Originally Posted By vbdad55 Just another example of the QUALITY gift shops going away, to be replaced by the same old stuff -- or walls ( nothing) - Of course then people can say when they re openthe store with --oh let's say Pooh Plush - that is it an improvement over nothing - or the walls The 2 Art of Disney Stores ( and the one is EPCOT the source of constant closing rumors) - and the store in the Castle are what's left of upscale - high end - different mercahndise -- ( I guess you would have to include Cyd's in the Studios because of different merchandise) -
Originally Posted By TDLFAN As long as Arribas is not kicked off Disney, the hope is for the Castle store to offer some unique stuff, just like the Crystal shop on Main Street.
Originally Posted By irishfan >>The 2 Art of Disney Stores ( and the one is EPCOT the source of constant closing rumors) - and the store in the Castle are what's left of upscale - high end - different mercahndise -- ( I guess you would have to include Cyd's in the Studios because of different merchandise) -<< Is the one in DownTown still open?
Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney ^^Yes. It actually does the best business of all the WDW Art of Disney stores. But there's something that was fundamental to the MK experience that's missing since they decided to make every shop a generic character location. Does anyone remember the magic shops at the MK? they had two. What about the three shops in Liberty Square that were turned into one giant Disney Christmas shop? Anyone remember when you could buy real western merchandise in Frontierland?
Originally Posted By tonyanton I remember all of them...and miss them too. I do most of my shopping at Epcot nowadays.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >> admit, though, something that shouldn't be surprising but was happened. By the middle of the afternoon, we had done everything. Every E-Ticket (some twice thanks to FP), every minor attraction that she wanted to experience, even Cindy's Carousel. This despite large, but by no means, unmanagable crowds.<< This is something that we (DL regulars) really noticed when we visited WDW for the first time: There is a lot less to do at MK than at DL.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss 1.) Almost no one goes to WDW and buys a one-day ticket. The VAST majority of sales are multi-day hoppers. 2.) You cannot look at the MK as a stand alone park, and compare it's number of attractions to DL. Star Tours at DL is at the Disney/MGM Studios in WDW, and Indy at DL is Dinosaur at AK; those being examples of two attractions "missing" from the MK.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>1.) Almost no one goes to WDW and buys a one-day ticket. The VAST majority of sales are multi-day hoppers.<< This is true. But hopping at WDW can be a bit of a chore: 1) Exit the park 2) Walk all the way to the bus area 3) Wait for the bus (up to 30 minutes in some cases) 4) Ride the bus 5) Walk all the way from the bus area to park #2. So in other words, we did very little park hopping. And before anyone gets mad at me, I really do like WDW. FWIW, in the time it takes to do this I can walk from DL to DCA, go on a ride or two, and walk back to DL.
Originally Posted By fkurucz An anecdote: My brother (an east coast WDW regular) had not been to DL for about 10 years. At first he thought it was weird that DL and DCA were so close to each other, but then changed his mind and thought it was great. His kids thought that Sleeping Beauty's Castle was tiny, but otherwise loved DLR. Their favorite attraction was Indy.
Originally Posted By pixiedust1 <<Does anyone remember the magic shops at the MK? they had two.NEW! LuvDatDisney Sun 4/23/2006 4:59p >> My son's interest in Magic was because of the one shop on Main St..and I want compliment you on your initial first thread post... We are locals and go once a month and invaribly go to MK first.. At the slowest times of the year it seemed to be more guests then I could remember.. You are correct... there is no place for these people to go.. 50% of them could be in lines, restaurants, shows, the skyway.. somehwere other then the walkways and main st... and about TDL and the CONSTANT comparisons to WDW.. I will probably never go there, so I really don't care.. Thank you for your very very insightful thoughts about MK... Next time someone says, gee why is MK so crowded I will tell them and take all the crodit for being so smart.. LOL...
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>2.) You cannot look at the MK as a stand alone park, and compare it's number of attractions to DL. Star Tours at DL is at the Disney/MGM Studios in WDW, and Indy at DL is Dinosaur at AK; those being examples of two attractions "missing" from the MK.<< I do not quite agree with you Trek. We are talking about the value you recieve back within A SINGLE park/gate. The truth is DL has more attractions than the MK, and currently, more shows as well. DL is clearly a better value than the MK for the money paid IF and only IF you were to visit the MK only for one day. And yes.. some people just go to see the MK for one day only! G-Fan's aunt just did that last month.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<DL is clearly a better value than the MK for the money paid IF and only IF you were to visit the MK only for one day.>> No doubt about that. It's superior in more ways than attraction count alone as well. <<And yes.. some people just go to see the MK for one day only! G-Fan's aunt just did that last month.>> But it's the rare exception, not the rule.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey <<But hopping at WDW can be a bit of a chore: 1) Exit the park 2) Walk all the way to the bus area 3) Wait for the bus (up to 30 minutes in some cases) 4) Ride the bus 5) Walk all the way from the bus area to park #2.>> If you park hop like we do, it isn't that much of a chore. We usually go to one park in the morning, return to the hotel for a break after lunch, and then head to another park in the late afternoon/evening. If you do it that way, then it works out pretty well. We rarely hop from one park directly to another.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <This is true. But hopping at WDW can be a bit of a chore: 1) Exit the park 2) Walk all the way to the bus area 3) Wait for the bus (up to 30 minutes in some cases) 4) Ride the bus 5) Walk all the way from the bus area to park #2. So in other words, we did very little park hopping. < another reason we take the car to the parks -- although we rarely hop from park to park -- usually we break the day back at OKW -- not always, but usually
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>hopping<< Another reason why I miss the old WDW. Smaller, compact and only one monorail away from your destination. BIGGER is NOT better. God bless DLR, TDR, DLRP and HKDL!!
Originally Posted By basas <<Another reason why I miss the old WDW. Smaller, compact and only one monorail away from your destination. BIGGER is NOT better. God bless DLR, TDR, DLRP and HKDL!!>> I'd take 5 times as much to do, over an extra 15 minutes that it takes you to park hop...
Originally Posted By fkurucz ^^15? Maybe if you hop between MK and Epcot and catch the monorails as they are leaving. I've waited longer than 15 minutes just for the bus to show up. And FWIW, there isn't 5 times as much to do at WDW (unless you count generic activities like golfing or waterparks).
Originally Posted By TDLFAN It has taken me 15 minutes to get from TTC to the MK alone at times!!! Remember... we are now "waiting for traffic clearance" more than ever in WDW's 35 year history.
