Thoughts on Disney Springs Redevelopment

[DisneyJayL]

I think it's a chaotic mess. Granted there is horrible growing pains right now, but even after it's done I think it will still be a headache. To big, to busy, nightmare to navigate. Throw in people who have no clue where they are going, what a mess. I do like the look of the new areas, but there is no way to spice up a parking garage, a couple of plants aren't going to fix that eyesore. The place has lost it's charm. Not saying there aren't positives but overall I am not a fan.

I"m lost here. It isn't just parking garages. Or are you just trying to be flippant.

 

[LowesChevy]

I have witnessed the many transformations of Lake Buena Vista Village, Walt Disney World Village, Downtown Disney, Pleasure Island, West Side etc. For several trips the shopping area would be under major rennos for several years. They have always offered a nice variety of gifts, mostly different than from what the parks offer. Now it kinda sells the same merchandise all over, but another topic ha ha.

It is a mess and just downright painful to visit, but when it is complete I think it is going to be great. CityWalk brings in a lot of folks with their mix of entertainment, dining and shopping and I think WDW wants to catch up. I can still buy the theme park exclusive stuff, but not I have other options for buying things that aren't pure Disney and for folks that do not venture out from property they will have the opportunity to try different things.

 

[gsimpson]

I like what they are doing. I was not happy with the low class party district they allowed Pleasure Island to devolve into, I loved it for the first several years. Hopefully the new nightlife will be more like PI of old. I think having a wider variety of non-Disney stores is a benefit. I assume Disney will keep a high standard and not allow it to devolve into an outlet mall.

 

[Mouse_Trap]

Hopefully the new nightlife will be more like PI of old. I think having a wider variety of non-Disney stores is a benefit. I assume Disney will keep a high standard and not allow it to devolve into an outlet mall.

What entertainment is planned? I only knew about mostly generic shops and some new restaurants. I wouldn't call either entertainment, potentially a restaurant could be if there more going on then just serving food.

 

[Blackie Pueblo]

I think I might be in the minority and for some reason I feel I should apologize. I'm mixed on the building of Disney Springs. My wife and I use to love going to Pleasure Island and go dancing. It was always a lot safer than going to downtown clubs. We always had fun and never had any trouble with the "riff raff" as previously stated. I always thought it was a great idea to have a place at night that was for adults. The daytime was for families with all the shopping.

I still love all the shopping but I guess I'm really confused on this idea that they are making it MORE family friendly than it was before. I dont' understand how when they are just adding more adult like stores and expensive resturants. How is this family friendly? Do kids really care about spending time in an Apple store or sitting in an expensive resturanut (besides maybe The T-Rex or Rainforest Cafe)? It seems to me it's still going to be more Adult at night. And another concern is, it seems to me they are just taking another step of catering to the higher class with these expensive resturants and cutting out the middle class Disney fans.

But I do think it will look a lot nicer and more organized and classier, and I still look forward to walking around it both night and day.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Malls are so popular....lol

 

[JordanNite]

They are taking advantage of a gap in the market out there - shopping in general out there is pretty atrocious, unless you believe 'outlet malls' are the height of shopping.

 

[JordanNite]

I for one, am happy with what Disney is doing. I just don't like they are changing the name. Everytime I go down there I have to go away from Disney for certain things, including the Apple Store. Now, I don't see a problem with staying right there. I just hope they do something about the nightlife. Citywalk seems like a great nitetime destination, but having nightclubs like they use to seems bad because of the riffraff that comes with it. I'm pleased though the Disney and its Springs. Can't wait for it to be completed.

They didn't take the nightclubs away because they were attracting riff raff - they took them away because no one was going. Disney is generally a family holiday, involving children. It's only a generally small demographic who go there to party. I remember the bars at the old Disney downtown always being empty, it's the same with Universal now - they're never full.

 

[weird]

Doesn't Apple own Disney stocks? I remember Steve buying a large amount of Disney stocks at one time.

 

[Alexis]

I agree. I'm not a fan of the non-Disney stores they're putting on the property. Although, I do not mind third party stores. I just feel like they could have incorporated more Disney in stores, etc.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

They didn't take the nightclubs away because they were attracting riff raff - they took them away because no one was going. Disney is generally a family holiday, involving children. It's only a generally small demographic who go there to party. I remember the bars at the old Disney downtown always being empty, it's the same with Universal now - they're never full.

Explorers Club?

 

[pajammies]

Am I the only one who thinks a lot of the new stores are too high end.
Maybe I'm cheap, I mean, I'm not saying put a Wal-mart in there, but geez, who's got that kind of money after plunking down what they did for a Disney trip.

 

[Master Yoda]

Am I the only one who thinks a lot of the new stores are too high end.
Maybe I'm cheap, I mean, I'm not saying put a Wal-mart in there, but geez, who's got that kind of money after plunking down what they did for a Disney trip.

I thought the same about a similar mall here in Jacksonville (St John's Town Center), but they appear to be doing very well. I imagine the same will be true for Disney Springs.

 

[Chef idea Mickey`=]

I thought the same about a similar mall here in Jacksonville (St John's Town Center), but they appear to be doing very well. I imagine the same will be true for Disney Springs.

St. John Town Center is one of my favorite destination but you can't compare
Disney to it, is not the same they are successful, at being itself, alot of huge well-known stores and popular restaurant names Jacksonville and that area North didn't Have.
Even Nordstrom left Orlando to open up there instead.

Disney on the otherhand if you open up shopping or a Zara Disney crowds, people will always go, the tourists, it's on Disney property.
Everything Disney will work eventually automatically. //

 

[Master Yoda]

For Those who go visit Disney Springs<Downtown Disney> without going to the Parks,
I visited Disney several times, didn't go to the parks, just to enjoy what's free, the surroundings,
visiting the resort hotels, (Polynesian, contemporary), monorail, take a boat at the swan, watch fireworks.etc
I live in Florida, understanding for those who travel far it's a different technique..

Spending is an option, just like going to Mall at Millenia for enjoyment and just for a cheesecake or so..

St. John Town Center is one of my favorite destination but you can't compare
Disney to it, is not the same they are successful, at being themselves, Disney on the otherhands
if you open up shopping or a Zara people Disney crowds will always go, the tourists, it's on Disney property.
Everything Disney works.

It is really hard to compare Disney to anything. My point was, these small high end places seem to work in spite of appealing to a small demographic.

 

[pajammies]

I guess they must work, hey, or they wouldn't put them there
But honestly, I still don't get it. Like you say, it appeals to a small demographic and yet it works. Why wouldn't they want it to appeal to the "average" vacationer so they spend more?

 

[Chef idea Mickey`=]

Actually The first part of my comment before St. John's Town Center
was referred to pajammies instead it be you.//; )

Not to say I wouldn't enjoy everything that they offer, but still,
if I come to Disney, my initial focus is Disney, what's unique there
like Planet Hollywood, or Ghiradhelli. All the other things retail outside companies from outside being known outside of Disney would come to me 2nd, not being the main reason I'd come.

 

[Master Yoda]

I guess they must work, hey, or they wouldn't put them there
But honestly, I still don't get it. Like you say, it appeals to a small demographic and yet it works. Why wouldn't they want it to appeal to the "average" vacationer so they spend more?

As I understand it they operate as high profit, low volume model. They concept depends on a situation where you sell 1 item for $500 profit vs 50 items at $10 profit each. This model tends to offer lower overhead than a high volume business, but it is not necessarily the most stable business type (the peaks and valleys can be pretty big)

 

[Chef idea Mickey`=]

I guess they must work, hey, or they wouldn't put them there
But honestly, I still don't get it. Like you say, it appeals to a small demographic and yet it works. Why wouldn't they want it to appeal to the "average" vacationer so they spend more?

It works because it's a global based concept, people who come and go to visit WDW esp they happen to travel there from all over the world, Disney's design when it comes to Downtown Disney and now Disney Spring's expansion of offerings are still to be internationally-known, or significations orignially established from other major US cities. What you will find mostly except along the line a few things you might still find at let's say Florida Mall or Mall at Millenia, they are still international establishments. DIsney World on it's own is a showcase to the world, and the people who would travel only to find it there, will be willing to spend for the things they can't otherwise somewhere else where they come from this is where foreigners and American's who want international aclaimed appeal will suceed and buy.x
As for the rest, you can still by when your at Disney Springs, there are plenty of other stores I'm sure that will suit you to your flavor and budget & still go enjoy to go have a look even if you can't buy just discover what the significants they offer as pleasurable delights for it's people.*

 

[pajammies]

Not to say I wouldn't enjoy everything that they offer, but still,
if I come to Disney, my initial focus is Disney, what's unique there
like Planet Hollywood, or Ghiradhelli. All the other things retail outside companies from outside being known outside of Disney would come to me 2nd, not being the main reason I'd come.

Ultimately, I agree with you, that's not why I'm there. But I definitely enjoy DTD.

As I understand it they operate as high profit, low volume model. They concept depends on a situation where you sell 1 item for $500 profit vs 50 items at $10 profit each. This model tends to offer lower overhead than a high volume business, but it is not necessarily the most stable business type (the peaks and valleys can be pretty big)

Thanks for the info, I guess I was just disappointed when I looked up some of the stores (as I had never even heard of some of them) and saw the prices and such. Not for me, thanks.

Oh well, hopefully it will at least be pretty when it's all done. I can't wait to see it.