Any rumors about the Big River Grille space?

[LoveDaisy]

It has been about a year since Big River Grille at Boardwalk closed. Any rumors on what may replace it?

 

[OKW Lover]

I've occasionally seen workers go in there but can't tell what they might be doing. Being local, I often go for walks around the parks and resorts. Some of my walks include the boardwalk area and as I do that I'm conflicted. I love the views across the lake and of the BW structure itself. I'm dismayed by the neglect management has given to half of the boardwalk area. Clearly some imagination is needed for this area.

 

[jade1]

I've occasionally seen workers go in there but can't tell what they might be doing. Being local, I often go for walks around the parks and resorts. Some of my walks include the boardwalk area and as I do that I'm conflicted. I love the views across the lake and of the BW structure itself. I'm dismayed by the neglect management has given to half of the boardwalk area. Clearly some imagination is needed for this area.

Agreed. It's one thing to add $Billions in lands to parks that are hard to know what the ROI really is. But BW dining/drinks seems like an easy sell. There must be plans/ideas floating around.

 

[tjkraz]

Agreed. It's one thing to add $Billions in lands to parks that are hard to know what the ROI really is. But BW dining/drinks seems like an easy sell. There must be plans/ideas floating around.

There are a lot of dining options on the boardwalk.

For quick service food you've got BoardWalk Deli, the Pizza window, corn dogs and Leaping Horse Libations. Walk-up snack & treat options include the cake shop, BoardWalk Ice Cream, the gift shop and Carousel Coffee. Table service food at Trattoria, Cake Shop and Flying Fish. And alcohol at Abracadabar, Leaping Horse and the margarita stand.

The options are fractured, spread over a variety of venues. But that's sort of part of the charm of the BoardWalk itself.

My sense always was that places like ESPN club and Big River Grill thrived on walk-up convention business. And that business mostly has not returned post-covid.

I hope they put something in Big River Grill and Jellyrolls. But financially, it seems bound to draw business away from existing options. BW is one of the smaller deluxe hotels with fewer than 400 rooms. Every DVC villa has a kitchen or kitchenette, reducing the number of guests who eat 3 meals per day at restaurants. Even if they add a great new themed restaurant or bar, it's taking business away from some other venue.

 

[jade1]

There are a lot of dining options on the boardwalk.

For quick service food you've got BoardWalk Deli, the Pizza window, corn dogs and Leaping Horse Libations. Walk-up snack & treat options include the cake shop, BoardWalk Ice Cream, the gift shop and Carousel Coffee. Table service food at Trattoria, Cake Shop and Flying Fish. And alcohol at Abracadabar, Leaping Horse and the margarita stand.

The options are fractured, spread over a variety of venues. But that's sort of part of the charm of the BoardWalk itself.

My sense always was that places like ESPN club and Big River Grill thrived on walk-up convention business. And that business mostly has not returned post-covid.

I hope they put something in Big River Grill and Jellyrolls. But financially, it seems bound to draw business away from existing options. BW is one of the smaller deluxe hotels with fewer than 400 rooms. Every DVC villa has a kitchen or kitchenette, reducing the number of guests who eat 3 meals per day at restaurants. Even if they add a great new themed restaurant or bar, it's taking business away from some other venue.

The corn dog stand had many options b4, the pizza window is now cheese or peperoni only. That leaves the gas station deli sandwiches and the pool bar. You guessed it, hot dog and pizza.

 

[tjkraz]

The corn dog stand had many options b4, the pizza window is now cheese or peperoni only. That leaves the gas station deli sandwiches and the pool bar. You guessed it, hot dog and pizza.

My point is that the cumulative variety is as good, if not better than many other resorts. Riviera has one quick service option. Contemporary has one quick service option. Poly has one quick service option. Each of those has 6-8 entree choices, most of which are already mirrored at BoardWalk.

I'd love to see them do something with the empty BW venues. But if there isn't a market for it, or it just duplicates what's already available, something will ultimately fail.

 

[jade1]

My point is that the cumulative variety is as good, if not better than many other resorts. Riviera has one quick service option. Contemporary has one quick service option. Poly has one quick service option. Each of those has 6-8 entree choices, most of which are already mirrored at BoardWalk.

I'd love to see them do something with the empty BW venues. But if there isn't a market for it, or it just duplicates what's already available, something will ultimately fail.

For quick service, I would trade all of the current BW options for any one of those you mentioned.

 

[jade1]

I compared Riviera and have to admit, you cant get a corn dog or hot dog there. Otherwise it's quite a bit better. You can even get a hamburger or chicken sandwich- both are very good. Heck even French Fries.

 

[jade1]

Couple more.

 

[OKW Lover]

I've occasionally seen workers go in there but can't tell what they might be doing. Being local, I often go for walks around the parks and resorts.

FWIW, I walked past the old BRG location today and there was no activity at all to be seen outside.

 

[Brian Noble]

All of the Crescent Lake resorts leave something to be desired in the quick service line. Beach Club Marketplace isn't any better than Boardwalk Deli. Both poolside places are comparable. The lineup is better than OKW's pathetic Goods, but most of the other resorts fare better in QS dining.

Of course, filling in BRG and Jellyrolls with sit-down places and/or entertainment won't solve this problem.

 

[Brian Noble]

Double post.

 

[Cfabar1]

There are a lot of dining options on the boardwalk.

For quick service food you've got BoardWalk Deli, the Pizza window, corn dogs and Leaping Horse Libations. Walk-up snack & treat options include the cake shop, BoardWalk Ice Cream, the gift shop and Carousel Coffee. Table service food at Trattoria, Cake Shop and Flying Fish. And alcohol at Abracadabar, Leaping Horse and the margarita stand.

The options are fractured, spread over a variety of venues. But that's sort of part of the charm of the BoardWalk itself.

My sense always was that places like ESPN club and Big River Grill thrived on walk-up convention business. And that business mostly has not returned post-covid.

I hope they put something in Big River Grill and Jellyrolls. But financially, it seems bound to draw business away from existing options. BW is one of the smaller deluxe hotels with fewer than 400 rooms. Every DVC villa has a kitchen or kitchenette, reducing the number of guests who eat 3 meals per day at restaurants. Even if they add a great new themed restaurant or bar, it's taking business away from some other venue.

To your point, it is very easy to get a dining reservation at the existing boardwalk venues with the possible exception of CBS (which is brand new)…

It is also very easy to get reservations at the Swolphin restaurants…

It is slightly harder (though not especially hard) to get reservations at Yacht/Beach club restaurants with the most obvious exception being Beaches & Cream which is very challenging to get a reservation at in my experience…

And you have EPCOT steps away, and Topolinos a hot air balloon ride away…

Maybe they can imagineer something better for the space… The Boardwalk definitely has the feel of Michael Eisner’s vision for Disney entertainment similar to Pleasure Island and the Adult District on the Disney Magic Class Cruise ships… Don’t think Iger and D’Amaro would engineer those spaces…

 

[precious pixie]

I would LOVE to see a comeback of the Adventurers Club! They could slightly adjust the theming if needed

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would like to see a quick serve that has a place to sit and serves thing like scrambled eggs or dinner entree's besides hotdogs and pizza

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

I would like to see a quick serve that has a place to sit and serves thing like scrambled eggs or dinner entree's besides hotdogs and pizza

Having a place to sit and enjoy the meal is key especially since BWI removed the tables from the rooms with the last refurbishment.

 

[leebee]

A lot of the "street atmosphere" is gone from the Boardwalk. There used to be all kinds of things happening there: Puppet shows, one-man-band, surrey rental, jugglers, etc. The could put the entertainment back, add things like hair braiding, henna artists, arcade games, night clubs, etc. There just isn't anything to DO at the Boardwalk anymore, other than walk around the lake.

 

[Cfabar1]

A lot of the "street atmosphere" is gone from the Boardwalk. There used to be all kinds of things happening there: Puppet shows, one-man-band, surrey rental, jugglers, etc. The could put the entertainment back, add things like hair braiding, henna artists, arcade games, night clubs, etc. There just isn't anything to DO at the Boardwalk anymore, other than walk around the lake.

Other than the one nighttime entertainment, I agree it is quite empty.

 

[CarolynFH]

A lot of the "street atmosphere" is gone from the Boardwalk. There used to be all kinds of things happening there: Puppet shows, one-man-band, surrey rental, jugglers, etc. The could put the entertainment back, add things like hair braiding, henna artists, arcade games, night clubs, etc. There just isn't anything to DO at the Boardwalk anymore, other than walk around the lake.

I’ve enjoyed the entertainment on the Boardwalk many times over the years, but I must admit that during our stay in a BW view villa this past January it became quite bothersome when the (very talented) singers performed under our toddler’s bedroom window until 10 PM every night. Maybe Disney is getting too many complaints from resort guests now. There’s also the issue of parking for guests who “just want to enjoy the Boardwalk” - and also slip into Epcot while parking for free in the BW lot.

 

[DebbieB]

I stayed at Polynesian last week, loved getting a quick service breakfast every morning. Loved the Mickey Waffles and Breakfast Burrito. Miss that at Boardwalk.