Originally Posted By WorldDisney <<I don't konw where you guys live but the architecture doesn't look like my local mall. None of our restaurants 2 story waterfalls and a pool on the roof. But then again I live in West Virginia. We barely have a mall. Our mall has 2 food choices. Chik-fil-a and Steak Escape. This place is better than where I live. Maybe not where you live.>> LOL, THANK YOU!!! Everytime this, 'it just like a mall' argument come up I always wonder myself where do these people live?? Do they think ALL places have Rainforest Cafe's, P.F. Changs, Johnny Rockets and etc? I live in Korea and anything that is being offered in AGW will kill anything in this entire country. Even when I lived in L.A., I don't remember that stuff being EVERYWHERE, but I lived in Compton, so maybe the ghetto malls are very different from the O.C. ones I would imagine . Anyway, yeah, people forget its the TOTAL experience of going to these places. Even though they charge more to eat at the McD's at DTD at WDW, that's because you are still in a much cooler environment instead of eating at one next to a Wal Mart in Carson City somewhere .
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster I'll check out GardenWalk for sure. But I, for one, am pretty happy with the dining selections at Downtown Disney and see nothing in AGW that looks more appealing to me. But I'm keeping an open mind and I really hope I like the place. The renderings don't make it look too appealing however. GO BUCKEYES!
Originally Posted By dlkozy >>>"And as for affordable, I hardly think that $2 for a cookie at Mrs. Fields is a bargain, and certainly not worth the hike from the parks."<<<< And how much do you think you pay for a cookie at DLR? And heaven forbid if you want to frost one-$5!
Originally Posted By mawnck >>I don't konw where you guys live<< Southern California, and yes, these darn things are all over the place here. The Block in Orange, the District in Fullerton, the Irvine Spectrum, etc. Exact same stores and restaurants in every one, but lots of snazzy fountains and planters and architecture. They usually have lousy parking too. And remember, the majority of visitors to DL are locals. With so many similar "shopping experiences" to choose from, we're harder to impress. And in terms of competition in the immediate area, the location ain't bad. fkurucz raises an interesting point several posts ago. Where do these guys think they're going to get workers from? Most stores and restaurants in the area are understaffed already, including DL. Wonder if we're finally going to have that wage war? PS - Tommy's and an Orange Julius sounds mighty good to me. And Tums. Lots of Tums.
Originally Posted By jonvn " 'it just like a mall' argument come up I always wonder myself where do these people live??" I live in the SF area. We have nice malls, I guess. And that is what this is. It is a mall. I'm sure it will be nice, but it's a mall. "Do they think ALL places have Rainforest Cafe's, P.F. Changs, Johnny Rockets and etc" A lot of them do. We have a mall here with a PF Changs. That's actually the closest one to me. It is located at a mall. Rainforest cafe is near me up in SF at the wharf about 2 blocks down from a Johnny Rockets. It is a tourist zone, too. There is a non-mall Johnny Rockets 5 miles south of me. I see absolutely zero reason for me to walk over to the new mall to go to PF Changs, or Johnny Rockets. I'd rather just eat at DTD. Actually, the only reason I would go to there is if I really needed to eat, and DTD was too crowded. That's about it. I imagine that might be what most people do. Or the locals will use it.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "I don't konw where you guys live but the architecture doesn't look like my local mall." Except for the highrises, the concept drawings make AGW look like the typical upscale outdoor California shopping center. It looks quite nice, but hardly anything out of the ordinary, especially for Southern California where nice malls are everywhere.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "And how much do you think you pay for a cookie at DLR?" Yeah, but at DLR I don't have to hike a half a mile over the AGW to get one. That was my point - for me there's nothing there that seems worth the trip.
Originally Posted By EighthDwarf "EighthDrawf, my post was in responce to this..." Um, I was being sarcastic.
Originally Posted By EighthDwarf ^^And I agree with you Hans - I can't imagine making the hike over to GW, though it seems like a fine place.
Originally Posted By Nemo88 "PF Changs, never been to." Its good,if your looking for more authentic Chinese food,then PF Changs is not the place.But for what it is,its good food.It actaully reminds me of an "asian" Cheesecake Factory,thats the best way I can describe it to you.
Originally Posted By Zwitek Hans, when did a half mile become a hike? It's not that far, that's like a walk from Coco's or Mimi's to the park. That's nothing.
Originally Posted By fkurucz << "Do they think ALL places have Rainforest Cafe's, P.F. Changs, Johnny Rockets and etc" A lot of them do. We have a mall here with a PF Changs. That's actually the closest one to me. It is located at a mall. Rainforest cafe is near me up in SF at the wharf about 2 blocks down from a Johnny Rockets. It is a tourist zone, too. There is a non-mall Johnny Rockets 5 miles south of me. >> I doesn't matter that these eateries are available at other OC malls. The fact is that these options are currently not available in the resort area. And if you are coming from out of the area, its quite possible that these options are not available where you come from. We don't have RFC anywhere near where we are (the Denver one closed). Its not a place I'ld go to regularly. The food is average. But its kind of fun and fits into the DLR experience (I just hate the lines).
Originally Posted By dshyates Considering the place has 3 hotels & vacation ownership units I'm pretty sure it's not really designed for locals. Yes, the traditional demo is 60% locals, but I think the entire resort expansion is to attract from a large area. And yes it is an upscale ourdoor shopping and Dining area. If it were in Columbus, OH it would be called a Shopping Resort. It looks as nice as any I've seen.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Considering the place has 3 hotels & vacation ownership units I'm pretty sure it's not really designed for locals.<< I think it's designed for anybody who wants to shop there. While we do have a lot of these things, I believe the closest one to North Orange County is the Block at Orange, right? If the parking and traffic doesn't absolutely suck, they'll get a lot of locals. BTW, OC has another Rainforest Cafe in South Coast Plaza (the gigantic mall in Costa Mesa), and Google lists 2 currently open P. F. Chang's and 9, count 'em, 9 Johnny Rockets within 15 miles of Disneyland. So please forgive us locals for being a bit jaded about the whole thing. I bet it gets a Chick-Fil-A, an In-N-Out, a Daphne's, a Quiznos, and a Juice It Up too. ;-)
Originally Posted By mawnck Come to think of it, I wonder how they're planning to manage having free parking lots that close to Disneyland?
Originally Posted By Darkbeer They have already installed Parking Toll Booths and gates, I presume there will be free or discounted parking for the first few hours, similar to DtD, but you won't be able to park all day unless you are staying at one of the hotels/timeshares without a large fee.
Originally Posted By dshyates "So please forgive us locals for being a bit jaded about the whole thing." Fine. I don't think it is built for locals. If its too pedestrian for you then don't go. I'm sure the LA Basin has more unique offerings. I think it is solely for foot traffic in the resort area. No one is going to get into their cars and drive to many of the 9 johnny Rocket's within 15 miles. But this will provide more options for the resort guests. Its a shopping dining area within walking distance of the resort. Whats the problem? What is it that you guys would prefer? I live in a place where we don't have any of this stuff and putting it within walking distance of where I'll be I'm ok with. Seriously if you don't like it there are other options, especially for locals who will be getting in their cars anyway. There aren't a lot of less expensive options close by other than Denny's, McDs, and Mimi's.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Not just that but many people do drive away for other options like good chinese better burgers or whatever, nice shopping etc...- buy having them in walking distance keeps the money in anaheim and not in other cities
Originally Posted By jonvn I'm sure it will be great, and many people will use it. Others will see little to no need. I may want to go over, if there are certain places that I'd want to go to. Otherwise, I simply have no need to hoof it over there for something that is run of the mill for me.
Originally Posted By Zwitek I hope that the inclusion of the H&M store will increase the level of fashionable attire seen at Disneyland.
