Does ANYONE know who operates Alfredo's currently?
It's owned by Alfredo's of Rome - the same restaurant that created Fettuccini Alfredo for all us uncouth American tourists.
What people are complaining about is not the change in leases, but the change in the entire mindset of the company. The reason the original restaurant in the Italy Pavilion was leased out was because Disney wanted to give EPCOT Center visitors an authentic experience. Who better than one of the top restaurants in Rome to run an Italian restaurant. EPCOT Center was all about show and the guest. Most people will never have a chance to eat in a high-end restaurant in Rome, this was going to be the next best thing.
The move to Pantina is purely an economic move. It has nothing to do with Epcot’s theme. It has nothing to do with making WDW a unique and interesting experience. It has nothing to do with guest satisfaction. There’s nothing even imaginative about it – the menu is going to be recycled from other Patina outlets across the country. Instead of an “authentic Italian experience” in the Italy pavilions, we’re going to get “Italian-like” because they toss in a sun dried tomato or two. They might as well have brought in the Olive Garden.
It also shows how little faith Disney has in its own ability to run its own theme parks. From hotels to restaurants to
shop Disney is running away from its core businesses in a panic. Disney just isn’t interested enough to run the place well, and they certain don’t respect us, the guests, well enough to try either.
Altho I see they have an agreement for the Walt Disney Concert Hall... I wonder if that played into the decision?
The Walt Disney Company has nothing to do with the concert hall. The hall was started by Lillian Disney as a tribute to Walt outside of the company. Diane Dinsey did shame Eisner in to coughing up some money for the project, but hall is a civic building used by the LA Philamonic.
Patina has been moving into the high-end of L.A. dining for a while now. If I recall correctly, they ran the restaurant at the old Music Center (which the Disney Hall essentially replaced), so they snapped up the space in the new facility. It was a seperate deal to have them open restarutants at
Disneyland's Downtown Disney. They were one of several companies that were lured into the project - along with Wolfgang Puck, Mondavi, and Rainforest/House of Blues. Their willingness to suffer at Disneyland probably got them the lease at Epcot.
And if the grapevine is to be beleived, Italy won't be the last place they take over.