Late last week, I was out west for a Disney
"Frozen" media event (Don't worry. JHM will be posting a bunch of
stories about this new Walt Disney Animation Studios production in the coming
weeks). And before I flew back home to New Hampshire on Saturday night, I made
a quick side trip to Disneyland Park to go check out this year's Halloween Time
decorations.
Photo by Jim Hill
I have to admit that I enjoyed how Disneyland Entertainment Creative Development works with this theme park's Resort Enhancement department had used jack-o-lanterns to playfully comment
on the various shops & restaurants that you'll find along Main
Street, U.S.A. Here's the
pile of pumpkins that are now sitting above the entrance to the Mad Hatter.
Photo by Jim Hill
As well as the Elvis-inspired jack-o-lantern which graces the 20th Century
Music Company sign.
Photo by Jim Hill
And speaking of the shops & restaurants that you'll find along Main
Street, U.S.A., the
Market House finally re-opened this past Wednesday as a Starbucks.
Photo by Jim Hill
I have to admit that when I initially heard about this
project, I was worried that this there-seems-to-be-one-on-every-corner
coffeehouse chain would somehow undercut Main
Street, U.S.A.
turn-of-the-century charm. But as I entered the Market House this past Saturday
afternoon …
Photo by Jim Hill
… I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by how
many elements of the original Market House could still be found inside of the
Disneyland Park's first-ever Starbucks. These included the old party line
phones …
Photo by Jim Hill
… as well as that game of Checkers which has sat atop an old pickle barrel
inside of this store, waiting to be played for the past 58 years.
Photo by Jim Hill
As for the Starbucks itself, though this coffee shop had
only been open for four days by the time I made my initial visit this past
Saturday, it was already a well oiled machine. Even though there were already a
lot of people in line waiting to order their coffee drinks when I entered the
Market House, the line moved quickly.
Photo by Jim Hill
Thanks — in large part — to the smart way that this store's new double-sided
queue had been set up. Not to mention that veritable army of baristas who were
working behind the counter.
Photo by Jim Hill
I barely had time to eyeball all of the goodies that were in
this store's bakery case …
Photo by Jim Hill
… as well as check out the Market House's fun new light fixtures (which
appear to have been cobbled out of old expresso machines) …
Photo by Jim Hill
… before it was then time to place my order. Which — in honor of all the
jack-o-lanterns that I had just seen adorning the rooftops & railings of Main
Street, U.S.A. — I
decided to make a pumpkin spice latte.
A mere two minutes later, my order was up …
Photo by Jim Hill
… so I grabbed my coffee drink and then settled into the Market House's newly
expanded seating area.
Photo by Jim Hill
All in all, my visit to Disneyland Park's
first Starbucks was a relatively pleasant & painless experience. I was
pleased both with the quality of my beverage as well as this respectful
retheming of Main Street U.S.A.'s
Market House. It was pretty obvious the Imagineers & Starbucks executives had
put a lot of time & effort into making sure that this modern day coffeehouse
fit into its new turn-of-the-century setting.
So even if a tall half-skinny half-1 percent extra hot split
quad shot (two shots decaf, two shots regular) latte with whip may not be your
cup of tea, I still suggest that you drop by the Market House the very next
time that you're at Disneyland Park …
Photo by Jim Hill
… if only so you can then meet the extra-caffeinated Cast Members who now
work in this coffeehouse and are really, really, REALLY happy to be calling Main
Street, U.S.A. home.