Epcot's new flagship merchandise location will be called Creations Shop and it will open this summer, the Walt Disney World Resort announced today.
Disney shared a first look concept image of the new store, which "will be an open, bright, welcoming environment with huge glass walls that allow sunlight to pour in and make you feel like you’re in touch with nature even while indoors," Disney World said in its press release.
But the bigger news for some Walt Disney World fans might be Disney confirming the return of Club Cool Hosted by Coca-Cola, which will be located next to Creations Shop. In its old location, Club Cool offered a selection of self-serve samples of Coca-Cola flavors from around the world, including the infamous Beverly that many Disney fans used to troll unsuspecting friends and family unprepared for the bitter Italian aperitif.
Disney is promising some "new magic" in the new Club Cool, while keeping the "fan-favorite experience that invites you to explore tasty drinks from around the world."
That says the return of Beverly trolling to me.
The changes are all part of Epcot's continuing transformation of its entrance and the old Communicore locations into the new World Celebration land in the park, which have seen the removal of the old Leave a Legacy sculpture and the return of the park's logo fountain in front of Spaceship Earth and will continue with the opening of Creations Shop and more features in the months to come.
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On Club Cool, perhaps that is the "new magic"? Guests queue to enter the Club Cool target zone, six-plus safe feet away from the cast member who aims a supersoaker stream of Beverly into the guest's open mouth.
Haha, oh my Beverly is truly bad. Never again. Happy to have Club Cool back. I'll get to indulge in some Lift, an apple based soda from Mexico. I live about three miles from Mexico and every now and then I cross the bridge over the Rio Grande and bring back some Mexican sodas, including Lift, to Texas. It costs a few pesos south of the border but just a crazy concept that I can get that drink for FREE at Disney World of all places, land of overpriced everything! Somewhere I can't walk to from home... Mozambique, also had a good drink now that I remember. Anyway, long live Club Cool!
My first trip to Walt Disney World was a solo trip. I had nobody egging me on to troll me into drinking Beverly, and knew nothing about how bitter it was. But I grew to enjoy seeing people make "the Beverly face."
But over the years and visits since then, I make sure to always have one (and ONLY one) small sample of Beverly. I don't make the face anymore and while one sip every few years is about the right amount for me, it's not that bad if you know what you're expecting. Nowhere NEAR as good as the other flavors available, though. I either do Beverly first so I can wash it down with the others, or I do it last so I don't have that "Beverly sting" in my mouth altering the flavor of the others.
I am indeed thrilled to know that Club Cool will be back, though Russell makes a good point and Robert, you made me laugh with your supersoaker comment).
I never stopped by the Club Cool in its original form which may seem odd as I love Coke but could never get behind that.
I like the design of the store, I remember a few more open-air ones like the old Studio Backlot spot on NYC street in the Studios. But this may be a new shift to things, not just some minor kiosk but a full store with such a design, this could be a new trend in a post-pandemic world.
I don’t know - does anyone really care about a souvenir shop remodel and using a coke machine ?
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How in the world will Club Cool work in a pandemic? If CMs have to serve samples to guests (or line up cups on a pass-through), that would be one of the worst jobs on the planet (not that dragging plastic trash bags of discarded cups dripping Beverly all over an already sticky floor was "fun").
An open shop with natural light is a BIG departure for Disney souvenir shops, yet a model that Cedar Fair and Six Flags have been using for decades. Disney has always hidden retail behind layers of theming so they blend into the environment, but this shop uses nature, sleek styling, and the store's merchandise to portray the theme. It will be interesting to see if Disney guests gravitate to this change in marketing, or are put off by the in your face nature of the location.