Going into Downtown Disney, I was surprised at how grown up everything felt. I had expected to see a lot of color, lights and an overall air of excitement. Instead the scene felt very upscale and more catered towards the parents. If I look at the area in this light, I feel the lighting and architecture are quite beautifully done. Looking at it from the lens of an area meant to build you up for a day at Disney, I wasn't quite convinced it fit.
The first store, World of Disney, I felt was very successful. The outdoor display cases boasted bright, vibrant displays. The feeling of Christmas permeated from the shops windows. This was easily the most colorful shop in the complex. Walking inside I wasn't disappointed. The bright Christmas lights made the shop feel warm and inviting. I found myself wanting to explore the shop just to see how they had designed everything.
The second shop, Salt and Straw, had a far less lasting impact from my view. It was clear that they wanted to make the shop feel like an old fashioned ice cream parlor and from the outside, they succeeded. However, upon entering the shop I was disappointed. There was no vibrancy. The cute, ice cream shaped lighting fixtures let out a harsh white light. Everything in the shop was illuminated so brightly that there was nothing left to discover.
Nice post - I loved your perspective of who is this for - parents or kids - I do think it has been designed much more for older people than the many places in the park that are for kids.
ReplyDeleteThank you