Starbucks is coming to the Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks

April 23, 2012, 9:34 AM · Disney announced today that it's closed its deal with Starbucks to bring the popular coffee shops into the Disney theme parks.

StarbucksDon't freak out about seeing your cookie-cutter, neighborhood Starbucks on Main Street USA just yet, though. Disney says that the 'Bucks locations will be themed to their settings, with the first one coming to the new Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure, which opens June 15.

So, essentially, this is a vendor swap, with Starbucks training, menu, and products replacing current coffee products in select locations in the six U.S. Disney theme parks. The Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Cafe location that will be the first Starbucks in California Adventure also will sell additional Disney food items, so it's more like a Disney restaurant that sells Starbucks than a straight-up Starbucks location. And it's not like Disney hasn't had branded coffee houses in its parks before.

All that said, do you like this move, or not? Are you happy with Disney's current coffee, or would you rather see some other brand of coffee (Seattle's Best, Peet's, Peaberry, etc.) come into the parks?


If you selected the "other brand" option, tell us in the comments which one you'd like to see at Disney.

Replies (19)

April 23, 2012 at 9:41 AM · I don't care about coffee 'cause I don't drink it, but I'm all for them bringing Starbucks into the parks, 'cause if they do, that's less people in line for my favorite rides 'cause they're spending $20 for a small coffee. :D
April 23, 2012 at 9:50 AM · Will pricing be the same?

Will I be able to use my rewards card or smart phone app to purchase like starbucks stores?

April 23, 2012 at 9:52 AM · You don't have a choice of bring Starbucks and another major brand. My feeling is Disney doesn't know how to brew coffee. They seem to have good chefs to make their pastry, but they have no one who knows how to make quality coffee. They seem to put coffee in the same category as fast food. This is a change for the better.
April 23, 2012 at 9:55 AM · As long as there is no more NesCafe, I'm cool. I'm absolutely fine with Starbucks.
April 23, 2012 at 10:23 AM · +1 for Eric's comment.

Theme parks often flood their entry plazas with characters when they open, to distract kids and lure them away from running back to the rides and immediately overwhelming the queues.

I think Starbucks will serve pretty much the same function for parents. ;^)

April 23, 2012 at 10:24 AM · I'm not a great coffee drinker so voted the 'whatever' option.

However, if held down and forced to ride 'It's a Small World' endlessly until I made a decision I'd rather see Costa Coffee in the parks than Starbucks. Starbucks in the UK always feel cheap and nasty (apart from the amount they charge!), whereas Costa is simply the best coffee brand on the high street. It's classier too...

April 23, 2012 at 10:57 AM · I wish they announced Tim Hortons, but Starbucks is great, too ;)
April 23, 2012 at 11:40 AM · You probably will not be able to use gift cards or gold cards at the Disney Starbucks, just like the Starbucks at Universal.

These locations will be licensed stores, owned and operated by Disney so they would have to pay more money to hardwire themselves into Starbucks gift card system, which would probably only be needed for less than a dozen locations. Usually the only licensed stores that accept gift cards are large grocery/retail chains like Target and Safeway.

As a coffee fan it would be fun to see them brew a different region at each of the Epcot pavilions.

April 23, 2012 at 11:52 AM · Yes! Put the Tim Hortons in Canada, and other brands in the various countries. Then we can have two ways to "drink around the world."

Maybe the drunks and the super-hyper people could balance out each other? :^)

April 23, 2012 at 11:51 AM · I don't drink cofee (I'm 13). If I wanted caffine, I could just have a Coke.
April 23, 2012 at 1:47 PM · I chose other; I like the coffee from Einstein Bagels.
April 23, 2012 at 2:18 PM · Any coffee brand would be an improvement of what is there now. I was at first unhappy with the idea of Starbucks in the parks, but as long as they don't stick out in the theming I'll get used to the idea.
April 23, 2012 at 3:14 PM · If only they'd put an express line in for us black coffee drinkers. Chances are slim so I'll hope for Fastpass.
April 23, 2012 at 3:38 PM · It's seems like a fairly smart decision to me.

Starbucks do coffee shops well, the product is some of the best on the mainstream market and their staff are usually well-trained and provide high levels of customer service.

It shouldn't have too much impact on the parks, either. McDonald's have been operating inside Disney, as have other major brands, for years. You don't see big 'Golden Arches' at Disney, because they cleverly fit the outlets into their themed environments.

Good call, if you ask me.

April 23, 2012 at 4:15 PM · Mr. Niles writes: "Yes! Put the Tim Hortons in Canada..."

I Respond: The Disney company neds to cut a check for that suggestion.

April 23, 2012 at 6:17 PM · Here's an idea: get Starbucks to sponsor the Wonders of Life pavilion and build a roller coaster inside that teaches the effects of caffeine on the body.
April 23, 2012 at 9:08 PM · A Community Coffee or Cafe Du Monde stand in New Orleans Square would be AWESOME and COMPLETELY fitting; but at the core of the issue, ANYTHING would be better than Starbucks. It's the McDonalds of coffee.
April 24, 2012 at 11:08 AM · I'm glad to see better coffee at Disneyland and WDW, but Starbucks just seems too common and mainstream. I have no problem with the quality, but I think it would be more interesting to have a brand that didn't have 3 stores on every corner out in the real world.

I wonder if this will have an impact on the free refills currently offered at the Market House. Now that was the best-kept Disney secret.

April 25, 2012 at 12:20 PM · I'm not a fan of Starbucks coffee, the only thing I get there is the Iced Tea. I certainly think that their excellent service is something the Blue Ribbon Bakery at DLR could take a few lessons from

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