Anaheim GardenWalk Progress Thread

[wettham1783]

Originally Posted by FutureImagineer

Coming in from the pedestrian entrance of Disney Way (Garden Gate) The Movie Experience is on your right. When you are in the Gala Garden, it is either on Level 1 (entrance level) or Level 2 (sorry I don't have the specifics but I believe it is Level 1. The Cheesecake Factory is located on Katella; from the Disney Way ped. entrance, walk straight thru the GardenWalk to the Katella entrance and it should be to your left near the corner of Clementine and Katella.

From the Disney Way parking entrance into the structure, it's a bit different. In the structure, I'm not quite sure of the layout and how to access the mall but once you enter the mall. Go north (towards Disney Way) for movies and south (towards Katella) for Cheesecake.

That's the best I got for you.

Thanks Future Imagineer that's good enough to give me an idea of how to approach the AGW.

[FutureImagineer]

Originally Posted by wettham1783

Thanks Future Imagineer that's good enough to give me an idea of how to approach the AGW.

sure no problem

[FutureImagineer]

Insider AGW thank you for the news. I'm not sure what position you have a AGW but who ever is organizing the AGW website continues to have inaccurate dates. I realize, as you said, that approval by the fire marshall is necessary. But I think that if you provided me with these dates, then the person running the website could do the same. Nothing against you or anyone working there; believe me, I really appreciate any news you provide. Thanks again.

[InsiderAGW]

Originally Posted by FutureImagineer

Insider AGW thank you for the news. I'm not sure what position you have a AGW but who ever is organizing the AGW website continues to have inaccurate dates. I realize, as you said, that approval by the fire marshall is necessary. But I think that if you provided me with these dates, then the person running the website could do the same. Nothing against you or anyone working there; believe me, I really appreciate any news you provide. Thanks again.

The updated information changes daily and by the hour as we speak, because there are contractors working during the night and day to get the tenant space ready for inspections for occupancy so the updates on the website for store openings will be always inaccurate, but close enough.

InsiderAGW

[FutureImagineer]

NEWS UPDATE:

To clarify things, I have no connection to AGW and am only person trying to help others know what is open. Unfortunately, I do not live close enough to check what is open at my leisure. Therefore, I rely on the AGW website, which can be inaccurate. But more recently, InsiderAGW, who does work at AGW, has been kind enough to provide me and us with information. So before anyone comments about the repetitiveness of this post, I am just clarifying for others just visiting the thread of what InsiderAGW posted.

So here we go.

Openings:
-Upcoming:
--Sept. 11 - San Sai Japanese Grill (awaiting approval from fire marshall)
--Sept. 12 - Bar Louie Tavern & Grill
--Sept. 15 - Rami Accessories
--Sept. 16 - Momotree
--Sept. 16 - Johnny Rockets
--Sept. 19 - Madison & Co
-Expected:
--Oct. 15 - Tacone Wraps.

Events:
The planned events can be found on the original post of this thread.
-The Garden Party Music Series is an ongoing event that occurs every Saturday in the afternoon into the evening that features various music groups in the Gala Garden.

The announcement of any Disney/AGW plans will be made in mid-October. This upcoming announcement is not a rumor, it is official; however, this does not delete the possibility of a new date for the announcement or if any plans are scrapped and not announcement is made. Plans are always changing. The news of this announcement comes straight from InsiderAGW, who works at AGW.

That's all for this update. See ya soon.

[FutureImagineer]

Originally Posted by InsiderAGW

The updated information changes daily and by the hour as we speak, because there are contractors working during the night and day to get the tenant space ready for inspections for occupancy so the updates on the website for store openings will be always inaccurate, but close enough.

InsiderAGW

oh, I know that things are always changing, and I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining; it just sounded like you have all the dates and the website didn't. But I understand and it's no problem.

[APJ1127]

Its a tough situation to be in. The DLR is somewhat enclosed and guests probably dont want to walk or exit the parking lot and drive a couple blocks to find parking again and then do the same in reverse.

I think the addition of the hotels and the convention season will help to get things moving there.

I'm not sure the average out of towner would be as interested in leaving the "Disney experience." Do you have to market it in competition to the Block at Orange or the Irvine Spectrum?

I wonder if 300 has become a source for locals? I know Lucky Strikes are pretty popular.

Is there a shuttle that takes guests from DLR to AGW?

[Darkbeer]

Most ART shuttles stop at Anaheim GardenWalk (10 out of the 14 routes). You can buy a $3 all day pass at the Lion King Tram area (machine is near the bike racks).

And don't forget, that Anaheim Garden Walk primary audience is the Convention Center and its visitors. Of course, they are also looking at the local market, and the out of town visitors that are visiting Disneyland.

But the Restaurants, bars and shops are more focused on the adult higher end market, and not families. (But of course, many locations are also family friendly).

[Darkbeer]

One more point, Disney expects guests to walk from the Pummba Parking Lot to the Main Entrance, the exact same distance as walking to AGW (across the street).

I walk it all the time.

[Darkbeer]

Some AGW news updates....

TIME CHANGE - Garden Party Live Music Series


In efforts to beat the heat, please note the following changes:

• Saturday, September 13 - Louie Cruz Beltran - 5:30 - 8:30 pm
• Saturday, September 20 - Billy Vera & The Beaters - 5:30 - 8:30 pm
• Saturday, September 27 - The Chantays - 4 - 7 pm

All concerts are located in the Gala Garden.

Also, a chance to meet the Gold Medal Winning US Men's Volleyball team

Saturday, September 13th - 11:30 AM

Join the City of Anaheim in celebrating the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal Winning U.S. Men's Volleyball Team & Coaches.

Located in the Gala Garden.

Players will be signing autographs.

FYI, the Gala Garden is on the lower level of AGW, north end near the Movie Experience.

[FutureImagineer]

NEWS UPDATE:

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't been able to update lately but I'm back and got some news to correct. Keep in mind that I only receive my dates from AGW website and InsiderAGW.

Opening:
-Rami Accessories opened on Sept. 15.
-Mrs. Fields opened on Sept. 15.
-Upcoming:
--Sept. 19 - Momotree
--Sept. 19 - Bar Louie Tavern & Grill
--Sept. 19 - San Sai Japanese Grill
--Sept. 19 - Sbarro

Events:
-The Garden Party Music Series occurs every Saturday night and provides live music in the Gala Garden.
-Sept. 20 - 1-3pm - Fresh Produce - Pink Event
-Sept. 27 - 10am-4pm - Harley Davidson Motorcycle Show

I have added and changed some of the expected opening dates:
-Georgiou (Oct. 15)
-Madison & Co (Sept. 30)
-V Generation (Oct. 1)
-Flame Broiler (Sept. 30)
-Johnny Rockets (Sept. 26)
-La Salsa (Oct. 15)
-Tacone Wraps (Oct. 15)

Sorry about the confusion brought about by the previous update.
That's all and we'll see what happens on the 19th.

[Darkbeer]

I am sorry, I get my information from many sources, including AGW, and walking through the center on a regular basis, including yesterday, September 15th.

Mrs. Fields hasn't even started to build!

Rami wasn't close to opening as of yesterday, though construction has started.

The concert times have changed, as I mentioned earlier, due to heat issues, and crowd size.

[ducksman]

Hahahahaha, "crowd size" HA!

[TP2000]

So, I went to 300, GardenWalk's upscale bowling alley and nightclub, for the first time last week. It was a weeknight, granted, but that place was completely EMPTY!

We arrived a few minutes after 8:00PM, and there were exactly three other customers in the entire place; three teenagers bowling on the third lane and drinking Pepsi. There were about a dozen bored employees milling around at the bar, the check in desk, and the rental desk. We were still missing two of our group of six, so we decided to wait and have a cocktail in the empty bar. The two bartenders happily served up some pretty good drinks, and the hostess came over and explained that if we waited until 9:00PM to bowl we could get a special of 15 dollars per person for unlimited bowling and shoes from nine until Midnight. We took her up on the offer and ordered some appetizers to go with the drinks, and we moved to a table in the middle of the place around the 15th lane.

Around 8:30PM the teenagers finished their bowling and left. That meant the four of us WERE THE ONLY CUSTOMERS IN THE ENTIRE FACILITY! The music was blaring, the disco lights were flashing, the special effects on the lanes were going, the giant TV screens in the bar were showing football, and the place was set up to handle hundreds of people. But we remained the lone customers until 10:00PM. We started bowling at 9:00PM, and had a cocktail waitress hovering just behind us all night ready to get fresh drinks or more snacks. Finally around ten o'clock another tourist family came in and was set up a few lanes down from us. We left around 11:30PM after bowling three games, and the family was still bowling and two girls were having a drink in the bar and flirting with the two bartenders.

Other than that, those were the only customers we saw all night long. And it was almost creepy being in there all alone for a couple hours with a dozen bored employees watching us.

I don't know how these GardenWalk places are going to make it if business doesn't pick up dramatically by Christmas. Places like 300 obviously had a lot of money poured into them, and were built with a business case that assumed lots of free spending tourists and date night locals. But it's just not happening.

GardenWalk is dead, dead, dead. At least that's my observation.

[ducksman]

So even after lowering their rates 300 is still not able to find any customers? Pretty sad. I feel sorry mostly for the workers there, especialy since they are probably minimum wage workers relying on tips. No customers = no tips.