Disney Quest?

[Wes]

I finally got around to reading the Summer 2004 issue of "Disney Magazine", which is loaded with survey answers to what folks like best at WDW (which includes some Downtown Disney mentions), DL, and even the cruises. What is completely missing, or else I missed it, is Disney Quest at WDW Downtown Disney. This is a favorite for our family's first stop when we go to WDW.

Is the absence of DQ from the magazine an omen for the future of DQ?

 

[LodgeMan]

We too love DQ but when we were there two weeks ago, it seems like they are starting to let it go maintenance wise. SEVERAL games werent working, had no signs indicating this, trash everywhere.....I honestly think it won't be around for very much longer....

 

[caseymaureen]

I thought that the signs seemed a little ominous when I was on the CP in the Fall of 2002. At first we were given passes to get into DQ, but just for ourselves, we couldn't use them for guests. Later in the semester, closer to the winter season, we were notified that we could now use the passes for ourselves and 1 guest. Not sure if they were just being generous, or if maybe this is done every year for the slow part of the season, but it just didn't seem like a good sign to me.

 

[hitthebids]

i heard that they are considering replacing it with an ESPN ZONE. that would be a good use of the space.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

ESPN Zone would be cool, but if they can't keep up with the maintenance at DQ, how would this be any different? I don't see any new "arcade" being different from DQ, so what would be the draw to get more people in?

 

[ivandisneycastmember]

I know on the CP in the fall towards the end, I was told that they offer lots of discounts and offers to cast members. This may be one that they do every year?

 

[PoohnPglet]

We were there at the end of May, and there were several games no longer working and the CMs did not seem to know whether they would be fixed or replaced.

I hope they aren't going to let DQ go. My ds loves the place and it gives me a place to let him run around while I wind down from the parks a little.


(I am new and I hope you all do not mind me jumping in. I am not sure of the "etiquette" here.)

 

[Phoebesaturn]

Originally posted by DukeStreetKing
I don't see any new "arcade" being different from DQ, so what would be the draw to get more people in?

Sports stars and Alcohol.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Originally posted by Phoebesaturn
Sports stars and Alcohol.

Sorry, I don't see that being enough of a draw to keep any new venture in any better shape than DQ. There is already so much alcohol to be had at Pleasure Island and the West Side.

 

[Distriv]

I really enjoyed DQ. I was very excited when it was announced that Philly would get one but in the end all we got was a new parking lot. On a side note, does anyone know if the DQ in Chicago is still open?

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

While I like DQ, doing the same thing that I did 4 or 5 years ago isn't worth it when it comes to video games/technology. If they aren't willing to keep DQ up to date, an ESPN Zone would be nice.

 

[Wes]

Originally posted by PoohnPglet I hope they aren't going to let DQ go.

From the notes in this post, it sounds like they already have let it go.

DQ really is a unique place, and ESPN Zone just is not for the same audience as DQ, which is very family-oriented. But it sounds like some wizard has made a decision, and now DQ is just being allowed to wither with minimal to no maintenance and no upgrades as they once did to the technology (e.g, the upgrade to Pirates from the predecessor with the flying horse [what was that movie that the game was themed on?]).

And what does it really say about the ability of Disney to maintain its own creativity? They just don't have the creative sap any more to keep up a flow of new ideas, even at the modest pace needed for DQ.

 

[crusader]

Well I have to agree that DQ is a great place. Having only recently experienced it for the first time last month, I have to admit I had a blast.

They should invest what it takes to keep this going and promote it more. I was there for a couple hours and only got through three levels.

I will definately be back with recruits and add the time to include this on the schedule.

 

[PKS44]

Originally posted by Distriv
I really enjoyed DQ. I was very excited when it was announced that Philly would get one but in the end all we got was a new parking lot. On a side note, does anyone know if the DQ in Chicago is still open?

\

No CHICAGO DQ is closed for ever...we went there and had a great time but noticed that they did very little promoting the place...few people knew what it was or where it was....and I must say it seems they are doing the same thing in Orlando...they really seem to have no clue how to promote it and a result I fear it will follow Chicago's example...too bad this company is so poorly managed.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I think if they started including it as a plus option on hoppers, or just reduced the admission to $20 or so, it might help it. There's always been too much other stuff to do that I never wanted to pay the $30 to try it.

 

[KNWVIKING]

How would an ESPN ZONE affect the ESPN Club over at BW ? I don't know that Disney would want to operate to similar clubs so close together.

 

[Keyser]

Probably the biggest reason that DisneyQuest is doomed (longer-term) is that the economics for it were predicated on being able to replicate the "high-end" games across the country. A pretty good amount of R&D was put into developing the VR and other games there. The thought was that they could keep DQ fresh by updating the games at the various locations over time, amortizing the design costs over all the locations. With Orlando being the only outlet, though, there's no more Imagineering work (that I know of) devoted to this area, and the single site probably doesn't bring in enough $ to fund any further development.

That's not to say that there's necessarily a short-term issue. It's almost certainly profitable now, or they would have closed it. It can probably go on for quite a while with just standard maintenance, and updating the "standard arcade" games. However, over time, the higher-end games are going to fall into disrepair/become outdated, and there won't be any good replacements ready for them, nor the income to justify spending larger sums of money for major repair, replacements, or design of new games.

I love Disney Quest, and would hate to see it go, so I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see any way it can really survive long-term. I would expect Disney has some plans ready for whenever they decide that it would be more profitable to use the location for something else.

 

[Clotho]

Ugh! I do not like ESPN Zone! We went to the one in DTD in DL, and it was a mess! The drinking means a lot of sticky half-drunk cups crowding the small bistro tables, and spills all over the place. The food was second rate (would much prefer the Cheesecake Factory express at DQ!), the service was bad, and the games are ALL sports. So if you don't like sports games much (I don't), there is nothing there for you.

I can't comment on DQ, but it sounds more like a Gameworks type environment, which has a variety of games, from VR to classics to ticket games, that appeal to more people. That I much prefer.

 

[LindaDe]

DQ has been doomed from the start. The reasons are simple. The price of admission, and the high maintenance of the place. It is very hard to keep computer games and pinball machines in working order. When we were there last July (the middle of the tourism season) there were many games out of order not to mention there simply wasn't enough of them to go around. Most of the time we were in the place we stood in line waiting for a game or virtual ride. It simply wouldn't be worth the money, we were there with our ultimate park hopper and that is the only reason we would go again. We certainly would not go out of our way to go there.

 

[HaleyB]

Has DQ always been a front door admission price only place? We just went for our first time and loved it. We noticed card readers on all the VR games and a mention of 'credits' I know it is not a plus option because the place just wouldn't be able to handle the crowds (think rain).
We did see a few games that were not working, but this is just standard arcade issues. The games break all the time, you fix them, they break again. There will always be a percentage of games that don't work.

I hope DQ sticks around.