Don't freak out about seeing your cookie-cutter, neighborhood Starbucks on Main Street USA just yet, though. Disney says that the 'Bucks locations will be themed to their settings, with the first one coming to the new Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure, which opens June 15.
So, essentially, this is a vendor swap, with Starbucks training, menu, and products replacing current coffee products in select locations in the six U.S. Disney theme parks. The Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Cafe location that will be the first Starbucks in California Adventure also will sell additional Disney food items, so it's more like a Disney restaurant that sells Starbucks than a straight-up Starbucks location. And it's not like Disney hasn't had branded coffee houses in its parks before.
All that said, do you like this move, or not? Are you happy with Disney's current coffee, or would you rather see some other brand of coffee (Seattle's Best, Peet's, Peaberry, etc.) come into the parks?
If you selected the "other brand" option, tell us in the comments which one you'd like to see at Disney.
Will I be able to use my rewards card or smart phone app to purchase like starbucks stores?
Theme parks often flood their entry plazas with characters when they open, to distract kids and lure them away from running back to the rides and immediately overwhelming the queues.
I think Starbucks will serve pretty much the same function for parents. ;^)
However, if held down and forced to ride 'It's a Small World' endlessly until I made a decision I'd rather see Costa Coffee in the parks than Starbucks. Starbucks in the UK always feel cheap and nasty (apart from the amount they charge!), whereas Costa is simply the best coffee brand on the high street. It's classier too...
These locations will be licensed stores, owned and operated by Disney so they would have to pay more money to hardwire themselves into Starbucks gift card system, which would probably only be needed for less than a dozen locations. Usually the only licensed stores that accept gift cards are large grocery/retail chains like Target and Safeway.
As a coffee fan it would be fun to see them brew a different region at each of the Epcot pavilions.
Maybe the drunks and the super-hyper people could balance out each other? :^)
Starbucks do coffee shops well, the product is some of the best on the mainstream market and their staff are usually well-trained and provide high levels of customer service.
It shouldn't have too much impact on the parks, either. McDonald's have been operating inside Disney, as have other major brands, for years. You don't see big 'Golden Arches' at Disney, because they cleverly fit the outlets into their themed environments.
Good call, if you ask me.
I Respond: The Disney company neds to cut a check for that suggestion.
I wonder if this will have an impact on the free refills currently offered at the Market House. Now that was the best-kept Disney secret.
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
