Disney Springs?: Orlando's impressions? (Windermere: live, price, shop)

[doom1001]

Originally Posted by jwolfer

I was pleasantly surprised they did not charge for the parking garage

They want people to go there,you charge parking and you automatically get 33% fewer visitors which is millions of dollars not being spent at DS.Plus now there's 2 huge garages,plenty of parking for everyone.I've seen way too many shopping centers that became dead shopping centers simply because they charged for parking,it's not a good idea.

[bmw335xi]

Yep charging parking for shopping centers in Florida isn't common and most people would feel cheated here if they had to pay.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

Yep charging parking for shopping centers in Florida isn't common and most people would feel cheated here if they had to pay.

Yup, I wonder why citywalk still charges, although I think it's free after 6 with your Florida drivers license

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

Yup, I wonder why citywalk still charges, although I think it's free after 6 with your Florida drivers license

They still charge because the parking lot also serves the theme parks rather than just CityWalk. There is no way for them to tell if guests are coming just for CityWalk or not.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by Pete C

They still charge because the parking lot also serves the theme parks rather than just CityWalk. There is no way for them to tell if guests are coming just for CityWalk or not.

Good poinT. I think the 6 pm thing was to help drive locals into city walk for nighttime stuff

[0nyxStation]

Originally Posted by edsg25

I was interested what the locals think of the rebranded Disney Springs, particularly the recently opened Town Center. With the infussion of so much "serious shopping". Will Orlado folks be doing much of their shopping there?

That place seems and sounds very similar to City Walk at Universal.

[doom1001]

Originally Posted by 0nyxStation

That place seems and sounds very similar to City Walk at Universal.

City walk is now officially tiny when compared to everything that's at Disney Springs,I mean you could call Disney Springs a mall now with all the shopping additions,City walk is still just mostly restaurants and a handful of small stores.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by doom1001

City walk is now officially tiny when compared to everything that's at Disney Springs,I mean you could call Disney Springs a mall now with all the shopping additions,City walk is still just mostly restaurants and a handful of small stores.

And a few bars/clubs. I think Disney springs is more geared towards retail and restaurants

[deadparts]

I recently visited Disney Springs, I usually find myself there every few months visiting some family and what not and I was blown away at how much they've added. Disney killed it here...it feels like they doubled the size of the place. Many of the stores opened and opening are firsts for the area and Florida in general. This place will become a premium shopping destination similar to the outlets down the street. Universal has made some great changes to Citywalk recently but the quality of Disney Springs really is a step above.

[ClC053103]

I went to Disney Springs last week. The shopping is nice but honestly, you can get better deals at these same stores elsewhere or on line, as the stores at Disney Springs don't seem to have sales. As for the dining, we like The Boathouse as do other "locals". We went to STK last week and will say that it was truly a disappointment. The wine list is SO ridiculously marked up ($67 for a $16 bottle of wine), the servers do nothing but try to upsell you the entire time, and even though they asked us specifically if we were tourists or locals, we were seated at the table next to the kitchen door (and the place was mostly empty at the time)- it was like dining in Grand Central Station, servers were using the back of our booth as a prep station. We have no desire to ever return. If they give cash-paying locals with a reservation the worst seat in the house, it is destined to become a tourist trap of families with screaming kids on the Disney Dining Plan, not a local hang out.