Starbucks Opening in Disney World and Disneyland
In June 2012, the first of six Starbucks locations in Disneyland Walt Disney World will open in Disney California Adventure in Fidler, Fifer & Practical Cafe. Other locations are subsequently planned to open in each theme park, including Disneyland and Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Only the exact location of the Disney California Adventure Starbucks is presently known. Disney states that the Starbucks locations in the parks will be themed to seamlessly blend in with their surroundings: “At Disney California Adventure park, Starbucks will be located in the Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Café on Buena Vista Street…The store’s location plays off the Spanish/Mexican architecture of the period, and baristas will wear 1920s-inspired attire.”
As of October 2012, the locations in Magic Kingdom and Epcot are speculated to be Plaza Restaurant and The FountainView, respectively.
These Starbucks locations will serve coffee–including espresso beverages and Frappuccino blended beverages–and signature breakfast sandwiches and pastries. The locations will also serve non-Starbucks items, leading us to surmise that Starbucks will merely be integrated into ‘normal’ Disney locations, and not as stand-alone park shops.
Our Reaction
What we think of this depends largely upon execution. I’m not a big fan of Rainforest Cafe and other “real world” restaurants in and around the parks, but their existence doesn’t necessarily bother me because they don’t break the theme of their surroundings. Even the old McDonald’s fries stands were fine because they were well-themed.
If Disney opened stand-alone Starbucks shops with the typical Starbucks architecture and signage, this would be very troubling. However, based upon the announcement, I see the likelihood of that happening as being very small. If it does, we won’t be fans. We do know that Starbucks is very particular with its intellectual property and training requirements (which is why this long-running rumor is just now coming to fruition, apparently), but we hope they have the sense to allow Disney to blend their offerings into the parks, rather than presenting the coffee shops in an ostentatious manner.
We’re not big coffee drinkers (I’ve had Starbucks only a handful of times in my life), but we see this as being a huge victory for those who do like coffee. Nescafe is disgusting, so this should be a substantial improvement over that.
Now, I wonder what will happen when Disney prices and Starbucks prices intersect. Will Walt Disney World and Disneyland have their first $25 cups of coffee?!
What do you think of this news? Let us know in the comments!
Sorry Tom but we could care less about Starbucks. Hate it!!!!! We can’t stand the smell of burnt coffee in the shop nor the taste. Love love love coffee but not that stuff
Woo Hoo, It’s about time!!!!!!!!
Do you they would add it as a snack option on the dining plan? Im going in september and that would be a great way to use snack credits for breakfast.
sorry, meant to say…do you think….
I think there is little to no chance of that happening. My guess is that prices will start out at $4.99 or more and only increase from there. I’d be absolutely shocked if it’s on the Disney Dining Plan in any capacity.
I do drink coffee and love my Starbucks (being from Seattle how could I not!)so I like the idea. With only one Starbucks in each park, however, I can’t even imagine what the lines would be like. I don’t know if I’d be willing to wait 30 plus minutes for a cup of coffee. Not when there’s fun to be had in the parks!
Yeah, the lines are going to be insane. I’m glad I don’t care about coffee. I just had Nescafe for the first time on “One More Disney Day.”
Everything I’ve seen about this explicitly states that they are “themed Starbucks” so I imagine they will be fitting into their surroundings. That concern is also a concern of mine, as well.
I don’t drive coffee, ever, so I just want them to fit it and not ruin Disney for me. And I really, really hope that the word I keep seeing popping up on Twitter is purely a joke: Mocharail…
Yeah, everything does say “themed Starbucks,” how well themed is the question of the day. I’d prefer not to have a Starbucks sign on Main Street, USA at all, but I’d imagine that one is coming. I know other brands have appeared there for years, but Starbucks embodies the anti-Main Street type of merchant. It would be like adding a Wal-Mart to MSUSA.
I always bring packets of Starbuck’s Via into the park and get free cups of hot water. So while my way is definitely the frugal way to go, I’ll stop in to the new Disney Starbuck’s for some excellent coffee and tea (love the shaken passion iced).
I don’t think you’re the only one who does that. 😉 Depending on the price of this in-park Starbucks, I suspect some others may continue to do it!
I’m in agreement with you and Sarah. As long as the Starbucks locations blend in with the theming of the areas they’re in, I’ll be okay with it. As the Mister and I do not drink coffee at all, I don’t really have a dog in this fight. Aesthetics are my only concern.
Pretty much exactly where we stand!
As someone who drinks starbucks on a daily basis – sometimes twice- it has been the only piece of my days in the parks that could be improved upon. I for one am absolutely thrilled and will likely make a special trip just to celebrate this milestone 🙂
Starbucks TWICE a day?! Dang! That’s like a trip to Walt Disney World every 2 months!
A nice Frappuccino will kickstart me in the late afternoon. Good idea!
Agree with the above…any themeing clashes are more than erased by the long-overdue presence of quality coffee being widely available on campus.
I am happy to hear the news as I will not drink nescafe! I hope the prices are not inflated and they accept the Starbucks gift cards.
The next step is to get Starbucks on the Cruise Line.
“I hope the prices are not inflated…”
I think you might be wishing upon a star with that! 😉
Hooray for no more Nescrapé!