The Downtown Disney Thread

Sharon&Susan

Sharon&Susan

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
TP2000 said:
Whatever the heck they did to Ralph Brennan's, it's pretty much a total loss at this point.

But now that has me worried about how they are gutting Uva Bar and Catal and rebuilding them from scratch as "Paseo".

This doesn't bode well. Here's the complete interior and exterior gutting of Catal/Uva Bar as of this past week.

Disneyland-Downtown-Disney-Catal-Uva-Bar-Paseo-Centrico-construction-DSC_6013-X5-768x511.jpg
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Extending the patio all the way over to Wonderground is at least a genuine win for capacity, unlike Jazz Kitchen's sad attempt to by replacing a fountain with maybe just enough space for one extra table.
 
Communicora

Communicora

Premium Member
I'm sure they will add some succulents to the tables and maybe some photos of Julie Andrews on the walls.

If you aren't familiar with what I'm referring to, go to this thread

New Enhancements, Dining Options Coming to Disney’s BoardWalk

Like Space220 and Disney Springs projects? Don't know. I have no clue what restaurants Disney owns or doesn't own.. I just know Cake Bake has it's own ownership.
forums.wdwmagic.com forums.wdwmagic.com
 
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Phroobar

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
DLR92 said:
Downtown Disney is just as depressing as Anaheim Garden Walk.
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That is true. It is crowded and there really isn't much worth buying that doesn't have Mickey stamped on it. Garden Walk isn't crowded and doesn't have anything worth buying at all. They are not real malls. Where is the Forever 21, Barnes and Noble, Macys, Victoria's Secret, Hotdog on a Stick?
 
CaptinEO

CaptinEO

Well-Known Member
Downtown Disney is like getting ripped off for food and service but without the Disney theming of the parks to distract you from this fact.
 
chadwpalm

chadwpalm

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
Downtown Disney has always been the place I'd go and have dinner and hang out on the evening of my arrival in town. It always got me in the "Disney" mood before going to the parks the next day or two.

Ever since the failed hotel that was going to go there that shut down ESPN, Rainforest Cafe, and the AMC, it just has never been the same.

Aside from never reopening those places, they continued to remove places like Build a Bear and Ridemakerz which catered to kids and gave them interactive things to do, for more restaurants. They turned my favorite store D Street into a Home Store.

I did bowl with my friend at Splitsville last trip, so that change was okay for me.

As an extension of the Disney bubble, it should be a fun, creative, and whimsical place to visit.....a place to get some Disney magic for free....instead it's just become another lifeless outdoor shopping mall and I rarely spend more than an hour or two there anymore.
 
el_super

el_super

Well-Known Member
chadwpalm said:
Aside from never reopening those places, they continued to remove places like Build a Bear and Ridemakerz which catered to kids and gave them interactive things to do, for more restaurants. They turned my favorite store D Street into a Home Store.
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They need to figure out what they want Downtown Disney to be, and my guess is that their master plans for the resort changed dramatically between 2018 and 2022 further compounding this problem. Originally it was intended to serve the tourists and hotel guests in the area with more dining and entertainment, but over the years it just turned into a release valve for all the locals and annual passholders. But in that they want to appeal to locals and APs, their options for spending on it seem extremely limited by the low rate of return.

DLR's district is a shell of what has been offered in the other Disney districts like the Disney Village in Paris (with the wild west stunt show) or the Walt Disney Theater in Shanghai (with the Lion King production).
 
TP2000

TP2000

Well-Known Member
Sharon&Susan said:
View attachment 714186

Now that it's hidden at the dead end of a construction wall maze, how are the tourists going to know where to buy the necessary soccer supplies while on their Disney vacation?
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1683066336951-png.714186


What? This is a thing? Why?!?

Don't get me wrong, I'm kind of a minor Pele' fan, but only because I was alive and watching TV in the 1970's and remember when everyone in the Smart Set was saying how soccer was going to take over the USA and become America's Pastime for the 1980's and beyond. In the Carter years I even attended a few Seattle Sounders games with stylish friends and I wore a jaunty striped rugby shirt (yes, different sport, but in the 70's we didn't ask too many questions, it was more about theme and tone) and at the games I drank some rather dark imported beer that was kind of gross, trying to get in the spirit of the thing. But then... nope.

Although the soccer craze of '77-'78 came and went, Pele' seemed like a genuinely good person and a great ambassador for that failed sports concept. And now he has a store? In Downtown Disney? Why? Who is the target demographic for this? And... why? 🤔
 
Nunu

Nunu

Wanderluster
Premium Member
TP2000 said:
1683066336951-png.714186


What? This is a thing? Why?!?

Don't get me wrong, I'm kind of a minor Pele' fan, but only because I was alive and watching TV in the 1970's and remember when everyone in the Smart Set was saying how soccer was going to take over the USA and become America's Pastime for the 1980's and beyond. In the Carter years I even attended a few Seattle Sounders games with stylish friends and I wore a jaunty striped rugby shirt (yes, different sport, but in the 70's we didn't ask too many questions, it was more about theme and tone) and at the games I drank some rather dark imported beer that was kind of gross, trying to get in the spirit of the thing. But then... nope.

Although the soccer craze of '77-'78 came and went, Pele' seemed like a genuinely good person and a great ambassador for that failed sports concept. And now he has a store? In Downtown Disney? Why? Who is the target demographic for this? And... why? 🤔
Click to expand...
There's a Pelé Soccer at WDW's Disney Springs, too. Also at Times Square, NY and Miami Beach, FL.
 
Phroobar

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
Must be a pretty lonely store. I guess if your kid needs new shin guards for the next day's game after you return from vacation and you don't have a car this might work.
 
tcool123

tcool123

Well-Known Member
TP2000 said:
In Downtown Disney?
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Disneyland is a tourist destination.

TP2000 said:
Why?
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Soccer remains one of the most popular sports in the world and is typically the number one sport for international visitors.

TP2000 said:
Who is the target demographic for this?
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International visitors as well as visitors who come from soccer loving backgrounds like many of my friends from various Latin countries.
 
SSG

SSG

Well-Known Member
TP2000 said:
1683066336951-png.714186


What? This is a thing? Why?!?

Don't get me wrong, I'm kind of a minor Pele' fan, but only because I was alive and watching TV in the 1970's and remember when everyone in the Smart Set was saying how soccer was going to take over the USA and become America's Pastime for the 1980's and beyond. In the Carter years I even attended a few Seattle Sounders games with stylish friends and I wore a jaunty striped rugby shirt (yes, different sport, but in the 70's we didn't ask too many questions, it was more about theme and tone) and at the games I drank some rather dark imported beer that was kind of gross, trying to get in the spirit of the thing. But then... nope.

Although the soccer craze of '77-'78 came and went, Pele' seemed like a genuinely good person and a great ambassador for that failed sports concept. And now he has a store? In Downtown Disney? Why? Who is the target demographic for this? And... why? 🤔
Click to expand...
I suspect it was a package deal to get the shop into Orlando. There's also a Pele store in Disney Springs, which has a more international and football mad clientele. I was there in February on my WDW trip and it was crammed with German and Brazilian tourists.

And I also recall those early Sounders days in the Kingdome. Although I was too young for the dark beer then :cool:
 
Phroobar

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
So why does Downtown Disney fail while Universal City Walk succeed? City Walk's stores are a lot more interesting and fun even if the vibe of the place is loud and in your face. Garden Walk is just a canyon with closed shops and cheap ripoff Disney merch.
 

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