When once asked about the future of Disneyland, Walt Disney was supposed to have said that ” … it will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.”
Well, that same design philosophy now seems to apply to WDW’s Downtown Disney. Only — in this particular case — Walt’s quote should probably be amended to read ” … it will continue to grow as long as people still have cash left in their wallets.”
Okay. I know. That comes across as rather cynical. But given the changes that are already underway at WDW’s waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment (I.E. Where Downtown Merchandise Operations staff attempt to zero in on two very distinct market segments) as well as the ones that are waiting in the wings … It’s kind of hard not to see these moves for what they really are. Which is a crass attempt by the Mouse get even more money from the tourists who are visiting Walt Disney World.
Don’t believe me? Then let’s first talk about the “Treasure Room” rehab that’s currently going on at Downtown Disney’s “World of Disney.” This is the first time that Disney has ever done a top-to-bottom redo of a particular section of this DTD shopping destination with the expressed hope of selling even more merchandise to one particular sex.
As Robert Kelley, General Manager of Downtown Merchandise Operations, recently explained:
“This will be the first time we’ve created a completely interactive and immersive experience focused on boys.”
Insert your own highly inappropriate Michael Jackson joke here.
Anyway … The “Treasure Room” is deliberately being designed so that it will be seen as a small boy’s paradise. There will be an Audio Animatronic pirate in here that they can interact with. There will also be some fairly grisly WDW souvenirs for sale in this section of the store, including a build-your-own skull area. Which — according to Disney’s own publicity material — ” … can be personalized with lots of ghoulish accessories.”
Now contrast this with what’s going on in the the Princess Room at DTD’s “World of Disney” superstore. Where a brand-new salon — the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique — is currently being built so that little girls can soon experience a magical makeover.
The backstory here is that the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is supposedly owned by the Fairy Godmother herself. Though the shop itself will be staffed by her assistants, the Fairy Godmothers-in-training.
Anyhow … Though the Fairy Godmother was nice enough to give Cinderella her royal makeover for free, for your daughter … Well, it’s going to be kind of costly. Depending (of course) on which level of makeover you chose. For the “Coach Package” (Which includes hair styling and “shimmering” make-up), Disney is only charging $35.00 (plus tax). For the “Crown Package” (While includes hair, make-up as well as fingernail painting), the Mouse would like you to cough up $45.00 (plus tax).
If — on the other hand — only the best will do for your daughter … Then the Biddidi Bobbidi Boutique offers the “Castle Package.” Which includes everything that you got with the “Crown Package” PLUS a complete costume of your daughter’s choice PLUS accessories PLUS an imaging package (Translation: “An imaging package” in Disney speak means “Two 4-by-6 color prints in a Disney Princess folder).
The management team at WDW’s Downtown Disney is so certain that the Biddidi Bobbidy Boutique will be a smashing success that — even though this new “World of Disney” salon isn’t actually supposed to open to the public ’til April 5th of this year — they’re already taking reservations. So — if you’d like your own little princess (ages 3 and up) to receive a magical makeover the next time you’re in Orlando, just call (407) 939-7895).
Mind you, this is just the start of the Walt Disney Company’s attempt to make WDW’s Downtown Disney much more appealing to kids. With the hope that — if the children are happy — then their parents will spend more time at this shopping, dining and entertainment complex and (hopefully) spend more money.
Of course, a key component of this more kid-friendly version of Downtown Disney is building a brand-new restaurant that children will adore. And this is where “T-Rex,” the “Prehistoric Family Adventure” dining experience comes in.
This 600-seat dinosaur-themed restaurant — which the Walt Disney Company just officially announced earlier this morning via the Orlando Business Journal — will be built just a few hundred yards away from the “World of Disney.” Located at the very edge of Pleasure Island, this two-story, 25,000 square foot structure will be somewhat similar to the Rainforest Cafe. In that guests will dine in highly themed environments surrounded by robotic creatures that periodically come to life.
Downtown Disney’s version of “T-Rex” (Which will actually be the second in this proposed restaurant chain. The very first “T-Rex” is slated to open later this year as part of “The Legends,” a 750,000-square-foot outdoor retail and entertainment complex located near the Kansas Speedway that opens to the public next month) won’t open ’til sometime in 2008 and is rumored to cost upwards of $25 million. Of course, one of the main reasons that this new WDW restaurant will take so long to build and/or will cost so much to construct is that “T-rex” is supposed to have this kid-friendly retail area modeled after the “Build-A-Bear” chain where children will be able to assemble their very own dinosaurs.
Mind you, in order to help change WDW’s Downtown Disney into a much more kind-friendly environment, that means that Pleasure Island will soon have to have a lot of its adult-oriented establishments ripped out, remodeled or replaced.
Under the guise of allegedly “improving customer flow” through WDW’s entire 120-acre shopping, dining and entertainment complex, PI’s Hub Stage will soon be torn down and replaced by an open plaza. Which will then supposedly ” … a spectacular view of the lagoon” and offer access to ” … additional watercraft transportation to our guests.”
Similarly, Pleasure Island’s West End Stage will soon be torn down so that that Disney can then construct a bridge that will then take WDW guests straight over to the West Side. Which will finally create a ” … a direct connection from one district to another” as well as ” … increase (available) space for potential new partners” to come in and build new establishments at Downtown Disney.
Mind you, it isn’t just the West End Stage & the Hub Stage that will soon be disappearing. Other longtime Pleasure Island staples like “Superstar Studios,” “DTV,” “Changing Attitudes,” “Reel Finds,” “Zen Zone” and the “Missing Link Sausage Company” will also be closing for good. (Mind you, PI’s “Harley-Davidson” store will also be closing later this month. But that’s only so this shop & its merchandise can then be moved across the street into the space that “Changing Attitudes” and “Reel Finds” used to occupy. If all goes according to plan, PI’s “Harley-Davidson” shop should be back open for business by sometime later this summer.)
As to what Pleasure Island will actually look like once all of this construction is complete … Well, as I previously mentioned in my February 2nd article, given that “Raglan Road” & “T-Rex” are now being viewed as the templates as to what should be done with this part of Downtown Disney … I can’t help but be a bit concerned about what the future may hold for such PI stalwarts as the “Comedy Warehouse” and the “Adventurers Club.”
Will the Walt Disney Company soon pull down these Pleasure Island icons to make for other “… potential new partners” that are thought to be more kid-friendly? So that Downtown Disney can then can continue its transformation into a place where the entire family can spend time and (more importantly) spend money?
Oh … And while we’re talking about Downtown Disney’s future … Given that parking continues to be a problem at this waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment complex, I guess it’s worth mentioning that Mouse House managers are supposedly exploring the idea of doubling the amount of parking available at DTD by building a multi-level garage on site. Though — the way I hear it — no decision will be made about Downtown Disney’s possible parking structure until the Mouse actually gets a handle on what happens next with Pleasure Island.
Anyway … That’s an update on what’s been going on and/or about to happen at WDW’s Downtown Disney. So what do you folks think? In its effort to make DTD seem more family-friendly, is the Mouse perhaps going too far with this particular makeover?
Your thoughts?
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