So What's Coming to the New Pleasure Island?

[Jason71]

NO ONE wants to see another chain restaurant in Disney.

No one other than Disney management.

 

[DC7800]

No one other than Disney management.

Yes, but they're so far out of touch with what guests really want at Downtown Disney they can't see daylight.

NO ONE wants to see another chain restaurant in Disney

In fairness, if Disney wants to bring back Goofy's Grill and make it a chain, I'm probaby fine with that.

 

[jarrdisney]

No one other than Disney management.

Yes, I should have clarified. They'll do anything to increase profit margins without doing something inventive.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I had to go to DTD the other day to renew my TIW card (just happenstance). It's a horrible place. Why would anyone willingly spend anytime there other than to see La Neuba or a movie is beyond me.

The AC was one of a kind and should have been a model for future Disney entertainment. It surely could have been tweaked to give the profit stream they needed but instead ... (Everybody now) .. they got greedy. As Gomer Pyle (their target demographic would say) "Surprise, surprise, surprise."

Wouldn't you all like to know who the genius was that proposed closing AC and who the big shot was who approved it? I would.

 

[anthony2k7]

Wouldn't you all like to know who the genius was that proposed closing AC and who the big shot was who approved it? I would.

nope, as far as I'm concerned, Kevin Lansberry is 100% to blame.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

nope, as far as I'm concerned, Kevin Lansberry is 100% to blame.

Did he have the clout? As DTD's "manager" perhaps it was his brainstorm?

 

[Jason71]

nope, as far as I'm concerned, Kevin Lansberry is 100% to blame.

My understanding is that he was a huge cheerleader for converting PI to 3rd parties, but the ultimate decision came down from California (and the idea had been floated since at least 2000/2001).

 

[yitbos96bb]

Yes, but they're so far out of touch with what guests really want at Downtown Disney they can't see daylight.



In fairness, if Disney wants to bring back Goofy's Grill and make it a chain, I'm probaby fine with that.

Isn't Citywalk a bunch of smaller chain restaurants or places run by Restaurant Groups? The goal is clearly to emulate that. Might work, might be terrible.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Let's get some original restaurants instead of these stupid chains! Most of us have a Chili's and Taco Bell at home. We want something very different and unique when on vacation!

Some do (count me in that camp) but some want familiarity, especially those with picky young eaters. Some people just like that mediocre chain food... I mean heck, look at the popularity of a place like Rainforest Cafe and HOB on property... mediocre overpriced chain food and they get a ton of business.

 

[jarrdisney]

Some do (count me in that camp) but some want familiarity, especially those with picky young eaters. Some people just like that mediocre chain food... I mean heck, look at the popularity of a place like Rainforest Cafe and HOB on property... mediocre overpriced chain food and they get a ton of business.

I agree that the food is nothing to write home about at Rainforest Cafe. However, the themeing is what draws people, and I think that's more than enough to put them in another category away from Chili's and Applebee's.

 

[Big]

I had to go to DTD the other day to renew my TIW card (just happenstance). It's a horrible place. Why would anyone willingly spend anytime there other than to see La Neuba or a movie is beyond me.

The AC was one of a kind and should have been a model for future Disney entertainment. It surely could have been tweaked to give the profit stream they needed but instead ... (Everybody now) .. they got greedy. As Gomer Pyle (their target demographic would say) "Surprise, surprise, surprise."

Wouldn't you all like to know who the genius was that proposed closing AC and who the big shot was who approved it? I would.

Apart from the parking disaster, what about DTD is horrible?

I find it to be an extremely fun place to go when you don't want to go to a park and just hang out / people watch.

...and of course get a sundae at Ghiardellis

 

[Jason71]

Apart from the parking disaster, what about DTD is horrible?

The row of empty buildings, one of which held the pinnacle of Disney Imagineering, and the rest of which were a lot of fun in their own right.

DisneyQuest has rotted away so much that it borders on "horrible" as well.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Rumor about Adventurers Club and Soundstage coming down within a few more weeks: www.savepleasureisland.blogspot.com

BobK/Orlando

 

[nytimez]

Apart from the parking disaster, what about DTD is horrible?

All of it.

DTD is now a glorified upscale strip mall.

 

[umichigan10]

I feel in the middle about DTD. Yes, it's a nice place to escape the stress and huge crowds of a park. But I also haven't been there in a few years since my family just doesn't see the big deal about going out of our way to go there unless we're able to take the boat from our hotel. Bottom line, DTD could be so much better, but Disney insists on taking things away like the AC and letting DTD stay average to below Disney standard depending on who you ask.

 

[Luv2Roam]

glorified upscale strip mall.

I think you were being too kind. I do not see it as upscale at all. (And not much glory. )
I see it as a tourist trap. (Basically for people who do not want to buy a park ticket for one day.) But funny because I read a post where someone thought DTD was for locals. I can't see many locals going there. But maybe they do.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I think you were being too kind. I do not see it as upscale at all. (And not much glory. )
I see it as a tourist trap. (Basically for people who do not want to buy a park ticket for one day.) But funny because I read a post where someone thought DTD was for locals. I can't see many locals going there. But maybe they do.

As I mentioned elsewhere, I was there to renew my TIW card recently and it was an absolutely horrible place. Just horrible.

City Walk does attract a lot of locals and it is a 100% better than DTD.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

As an Orlando local, I do go to DTD several times a year besides the trips there for photos for the Save PI blog. We dine at Earl of Sandwich and Paradiso 37 but that's about it. Go to the pin store once in awhile and LEGO store once in awhile. I go to House of Blues about once a year. I have little need for most everything else out there and in reality, most everything can be purchased elsewhere in town for the same money or less.

I do think any huge development such as Disney World needs a shopping area and so DTD serves that need well. Most of us who are mad are mad about the PI situation and the what the rest of DTD has or does not have is irrelevant. When it comes to clubs, certainly CityWalk is better. It has clubs; DTD has gotten out of that business with a couple exceptoins. But for general shopping, I can't see how anyone would think CityWalk is better. There really is not much there shopping-wise.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

As an Orlando local, I do go to DTD several times a year besides the trips there for photos for the Save PI blog. We dine at Earl of Sandwich and Paradiso 37 but that's about it. Go to the pin store once in awhile and LEGO store once in awhile. I go to House of Blues about once a year. I have little need for most everything else out there and in reality, most everything can be purchased elsewhere in town for the same money or less.

I do think any huge development such as Disney World needs a shopping area and so DTD serves that need well. Most of us who are mad are mad about the PI situation and the what the rest of DTD has or does not have is irrelevant. When it comes to clubs, certainly CityWalk is better. It has clubs; DTD has gotten out of that business with a couple exceptoins. But for general shopping, I can't see how anyone would think CityWalk is better. There really is not much there shopping-wise.

BobK/Orlando

I agree King, but for food, clubs, cocktails and just kickin' back an such, City Walk is much better ... Plus the fact that both parks and all three hotels (for the visitors) are just steps away.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

As reported elsewhere:

1. Little Missmatched is moving from the West Side to the Marketplace, moving into space currently occupied by the $10 Store.

2. Mickey's Groove in the West Side is closing permanently.

3. Orlando Harley-Davidson is moving from Pleasure Island to the West Side, taking over the combined space where Little Missmatched and Mickey's Groove were located.

4. Ridemakerz is closing. One rumor has them closing permanently while one has them reopening on Pleasure Island/Hyperion Wharf.

5. No word on the Ridemakerz (formerly Virgin Megastore) spot. One rumor has the space being subdivided into smaller stores.

BobK/Orlando