Originally Posted By jmuboy Some questions regarding the retail changes in DtD. - Has anyone been in the new Kitson Kids or Little Miss matched store? I'm interested in opinions since I won't be able to see them in person until the spring. - Does Little Miss matched just sell socks? A store full of socks seems like a pretty narrow market for a Theme Park shopping district. - Does Kitson Kids have anything affordable? I've Been to the Kitsons anchor store and the prices remind me of Saks 5th Ave prices on crack! - Is the Illuminations building still empty? - Did Little Miss matched take up the entire space of the old Dept 54 store? or is there room for another store?
Originally Posted By alexbook I can give you partial answers. I haven't shopped either store, but I've seen them: Little Miss Matched takes up only part of the old Dept. 56 store. I don't know what they're going to do with the remainder of the space. I don't know what they sell; maybe somebody else can help out, here. Illuminations is still empty. Kitson Kids is mostly toys and books, with some kids' clothing. Not sure what the prices are like, but from the window the products didn't look like expensive "boutique" items. You didn't ask, but the permanent kiosk between Compass and ESPN (the original Compass newsstand, later a crystal shop, then a t-shirt shop) is now a paint-your-own ceramics shop. I'm not sure what the name of the business is, as their signs aren't up yet.
Originally Posted By jmuboy That kiosk probably needs to be a planter with pretty shrubs and flowers. Seems they can't get much else to succeed there.
Originally Posted By alexbook Here's a blog post from somebody who went into Kitson Kids: <a href="http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/2009/07/22/celebrity-kids-store-opens-in-downtown-disney/12167/" target="_blank">http://ocresort.freedombloggin...y/12167/</a> And here she talks about the pottery kiosk, which may be called Artists by Design: <a href="http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/2009/07/23/downtown-disney-launches-paint-your-own-pottery-kiosk/12255/" target="_blank">http://ocresort.freedombloggin...k/12255/</a>
Originally Posted By di-tard4life Have not been to kitson kids as I don’t have kids and kinda like it that way! Lol lol lo…but since I have small feet ( size 5 –but can fit smaller shoe, and I am 29) I have been to little miss matched..and they have more then just socks, they have flip flops. Underwear etc.. it’s a cute little store..
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS Little miss Matched is a great store..you'll love it! It's a little pricey but SOOOOOOOO Punky Brewster!
Originally Posted By Ben I have been in the temporary store (the permanent is being built out), and thought they were pretty pricey. They sold a couple of other things I cant remember but it was like knitted scarves and/or gloves... all in the same mismatch look. The sales people were all "friendly and helpful" and probably on commission.
Originally Posted By alexbook Okay, I actually strolled through Kitson Kids and it looks like the balance is more towards clothes and less towards toys and books. My first impression was based on what I could see through the windows.
Originally Posted By di-tard4life i went to kitson kids..and i cant beleive that someone would buy a tiny pair of shorts for 65 dollars for there 2 year old...
Originally Posted By dlkozy We just got home from a Disneyland vacation and we did not wander at all in DTD. There is nothing there that interests us at all. Talking to others as we waited for parades and fireworks to start-we are not alone in our feelings towards DTD.
Originally Posted By di-tard4life oooh well u totally missed the yummy food at tortilla joe's.. and the awesome rain forest cafe... the little miss matche store is cool and so is the vault, the choclate store andthe huge disney store... so u really missed out..and u know i understand that people have there opinions of DTD..but seriously if u have never seen it u should.plus there is a enterance to GC hotel right there..u could of wondered in the lobby of that massive resort! cause its awesome and should not be missed
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "We just got home from a Disneyland vacation and we did not wander at all in DTD. There is nothing there that interests us at all." Interesting. Are you a local or from out of town staying at a nearby hotel? I visit from the Bay Area and I can't imagine a multi-day visit to DLR without spending some time at DtD - especially during the off season when the parks close early. I particularly love the movie theater and the outdoor bar at Tortilla Joes. It's a good spot to watch the fireworks.
Originally Posted By di-tard4life WELL its too late now Hans.. they missed DTD…. Oh well… That’s junk.
Originally Posted By dlkozy >>>"so u really missed out..and u know i understand that people have there opinions of DTD..but seriously if u have never seen it u should.plus there is a enterance to GC hotel right there..u could of wondered in the lobby of that massive resort! cause its awesome and should not be missed..."<<< Uh-no I do not feel we missed a thing. I never said that I had never visited DTD before, we are AP holders (not local but 7 hours away) and have been to DTD before. There is nothing in DTD that is very unique to us at all. What they have for sale (IMHO) is either overpriced, seen it before, or not our style and/or any combo above. The movie theatre is nothing special-our local theatre is cheaper both at the concession stand and at the ticket booth. The things sold at the Disney Store are found all over the resort and if I want chocolate I will visit the candy store on MS. Like I posted before-DTD holds no special interest for us. I am glad that there are those of you that it does-it helps my Disney stock.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "we are AP holders" That may have something to do with it, along with the place not having much that appeals to you. I visit DLR on average once every two to three years, so I tend to want to do as much at the resort as possible when I'm there. I would imagine that if I visited DLR frequently I might be inclined to skip DtD too, especially if I only visited when the parks are open late.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Downtown Disney Anaheim was designed to provide a place to keep tourists after hours, as well as a destination shopping district for locals. There was a concious decision to keep it higher end, to discourage hordes of unattached local teenagers. The Block at Orange, a large higher end open air mall a few miles away early on established a bad reputation because of that element. They had to add a very visible security presence, and still are dealing with the perception that gangs roam the stores. No such problem at DtD, which most local kids view as too grownup and boring. Also a bit on the pricey side.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice ^^Interesting stuff, Doug... Helps explain a bit of why we really love DTD. We're out-of-town Deluxe AP'ers that visit once, maybe twice per year. We spend time in DTD every evening of every visit. Enjoy the restaurants, bars, the wonderful atmosphere (musicians, etc.) and Marceline's Candy Store (they have yummy good stuff, as do those horribly tempting kettle corn kiosks ;-) very much. We do, however, pretty much avoid the stores except for the occasional browse through (or shopping to replace lost sunglasses - prices are comparable to what we pay at home). Stopped into the Vault place once to look for "Alice" stuff and the prices were shocking to say the least. But as noted, that keeps the area friendly and safe - works for me!
Originally Posted By alexbook It looks like the pottery place is clearing out of their kiosk. Rumor is that there could be a cupcake place there next. And has anybody heard what's happening to Illuminations?
Originally Posted By LOVE-DCA stores are coming and going. it's a wonder that house of blues is still staying afloat! let alone the restraunts there....
Originally Posted By LuLu I don't consider DtD high-end or unique, just overpriced. Saw some glass pendants at Something Silver, marked down from $40 to $20. Big 50% off sale, wow! Saw the same exact pieces at SEVERAL vendors in Venice Beach for $10 or less. I can only figure it appeals to folks from climates where you don't have the novelty of outdoor malls - and it's a lively environment to window shop or listen to music after a meal. I'm not much of an eat-outer. To me it's just a mall, and I'm not a mall shopper, but my teen loves it!
