Downtown Disney II?

Downtown Disney II?

Walt Disney World is ready to expand with a second Downtown (Western Beltway Development Project) as mentioned on MiceAge by Kevin Yee. At the new site guest will find 3,000 economy (”limited service”) hotel rooms, 1,300 time share units, a 270,000 sq. ft. retail town center (up to 400,000 sq. ft. in the extended build out area), Quick-service restaurants for casual dining, grocery store, Gas stations, Gift shops and Value-oriented retail stores.

Sounds like Disney wants to make sure even more people stay onside by bringing some “regular” and “cheap” shops and restaurants to their premises. Many guests leave WDW to find some cheaper food or a grocery store for self catering, once Disney finished this new plan nobody will have to leave the resort anymore.

…this shopping zone will mimic the offerings commonly found on the roads that ring WDW, namely SR535 and US192. Those tourist-trap retail outlets and fast-food eateries are always clogged with people. Specifically, people looking to save money. People who eschew the higher prices seen at Disney hotels and in Downtown Disney. So they’ve been flocking to the off-property offerings. (MiceAge)

But what will happen to the Disney quality?

…Disney hawking cheap goods? That’s pretty much the exact opposite of the “premium brand” image they cultivate with the theme parks (which are nobody’s idea of a bargain) or the Disney Cruise Line. Since the days of Walt, a Disney product was meant to be one of the highest quality, which often meant paying a higher price. (MiceAge)