Replacing Kouzina

[TowerDude]

Does anyone have any information on what type of restaurant will be put in Kouzina's place, following its September closure?

 

[cubsblue]

Probably a Starbucks.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Does anyone have any information on what type of restaurant will be put in Kouzina's place, following its September closure?

Kouzzina by Cat Cora at Disney's BoardWalk Resort will have its 5th anniversary August/September 2014. It appears that a Disney had a 5-year licensing deal with Chef Cat Cora. I assume that WDW executives have determined that it does not make business sense to renew with Chef Cora.

No replacement has been announced.

 

[cmwade77]

Does anyone have any information on what type of restaurant will be put in Kouzina's place, following its September closure?

It's closing in September?

Bummer, we are going in November and really like Kouzina.

 

[rteetz]

Right now there isn't any info on what will be replacing it. But they did say another restaurant will.

 

[L&Lfan]

I'd love to see a real Indian restaurant at WDW. (Yes, I know Sanaa offers "Indian inspired" dishes.)

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The Kouzzina location primarily serves guests at Disney's BoardWalk Inn and BoardWalk Villas. It's an awkward location for destination dining.

Flying Fish is a 2-credit Signature Restaurant serving only dinner. The former Kouzzina location needs to serve as a 1-credit casual restaurant serving breakfast (and maybe even lunch) in addition to dinner.

Dieter Hannig, who led Walt Disney World's transition from ordinary to memorable restaurants, took the management buyout in 2009. His last project was Sanaa.

It remains to be seen if Disney is still committed to memorable restaurants.

I hope I'm wrong, but my guess is that Kouzzina will get a new name, a new sign, a few cosmetic changes, and a menu with Disney standbys such as penne pasta with chicken.

Disney can use ingredients that are bought in volume and will no longer have to pay a licensing fee to Cat Cora. So Disney will make more money.

 

[jeffbear]

If they want to stick with a Greek baseline for the menu ... maybe Mike Symon? Now that he's on broadcast TV, he's certainly generated enough name recognition for a signature restaurant.

 

[PaulaVonSchweetz]

Man this stinks. I really like that restaurant!

 

[PaulaVonSchweetz]

Anyone know a date?? I'll be there in september and may be able to do one more meal there.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

If they want to stick with a Greek baseline for the menu ... maybe Mike Symon? Now that he's on broadcast TV, he's certainly generated enough name recognition for a signature restaurant.

Although I'd be thrilled if Disney turned either to Michael Symon (or to Michael Psilakis) for a signature restaurant, I really doubt that would happen. Next door, Flying Fish is already a Disney Signature Restaurant.

By parting company with Cat Cora, Disney is showing that a restaurant bearing the name of a celebrity Greek chef is not the right formula for that location.

Disney's BoardWalk would probably be better served by a casual family restaurant, without pretensions of representing a celebrity chef.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Anyone know a date?? I'll be there in september and may be able to do one more meal there.

September 30, 2014, according to several online sources -- but I don't think there's been an official announcement from Disney, so it might be best to consider this a rumor until it's confirmed.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The Orlando Tribune now has an article about Kouzzina closing September 30: Cat Cora's restaurant at Disney World closing, By Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, March 24, 2014.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Dieter Hannig, who led Walt Disney World's transition from ordinary to memorable restaurants, took the management buyout in 2009. His last project was Sanaa.

It remains to be seen if Disney is still committed to memorable restaurants.

you're gonna have to explain that...

because the restaurants took a decided turn for the worst around the 2004-2006 period...gee...i wonder why?

so i'm not sure "memorable" was ever an option...
doesn't matter how many open kitchens you build if you serve the same costco purchased bulk...

just means you are less likely to get the "special sauce"

 

[jjwelch24]

That's too bad. We had a great meal there. The food was really good.

 

[Pumpkin meme]

they do a fantastic breakfast...and sitting on the BW enjoying the food and the view is one of our highlights....

sad

 

[manning]

you're gonna have to explain that...

because the restaurants took a decided turn for the worst around the 2004-2006 period...gee...i wonder why?

so i'm not sure "memorable" was ever an option...
doesn't matter how many open kitchens you build if you serve the same costco purchased bulk...

just means you are less likely to get the "special sauce"

Well it was memorable....just not the way we wanted to remember it.

 

[ascardino]

Oh I am sad to hear that it is closing...

We have it on our list to do in June.....love breakfast and it was a nice change from the "usual" for dinner without it being "signature". We were even lucky to meet Cat Cora once while dining....

We did like Spoodles before it so hopefully Disney will come up with something good to replace it....

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

you're gonna have to explain that...

because the restaurants took a decided turn for the worst around the 2004-2006 period...gee...i wonder why?

so i'm not sure "memorable" was ever an option...
doesn't matter how many open kitchens you build if you serve the same costco purchased bulk...

just means you are less likely to get the "special sauce"

Dieter Hannig developed California Grill, Citricos, Flying Fish, Jiko, Boma, and Sanaa, among others.

Dieter, more than anyone else, put WDW on the culinary map -- a place with masterful chefs, Master Sommeliers, and unique, stylish dining rooms. Under Dieter's watch (1988 to early 2009), Walt Disney World built a small army of sommeliers, with many servers trained to have sommelier skills -- while also creating signature wine programs appropriate to the signature restaurants.

That doesn't mean that there wasn't relentless cost pressure from the operations side, especially due to the dining plan.

 

[nooneshome]

Bobby Flay!!!!