Alfredos Closing?

[Donaldsfan176]

I read on another board that Alfredos is closing. does anybody have any information about this? I hope it's not true. We really like eating there.

The last time we were there the waiter was from the same town in Sicily my grandparents were from.

 

[MJMcBride]

It seems unlikely considering how popular it is. The rumor going around is thats it closing in July but people are making ressies in August

 

[rocketriter]

I hope this isn't true. I love to take my family there and bore the waiters silly with my umpteenth telling of how, when I was a kid in the 1950s, I had lunch at Alfredo's Originale in Rome. The old man was in that day. He made the fettucine at our table -- with his hands -- told us how he invented the dish in order to pump calories into his wife when she was pregnant and couldn't keep food down, and showed us the solid gold fork and spoon given to him by Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. My mother even ate a few bites with the fork and spoon, but they were too heavy to use for an entire meal. There, you see? I've bored you with the story, too!

 

[Donaldsfan176]

It seems unlikely considering how popular it is. The rumor going around is thats it closing in July but people are making ressies in August

WOW. We have res. for the end if July. I wonder if they are taking reservations knowing the place will be shut down and just not telling anybody they are closing.On the other hand...would it make sense to close a popular restaurant during the busy season?

 

[pegster56]

If there is a closure, I hope it is just to do maint or some other update and then reopens quickly! We are making plans now for vacation later this year and Alfredos is on our list of dining choices that we definitely wanted to try to reserve!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Apparently this is as much a "rumor" as anything else----

 

[Crazy Hakim]

A lot of the World Showcase Restaurants are closing the next few months for Rehab only. Remember, Oct 1st, 2007 is Epcot's 25th Anniversary Date, and although there is no real official celebration planned, maybe they are just trying to spiffy things up.

http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/rehabs.htm

 

[DisOrBust]

This is what is posted on Intercot


Alfredo di Roma Ristorante Closing!

Walt Disney World has announced that Alfredo di Roma Ristorante, a fixture at the Italy Pavilion in Epcot for over 20 years, is closing permanently at the end of July, 2007. There will be a replacement Italian restaurant opening in the same location, but at this time Disney has not released any further details. Guests who have advanced dining reservations beyond the closing date will be contacted by Disney in order to make alternate arrangements.


I have to wonder if its demise is do to the DDP. If do it won't be the last.

 

[DC7800]

I have to wonder if its demise is do to the DDP. If do it won't be the last.

Maybe I'm missing something, but wouldn't the DDP make it less likely a table-service restaurant would close anywhere in WDW, simply because of the overwhelming demand generated by this program. There already appears to be a lack of capacity to meet demand in the parks and resorts; even restaurants (anywhere on or off-site in the WDW area) which don't accept the DDP would seem to benefit indirectly - persons who cannot obtain a seating at a Disney establishment look elsewhere.

Kevin Yee, over at MiceAge, did a recent column on this. It is nearly impossible to secure a same-day dinner reservation anymore (I have proof - trust me), and hence many guests are being turned away disappointed. While his suggestions basaically rationed the priority seating assignments, from my perspective it looks like what's really needed is more dining capacity - more restaurants (not fewer) serving longer hours with more available tables.

 

[Another Voice]

I depends on how much Disney is paying the restaurant for the guests' meals. Disney gets to offset the losses it's taking in the resaurants against higher occupancy at the resorts - the owner of Alfredo doesn't have that. From his point of view he's swamped with a lot of people eating more than he's being reimbursed for; and all the cheap people are taking driving out the full-priced diners - I don't blame him one bit for closing up shop.

 

[DisOrBust]

It has been posted that disney pays "around" 25$ per person per dinner to restaurants they do not own. Some have reported even less. Tips are also prorated to a dolllar amount not a percntage.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Great...They'll probably be opening an Olive Garden.

 

[EUROPACL]

Great...They'll probably be opening an Olive Garden.

No such luck its a Fazoli's

 

[Another Voice]

The way Disney handles "themeing" these days we'll get one of those combination Taco Bell/KFC/Pizza Huts in the Alfredo's location.

I can hear the plants now - "but pizza's Italian! You just hate Disney!"

 

[Lewisc]

More likely a pizza hut buffet.

The way Disney handles "themeing" these days we'll get one of those combination Taco Bell/KFC/Pizza Huts in the Alfredo's location.

I can hear the plants now - "but pizza's Italian! You just hate Disney!"

 

[Mickmse2002]

This is what is posted on Intercot


Alfredo di Roma Ristorante Closing!

Guests who have advanced dining reservations beyond the closing date will be contacted by Disney in order to make alternate arrangements.


I have to wonder if its demise is do to the DDP. If do it won't be the last.

This doesn't make sense to me. Why continue to accept reservations beyond the alleged closing date just to turn around and have to call the guests back later? I made a reservation Alfredo's today for a dinner in August.

 

[DisOrBust]

This isn't uncommon for WDW to do. It has happened in the past during rehabs as well. I would have a back up plan.

 

[Mickmse2002]

This isn't uncommon for WDW to do. It has happened in the past during rehabs as well. I would have a back up plan.

Alfredo's is the back-up plan so no big deal if it's not open. Still seems like a waste of staff time to accept a reservation for something that will no longer exist.

 

[vancesmom]

On AllEars it says that it's closing August 31st. So, everyone who has reservations should be fine. The contract has run out and they are planning to reopen a new restuarant in the future. I always thought that Alfredo's was ok but maybe this is an opportunity to have something even better. I could be a good change if they stick to something original and not a chain.

 

[dunnhorn]

I can think of two things here: First, the place has the same name as a place in Italy. Dis may want to have an italian restaurant that is not linked with another restaurant - for legal reasons, or whatever.

Secondly, that place is SMALL considering how popular it is. Have you been in there when it has been packed? It is standing room only and I am surprised there is no fire code violation. Last year we could barely squeeze the family to the table.

One by one, they have been completely renovating the EPCOT restaurants, from the ambiance to the menu. They have done this with the Garden Grill, and the Japan places, and Norway - I think the England place is next and Canada won't be far behind.

I hope they make the place larger... Seriously, it is one of the most popular restaurants at EPCOT so I am sure it will reemerge in some form. Let's just hope it will be bigger and better.....