Today (May 28, 2014) I had the chance to visit the Downtown Disney Starbucks. What an incredible store! I had a lot of fun and loved it. Before I talk about some of the unique things about this store, I want to clear up a number of frequently asked questions about the Downtown Disney Starbucks:
- Is the Downtown Disney Starbucks licensed? This is a company-operated Starbucks. Everyone working there is a Starbucks partner.
- Do I need to buy a pass to Disneyland (or any Disney theme park) to visit this Starbucks? No. The Downtown Disney district is an area of shops, open to the public, wedged between the two theme parks (California Adventure Park and Disneyland).
- Can I get Reserve coffee and/or Clover-brewed coffee at the Downtown Disney store? Yes. It’s a Clover – Reserve Starbucks.
- How is this store different from the Starbucks inside the California Adventure Park? The Downtown Disney store is company-operated and has all standard Starbucks fare. The California Adventure Park Starbucks is licensed and has both Starbucks food and Disney-café food offerings, like soup, sandwiches and more.
- Is there a Disneyland – Starbucks You Are Here Mug or other collectible mug? No. The Downtown Disney Starbucks store offers the Orange County and the California You Are Here coffee mugs.
I hope that clears up a couple of common questions – I’ve already seen these kinds of questions pop up on Facebook.
The Downtown Disney opened new on March 10, 2014. This was a planned visit so I was able to have a Starbucks partner host my visit and answer a number of my questions. I learned an enormous amount about this store! In the short time it’s been open, it has already started to rival the busy New York Times Square Starbucks as one of the busiest stores in the United States! This store has four store managers (one “general” manager and three actual store managers) who split up there areas of responsibilities. This store has four registers, two Clover brewers, four Mastrena espresso machines, three cold beverage stations and two separate warming stations. The store is run with a crew totaling about 110 partners. I thought those numbers are staggering!
This store has so many unique things about it. It’s worth visiting. The store design is gorgeous. High above the register area, you will find a map of the world, with coffee growing regions illuminated. There is beautiful chalk art throughout the store. The Reserve – Clover area is offset from the espresso machines to highlight the uniqueness to Starbucks Reserve coffees. Above the Clover brewing area is a video screen which shows images of coffee farms and other coffee growing related content.
There is an interactive touch screen in the store. You can draw on it and then erase what you draw. I thought of it as a high tech Etch-a-Sketch but that probably dates me! The partner I was with says that she sees kids playing tic tac toe on it all the time, and happily drawing on it, as parents wait in line for their beverage. The picture featured here shows the touch screen moments after someone wrote the word “Hello” on it. When nobody is drawing on the touch screen, it creates chalk images of the area in front of it. You almost have to see it to believe it. There’s a camera facing the seating area directly in front of the touch screen, and when nobody is drawing on it, you may look up and find yourself as a chalk image reflected in it.
Despite how busy the store stays, my drink came up pretty fast. I thought it looks liked the store partners moved pretty efficiently. The baristas in this Starbucks wear the “elevated” dress code, which is the same dress code found in all the Evenings Starbucks. My understanding is that this is the only non-Evenings Starbucks with an elevated dress code. This means that partners must wear all black, men must have a tie, and everything must look sharp at all times.
One thing I discovered, which was actually a disappointment to me, was that there is no way to leave a tip. Apparently under Disney contract rules, tips are forbidden. I like leaving a tip. I asked a baristas what happens if a customer absolutely insists on leaving a cash tip, and I learned that all tips collected get donated to the Starbucks CUP Fund.
Now that I’ve told you all about this store, check out how beautiful it is. This is a must-visit Starbucks. The only thing it needs that it doesn’t have is some sort of souvenir exclusive to the Disney – Starbucks partnership, like a coffee mug, tumbler, or Starbucks card.
Enjoy!
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Hello… glad to see you made it to the happiest starbucks in the world. Have you noticed a different pricing structure while you were in the store? I know we can use our rewards here but I thought the prices seemed higher. Love this store.
Have a great journey!
This looks like a great store Melody! I’m hopefully gonna get back to California next year and this will be on my to-do list!
Sounds like a super fun store, thanks for taking a lot of pics. 🙂
Awesome post, Mel! So, you’re kinda in town eh? 😀 I’m taking the bus en route to my Sbux, myself. #open24hours On my way, I pass by the newly remodeled Teavana-SBux by Beverly Hills.
Any who, WAY to fill us in on the Downtown Disney store! I feel like I know so much abt it JUST through reading your blog entry. 4 mgrs & 110 partners? THAT’s intense! Had I still lived in OC, I’d love to cover a shift there. Thank you for sharing as always & enjoy your stay in ca!
Almost about to rival the Times Square store! Wow. Looks like an incredible store. Wish they would put some of these bells and whistles in some other stores. Pics are great.
Just a really great store. I loved the one on Main Street USA at Disneyworld last year. I really hope they put in one like this at Downtown Disney in Florida. Totally agree that they just must have their own Disney/Starbucks related merchandise. It would fly off the shelves.
They have opened one of two locations at Dowtown in FL. I visited it on it’s opening day. The second location is opening soon. The renderings are gorgeous and it will be an evening store as well. I have pics of the opened location if you would like to share.
Beautiful store! I’d love to work here if only for a solid month. It’s fascinating to even think about 3 managers and 110 partners!
I meant to say that you can go inside the store on Google Maps and it looks fantastic!
Don’t feel too bad about the tips downtown disney Sbux partners (CA & FL) get a higher hourly rate. I’ve also heard they get some disney benefits as well.
Vacation???? No new articles until June 2014??? You just couldn’t stay away now could you? Someday I will get myself back to Disney World and check out the Starbucks there. I could have used a Starbucks the last 9-10 trips out.
Also: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/free-refills-starbucks-151253432.html;_ylt=AwrBEiJHwodT208A0SmTmYlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTBmYm11NnUwBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQ–
@Chgo – I just can’t stop blogging! I wrote the Downtown Disney article at mom’s house.:) And I was surprised to see the yahoo.com article – it’s a re-print of an older article by Business Insider journalist Hayley Peterson. Still nice though – a few more people found my site today because of it.
Now – really – this time I’m serious – no new articles until June. Maybe even early June! 🙂
Awesome!!! My friend went and had a great experience, and said the partners were so genuine and friendly. I have a partner visiting there next week and I showed her pics, and she’s going to make it a point to stop in! 🙂
So are the prices the same or a bit higher? If so by what %? Thanxz
Great review Melody! Thank you for taking the time out of your holiday to post… I hope to visit this Starbucks in November ♥
Wow. Nicely done Melody! See I told you. The most amazing store, huh?
@Janel yes a Partner that works there said they are considered “cast members” as well so they can sign themselves and guests in to both parks. So as far as I’m concerned the best Barista job ever! Bean Mark-outs, Partner Beverages, Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean.
That’s very interesting about the no tipping…I’m wondering…if I used the Starbucks app on my phone to pay there, would it still prompt me to leave a tip?
And wow, that’s a lot of partners!
@Amanda. Your app would prompt you b/c the store scanners digitally recognize your account, thats why it appears after you pay. Then the tip data goes into the stores system. So in that store it might be deactivated. So it wouldn’t show up after you pay. I’m sure someone will post what happens.
Baffled that they don’t have Disney Starbucks related mugs. I know I would get in my car and drive right over from Arizona to get a few! No surprise that the store is so successful. I wonder if they will open a Teavana Fine Teas + Tea Bar in Downtown Disney?
Hello,
I live in the Orlando area and have been able to visit the two Downtown Disney Starbucks stores that just opened here. One is considered a “snack stand” and is right in front of the World of Disney Store. It’s pretty big although it is just a walkup. I was fortunate to get a tour of the inside and back room since I was meeting with the SM. They have a limited food selection due to demand (or lack there of). It’s beautiful!
I also visited the other store on the West Side of Downtown Disney right next to the hot air balloon. That store is AMAZING. There is lemon grass growing on the roof and the inside is like nothing I’ve ever seen. The seating, the decor, the mood, the sharpness of everything in the store. I was impressed… and jealous. I wish there weren’t so much traffic from where I live, I’d love to work in Downtown.
Yes, they are considered cast members. They have to go for Disney Traditions training,they have to wear black on black, and they arrive at work every day with a freshly pressed black Starbucks apron (no more washing your own aprons). The will get admission/parking to Disney and still get their bean markout and discount. Pretty amazing.
@Alissa – That sounds like a lot of fun! And thank you for finding my blog. I wrote a book too! 😉