Gaston's Pork Shank Going Away? That's what we were told.

[Susie*Q]

My boyfriend and I just got back from spending a week at WDW. Aside from the Food and Wine Festival we both agreed the best meal by far was the pork shank at Gaston's Tavern in Fantasyland, best value too. BUT one night coming back to the resort after F & W we had a moonlighting Uber driver who was also an entertainment manager at WDW. He told us that they just got the memo that the pork shank was going away next month in November.

Can anyone else confirm this?

If true it's stupid. It is by far the best quick meal there and a great value. We went to MK for an early lunch 3 times last week just for the pork shank (afternoons and dinner every night were at F&W). The shanks were so good I wanted t buy 2 more for the plane trip home. Gosh I hope this isn't true or that they will reconsider. The sad thing is that they have Gaston's tavern tucked away in a back corner, if it is not selling that could be the reason. I wish they would sell these right beside the turkey legs.

KEEP THE PORK SHANK!!!!!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

"An Uber driver told me" might be the equivalent to "a bus driver told me."

 

[Susie*Q]

Could be, but in conversation he said he was also was a manager in entertainment at wdw. Whether he was or not I just hope the pork shanks don't go away. I want more of them when we return! Also wouldn't mind if they had these at Disneyland here in California! YUM!!!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Not sure why a manager in entertainment would be given a memo on restaurant menu changes...so I don't think there is any real way to confirm this unless you can find someone who is definitely a Gaston's CM.

 

[davper]

"An Uber driver told me" might be the equivalent to "a bus driver told me."

Then it must be true.

 

[Kimosabe]

The pork shank with a cinnamon roll and some Lefou's Brew to wash it all down is a mighty fine breakfast. Would hate to see the shank get the shaft. Doubt it is going, given the original source, but can't imagine they wouldn't replace it with something similar. Gaston's can't survive just on a couple of pastries and a frozen drink.

 

[Susie*Q]

Just relaying what we were told. Believe me, I won't believe it until it is confirmed. I wasn't born yesterday. I posted here to see if anybody had heard anything.

The Cinnamon roll was ok but I had no desire to taste Lefou's brew, not quite my flavor profile.

 

[HopperFan]

I think the rumor has come up before. I'm not sure anyone saw the Pecos Bill's completely new menu coming so who knows ...

 

[Quellman]

Shut your filthy mouth!
I think the better question is what to they replace it with? A whole chicken?

 

[HadesTX]

I hope not! I wanted to get that in December.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) People, please remember why such menu changes are made.
2) It is the GUEST'S fault, not WDW.
. . . many people buy DDP
. . . when using DDP, guests force the eateries to take action to remain at a certain profit margin
3) As prices increase for food, WDW cannot increase the price to guests.
4) DDP has a set contractual reimbursement per meal for the entire year, and eateries cannot raise a menu price mid-contract.
5) Thus, the menu has to change to allow profit based upon a reimbursement.

As that famous cartoon philosopher, POGO, stated, "We have met the enemy, and it is us."

 

[HopperFan]

1) People, please remember why such menu changes are made.
2) It is the GUEST'S fault, not WDW.
. . . many people buy DDP
. . . when using DDP, guests force the eateries to take action to remain at a certain profit margin
3) As prices increase for food, WDW cannot increase the price to guests.
4) DDP has a set contractual reimbursement per meal for the entire year, and eateries cannot raise a menu price mid-contract.
5) Thus, the menu has to change to allow profit based upon a reimbursement.

As that famous cartoon philosopher, POGO, stated, "We have met the enemy, and it is us."

Very interesting.

So you are saying the DDP contract has a flat reimbursement rate to eateries, so does that mean that no Disney eatery can increase their menu prices until the end of the annual DDP? So they wait until January or maybe the best option is to drop the item not bringing in the money and replace it with something that will.

Thinking out loud ..... the Pork Shank is not included on the DDP as QS or Snack credit. So if lots of people are buying the DDP, they are naturally looking for locations to use it. Is it possible that Gaston's and the pork shank are not on enough folks radar. I can see the Turkey legs being a quick grab as they are everywhere and am sure much cheaper for Disney to buy .... but you have to go out of your way to get the pork shank, no way they sell the volume and pork must be more than turkey. Would it make sense to bring in a item or two to Gaston's that can be used via the QSDP, providing another place to help with the demand? I often see posts where folks are disappointed to learn they can not eat a meal there.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

So you are saying the DDP contract has a flat reimbursement rate to eateries, so does that mean that no Disney eatery can increase their menu prices until the end of the annual DDP? So they wait until January or maybe the best option is to drop the item not bringing in the money and replace it with something that will.

1) How about that!
2) A restaurant can try to increase the price to OOP, but cannot get any more reimbursement from DDP.
3) If not able to recoup increasing food costs, the eatery does not maintain an acceptable profit margin.
4) Not a good for career move for the restaurant manager.
5) DDP contracts are signed
. . . October for Disney-Owned eateries
. . . December for non-Disney Owned (this is why these are not on the first DDP brochure in October each year.
6) This is also why people see major menu changes in October.
7) When chefs and managers can't get a better reimbursement rate, items are dropped or changed significantly.

 

[HopperFan]

1) How about that!
2) A restaurant can try to increase the price to OOP, but cannot get any more reimbursement from DDP.
3) If not able to recoup increasing food costs, the eatery does not maintain an acceptable profit margin.
4) Not a good for career move for the restaurant manager.
5) DDP contracts are signed
. . . October for Disney-Owned eateries
. . . December for non-Disney Owned (this is why these are not on the first DDP brochure in October each year.
6) This is also why people see major menu changes in October.
7) When chefs and managers can't get a better reimbursement rate, items are dropped or changed significantly.

Thank you, interesting share.

I would say most folks don't understand how many different profit centers there are throughout WDW and how many decisions are made by each one, not across the resort as a whole.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

They can increase their menu prices, but they won't get any additional reimbursement for guests using DDP credits if they do.

 

[vikster1]

I sure hope this is not true. A CM at my resort last year told my husband about the pork shank at Gaston's. So off course we went and he got one. He loved it! When we got home he was on a pork shank kick. He ordered it out at every restuarant we went to if they had it. It usually was a special item. I booked last week for a up coming trip, the first thing I said to him was he can go get a shank. He is going to so disappointed if this rumor is true.

 

[PirateD]

I'm also hoping this rumor is not true. We were looking forward to trying one in December.

 

[powellrj]

We were just there 2 weeks ago and loved them. Dd is going without us in Jan and we talked it up so much she will be disappointed if it's gone.

 

[senadler]

2) It is the GUEST'S fault, not WDW.
. . . many people buy DDP
. . . when using DDP, guests force the eateries to take action to remain at a certain profit margin

Disney food prices are well above what you pay for similar quality anywhere else, and this across the board. Even taking this into account, just about everyone on the message boards indicates that the DDP is not a good value. Based on this, I really don't understand how this makes any sense.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

just about everyone on the message boards indicates that the DDP is not a good value. Based on this, I really don't understand how this makes any sense.

.
1) Yep.
2) The ONLY time we buy DDP is when it is 60% discounted for CM's.
3) Then, it does make sense.
4) And, we do not even consider doing Free Dining, as that can be a worse deal than paying for the room and doping OOP for food.