Why is McDonalds closing their DD location?

[JohnBJr]

Can't be for lack of business! I understand they are going to replace it with some Latin American version of KFC. Have the demographics shifted that much?

 

[rebecca06261]

the contract between McDonalds and Disney ended a couple of years ago. McDonald's leased the location at DtD. I don't know why, but it was a mutual decision for McDonalds to terminate the contract. If you recall, McDonalds also had the fry cart in Adventureland as well as another fry-style cart at Epcot.

 

[JohnBJr]

Doesn't Disney do a lot of tie-in marketing with McDonalds on Happy Meals and such? Or am I confusing the animation studios out there these days?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

i actually like that it's closing.

the mcdonald's thing was yet another misguided attempt at outsourcing to eliminated disney jobs.

if there are 10,000 mcdonalds in the world...why do i want to buy their fries in a place i have to pay $82 bucks a day to get into?

i see why they did it...but mcdonalds is too "everyday" for a place like WDW...which is probably the most "un-everyday" place in the united states short of hawaii

 

[DC7800]

McDonald's should never have been in the marketplace in the first place. Good Riddance. The upcoming chicken place isn't my first choice either, but its better than Mcdonald's simply because there isn't one in every little community in America.

Now, there is that Mcdonald's over by the All-Star Resorts that needs to be introduced to a bulldozer...

 

[rebecca06261]

Doesn't Disney do a lot of tie-in marketing with McDonalds on Happy Meals and such? Or am I confusing the animation studios out there these days?

At times, there is a collaboration with marketing between the two (although there hasn't been for a while that I can remember.) However, that's an entirely different division of Disney and is not tied to their theme park division.

 

[skier_pete]

ACtually, I believe McDonald's has a deal with Dreamworks now - Shrek and Dragon toys. I remember Madagascar there as well. (Also Avatar was at McDs.)

Not sure where Disney does it's toys with lately...Burger King? I haven't seen TS toys yet...

There was also a McDonalds as such at AK - Restaurantasaurus was McDs. I don't mind McDs being gone...while I do enjoy their new Angus burgers, their french fries are one of the worst foods known to man. I have no interest in eating at a McDs on vacation.

 

[TDC Nala]

the mcdonald's thing was yet another misguided attempt at outsourcing to eliminated disney jobs.

They're replacing it with another chain restaurant so there won't be any new Disney jobs there anyway. Not to mention the move toward outsourcing practically all of Downtown Disney so Disney can play landlord instead of staff and keep up the area itself.

Heard somewhere (could be corporate spin) that Disney has stopped all tie-ins with fast food chains as a statement against the child obesity epidemic we've been hearing about. At this point Disney apparently isn't marketing any tie-in toys through fast food franchises.

 

[ConcKahuna]

Heard somewhere (could be corporate spin) that Disney has stopped all tie-ins with fast food chains as a statement against the child obesity epidemic we've been hearing about. At this point Disney apparently isn't marketing any tie-in toys through fast food franchises.

So they're replacing MacDonalds with KFC?

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

They're not closing the DTD McDonald's. It's closed. Last day was April 30th.

So they're replacing MacDonalds with KFC?

No, it's being replaced with a Polo Compero, a Guatamala-based restaurant chain.

BobK/Orlando

 

[ConcKahuna]

No, it's being replaced with a Polo Compero, a Guatamala-based restaurant chain.

BobK/Orlando

I know it's going to be Pollo Compero, but I used KFC since it's almost the same menu and it's easier to type out LOL

http://www.zagat.com/Verticals/Menu.aspx?VID=8&R=120117&HID=16495

 

[dalt01]

as well as another fry-style cart at Epcot.

it was brick and mortar and was at the end of the shortcut from Imagination to WS.

Doesn't Disney do a lot of tie-in marketing with McDonalds on Happy Meals and such?

they do not

their french fries are one of the worst foods known to man.

there have been countless surveys and taste tests over the years and their fries always come out on top of the fast food comparison.

 

[TDC Nala]

It's more like GFC (Guatemala Fried Chicken) although Disney's been pushing the fact that they grill chicken too. It's still a fast food chain.

 

[MASrules]

McDonalds and Disney had a long term agreement for happy meal type toys for many years (5-7), but it has been over for several years.

We were told on one of the MK tours that we took that the parks had McDonald's fries for the longest time due to the fact that they were available anywhere in the world, and that there would be at least one food item available at the parks that travelers from any country would be familiar with.

 

[airplanegod]

Probobly want people to eat healthier.

 

[DisneyFanGuy]

Well it's a mistake that they are going. Inexpensive and familiar, it was a place for a quick snack or a lesser priced meal. I didn't care if McDonald's was in the parks, but it always provided another option.

As for why? Here is my take. I am a 30 year veteran of fast food. Restaurant economics are much tougher these days, and you cannot make money in locations with high rent. You just don't make enough per sandwich to cover your costs. I bet that their agreement was up for the location and they elected to leave due to Disney asking for a big raise in rent. They are betting that the location over by the AK will benefit due to being the only McDonalds on property. It wasn't a coincidence that they remodeled it just before this one closed. So at the end of the day I am betting that the DTD location simply could no longer turn a profit believe it or not. They are betting that the location by AK will.

That's also why no other fast food competitors (i.e Wendy's, KFC, BK) have shown up. Pollo Compero can charge a ton more for it's food and make a buck. Also, the company is trying very hard to expand their base in the USA and they may be willing to break even (maybe) to get the exposure.

Even though McDonalds can charge more on Disney property than a regular location, they can't jack it up to the point where people walk.

So we are losing one of the few locations in DTD that you can eat at fairly cheaply because they couldn't charge enough for their food.

Disney should have done what it could to keep them.

Typical fast food agreements are for 10 or 20 years. You can bet that the AK location will be around for quite a while.

 

[PrincessM05]

Thats sad to hear it gave another option for you while at Disney just to get something quick that everyone in your family likes.

 

[FireDancer]

there have been countless surveys and taste tests over the years and their fries always come out on top of the fast food comparison.

I was under the impression the poster you quoted meant health-wise, not taste-wise.

I am not sorry to see it go but I was hoping it would be replaced by a healthier option then a Central American friend chicken joint. Oh well.

 

[ConcKahuna]

I was under the impression the poster you quoted meant health-wise, not taste-wise.

I am not sorry to see it go but I was hoping it would be replaced by a healthier option then a Central American friend chicken joint. Oh well.

MacDonalds had grilled chicken and salads too. It's silly to say a friend chicken place will be healthier than any other fast food join just because of a few menu items.

 

[FireDancer]

MacDonalds had grilled chicken and salads too. It's silly to say a friend chicken place will be healthier than any other fast food join just because of a few menu items.

No, I wanted something healthier then a fried chicken place and not necessarily fast food. Something like Season 52 or even like Sunshine Seasons in The Land.