Anyone else going? I think I'll go sometime during Friday for an overnighter.
bluewater opens at 9.00 in the morning so there's no point getting there before that. I'm gonna miss it - it's too early for me I've had a busy week at work!
I phoned Bluewater and the lady confirmed that they are expecting queues and that the centre remains open 24hrs so queueing under the roof outside the store is possible.
I think I will make a long long drive to bluewater on Friday night through the tunnel. Somehow I don't expect a big queue. What is the closest entrance to the store?
I think I will make a long long drive to bluewater on Friday night through the tunnel. Somehow I don't expect a big queue. What is the closest entrance to the store?
It seems Bluewater management has changed its mind about overnight queueing (ifoAppleStore, also with a phone call confirming this) and will allow queueing from 7am. This is upsetting as yesterday afternoon they said to me that the centre was open 24hrs and we would be allowed to queue.
With regards to entrances, your best to download this PDF map. The Apple Store is located at H9 upper guild hall. I am going to travel up tonight and hopefully parking at F12-ish will be free as that seems to be closest and I'd guess an entrance will be with the lifts at E11.
Where are you coming from and what kind of time do you think you'll be there? I suspect there wont be too many people, but in America people have queued outside the mall to get in. I will probably leave sometime between 12-1ish in the morning, getting there around 2-3ish. Will be good to know someone else will be there!
I will be coming from germany. My Eurotunnel train is leaving at 3.38, but I will try to take the train at one o'clock. I think the train will need 45 minutes through the tunnel. From Folkstone to bluewater I am planing a one hour drive.
Well it's 1am Saturday morning and I am in the shopping mall outside the Apple Store with two other guys who got here 10mins before I did. A few cleaners looking suspiciously but no-one stopping us from sitting outside. Maybe some people will be along shortly - I don't know.
Although some "regular" people walking past occasionally laughing (i swear at us, but hey!).
On the actual store, it is bigger than the Bullring, Birmingham one, looking like we'll be able to get in and out easier - the Bullring store was too thin to get out once at the counters at the end of the store...
Hopefully we'll be allowed to stay here, I guess they wont be bothered if it is just a small group, but if we're loud and messy I suspect we'll be asked to wait outside. Here's hoping!
Ask the cleaners and make sure which is the first door that opens in the morning if they kick you outside of the mall. A lot of times they will open a door for the early morning walkers. I was at the wrong entrance for the Tyson's Corner opening and ended up not getting into the store till 10:30. Still it was a great crowd and well worth getting there at 7:00 am.
Ask the cleaners and make sure which is the first door that opens in the morning if they kick you outside of the mall. A lot of times they will open a door for the early morning walkers. I was at the wrong entrance for the Tyson's Corner opening and ended up not getting into the store till 10:30. Still it was a great crowd and well worth getting there at 7:00 am.
reg
We got chucked out at 2.30am but the doors never actually closed, but there were three of us and we stayed in the car park in my car. We are now back outside the store with a massive 5 people less than 3 hours to opening.
I arrived about 8:15 and there were probably about 60 - 70 people standing in line. The staff at the store really got into it and ran around the crowd hi-fiving everyone. When we were all finally let into the store, everyone was high fiving everyone else and the atomsphere was kind of cool.
The folks behind me were saying that the London opening was total chaos. This is a smaller store but still cool . I will post pictures and video.
My wife and I were at Bluewater for the rest of the day and every time we went past the store, it was stacked with people. The crowd control doughnut eaters were there all day.
On a side note, I ended up buying a 20Gb iPod with the colour screen. Looks very similar in size to the old model. On the staffing side, it appears not alot of training was given to the new staff as many of those handling the sales were from the London store, with the local staff just pressing the buttons. It may well be first day nerves.
Comments
Originally posted by iLaw
The store is set to open at the end of June or early July and will be situated in the old Jaeger store, near House of Fraser, opposite Habitat.
I heard it was opening at the end of May - they've obviously changed their time scale or something.
Originally posted by iLaw
Someone who works at the Regents Street store told me end of March but obviously that didn't happen so I emailed Bluewater to see if they knew.
I was told by Apple that it would open in May, but they may have changed their minds
Anyone else going? I think I'll go sometime during Friday for an overnighter.
Originally posted by danielctull
Apple Store, Bluewater. Set to open this Saturday at 9am.
Anyone else going? I think I'll go sometime during Friday for an overnighter.
bluewater opens at 9.00 in the morning so there's no point getting there before that. I'm gonna miss it - it's too early for me I've had a busy week at work!
I think I will make a long long drive to bluewater on Friday night through the tunnel. Somehow I don't expect a big queue. What is the closest entrance to the store?
Originally posted by bka77
Hi,
I think I will make a long long drive to bluewater on Friday night through the tunnel. Somehow I don't expect a big queue. What is the closest entrance to the store?
It seems Bluewater management has changed its mind about overnight queueing (ifoAppleStore, also with a phone call confirming this) and will allow queueing from 7am. This is upsetting as yesterday afternoon they said to me that the centre was open 24hrs and we would be allowed to queue.
With regards to entrances, your best to download this PDF map. The Apple Store is located at H9 upper guild hall. I am going to travel up tonight and hopefully parking at F12-ish will be free as that seems to be closest and I'd guess an entrance will be with the lifts at E11.
Where are you coming from and what kind of time do you think you'll be there? I suspect there wont be too many people, but in America people have queued outside the mall to get in. I will probably leave sometime between 12-1ish in the morning, getting there around 2-3ish. Will be good to know someone else will be there!
I will be coming from germany. My Eurotunnel train is leaving at 3.38, but I will try to take the train at one o'clock. I think the train will need 45 minutes through the tunnel. From Folkstone to bluewater I am planing a one hour drive.
Although some "regular" people walking past occasionally laughing (i swear at us, but hey!).
On the actual store, it is bigger than the Bullring, Birmingham one, looking like we'll be able to get in and out easier - the Bullring store was too thin to get out once at the counters at the end of the store...
Hopefully we'll be allowed to stay here, I guess they wont be bothered if it is just a small group, but if we're loud and messy I suspect we'll be asked to wait outside. Here's hoping!
reg
Originally posted by reg
Ask the cleaners and make sure which is the first door that opens in the morning if they kick you outside of the mall. A lot of times they will open a door for the early morning walkers. I was at the wrong entrance for the Tyson's Corner opening and ended up not getting into the store till 10:30. Still it was a great crowd and well worth getting there at 7:00 am.
reg
We got chucked out at 2.30am but the doors never actually closed, but there were three of us and we stayed in the car park in my car. We are now back outside the store with a massive 5 people less than 3 hours to opening.
The folks behind me were saying that the London opening was total chaos. This is a smaller store but still cool
My wife and I were at Bluewater for the rest of the day and every time we went past the store, it was stacked with people. The crowd control doughnut eaters were there all day.
On a side note, I ended up buying a 20Gb iPod with the colour screen. Looks very similar in size to the old model. On the staffing side, it appears not alot of training was given to the new staff as many of those handling the sales were from the London store, with the local staff just pressing the buttons. It may well be first day nerves.
All in all it was a great day!
I arrived around 4:30 in the morning and was fifth in line. Had a good time while waiting and also later in the store. Here are some pictures I made:
Apple Store Bluewater grand opening pictures
More pictures here (not mine):
Macworld UK