Ridemakerz (Virgin store - 1st floor)

[jt04]

:brick::brick::brick: It just gets worse and worse. JT04's bold new vision for DTD continues!

I was worried about this at first because I think they need to think BIG concerning that venue. However, this is a temporary location for Ridemakerz. I think the concept is a great addition to DTD but they need to find a better location for it after it's run in the former VM store.

Secondly, this is not on the former PI, so playing the "bold and new" card is a bit misplaced.

Finally, I don't think Disney has ever claimed DTD will be filled with shops and eateries that can't be found somewhere else. Not sure where that rumor started. I think what it will be the most unique collection of specialty shops and restaurants and entertainment in one place. When fully realized I believe it will meet that goal overwhelmingly.

PS- I have three ideas for the former VM store that I think would all work incredibly well. ESPNZone, Marvel themed exhibit/superstore or Pixar themed exhibit/superstore. The last two could use a lot of the technology going into the new Disney Store concepts.

 

[CaptainMichael]

In the information I received, this along with the chicken place and Faux-Max at AMC is being dubbed as "part of the revitalization of DTD" so it's not hard to make the jump that this all *allegedly* started with the closing of PI. However, and here is what is funny, nothing new has come or is coming to the former PI space that wasn't already planned/in the works before PI closed.

I would love nothing more than to try out the new chicken place, catch a faux-max show, and then head over to the Adventurers Club for some poor judgment and entertainment. DTD is missing an anchor. DisneyQuest fails in that regard, and Cirque is too expensive and not for everyone. ESPN Zone would certainly qualify as one, but themed clubs also provide unique destinations and something to do after dinner.

 

[niteobsrvr]

I think the biggest thing that happened at PI is bad timing. The closure coincided with the beginning of the banking mess. If you look around your neighborhoods, I think you can honestly admit that more things have closed than opened. While, overall, Walt Disney World has s certain immunity to a portion of the issues we have each seen on Main Street America, DownTown Disney is really not unlike any other shopping destination from a financial standpoint.

Should PI have closed so abruptly? From out here, it looks like a bad decision. But in the conference rooms regarding the decision, I am sure it made a lot of sense given the plans that were on the drawing board. It only remains to be seen what will happen once the economy is moving along again in a year or so.

I loved hanging out at PI but Bars and Nightclubs of that fashion that PI had really are not what Disney is all about. They are a dime a dozen in bigger cities, often attract some elements not appropriate for the Disney brand, and often don;t last more than a couple of years before the next big thing comes along.

 

[jt04]

In the information I received, this along with the chicken place and Faux-Max at AMC is being dubbed as "part of the revitalization of DTD" so it's not hard to make the jump that this all *allegedly* started with the closing of PI. However, and here is what is funny, nothing new has come or is coming to the former PI space that wasn't already planned/in the works before PI closed.

I would love nothing more than to try out the new chicken place, catch a faux-max show, and then head over to the Adventurers Club for some poor judgment and entertainment. DTD is missing an anchor. DisneyQuest fails in that regard, and Cirque is too expensive and not for everyone. ESPN Zone would certainly qualify as one, but themed clubs also provide unique destinations and something to do after dinner.

PI is so obviously conspicuous in it's lack of any new announcements. It doesn't take a brain surgeon or rocket scientist to figure out this is deliberate. Someday we will know the whole story and I think it will then make perfect sense.

I think I understand the strategery at work but that's all I'm saying at this point. :zipit:

 

[jt04]

I think the biggest thing that happened at PI is bad timing. The closure coincided with the beginning of the banking mess. If you look around your neighborhoods, I think you can honestly admit that more things have closed than opened. While, overall, Walt Disney World has s certain immunity to a portion of the issues we have each seen on Main Street America, DownTown Disney is really not unlike any other shopping destination from a financial standpoint.

Should PI have closed so abruptly? From out here, it looks like a bad decision. But in the conference rooms regarding the decision, I am sure it made a lot of sense given the plans that were on the drawing board. It only remains to be seen what will happen once the economy is moving along again in a year or so.

I loved hanging out at PI but Bars and Nightclubs of that fashion that PI had really are not what Disney is all about. They are a dime a dozen in bigger cities, often attract some elements not appropriate for the Disney brand, and often don;t last more than a couple of years before the next big thing comes along.

I agree for the most part.

 

[Thurp]

Granted, Disney does try to do it bigger and better, but if tourists aren't buying it here...I don't know how long it will last. Unless they do two things:
1) build your own Cars car.
2) put in a track so you can actually race them or do something with them!

They will be able to do both of those things. Well, Disney-themed, I'm guessing that it will include Cars cars. It just makes sense.

strictly your opinion.. I can tell you, as a father of 3 girls.. all 3 would want to do it. of course, that will probably cost a small fortune

I actually "stole" that part from the internal email, so that's how TDO is looking at it.

 

[hrcollectibles]

It's not a unique experience, there are a handful of other ridemarkerz stores in the country (albeit not many,) it's like a build a bear for boys, or build your own lightsaber, muppet, princess crown, or potato head.

I don't like the idea. I won't set foot in it by choice. I think it's a waste of space, but I have the feeling that this will be attractive to a large segment of visitors.

And I have yet to find out what's going on with the rest of this large building.

Well considering there are only 5 currently in the United States I would say it is unique as not many people vacationing on Disney Property have experienced this.

I would rather have something in the building that formerly occupied the Virgin Mega Store, than nothing at all.. Its a lot better than showcasing a bunch of dresses from a deceased princess...

We had the same store here in indiana at our biggest mall, basically it was the male targeted build a bear. It was hot and I mean hot for the first 2 months it opened and seemed to have it's peak at christmas, sad to say the store lasted only 6 months before closing. Is this a wise choice for disney? I guess as long as they fill the space and pay the rent.

Perhaps the reason it was unsuccessful in the mall was because of few repeat visitors .. I am sure that more people visit Downtown Disney than visit the Mall.. I think this will be a hit... The only problem I foresee is people taking these cars home and then arriving safely...
I too am tired of the knee jerk reactions to changes that are done, not only in Downtown Disney but all over Disney Property that no matter what. once an release is made it will automatically be the worst thing ever...

 

[Mouse Detective]

PI is so obviously conspicuous in it's lack of any new announcements. It doesn't take a brain surgeon or rocket scientist to figure out this is deliberate.

I can't believe you can say that with a straight face! You really think closing the clubs and letting them sit idle for 3 years is a deliberate strategy? What the heck are you smoking?

Finally, I don't think Disney has ever claimed DTD will be filled with shops and eateries that can't be found somewhere else. Not sure where that rumor started.

Well Kevin Lansberry's announcement video (available on YouTube) referred to "new shopping and dining experiences". I guess that can mean new to DTD but I (and the masses) interpreted it as new new....something you're not going to find anywhere else. I guess they could open a Burger King and it would be new to PI so that counts as new.

He said "shopping and dining opportunities and other types of entertainment." As CaptainMichael has stated, absolutely nothing new has opened on Pleasure Island in ANY of the vacated clubs. At the end of March it will be 1-1/2 years since everything closed! And there's nothing.

 

[SirGoofy]

I can't believe you can say that with a straight face! You really think closing the clubs and letting them sit idle for 3 years is a deliberate strategy?

Yes. He does.

What the heck are you smoking?

I don't know, but I want some of it.

 

[jt04]

I can't believe you can say that with a straight face! You really think closing the clubs and letting them sit idle for 3 years is a deliberate strategy? What the heck are you smoking?

Like someone said, the economy intervened. I know they did not mean for PI's redo to last this long. You are misunderstanding what I'm saying. There is a strategy apparent in the fact no announcements have been made concerning PI. The could have shoehorned in any of the new stores but they obviously have othe ideas. It's not a coincidence they didn't set up a shop, temporary or otherwise, in the AC or 8-trax. No, it's deliberate. No doubt.

Well Kevin Lansberry's announcement video (available on YouTube) referred to "new shopping and dining experiences". I guess that can mean new to DTD but I (and the masses) interpreted it as new new....something you're not going to find anywhere else. He said "shopping and dining opportunities and other types of entertainment." As CaptainMichael has stated, absolutely nothing new has opened on Pleasure Island in ANY of the vacated clubs.

As I said, that pre-dates the economic crisis. Not only that, but it pre-dates the Orlando management shake-up. Another rather obvious point is that these two events caused a 100% reassessment of all future projects at WDW at that time. (Except SM and Stitch stage). The FLE was the first announcement of the new era. IMO.

DTD is still in process of evolving into it's new vision. But we are seeing more and more announcements. And I think we will continue to. The former PI might be the final announcement.

 

[Mouse Detective]

The clubs were barely themed and in no way unique. Clubs are a dime a dozen all over the country. Nothing in the Disney clubs (other than the AC) made them special.

That is incorrect. AC of course was uniquely themed and can never be replicated, except by Disney if they chose to do so. But Mannequins and 8TRAX were highly-themed as well. The other clubs I would agree were not unique.

Why do so many people get stirred up when the subject of new additions to DTD and PI are discussed? It's because the places they closed with so little thought and probably with deliberate intent were loved by so many. The passion for those places remains incredible. Clubs close all the time; they are a dime a dozen. But not Adventurers Club, Mannequins and 8TRAX. If you look at reader comments on any PI websites news articles or below the PI videos on Youtube, you see the strong feelings expressed over and over again. That's why!

 

[raiden]

No supra no care

 

[CaptainMichael]

As I said, that pre-dates the economic crisis. Not only that, but it pre-dates the Orlando management shake-up. Another rather obvious point is that these two events caused a 100% reassessment of all future projects at WDW at that time. (Except SM and Stitch stage). The FLE was the first announcement of the new era. IMO.

DTD is still in process of evolving into it's new vision. But we are seeing more and more announcements. And I think we will continue to. The former PI might be the final announcement.

The economy was tanking when they made the announcement. Why not leave the successful clubs open until there were replacements? Adventurers Club was still making money. Heck it was making money up until this past September for private events. If you're gonna go through the expense of renewing liquor licenses, might as well stay open!

 

[niteobsrvr]

The economy was tanking when they made the announcement. Why not leave the successful clubs open until there were replacements? Adventurers Club was still making money. Heck it was making money up until this past September for private events. If you're gonna go through the expense of renewing liquor licenses, might as well stay open!

First, you never give up a liquor license once you have it. I believe that is a rule as old as the licenses themselves.

The economy was tanking, yes. But at that moment in time no one had any idea how far it was about to fall. It was still another month or two before banks publicly realized the mess they had created and turjned off the credit tap. When that happened it meant that the outside participants, who couldn't finance through alternate sources or self fianance, had to put a lot of things on hold. I don't believe Disney ever had any intention of opening up anything that didn't involve outside brands and praticipants.

 

[jt04]

The economy was tanking when they made the announcement. Why not leave the successful clubs open until there were replacements? Adventurers Club was still making money. Heck it was making money up until this past September for private events. If you're gonna go through the expense of renewing liquor licenses, might as well stay open!

It appears to me that Disney made the decision to get out of the edgy dance club business awhile back. Maybe even long before the clubs were closed. I agree with that decision. I believe DTD will function better catering primarily to families with children. That said, I think they should have kept the AC as I think it was perfect for DTD. As was the CW potentially.

Perhaps the rumors are true and Disney has bigger and better plans for the AC characters and backstory that the AC just didn't fit. Personally I think the possibilities are endless.

 

[TP2000]

There's been a Ridemakerz at Disneyland's DTD for about six months, and it's very popular.

It really balances out the sticky-sweet and hyper-feminine stuff that Disney pumps out now through all their retail channels at Downtown Disney. Boys and their fathers love it. The current location is temporary, and the permanent Ridemakerz opens at Disneyland's DTD this summer. I'm sure it will repeat that success at WDW's Downtown Disney.

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...y/shopping/detail?name=RidemakerzShoppingPage

 

[Figments Friend]

Rock on! This will be a plus for DTD.

Build-a-Bear Workshop ( who owns Ridemakerz..) has been trying for years to get one of it's stores onto WDW Property. This is something i have been watching for over 6 years now...having some insights. Apparently the company wants to have a mega-BABW location at DTD similar to the one located at DTD in CA, as that is their top location next to the NYC 'flagship' BABW on 5th Ave. The hold up? They want a particular location/building that has yet to change hands/empty out.

When T-Rex Cafe opened last year, it was a big deal when the BABW owned 'Build-a-Dino' opened with it. This was very welcome, as finally they were able to get at least a small location open. It is great to hear they are now going ahead with the Ridemakerz concept. I think this will be a entertaining plus, and definately be a hit with the tourist crowd.

 

[CaptainMichael]

Perhaps the rumors are true and Disney has bigger and better plans for the AC characters and backstory that the AC just didn't fit. Personally I think the possibilities are endless.

Sure, the possibilities are endless, but I just don't see management, in its current line of thinking, ever building something as ambitious and detailed as the Adventurers Club ever again. It's like if EPCOT ever closed, sure, the possibilities are endless, but EPCOT would never be built today. Disney is afraid of projects like EPCOT, Pleasure Island, the Adventurers Club, etc. Instead, we get safe, fool-proof, guaranteed money makers like Fantasyland East: Attack of the Meet-n-Greets, the expansion of BBB, and an American Idol show that has more attraction specific merch than any deserving attraction (and I happen to like the AIE.)

The only way the Adventurers Club ever returns is if they can replace all of the characters with toons, have a character dinner, sell an in-club photo, and have a DVC kiosk in the corner.

 

[benji]

Down Town Disney is really dissapointing me. Virgin building is so huge. How can they fill that hole first floor? It's just like Build a bear work shop that you find at your local mall. I don't visit DTD anymore it's just so embarrassing and boring. Pleasure Island is a joke, it's a ghost town. I know Disney is for kids mostly but they need fun adult things to do. Why must everything have to do with children. I think Citywalk is light years ahead of DTD. Fat Tuesday just opened at Citywalk. You can really have fun at Citywalk. Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Then given that I don't take part in such illogical and irrational arguments, I'm done.

If you can't discuss the merits of a new addition at DTD in the contex of what it replaced without bringing up the Adventure's Club then there is nothing really to talk about.

See ya?

Sure, the possibilities are endless, but I just don't see management, in its current line of thinking, ever building something as ambitious and detailed as the Adventurers Club ever again. It's like if EPCOT ever closed, sure, the possibilities are endless, but EPCOT would never be built today. Disney is afraid of projects like EPCOT, Pleasure Island, the Adventurers Club, etc. Instead, we get safe, fool-proof, guaranteed money makers like Fantasyland East: Attack of the Meet-n-Greets, the expansion of BBB, and an American Idol show that has more attraction specific merch than any deserving attraction (and I happen to the AIE.)

The only way the Adventurers Club ever returns is if they can replace all of the characters with toons, have a character dinner, sell an in-club photo, and have a DVC kiosk in the corner.

It's so sad that this post is about 100% dead on.