WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth made a visit to Downtown Disney West Side early this morning to take part in the Annual Passholder previews of D Street, and he took plenty of photos of the new store to share with us in this post being shared between WDW News Today and The Vinylmation Station:
D Street replaces Planet Hollywood on Location
WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul’s trip to the Walt Disney World Resort continued on Thursday, and once again he has a number of photos to share with us:
Blizzard Beach has re-opened from its annual refurbishment
From the Disney Parks Blog:
On Saturday, April 3, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Passholders will have an opportunity to be among the first guests to experience the opening of D Street, the newest merchandise location where urban inspired product “intersects” with a Disney creative edge. Passholders will also be among the first to catch a glimpse of the new Create Your Own Vinylmation table, have the opportunity to participate in Vinylmation trading activities (trade your own Vinylmation or ones you purchase) and see the Disney Channel Star Celebrity Signed Vinylmation on display at D Street!
In addition to catching a sneak peek of D Street, Passholders will also have the opportunity to purchase new and Oh Mickey, Sports, and Vinylmation Jr. Series releases (and yes, your Passholder Merchandise Discount will apply!). There will also be a purchase with purchase opportunity featuring a Vinylmation Tote Bag for $1.95 when you spend $30 or more at D Street. Plus, the first 500 Passholders at the D Street location on Saturday, April 3, 2010 will receive a complimentary Vinylmation button.
D Street located in the Downtown Disney West Side, will showcase a mix of products for both men and women. Items will include Vinylmation figures and collectibles, cutting-edge apparel, pop culture novelties and more. The store will have a raw, unfinished industrial look and provide a great venue to showcase Disney art created by local artists.
There are a few details you should know about. A valid Passholder ID AND government issued photo ID must be presented to enter D Street for the D Street Sneak Peek opportunity and must be presented at time of purchase to receive offers. Qualifying purchase based on pre-tax, post discount single transaction. Purchase with purchase offer not valid on previous purchases. Merchandise and offers valid while supplies last. Not valid with any other offer or discounts. Other restrictions may apply. Information and offers are subject to change without notice.
As always, to stay connected to the world of Vinylmation, be sure to check out The Vinylmation Station website and podcast.
From The OC Register:
A casual shoe store quickly became one of the top sellers in Downtown Disney after it opened in November. But Sanuk is set to shut down as early as March 14 when its temporary agreement ends.
Sanuk and Disney are in talks to find a new location within Downtown Disney, but nothing has been found yet, said James Crush, marketing manager for Sanuk Footwear.
“We are working with Sanuk to develop future opportunities in Downtown Disney,” said Betsy Sanchez, a Disneyland Resort spokeswoman, in a prepared statement.
The Irvine-based footwear company opened up its first-ever stand-alone store in November as a temporary location for the holiday season in partnership with the Haagen-Dazs owner. Sanuk originally was supposed to close in January so that the store next door, Ridemakerz, could begin its expansion.
Because of delays in the renovations, Sanuk was able to stay longer. Ridemakerz also is set to close March 14 so it can start construction, Sanchez said.
“The store has been very, very successful. We’ve had huge days in the last few months. Disney is happy and we’re happy,” Crush said.
The problem is, there are no open storefronts in the tightly packed shopping district.
Sanuk usually sells its handmade shoes in surf shops and upscale stores, including Barneys New York and Fred Segal. The 10-year-old company specializes in comfortable shoes, including flip-flops made of yoga mats and closed sandal shoes that give the feeling of bare feet, Crush said.
The Downtown Disney store has become popular with tourists with tired feet who want to keep walking around the parks, Crush said.
“We’re waiting for an opening in one of the other retailers to open up for us so can get a permanent location,” Crush said. “The success of the store has really helped our cause.”
Sanuk is the Thai word for fun.
Tom Corless took a trip down to the Walt Disney World Resort to cover the re-opening of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and has a number of newsworthy photos from all over WDW to share:
Time to take the field
WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee made a quick trip to the Downtown Disney district last night and took some newsworthy photos to share with us:
The celebration continues at Disney’s Pin Traders
Read More about Banks Lee’s 2/3/10 Downtown Disney Photo Report
Both of these articles from the Orlando Sentinel published today tell an interesting story, the story of an obscure fast food chain replacing McDonald’s in the Downtown Disney Marketplace:
Pollo Campero, an international Latin chicken quick-service restaurant chain, has partnered with Levy Campero to deliver a new restaurant concept in Downtown Disney Marketplace at Walt Disney World Resort. The restaurant, which is scheduled to open in late 2010, will feature Pollo Campero’s signature Latin cusine, as well as fresh, and healthful foods. Menu items will include Latin chicken, yuca fries, sweet plantains, and Latin drinks including horchata and tamarindo.
Pollo Campero, the world’s largest Latin chicken restaurant chain, serves more than 85 million customers each year at more than 300 restaurants in 12 countries around the globe. This includes more than 50 locations already open in the United States, with additional stores scheduled to open this year.
Fast-food giant McDonald’s is leaving Downtown Disney.
The McDonald’s restaurant at Walt Disney World’s shopping-and-dining district will close April 30, Disney said this afternoon. It will be replaced by Pollo Campero, a Latin chicken fast-food chain.
Pollo Campero says it serves more than 85 million customers a year. McDonald’s says it serves more than 47 million customers a day.
Representatives for Disney World and McDonald’s said the exit stems from a 2004 decision to end a 10-year exclusive sponsorship agreement between McDonald’s Corp. and Walt Disney Co. The Downtown Disney restaurant was included in that agreement.
“Our alliance partners are ever-changing and this shift in our relationship with McDonald’s reflects the dynamic nature of the sponsorship business,” Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez said.
McDonald’s said all of its employees at the Downtown Disney were offered transfers to other McDonald’s locations and that no one would lose their job as a result of the closure.
McDonald’s will continue to operate its restaurant near the entrance to the Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.
“We will continue to work with Disney on mutually beneficial opportunities,” McDonald’s spokeswoman Danya Proud said.
WDWNT Reporter Nick Corjay visited the Walt Disney World Resort to ring in 2010 and he has a plethora of photos to share with us, so let’s begin:
Work is wrapping up on the new roof for Mrs. Potts’ Cupboard in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom
Read More about Nick Corjay’s 12/29/09-1/1/10 WDW Photo Report
WDWNT’s own Chris Lastrapes attended the opening of the new D Street store at Downtown Disney earlier today and has some video and pictures to share:
Right before the store opened, they were still decorating the windows
Read More about Chris Lastrapes’ 12/15/09 D Street Opening Report
Chris Lastrapes of the WDW News Today Podcast is still visiting the west coast and made another trip to the Disneyland Resort earlier today. Chris took a few photos of the D Street store at Downtown Disney that is scheduled to open tomorrow:
Signage is up on the exterior. You can see many Vinylmation banners up in the store’s atrium
At look at the store’s sizable Vinylmation selection
Another Vinylmation display
Looks like Vinylmation plush will still be available
More of the store
Stay tuned for more photos from the opening of the store tomorrow!
