Sephora's Universal CityWalk location kicks DtD butt

[Darkbeer1]

https://www.ocregister.com/2018/04/...walk-offers-big-perks-for-beauty-enthusiasts/

>>
For months guests visiting Universal CityWalk have been posting photos on social media in front of the Sephora-branded “coming spring 2018” facade that covered the construction going on inside a large space located within the popular Universal City shopping area.


The temporary facade has finally come down, revealing the new state-of-the-art cosmetics store, which officially opens to the public at 11 a.m. Friday, April 20.


Sephora is just one of the many new stores to pop up at Universal CityWalk as the Universal Studios Hollywood-adjacent center is still undergoing its overhaul that began last year with the renovation of Universal Cinema and the additions of Mini Monster, Nectar Bath Treats, Voodoo Doughnut and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant and bar.<<

For me, I much prefer Universal CityWalk, much more for locals to like, larger, more Restaurants, Bars and even a Comedy Club.

https://www.citywalkhollywood.com/

 

[180º]

Funny enough, City Walk in Hollywood kicks DTD’s butt and City Walk Orlando’s butt. Not quite sure that it surpasses Disney Springs, though. I’m curious to see where Downtown Disney falls in this ranking after its slow but sure transformation.

 

[Californian Elitist]

CityWalk has always been better. Some actual energy exists there. Downtown Disney is beyond boring.

For the sake of my bank account, I will try to avoid Sephora for as long as possible.

 

[Stevek]

CityWalk has always been better. Some actual energy exists there. Downtown Disney is beyond boring.

Boring but packed to the gills anytime we visit, long wait times for many restaurant. That being said, I think CityWalk has far more energy but I have no desire to drive up there...an hour drive on even the best day.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

Can't get excited about a make-up store no matter where it is.

 

[The Mur]

A mall is a mall

 

[Darkbeer1]

A mall is a mall

So the Mall of America is just a mall, even though there is an Amusement Park inside....

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

Or the West Edmonton Mall.... It has Fantasyland, or I should say, Galaxyland,

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

And now, SoCal might get a Mall of America to call their own.

https://www.dailynews.com/2018/04/1...loper-eyes-vacant-47-acre-warner-center-site/

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The company that owns Mall of America is looking to develop a 47-acre site in Woodland Hills that once housed an Aerojet Rocketdyne engine manufacturing facility, an industry group reported Tuesday.


CoStar, a real estate information and marketing firm, said Triple Five Group Ltd. is negotiating to buy the property at 6633 Canoga Ave. in the Warner Center business development from Rocketdyne’s former parent company, United Technologies Corp.<<

 

[Model3 McQueen]

Isn't Disney shrinking DTD for a new hotel? Makes you wonder where managements priorities are for the strip.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Isn't Disney shrinking DTD for a new hotel? Makes you wonder where managements priorities are for the strip.

Yes, it is very clear that Disney has given up on the local market as a stand alone mall.

Now the focus is on the Hotel Guests on property, and those going to the parks, including AP holders.

No more Movie Theaters, no more concerts (House of Blues), etc.

Now, Disney has plenty of potential customers, so if Disney keeps the area focused on Food and Drinks, plus Souvenir Shops, they should do just fine.

 

[Rich T]

Yes, it is very clear that Disney has given up on the local market as a stand alone mall.

Now the focus is on the Hotel Guests on property, and those going to the parks, including AP holders.

No more Movie Theaters, no more concerts (House of Blues), etc.

Now, Disney has plenty of potential customers, so if Disney keeps the area focused on Food and Drinks, plus Souvenir Shops, they should do just fine.

My thought on what could have made Downtown Disney a successful local mall: Eliminate Annual Passes completely and make Downtown Disney a full-on park-themed experience (restaurants based on rides and films, more park-themed shops and entertainments) where locals could hang out together and get their daily/weekly "Disney Fix" without paying park admission. Plus go bowling or see a movie. Downtown Disney just needed more Disney. No one goes there to shop for expensive RC cars or "edgy" fashions.
(EDIT) The park experience, meanwhile, would benefit greatly. Parking would still be awful, though.

 

[Phroobar]

There was that idea of DCA getting absorbed into Downtown Disney. Entrance to the park would free. The park would have an emphasis on food and shopping. The few rides left would be ticket based. Basically DTD/DCA would become a version of Mall of America.

 

[DanielBB8]

My thought on what could have made Downtown Disney a successful local mall: Eliminate Annual Passes completely and make Downtown Disney a full-on park-themed experience (restaurants based on rides and films, more park-themed shops and entertainments) where locals could hang out together and get their daily/weekly "Disney Fix" without paying park admission. Plus go bowling or see a movie. Downtown Disney just needed more Disney. No one goes there to shop for expensive RC cars or "edgy" fashions.
(EDIT) The park experience, meanwhile, would benefit greatly. Parking would still be awful, though.

The thing is Disney isn’t in the shopping mall or food or hotel businesses. Everything is fed off the theme park business. That’s why serving Annual Passholder with Downtown Disney makes more sense than serving locals off the street, which doesn’t happen anyways. They already got their money and they want more. Locals aren’t a sure thing and it is already proven they abuse free parking.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

The thing is Disney isn’t in the shopping mall or food or hotel businesses. Everything is fed off the theme park business. That’s why serving Annual Passholder with Downtown Disney makes more sense than serving locals off the street, which doesn’t happen anyways. They already got their money and they want more. Locals aren’t a sure thing and it is already proven they abuse free parking.

What in the world are you talking about? Disney has plenty of hotels and shops. Theme parks is just one of many Disney endeavors.

Also did you forget about this? http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...eorganization-theme-parks-20180314-story.html

 

[Californian Elitist]

Boring but packed to the gills anytime we visit, long wait times for many restaurant. That being said, I think CityWalk has far more energy but I have no desire to drive up there...an hour drive on even the best day.

Yep. It’s attached to the parks, so it’s naturally going to be crowded.

I’m in your position, but the opposite. I live in Los Angeles, so I’m much closer to CityWalk. I would never head to Anaheim just for DtD alone, and honestly, if I lived further from CityWalk, I wouldn’t make a long drive just to go there either.

 

[DanielBB8]

What in the world are you talking about? Disney has plenty of hotels and shops.

Also did you forget about this? http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...eorganization-theme-parks-20180314-story.html

That’s what I mean. All those other businesses feed off the theme park business including merchandising. That’s why hotels and restaurants are 90% at the parks. Their attempt at an independent food chain failed including ESPN Zone.