Changes at DTD

[MM32830]

McDonald's is leaving DTD on April 30 to be replace by Pollo Campero (www.campero.com). Good move? Don't know. Maybe. We'll see this fall when they open.

Planet Hollywood On Location closed a few days ago. This is the gift shop next to Little Miss Matched. Wondering what will replace it.

And tonight there are 2 large wooden boxes that mysteriously appeared overnight (they weren't there last night). Both are at WestSide, one near Little Miss Matched and the other near Bongo's. Just plain old wooden boxes that are about 10 feet by 15 feet. Obviously "stuff" inside the boxes but can't tell what it is.




____________________
Armand

 

[angeluna]

Wow. Those are some pretty big changes. Can't imagine not having McDonald's. It always seemed packed in there. I can't believe Planet Hollywood held on for so long. It seemed that company has had nothing but troubles since they began. Hopefully the changes will improve DTD.

 

[elemusing]

The McDonalds at DTD was always packed and it irritates me that they would close. It was one of the few "regular folks" restaurants there.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Mc Donald's is closing and they are putting in a fried chicken place? Huh. Weird. I never ate at the Mickey D's at DTD, (how could I when Earl of Sandwhich is right down the way?! ) but it's too bad it's closing, nice place for families to get a bite. Dumb move IMHO.

 

[zulemara]

nice to see the urban decay is spreading to the Market Place now too. It already spread from PI to WS with starabillas, virgin, and PH OL closing. Now Mc Donald's is leaving(although being replaced) and rumor is the lego store will be leaving shortly after. Boy this bold new vision sure is swell.

btw in case a podcast member reads this...kevin Lansberry was VP of DTD and largely blamed for the closure of PI. He was then given the status of VP of transportation, DTD, and recreation. Then the monorail disaster happened and they moved him to DAK, and now they moved him to basically head of Disney reservation centers. I'll tell ya one thing, based on his leadership style, he's not gonna be improving anything. He is a pencil pusher that cuts cost at every opportunity.

 

[jeanigor]

rumor is the lego store will be leaving shortly after. Boy this bold new vision sure is swell.

That would at least make sense, on Lego's behalf if they are indeed building LegoLand Florida. Not that I like it, but it makes some sense--unlike the other changes at DTD.

 

[kimisabella]

Pollo Compero is a latin style fast food restaurant, mostly selling chicken. One just opened last year a couple of miles from my house, and although I haven't personally eaten there people that have eaten there didn't enjoy it. I also think it's very expensive....don't know if that's because of the location or what.

It's a shame McD is leaving. It was a reliable, quick option, especially with kids. We would also like to get the iced coffees/mochas and walk around DTD.

 

[Becx N Gav]

Although we never ate there it's a comfort having somewhere you know.
I'm guessing it's also one of the few places you can get brekkie items at DTD (looks like we'll be going to IHOP then ) I would not want chicken for breakfast

 

[mikelan6]

Pollo Campero? Wow. I know is was all the rage in El Salvador. There's one kinda close to me, I guess I'll go check it out now.

 

[doconeill]

It was, at least, an emergency chicken nugget supply place for my DDs. Regardless of the opinions of McD chicken nuggets ("they're fused!"), they were far and away better than the chicken charcoal briquettes that Disney now serves - the only ones my kids have EVER refused to eat.

 

[exwdwcm]

We've only stopped in that McDonald's for a coke once. But it seemed to get good crowds. We have a Pollo Campero down the road from us in Dallas and never have eaten there- i know they advertise 'Latin chicken' and it is setup like a fast food place, even has a kids playground like McDonald's. Just seems like a strange choice?

Lego store moving makes sense, but i wonder how soon? It will be sad to see the lego models gone- i assume they would remove the dragon from the lake etc.?

 

[MODisFan]

I wonder if replacing McDonald's with a latin based restaurant is to give another option for all the Latin vacationers. Hopefully Kevin will do a review.

Side note: I found Zulemara's statement about Lansberry interesting. If his track record holds true - things don't look good for the reservation department

 

[zulemara]

That would at least make sense, on Lego's behalf if they are indeed building LegoLand Florida. Not that I like it, but it makes some sense--unlike the other changes at DTD.

I believe there is actual a sort of disconnect between the company that bought cypress and is building legoland, and the lego stores themselves. Sort of like how TCP owned Disney stores for a while. I'm not entirely sure the pullout of the lego store, if true, has to do with legoland being built.

As for Lansberry, he brought in a type of leadership that didn't care about the front lines, didn't understand front lines, and refused to work front lines. The GMs, GSMs, etc under Lansberry were a new breed of managers who refused to work along side frontline cast to understand what they go through on a daily basis. You know the GM of DTD had never even stepped foot inside a club at PI? How are you supposed to run and be in charge of an operation when you don't even know what your operation looks like! That was all brought in when Lansberry became VP of DTD and it will follow him wherever he goes. Why this guy keeps getting promoted, with a disaster at DTD and a monorail fatality under his watch, is absolutely beyond me. The guy needs to be kicked to the curb making sandwiches at Subway for 7.50 an hour. No offense meant to subway ppl, but u get the idea.

 

[doconeill]

I hear there's a chicken place opening up that will be hiring soon...

 

[Madi100]

McDonald's doesn't really surprise me. I'm not sure how busy it is becaue we've never eaten there. I think that we used the bathroom once. Maybe??? But didn't Disney cut ties with McDonald's?? It would make sense to get rid of the restaurant in DTD.

 

[zulemara]

Yes the contract ended in 2004 and over the last couple years, the places serving Mcdonalds fries have converted into Disney fries. The McDonalds by DAK is remaining open though..for now.

 

[DVCsince02]

No more sweet tea?!?

 

[kaligal]

It's more evidence of the BOLD, NEW VISION.

One fast food place is as good as the next, IMO.

I don't eat at DTD. WoD, the store with the cute beachy clothes that plays Island music, then the pin store and out of DTD I go.

 

[3happydancers]

nice to see the urban decay is spreading to the Market Place now too. It already spread from PI to WS with starabillas, virgin, and PH OL closing. Now Mc Donald's is leaving(although being replaced) and rumor is the lego store will be leaving shortly after. Boy this bold new vision sure is swell.

btw in case a podcast member reads this...kevin Lansberry was VP of DTD and largely blamed for the closure of PI. He was then given the status of VP of transportation, DTD, and recreation. Then the monorail disaster happened and they moved him to DAK, and now they moved him to basically head of Disney reservation centers. I'll tell ya one thing, based on his leadership style, he's not gonna be improving anything. He is a pencil pusher that cuts cost at every opportunity.

I really hope the Lego store does not close. My dd loves going there and we so enjoy the displays especially the serpent type creature that lives in the water!

 

[OKW Lover]

This has got me wondering how much longer the McDonalds near AK is going to stay open.

I know the press release said that it was not affected by the closing at DTD, but you have to wonder if its next on the block. Perhaps a factor in its favor is that there probably isn't a lot of other companies wanting to open a business down there.