T-Rex Cafe

[annie1995]

Any info out there on when T-Rex cafe is set to open in DTD?

 

[rodkenrich]

Any info out there on when T-Rex cafe is set to open in DTD?

It's currently expected to open by summer 2007.

 

[Jason71]

It's currently expected to open by summer 2007.

Do you mean 2008? Six months seems a short time to open a restaurant when the outside walls aren't even up yet.

 

[Tink's Tormentor]

I believe it is either 2008 or 2009. There is no way it will be open for 2007. It isn't even built yet.

 

[raidermatt]

According to this press release from almost a year ago, as well as info released by Disney last year, T-Rex will open in "early 2008".

Supposedly, they were waiting to begin construction until the parking lot changes in the area were complete.

Landry's Acquires T-Rex Cafe From Schussler Creative,
Including Two Disney Restaurant Sites

Monday February 27, 7:00 am ET
HOUSTON, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Landry's Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: LNY - News), one of the nation's largest casual dining, entertainment and hospitality companies, announced that it has acquired 80% of the restaurant concept T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure, A Place to Eat, Shop, Explore and Discover® from Schussler Creative, Inc. for approximately $7.6 million, including reimbursements for research and development costs, accounts payable, construction draws and preopening expenses. In addition, under the agreement, based on the ultimate success of the venture (combined profits of all stores exceeding $20 million), Landry's can acquire Schussler Creative's 20% interest for an amount up to an additional $35 million.

T-Rex is a unique concept that features dining and retail in an interactive prehistoric environment. The concept is built around water, fire and ice -- guests visiting T-Rex will be greeted with life size animatronic dinosaurs that live among cascading waterfalls, bubbling geysers, a fossil dig site and much more. Locations are planned domestically and internationally, the first of which is slated to open this spring in The Legends mall in Kansas City, Kansas; with another opening in Downtown Disney®
(near Orlando) in early 2008.

In addition to the T-Rex concept, Landry's has acquired the majority interest in Schussler Creative's new Asian themed eatery (which is expected to open by summer 2007) inside Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. This Asian-themed restaurant with retail is reminiscent of the western Himalayan foothills in India and Nepal, featuring a rural village called Anandapur in a jungle with a tiny town-like mass at its center. Asia will offer full service table dining, as well as quick service food. This
Asian-Fusion concept will feature Asian decor, complete with Asian antiques, as well as a retail component that will offer Asian goods ranging from Sushi plates to chopsticks and fine teapots.
"One of the major factors that drew us to this transaction was the chance to expand our operations with Disney," said Landry's President, Chairman and CEO Tilman J. Fertitta. "Our existing three Rainforest Cafes located at Downtown-Disney®, Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park and Disneyland Resort in California generate approximately $80.0 million in revenue. We feel that the T-Rex and Asian theme concepts are a perfect fit with Disney's unmatched entertainment offerings."

Schussler Creative Chairman Steve Schussler was the founder and creator of the popular Rainforest Cafe restaurant concept, which Landry's purchased in 2000, and has since grown to be one of Landry's most successful concepts. "Landry's is the perfect strategic partner to turn our dream into an ongoing reality," said Steve Schussler. "Landry's has done an excellent job of maintaining the Rainforest Cafe brand as the premier themed eatery in the world. T-Rex uses elements familiar to Rainforest Cafe fans such as animatronics and special effects to create a whole new type of dining experience that takes visitors back in time in an educational and entertaining way," added Schussler.

 

[Paulieuk1969]

Supposedly, they were waiting to begin construction until the parking lot changes in the area were complete.

Any idea where the restaurant will be located?

 

[mitros]

Any idea where the restaurant will be located?

One of the areas mentioned was the parking lot in the area of McDonalds. Although to me, it doesn't seem to make sense to build something in the parking lot where parking is a nightmare as it is. I think waaay down the end past Cirque desoleil {spelling?} near OKW, That's about the only part of the parking lot that is not jammed constantly.

 

[Jason71]

Any idea where the restaurant will be located?

Mitros is right, near McDonalds--reportedly taking up the old traffic circle where the PI valet parking was, and also filling in and building on the small pond that was there. And I agree this will do nothing to help parking in DTD.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Parking in DTD is a nightmare.
Sometimes when we plan PI nights, we even go much earlier than needed just to find a decent parking spot without cruising the area for 15 minutes.

 

[Jason71]

Parking in DTD is a nightmare.
Sometimes when we plan PI nights, we even go much earlier than needed just to find a decent parking spot without cruising the area for 15 minutes.

It's better (tho often far from great) over by Planet Hollywood/West Side. With the new traffic pattern, I skip the LBV exit and get off at EPCOT, then come back. I want no part of the mess in the "East Side" lots.

 

[MJMcBride]

I had heard somewhere that it may replace the DTD Rainforest Cafe.

 

[TSR6]

they just re-did the DTD Pleasure Island parking lot, it flows A LOT better.

 

[patsal]

I had heard somewhere that it may replace the DTD Rainforest Cafe.

That is what I heard as well. This makes more sense, especially with the volcano and stuff, I could really see that easily turned over to a "prehistoric look" I still don't get two Rainforest cafe's in such close proximity to one another and it isn't like you have to be in AK to access the AK one. Maybe with the extended park hours (PM EMH) at AK that one would have more extensive hours like the DTD one if the DTD one did not exist anymore?

 

[mitros]

they just re-did the DTD Pleasure Island parking lot, it flows A LOT better.

Uh, we were there day before yesterday, and we did not see any improvement.........

 

[mitros]

That is what I heard as well. This makes more sense, especially with the volcano and stuff, I could really see that easily turned over to a "prehistoric look" I still don't get two Rainforest cafe's in such close proximity to one another and it isn't like you have to be in AK to access the AK one. Maybe with the extended park hours (PM EMH) at AK that one would have more extensive hours like the DTD one if the DTD one did not exist anymore?

Also, don't forget Fultons crab house and Portabello Yacht Club, as well as Wolgang pucks, all near each other at DTD, and all owned by Levy's restaurants. And Rainforest Cafe in DTD and the one at AK are not really that close when you think about it.

 

[Luv2Roam]

We are at DTD nearly every weekend. It's a mess for parking. LMK what the improvements are and where they are exactly.
If we are only going to PI, we park by La Nouba.
There have been times we seriously have considered parking at a resort and taking a bus or boat to DTD and back due to such bad traffic and parking issues at DTD.

 

[lovemy4kids]

Uh you guys have gotten seriously from the original post. I don't think hijacking this thread is fair to the OP. Lets get back to the topic now shall we?

 

[raidermatt]

Parking is tough.

I don't like to parallel park.

 

[mitros]

Uh you guys have gotten seriously from the original post. I don't think hijacking this thread is fair to the OP. Lets get back to the topic now shall we?

Actually, the parking situation at DTD has everything to do with the T-Rex restaurant, albeit a little indirectly. It has been an ongoing problem with parking in the area, and by opening yet another restaurant in the spot planned, parking has everything to do with the restaurant itself.
Also, folks around here, when they, {myself included} find that there is no new direct information forthcoming, but want to keep the thread alive, will continue to discuss the matter, as I said, a little indirectly.

 

[MJMcBride]

we were actually sitting by a car ready to pull out and as he was pulling out someone whipped around around and parked in the spot. Must of been a Universal Studios fan or something