Is there a need for 4 Italian restaurants in DS?

[Ben E N]

Off topic a bit, but if we're talking about restaurant diversity, I'd love to see a Melting Pot at Disney Springs. Seems like a perfect place for it. "Fun" interactive concept, high price point, accommodating to families, fairly "safe" food choices. I think it would be wildly popular - particularly if there were some Disney-themed menu items.

The time it takes to eat dinner there is pretty slow, though. Disney restaurants specialize in getting you in and out in 45 minutes to an hour. A 2 hour meal at $130-200 per table is not profitable enough to put in a high traffic area like Disney Springs.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Patina Group doesn't operate Italian restaurants exclusively, but does operate five of them at WDW (three at DS and two at Epcot). For some reason they decided to lease that many restaurants to Patina. The fourth Italian restaurant at DS is operated by the Levy Group. It's being renamed and refurbished but they will still be operating it.

 

[MomOTwins]

Does disney even design/operate most of the Disney Springs restaurants though (in other words, are they choosing to have more italian or are third party restaurant groups decided)? It seems most of them are branded to celebrity chefs like Morimoto/Art Smith or run by other third parties like Patina restaurant group.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

The only restaurant (meaning indoor places with seating) at Disney Springs that is operated by Disney itself is D-Luxe Burger. Disney does operate some food trucks and take-out kiosks. Disney also operates Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Disney are the landlord for everything in Disney Springs, so, theoretically, they could decline a new Italian restaurant. However, I suspect there's not a competition for open spots, and they just green light any legit operator who can handle the financials and the build, but who is at least one tier up from "put in an Applebee's!!"

This means mostly people like Patina or Landry's, and not sweet true indie places, because the financing into DS is nasty.

 

[Huff]

Off topic a bit, but if we're talking about restaurant diversity, I'd love to see a Melting Pot at Disney Springs. Seems like a perfect place for it. "Fun" interactive concept, high price point, accommodating to families, fairly "safe" food choices. I think it would be wildly popular - particularly if there were some Disney-themed menu items.

While I love Melting Pot thats not what I'm looking for when going to Disney. I prefer restaurants that have unique themes only found at Disney. Something I cannot find at home or most anywhere else. Most restaurants at Disney fit that but not all.

 

[Texans_loyal]

I love Italian food but a Greek, Indian or Thai place would be awesome!

 

[tinkerhon]

Would love a Greek restaurant !
( and "Animators Palate" somewhere in WDW!)

 

[maltdizzy]

I doubt Disney cares how many Italian restaurants (or steakhouses or whatever) are there as along as the lessee has all the paperwork and financing in order. The lessees are just trying to figure out how they can stay in the black and widely popular food with a high profit margin is what they latch onto. I assume overhead-related turnover at DS will probably be pretty high, so I agree that the market will speak and 1 or 2 will close as they try something new. To be fair, not a lot of overlap with Pizza Ponte and some of the others (though there is betwene it and Blaze).

I would certainly love to see a wider range of options.

 

[meggiebeth]

From a British point of view, I think that four Italian restaurants sounds perfectly reasonable for a shopping and entertainment district as big as Disney Springs. Italian food is a hugely popular cuisine over here and many, many, many of our chain restaurants serve Italian food. I’m not sure if it’s as popular in the States, but if it is, I’d say there could easily be more than four at Disney Springs!

 

[zebrastreyepz]

Greek, Thai, some representation from South America?

 

[Dean Marino]

LAUGHING out load .


There are ZERO Fine Italian Restaurants at DS .
Want a GOOD one?
Get thyself to IlMulino at the SWAN. No DDP, TIW accepted.

All your choice... We have not found a single decent REAL Restaurant within DS, and can buy a Pizza anywhere within the US .
GREAT buildings - no substance.

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

 

[Farro]

I agree, but I'm not a fan of Italian food to begin with.

 

[Farro]

The menus are all different and rightfully so as there are different regions in Italy with different styles of cooking and different specialties. Unless you are talking about olive garden Italian food by far is not cheap to make... If you go in and want some type of pasta with meatballs yes it is on the less expensive side to make but that also is reflected in what they can charge for it and there for the picky eater... If you look at the menus you will see seafood, lamb and pork which are all far more traditional dishes. Do not see Greek or Thai and such places doing well at Disney as most people who go to Disney are just not adventurous eaters... Greek places are huge on squid and Thai is just simply way to spicy and shall I say out of the ordinary for most-- there will not be many people lining up for a fish with its eyes looking at you or curry... If Disney sticks with Gyro's and Thai dumplings or maybe Pad Thai they will do fine but that is the equal of Pasta and tomatoes for Italian.. it is just not traditional... its more in line with all American's eat burgers and that's it. However you never know some may pop up as they have done it with Japanese food--but I can tell you what Disney serves is also not what you expect form a traditional Japanese restaurant as Sushi does not have rice around it what Disney serves are inside out rolls which look better--order tuna and you will have a piece of tuna on top of rice much less the less nice looking EEL or squid suction cups and all which are the more traditional sushi.

Perfectly stated!

 

[Huff]

Would love a Greek restaurant !
( and "Animators Palate" somewhere in WDW!)

Kouzzina had Greek dishes but its now closed.

 

[tinkerhon]

Kouzzina had Greek dishes but its now closed.

Yep - never had the chance to try it - heard some decent reviews - that was Cat Cora, correct ?

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I love Italian food but a Greek, Indian or Thai place would be awesome!

I’m with you!

 

[persimmondeb]

Greek would be nice. Honestly though, I'm going to agree with the people woo pointed out that many Disney visitors aren't adventurous when it comes to food. Persoanlly I don't mind, because my husband will predictably ear Italian and it can be tricky to feed him in restaurants (even at Disney).

 

[nekonekoneko]

Off topic a bit, but if we're talking about restaurant diversity, I'd love to see a Melting Pot at Disney Springs. Seems like a perfect place for it. "Fun" interactive concept, high price point, accommodating to families, fairly "safe" food choices. I think it would be wildly popular - particularly if there were some Disney-themed menu items.

My taste buds say fondue. My stomach says fon-don't.

 

[Moliphino]

I hate tomatoes and fennel, so that really cuts down what I'll eat on an Italian restaurant menu! I mean I'll eat tomato sauce, but I don't particularly enjoy it (raw tomatoes are a definite no). Pasta just does nothing for me. I'll eat it, but I wouldn't miss it if I never had it again. So yeah, if I'm picking a restaurant Italian would be towards the bottom of the list.