think those who live in Southern California are lucky, and have had amazing unique pre-planned malls for decades. (Not counting the areas that have morphed from downtown to cute unique shopping areas, or beach communities). Most of these malls/areas are outdoors, due to the weather being so nice)

In San Diego, I can think of Horton Plaza was one of those that started a truly unique one of a kind mall.

The Viejas Outlet Center is beautiful, has special evening shows in their showcourt.

http://viejas.com/viejas-showcourt



Fashion Valley Mall has morphed into a very unique upscale mall, and then you have nearby Mission Valley Mall and Hazard Center, plus shops and restaurants that built next to the big malls. Connected to each other using the San Diego Trolley rail system.

Fashion Island in Newport Beach has a unique history, using the site that hosted the Boy Scout Jamboree and has amazing views, and great common areas (I love the Koi Pond). Every Christmas Season, the mall is well known for its Christmas Tree, in fact, a 30 minute TV is offered when they light the tree, Disney works with them (and nearby Irvine Spectrum, which is owned by the same landlords) in producing the special and offering Holiday Entertainment.



The Grove in the LA area is amazing, fairly new, but built next to the famous Farmer's Market (and run by the same management) near the CBS Television City Studios complex.

This heavily Themed Mall shows what a Shoppertainment Mall should be, a great free Trolley that was designed to run on electricity without a hanging system, uses the same charging system that Disney uses to power the Subs in Tomorrowland. This mall opened the same time as DtD, and has grown and seen great attendance and has special Christmas shows and a large tree, they also get a 30 minute TV show of its Christmas Tree lighting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grove_at_Farmers_Market



So there are some of the malls I think to as a "destination" mall, all much better than DtD, offering better entertainment, restaurants and shopping.

Heck, Universal CityWalk is also a great run mall, that does get quite a bit of their business from locals. You have things like the iFly sky diving experience, and the 5 towers entertainment stage area next to the theaters with its very large Video wall. This area is used quite a bit in filming things for TV shows and features major bands (i remember seeing Smash Mouth and meeting the band there years ago).



Now, I personally wouldn't drive there just for the mall nowadays due to traffic and parking hassles, but I do spend time there most of the time after visiting USH.

But there are a lot of great malls in Southern California, and I know I am missing some other good choices, but this is the bar that Disney has to compete to get locals to visit, and it truly looks like Disney has decided to not go after locals for DtD, and focus more on the current Hotel guests on property, and at nearby off-property lodging. Which isn't a bad strategy. It will never be the money maker the parks and Hotels are currently, but if can at least pay for itself, then Disney gets a good amenity for its guests. I remember the original shopping complex at the Disneyland Hotel before the Resort conversion, a nice set of shops, with a focus on the Hotel Guests wants and needs, and that is what we are back to.

Slightly off-topic, but I do miss the old Disneyland Hotel Fantasy Waters show. (Free and open to the public)

 

[Stevek]

I have never been to DTD on a weekend where it wasn't jam packed at night with waits well over an hour for most restaurants. We were actually "forced" to go to Whitewater Snacks one night as it was the only place that we didn't have a significant wait. That being said, we don't go there to shop. We generally only visit when we are making a trip to Trader Sam's or the occasional movie...that's coupled with a trip to Sam's. My guess is that most restaurants do fairly well but retail will always struggle to get anyone other than tourists to buy much.

 

[Phroobar]

I also miss the Disneyland Hotel Fantasy Waters show. It was like World of Color lite. The cheesy Christmas lights Mickey and castle are incredibly bad but I like it! They need to take that soundtrack and build a World of Color show around it.

 

[westie]

My wife just did a backflip over the Pandora news.

 

[Next Big Thing]

Just more of the same. Pandora Jewelry replaces Something Silver, which became a cupcake shop. Curl Surf replaces Quicksilver, so Canadian tourists can buy "surf clothes" to bring back from their "trip to LA" to impress the neighbors. My young nephew, who is a legit surf rat on the South Orange County surf scene, says he wouldn't be caught dead wearing anything they sell to tourists in Downtown Disney. But the Canadians don't know that, of course.

So when does the real Downtown Disney makeover happen? Christie Fleischer (sp?), the VP that Miceage says was brought in to redo Downtown Disney, bailed and left town in September after just nine months. I'm thinking they really don't have much of a plan for Downtown Disney for the next couple years. Maybe in 2020 or so?

I don't have any real respect for someone who says "they wouldn't be caught dead" wearing something. That's judgemental as all hell. If someone wants to wear something or buy something, that's them. And if they are willing to buy it, why is Disney stupid for bringing them in to DtD? They aren't.

 

[TP2000]

I don't have any real respect for someone who says "they wouldn't be caught dead" wearing something. That's judgemental as all hell. If someone wants to wear something or buy something, that's them. And if they are willing to buy it, why is Disney stupid for bringing them in to DtD? They aren't.

Remember, I was talking about a 17 year old boy here. Teenagers wouldn't be caught dead doing a lot of things that seem rather inane or unimportant to adults, but by the time they are 25 they've grown up.

 

[SSG]

Of course it’s TBD if it was a dumb move to bring in a surf shop to replace…a surf shop. Maybe Disney has some comprehensive market research showing there is a huge untapped surf gear market and this place will clean up.

 

[Bandini]

Let me add as a local, there is no way I am driving to Downtown Disney for entertainment, what is currently offered? Basically nothing, except music groups trying to sell CD's.

Restaurants are nice, but no "WOW' ones.

If my wife wants Sephora, she prefers to go to the Brea Mall location.

Parking is a big pain, and usually costs money (very little time in validation, especially if they are forcing you to the Simba lot and make you walk to DTD.

Interesting local perspective. I was wondering if locals went to DTD. I thought the hassle and expense of parking would keep locals away. Actually I'm really surprised that the theater is still alive. It doesn't seem to be a big draw.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Interesting local perspective. I was wondering if locals went to DTD. I thought the hassle and expense of parking would keep locals away. Actually I'm really surprised that the theater is still alive. It doesn't seem to be a big draw.

I think when it opened back in 2001, many locals went to "check it out" as the new thing in town.

Disney also spent money advertising Downtown Disney to Locals at the beginning.

But the locals did figure out it was a smaller mall, with parking issues, and also street access issues just to get in/out of the lot. Once, spent about 20 minutes just trying to leave the DtD lot, since they collect the money when you leave. And then the traffic has to merge with those leaving the parks.

I think AGW had some of the same issues, and why locals haven't been showing up there in the percentages that the initial profiles had.

 

[NobodyElse]

Of course it’s TBD if it was a dumb move to bring in a surf shop to replace…a surf shop.

Technically (to me, a kid who grew up going to Jack's, Hannifin, The Frog House etc.) neither of these are surf shops, but I totally get your point. At least the Duval's are a Florida family, so it might have a slight uniqueness factor in Anaheim. Enough to support a presumably high-rent shop? We'll see.

But the locals did figure out it was a smaller mall, with parking issues, and also street access issues just to get in/out of the lot. Once, spent about 20 minutes just trying to leave the DtD lot, since they collect the money when you leave. And then the traffic has to merge with those leaving the parks.

Anecdotally, I remember attending a concert at HOB several years ago (I'm pretty sure it was "X") and by the time we got back to the car, the DTD parking staff had just given up. We saw that the normally-closed exit straight onto Disneyland Drive (right turn only) was open, and unattended, so out we went with several hours of parking for free.

I think AGW had some of the same issues, and why locals haven't been showing up there in the percentages that the initial profiles had.

As previously discussed, AGW has/had some of the same issues, and plenty more. HOB opening there will be a mixed blessing. It'll likely attract many more visitors, but be a nightmare if everybody tries to leave right after a concert in their big room.