Originally Posted By TDLFAN Hi all. First of all, I just returned from a quick visit to WDW's DTD on my latest Quality Control Walk. I wanted to see with my own very eyes what has been done at World of Disney, specifically the newly re-styled Adventure Room, Princess Room, and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. I really really wanted to come back with a positive perspective of these new chnages at DTD, but was sorely disappointed. Actually I was running to my car, with arms up in the air and screaming "MOMMY!! MOMMY!!" in horror. ********************************* WARNING! To those of you who are easily offended by criticism of WDW, this may not be your type of topic, so you may want to quit now and go on to the next thread. But if you don't mind some biting thoughts and food for the mind.. then proceed with caution. ********************************** Some quick thoughts before going to the obligatory photo spread... First up, the Princess Room in WoD. Only one way to describe it: Lifeless. What used to be a very colorful whimsical room in Alice in Wonderland theme has now been turned into a Princess Wasteland, with merchandise that is more fitting for Halloween and KB Toys for that matter, and nothing you would not find in almost every single store in the entire WDW property. What a waste of resources. Most upsetting to me was the very cheap, very Rainforest Cafe-like AA figure found in the middle of the room... Whatever happened to Imagineering's accomplishments in regards to AA technology here??? What an embarrasment of major proportions have we got here. Then.. there is that Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique concept. Maybe a well intentioned idea, but really... gimme a break! Isn't it enough that we have outside vendors painting guests' faces in animal or demon motifs all over the property, but do we need a total makeover for little girls to be Princesses in their little minds??? Behold the innocence of children who will see this as an added fun thing to do while at WDW, but I wonder why parents would justify the price it will cost to make over little girls into Disney Princesses. Well... reality check here. Parents will do anything for their kids since they are inmmuned to judgement when their kids are concerned. However, let's face it. Not every little girl is made up to look like, or be Princess-like in one way or another. It's really disturbing for me that there could be some people who will find an element of ridicule with this service when a Princess makeover turns out to be in fact a bad idea after the makeover is done. I pray in God that Disney's makeover artists can accomplish what could be the impossible on some of these little gilrs. More disturbing is the added rules and prices that go with it... The menu of styles include "Pop Princess", "Disney Diva", and "Fairy Tale Princess".. the latter being the best choice for your daughters since the earlier two styles look awful in the brochure I saw at the Boutique. Then the prices.... $35 for the "Coach Makeover" (probably this name is inspired by the cheap coach prop now sitting outside WoD's Princess Room entrance..) The Crown Makeover will cost you $45, and the all-out assault on your kid, the Castle Makeover will set you back at least $175.00 or MORE!!! This is before taxes!! Talk about your expensive Halloween treat!! ....and remember this: You will be charged a penalty fee if you do not cancel your appointment at least 24 hrs before your time is up, and also, adults are required to be there throughout the whole makeover process... for two reasons I guess: 1) to give stage moms some needed ego boost, and 2) in case the makeover begins to look like a bad idea and you have to stop it before further damage is done. Also please note: Makeover artist will NOT cut your child's hair at all, so whatever hair style you choose... you will have to make sure it looks good without a snip of hair on the floor. Doesn't it make you wonder if these so-called Makeover Artists got their training using one of those Makeup Barbie heads...? Now on to the Adventure Room.. Hang some banners all over the ceiling, add some video games, some Pirate movie stuff, some gastly cheapo skelleton AA's and presto. You have the boys' Adventure Room. Frankly..the boys were shortchanged here. You know why? Because you can find the same garbage merchandise at Once Upon a Toy a mere 50 feet away in brighter, more enjoyable, less crammed surroundings. Based upon the look of the finished product...Disney is telling us that "boys are dull and boring". Then there is the Stitch prop outside the Adventure Room...which I thought was cute in it's easter costume... That is until I realized Stitch spits on guests down below. Moving on to Pleasure Island... OMG!! The current state of PI is simply disastrous, but maybe for good reasons. Raglan Road was hopping with business and still looking quite nice since the building has some character, as opposed to the rest of DTD where every Disney operated store looks exactly the same. The rest of PI is deplorable. All shops there are closed, and most areas of the island including the PI stage, are closed and covered with construction walls... I sure hope this is a good sign of things to come. I personally would take great pleasure running a bulldozed around this complex. PI is right now skippable... a shell of it former self. Not that I thought PI was worth it since I have never really been a fan of this place since Eisner opened it to take on Rosey O'Grady's... a much better nighttime complex now history as well. I can only hope PI's current state is the beginning of newer and better things to come to DTD... I hope. Here are some choice photos of my visit to DTD, PI and West Side... with more frank commentary and thoughts, so read the captions if you dare. <a href="http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4334673&a=32139204&f=" target="_blank">http://albums.photo.epson.com/ j/AlbumIndex?u=4334673&a=32139204&f=</a>
Originally Posted By RoadTrip TDLFAN, I often disagree with your negative assessments of WDW, but I am right with you on this one! As far as I'm concerned, Downtown Disney's Marketplace has been pretty much a waste of time for at least 5-6 years. We used to spend one day of our vacation primarily at DTD. Not any more. We can see and do what we want in a couple of hours at most. The things that still hold interest for us are: 1) The Art of Disney, though every year the Epcot Art of Disney store seems to get better while the DTD one loses ground. 2) The World of Disney store has a better selection of high quality watches than I've seen anywhere else. 3) The Christmas store actually carries many items that you can't find anywhere else at WDW. Can you believe it?? I wish DTD would again be as interesting as it was during our first visits to WDW. I’m not holding my breath waiting for it to happen though. Every change lately seems to be a change for the worse.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>The Christmas store actually carries many items that you can't find anywhere else at WDW. Can you believe it??<< No, I don't. I have seen the same Xmas stuff from DTD's Xmas shop at the MK's Xmas shop in Liberty Square, MGM's Xmas shop next to Muppets, EPCOT's seasonal Xmas store by the lagoon, and DAK's little Xmas corner place inside the store across from that BBQ restaurant. If the DTD Xmas store carries anything different than those other locations (Radko stuff for example)... you can find the same stuff in shopping malls around the USA at cheaper prices. I just don't feel there is anything that is so unique that would make me make a special trip to the DTD Xmas shop at all, even though I do walk thru there if I happen to be close by.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy The idea behind BBB does little for me. (Yes, I'm a guy -- and I've never had daughters) I don't think the project belongs to PhotoPass, but they are there, to capture the makeup process along with the final result. How long is the makeup process? I presume there must be some time limit for each. And how does this work afterwards? Do the little girls leave the location in full princess makeup to spend the day in the parks? How does that work on a hot day? RULES -- I was surprised to hear the there is no haircutting involved. Didn't know that. What are the age ranges? I presume there's a lower and upper limit? And is it girls only?
Originally Posted By Chelledun Hi TDLFAN, thanks for sharing. I have a couple of questions... 1. Is there Mulan merchandise in the princess room or the boutique? She's my favorite "princessy" character and always neglected. 2. Where has the plush wall been relocated? Surely stuffed animals are still available at WOD, right? 3. Is the Alice themed stuff being used elsewhere or is it nowhere to be found? (Sad!) Thank you!
Originally Posted By jkayjs TDLFAN I have a question. Do the AA in #11 and 23 that look like mannequins talk and are they motion activated(like RF) or active all the time? And if they were going to do this why not make them look like a recognizable charater. One more ? if you please. Where are the plushes and other themed child fair? Good pics BTW. Unfortunately our family also no longer spends much if any time in this area. It was always our arrival day destination since we usually got to WDW in the afternoon and went off season when the parks closed earlier. I hope you are right about the PI area we don't even walk through there anymore, we take the sidewalk on parking lot side. Thanks for the heads up on Stitch. This might be ok during the summer but I don't like to walk around wet especially during cooler weather. I'm the yawhoo on the water rides with the poncho on when it's 100 with 98% humidity. Thanks for the review.
Originally Posted By basas LOL- and to think the changes were getting such positive reviews on other boards...I guess I'll just have to wait until I see them in person to see if they're really as bad as you say!
Originally Posted By leemac <<LOL- and to think the changes were getting such positive reviews on other boards...>> basas you have to remember that the poster usually only has negative things to say about WDW in general so it is no surprise that he doesn't like the WoD makeover. None whatsoever. I'm sure if you ask any kid that they will prefer the changes. Most of us on LP aren't exactly the target audience for these sort of alterations! Lee
Originally Posted By leemac <<I wish DTD would again be as interesting as it was during our first visits to WDW. >> I think the problem stems from the fact that the area attracts a lot of people that don't have park tickets for that day so it has taken on a generic look and feel. You only have to be there at 11am virtually any day to see how busy the place is. I think the biggest criticism is over the nightmare parking situation. That is why I tend to avoid DtD as it is just painful trying to find somewhere to park.
Originally Posted By Fe Maiden TDLFAN, thanks for the review. Looking at the puddle on the ground it seems that Stitch spits quite a nice size loogie.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>1. Is there Mulan merchandise in the princess room or the boutique? She's my favorite "princessy" character and always neglected.<< I did not see any Mulan in this area, but really didn't look that hard.. I don't think Disney conciders Mulan to be a Princess and there was nothing about her on the decor. >>2. Where has the plush wall been relocated? Surely stuffed animals are still available at WOD, right?<< I don't recall seeing Plush dolls at all but again...wasn't looking for them either. Once Upon a Toy seemed to had a better selection now. >>3. Is the Alice themed stuff being used elsewhere or is it nowhere to be found? (Sad!)<< Same response as above. >>Do the AA in #11 and 23 that look like mannequins talk and are they motion activated(like RF) or active all the time?<< They were stationary there, and I only saw them activate once for a short while. >>And if they were going to do this why not make them look like a recognizable charater.<< I think the reason behind that is because they don't seem to be Disney quality... maybe made by someone else's company and put there?? They are cheap looking and their motion is really bad. >>Where are the plushes and other themed child fair? << I can only suggest Once Upon a Toy >>the poster usually only has negative things to say about WDW in general so it is no surprise that he doesn't like the WoD makeover. None whatsoever.<< So Lee... I reckon you do like your Princess makeover... did you have your pic taken too?
Originally Posted By leemac <<So Lee... I reckon you do like your Princess makeover... did you have your pic taken too?>> Nope but then I'm a guy and don't have a fondness for make-up. The Boutique isn't designed for me and I can appreciate that so I don't have an opinion either way.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 But that's the problem. Why is Disney segmenting it's audience again? They did this to bad effect at the World of Disney in NYC. The girls get the most lavish attention, while the boys are left to their own devices to look at action toys or play video games. Where are the similar kinds of services for boys? Yes, the Princess line is selling well, but it's just crappy to only cater to the girls and force such gender stereotypes on kids. "Pirates are for boys and princesses are for girls". I just find it insulting that Disney just does a token effort for boys, while going all out for girls.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Thanks for the photo report, TDLFAN. I hope the World of Disney in California does not adopt this store makeover. Especially since there is that Club Libby Lu that does the same thing a few doors down! California's should remain classy.
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun As the mom of 2 boys, I see elaborate "girl" displays with a little something for the boys in many places. cloths, toys etc in most stoires, not just Disney. But, I'd expect a little more from Disney
Originally Posted By leemac <<I just find it insulting that Disney just does a token effort for boys, while going all out for girls.>> Hmmm. But what could they offer for boys? I can't imagine most boys will happily sit there and have makeup applied (even if it is to look like Jack Sparrow).
Originally Posted By sherrytodd Here's an example of how little they focus on the boys. We were at the Caribbean Beach last October. We had tickets purchased for the next day for Typhoon Lagoon when that evening, my son's swim trunks got a tear. I went over to OPR and the place was filled with all kinds of adorable little girls swimsuits. When I asked the CM where the boys trunks were, she said they didn't have any. She started calling all the other resorts to see if they had any and could not find any. Finally she said she found a shop in the DTD that had them. I hopped the bus and headed down there, only to find that they were for older boys and not small enough for my son. Long story short (too late) I bought the smallest size they had and we pulled the drawcord around his waist as tight as we could get it. Do the parents of little girls really spend that much more money on them them the parents of boys to warrent this complete void of merchandising?
Originally Posted By Fe Maiden <<As the mom of 2 boys, I see elaborate "girl" displays with a little something for the boys in many places. cloths, toys etc in most stoires, not just Disney. But, I'd expect a little more from Disney>> Just about every retailer has twice as much floor space devoted to girls. Or so it seems. As a father of two little boys it is a double-edged sword. On one hand, especially when we're in WDW, I feel lucky that we can avoid all the princess oriented CRT and tea-parties and now the boutique. On the other hand, when you're trying to shop for clothes, it can be difficult.
