So when I initially heard about Starbucks coming to Disney Parks I was thrilled. Lets be honest: Nescafe just didn't cut it when you needed a jolt from a good cup of joe. I assumed the Starbucks partnership would be just like the old McDonald's partnership - they would put a few stands up in each park that featured Starbucks signature beverages and possibly serve Starbucks coffee in table service restaurants. This is fabulous, I thought.
That is, until the news was leaked that Starbucks would replace the Main Street Bakery. It took a while to process this because my dreams of giggling while riding Splash Mountain until 4am with a venti no whip caramel frappuccino in my hand were powerful.
Hold up! The place that is all about the theming and back story is adding a Starbucks to Main Street U.S.A.? Someone please explain to me how Starbucks fits in with early-20th-century small-town America! I soon realized that my love for a good Disney backstory outweighed my love for coffee.
Of course we happened to be at Walt Disney World when this news was announced. We also happened to be in the Magic Kingdom for Extra Magic Hours. As adults we take full advantage of EMH. We took a long nap during the day and went to the Magic Kingdom at 10pm.
By 2am, we were heading (slowing) down Main Street and noticed the line for the Bakery was out the door. We decided to pick out (very healthy) breakfast for the next morning. While in line we were chatting with a Cast Member who must not be named. I said to her, "Please tell me the rumors aren't true." She looked at me and said she only knew what she read on the Internet and like us, was devastated. She grew up with Disney and made a stop into the bakery every trip. And that is the biggest shame of this partnership news: generations of traditions will be tossed out the window for a corporate giant to swoop in.
Out of a show of solidarity we ordered four gooey, warm and delicious cinnamon buns to go. (Ok, it may have been more than solidarity that pushed us to order. Have you seen the way they need to use two spatulas to lift these babies?)
Nonetheless, this marks another sad day for Disney tradition. There is upgrading and improving and then there is destroying. If Starbucks replaces the Main Street Bakery this would easily fall under destroying.
Thanks for letting me dramatic and wordy on this "wordless" Wednesday!
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11 comments:
I at first was upset too but if it's done like they did out at Disneyland, then I'm fine. I don't think Disney is going to tear down the bakery and simply shove a Starbucks there.
I do hope they do it well and not get rid of the bakery. I would definitely be very disappointed. But, I'm trying to be optimistic and see how it all turns out.
It will definitely be interesting to see how it is handled in the Magic Kingdom. I think it's fine to add the coffee in, so long as they do not take away from the tradition and charm.
I think one of the problems is that Disney hasn't released enough information yet about how this will be done. I've heard some people saying that the bakery is being "replaced" and others that say they're just adding some starbucks items and the logo to the bakery. So although the idea of a Starbucks right on main street makes me want to rant, I'm going to wait until I see how they do it before I get really mad.
And those cinnamon buns look delicious, by the way ;)
I sadly agree with you Rosanne. (And I can't drink Starbucks anyway.) I believe Walt would not be happy. :( "Pave paradise, put up a parking lot..."
Agreed. I just hope that they continue to sell the products that I grew up with...and not starbucks cookies and sandwiches and call them Main Street Bakery. Thanks for stopping by Amanda!
Agreed. I know I totally overreacted. After we spoke with Guest Relations we felt better. I will take a page out of your book, Christina, and try to stay positive!
Agreed. Like I said I love coffee and would welcome it...it just has to be done the right way!
Becky - AGREED. First, the story was "broken" by blogs who immediately freaked out (like I did above) and jumped to conclusions. Guest relations convinced us everything would stay "main street bakery" but then we heard them say you can get products like the cinnamon buns in Fantasyland, which isn't ok. Be straight with us already!
If they want to sell frap's in the Main Street Bakery, fine. Don't kill it though. That's all I'm saying :)
I agree. So sad. They should've just brought it in to bring up the quality of the coffee and left the bakery and the products they make the way they are. I don't want to walk all the way to Gaston's for a cinnamon roll (that isn't the same) at the end of the night. Besides, Fantasyland won't be open late. Yea, I could go on all day about it.
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