Defunct Disney restaurants

[Simba's Mom]

I just remembered a couple more (but not the names)-the sit-down restaurant at POFQ-they had a great breakfast buffet. Also, there was a character buffet on the main level of the Contemporary (Concourse Grill?)with Goofy about 20 years ago. The mention of the Empress Lilly reminded me-I fondly remember the character breakfast there with Donald Duck-at the time, it was the only character breakfast at WDW with Donald Duck and he was DS's favorite. And does anyone else remember the Melvin the Moose character breakfast at Fort Wilderness, complete with kazoos ("Wake up, you silly moose!")? And I loved the Minnie Menehune character buffet at Papete Bay Verandah at the Polynesian. Come to think of it, every character meal we attended on our first couple trips is now gone.

 

[TeresaWen]

As an FYI . . .
1) When not staying at Grand Floridian, Y&B was/is the resort of choice for celebs.
. . many stars STILL prefer Y&B to other WDW resorts
. . . I can't give any reliable numbers, but my guess would be 75% take Y&B over The Grand
. . . yes, they do stay at other resorts, but Y&B has the best reputation for "Star Power"
2) During the old ABC Super Soap Weekends at Hollywood Studios, many of the daytime Soap Stars stayed at Y&B.
3) I can remember the vehicles being mobbed by fans. *

* Each transport car had a sign on the door saying who was in the car. I knew the girl who drove Susan Lucci one weekend. She was parked at Studios awaiting Susan to drive back to the resort. A mob of older ladies spotted the car and surrounded it and tried to open the doors, while the CM was in the vehicle. One even ripped off the magnetic sign from the door as a souvenir.

Prior to the rehab of the fitness center at the Y&B club I hung out in the spa hot tub with Billy Ocean. What a gentleman. Good memory

 

[Simba's Mom]

Prior to the rehab of the fitness center at the Y&B club I hung out in the spa hot tub with Billy Ocean. What a gentleman. Good memory

OMG, I love Billy Ocean! I saw him at F&W several years ago-I admit I didn't plan to, just happened to be there when he was. Boy, was I impressed! Meeting him would be such an honor!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

L’ Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante was a restaurant with actual roots in Rome. The fettucine alfredo was incredible there. Here's a nice background piece with some photos if you're interested

http://www.yesterland.com/alfredo.html

I always loved to read the reviews trashing the place about how the family that invented Alfredo didn't know how to make Alfredo right.

 

[Scifidiner]

I loved the Fireworks Factory in Downtown Disney.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I miss all of the places GDUL mentioned. I also miss Spoodles.

I think Spoodles is probably the one place that closed I miss most.

In 2005 we walked into a restaurant on the Disney Boardwalk that was quite classy and out of our price range for that meal. It was pretty upscale with fancy decor and I believe it was Italian food, although I don't think it was Trattoria al Forno or Spoodles. Was there an upscale restaurant that was on the Boardwalk that closed between 2005 and now?

Cat Cora's place Kouzzina replaced Spoodles and the Trattoria replaced that. The Flying Fish is still there.

 

[Dean Marino]

I suspect the Hollywood Brown Derby will enter this list - through NO fault of their own .
A great Restaurant, placed in a very unfortunate location .

All personal opinion - I'm not necessarily right, no one else is necessarily wrong.

 

[Dean Marino]

An up and coming defunct? Artist Point, WL.... One of our favorites, but....

1) No dinner bookings after OCT 28, 2018.
2) Persistent rumors that it will become a "Character Restaurant". One may have fine food, or characters.... not both .

 

[Louis morrell]

I do not know or maybe never knew the name or the restaurant in Adventure land but n 1973 We had burgers there topped with pineapple slices. Quite a shock for some South Louisiana folk. I can still see my father's reaction.

 

[Grapicosoda]

This is such a good thread! I knew I had eaten at Chef Mickey's as a child before- but knew I had never eaten at the Contemporary- only ever ridden thru in the monorail. Now I know I ate there when it was in Downtown Disney! Thanks!

 

[Bob Dolewhip]

I remember Make Your Own Pizza at pioneer hall! I wish they still had that.

 

[AngieInOH]

Alfredo's yummmmm.... Tutto not so much!

 

[paisleys]

I miss all of the places GDUL mentioned. I also miss Spoodles.

The Spoodles breakfast buffet was amazing!!!

 

[paisleys]

OMG! This thread is great, so many memories. Did anyone see the show at Top of the World? Cheesy but I loved it as a kid.
Also, I remember a bar where the shops are now in the Contemporary called Monorail Club Car that looked like an actual monorail car and only had drinks called Monorail Red, Monorail Yellow, etc.
My biggest loss was The Fiesta Fun Room Snack Bar and Arcade where The Wave is now. Awesome games, an animatronic shooting gallery, and a little movie theater. That place was amazing! I miss it every time I am at the Contemporary!

My parents would give us $$$ and we would spend the night playing those games! And the movie theater was very cool. Before the Wave went in, I took my husband around there and showed him the little theater, which was being used for staff training circa 2000.

 

[Anthony1971]

I miss Alfredo's.... ate once at the poor excuse they have now and had a half a Scrooney chicken with a piece of mozzarella slapped on top... sad at best...
I find Mama Melrose even worse and they fall at the bottom of my list of places I will never eat at... I would take Tony's over either one of the above.

 

[dachsie]

What was Teppen Edo called before it was named that? We ate there in 2006

 

[Moliphino]

What was Teppen Edo called before it was named that? We ate there in 2006

Teppanyaki?

 

[TavieP]

I mourn the old Akershus so much. Swedish meatballs, all the mackerel and herring, the mashed rutebega, the lefse...

 

[fla4fun]

I do not know or maybe never knew the name or the restaurant in Adventure land but n 1973 We had burgers there topped with pineapple slices. Quite a shock for some South Louisiana folk. I can still see my father's reaction.

Probably Adventureland Verandah, where Skipper Canteen is now.

Love this thread - so many good memories.

 

[liquid17]

I do miss the Empress Lily. But what I really miss is the leisurely, peaceful breakfast at the Crystal Palace. I always want to plan breakfast there and my husband always reminds me that it won't be the same - and he's right. We've had wonderful family meals there but there is nothing peaceful about it!