Why is there no Signature dining inside MK?

[bigAWL]

I read this article about WDW's "Top 10 Best Restaurants,"

http://themeparks.about.com/cs/disneyparks/a/WDWbestDining.htm

and it got me thinking again about something that I've always wondered about: Why doesn't the MK have a really nice/upscale place to eat? I'd go so far as to say that WDW's signature park should have a signature restaurant.

The only theory I could come up with myself is the fact that no alcohol is served in the MK. I guess in general, fine dining is often associated with cocktails and fine wines. But would it be so bad (or unprofitable) to have one without the other? Or dare I suggest (is it blasphemous) that they could have one restaurant with an exception to this rule?

I don't know in the various Disneyland parks around the world if the MK-style parks have the same "dry" policy. Actually, I do know about the one in Paris - they have a great restaurant right on Main Street called Walt's American Restaurant with no shortage of wine and other spirits.

 

[ancestry]

I don't know why either but all of the signature restaurants at Disney are located at the resorts. None of the parks have a signature restaurant in them. Perhaps because the nicer restaurants have a dress code and people don't like to get dressed up when going into a park. Also to eat in the parks restaurants you have to pay for admission into the park.

Epcot does serve alcohol in some of the restaurants but yet there isn't a signature restaurant in Epcot so I don't think the reason is because of alcohol.

 

[stitchlover]

Actually Cinderella's Royal Table is considered Signature Dining. It is very different from say California Grill but they do consider it Signature Dining.

Also in Disney Hollywood Studios Hollywood Brown Derby is classified as a Signature Dining Experience.

 

[bigAWL]

Ok, it seems the word "Signature" has a couple different definitions. There are Disney Dining Plan Signature Restaurants and Dinner Shows, which require 2 TS credits (I'm not very familiar with DDP - is that right?). Then there is Signature and Fine Dining found as a type of "Dining Experience" on WDW's official site typically featuring specialty menus and where there is often a dress code (business casual).

Now a few places seem appear on both lists: such as California Grill, Jiko and Flying Fish Cafe.

The DDP list includes Spirit of Aloha and Hoop Dee Doo Revue, which I doubt many would argue as being fine-dining - they're on that list for the entertainment. Yes, CRT is here, too.

The other list includes mostly places that are really about the food and service. Places such as Citricos, Artist Point, V&A,... and CRT? I was surprised to find that listed there, but it's there. Is CRT considered fine dining (I wouldn't put it in the same league as Cali Grill)? IMHO, CRT is not at all about the food - it's about the atmosphere and the characters. I do find it interesting that if you search on the WDW site as I did for this list, you'll see a short description of each restaurant and a blurb about what makes the menu special. Except for CRT, which mentions an "enchanting meal." Two of the restaurants listed here - Bistro de Paris and Brown Derby - are located inside parks. Bistro de Paris even has a dress code.

So perhaps I should ask: "Why is there no Fine dining inside MK (because CRT doesn't really belong in that category)?"

 

[TDC Nala]

Hollywood Brown Derby in DHS is a signature restaurant. (For the sake of clarity I use the term "signature restaurant" to refer only to the 2 credit upscale DDP restaurants, excluding the dinner shows. Victoria & Albert's is in a class by itself, and Bistro de Paris would fit the description but it does not accept the dining plan, so let's leave it off the radar for now).

CRT isn't signature because of the food offerings. It's a signature based on the price, the experience, the location and the popularity. It's 2 credits more for the reasons the dinner shows are 2 credits, not for the reason a place like California Grill would be 2 credits. Agreed, I think a fine dining restaurant without wine defeats the purpose.

I think it's established by Disney that they want to keep most of the upscale restaurants available to everyone, even those who don't have a park ticket. Lots of their customers used to be locals before the dining plan began filling the restaurants and the menus began to standardize. MK guests are more likely to be looking for something other than fine dining than Epcot guests would, but there are no signature restaurants inside Epcot either (unless you count Bistro de Paris).

There are three signature restaurants (California Grill, Citricos, and Narcoosees) located within walking or monorail distance from MK. Another, Artist Point, is only a short bus or boat ride away. This makes MK the park with the greatest close access to signature restaurants. Only two (Flying Fish and Yachtmans) are within walking distance of Epcot (unless you count Brown Derby and you'd have to enter DHS to eat there).

Disneyland Paris is not a dry park. I didn't like Walt's though. Probably because of what I ordered, but I can't call it a great restaurant. I think it's pretty much established that there's no way alcohol will ever be served inside the US Magic Kingdom parks (except at special after hours private events), but it's not a far journey to a nearby resort to have dinner with wine.

 

[OhThePain]

Epcot does serve alcohol in some of the restaurants but yet there isn't a signature restaurant in Epcot so I don't think the reason is because of alcohol.

I think Bistro de Paris is EPCOT is a signature restaurant. Also, DHS has the HBD which is signature.

 

[BigTex71]

I would say it is mainly because they would prefer to have signature restaurants available to more people, thus not requiring park admission to dine there. Of course there are a few exceptions (HBD in DHS), but for the most part I would say the chance of a restaurant succeeding highly would increase with it not requiring a park ticket to frequent it. It also wouldn't be wise to offer 'fine dining' without allowing wine pairings with the meals.

In addition, Magic Kingdom is the most kid-oriented park of the four (IMHO) and that would also limit the number of families who would dine at a fine dining establishment. Not that families wouldn't... just that a lot of families would opt for the more family-oriented dining locations.

In summary, it doesn't really surprise me that there are no 'fine dining' restaurants located in MK. YMMV.

 

[ElizabethB]

It depends on the definition of "signature" restaurant. I'm not sure when that terminology started, although my recollection is the usage predates the Disney Dining Plan and actually began when they started offering Food and Wine Festival Dinner Events at the resort restaurants in about 2001.

TDC Nala summed it up perfectly. Just because it takes 2TS credits to dine somewhere does not make it "signature" dining. It just makes it a 2TS meal. I agree CRT is in the same category as HDDR -- a great deal of "theater" and generally poor food.

V&A is in a class by itself. Same for Bistro de Paris since it is not on the DDP.

I would include Brown Derby as a signature restaurant and would conclude it is the only signature restaurant within any of the WDW theme parks.

For what it's worth, the signature restaurants on the DDP have reduced their menu offerings so much, dh and I have concluded that, for dinner, we're now avoiding any restaurant that accepts DDP, except for Jiko. Our last Artist Point dinner was very disappointing. There were two dessert offerings -- one was basically a zebra dome dressed up with lots of whipped creme and the other was my former all time favorite -- the berry cobbler. Unfortunately, it now costs $10(!!) and is 1/4 the size it used to be. So, no more Artist Point for us.

We concentrate on V&A, Bistro, Il Mulino, Shula's and that's about it. We do plan to try the Venetian Room at the Caribe Royal Suites. It gets great reviews.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I'm still a bit stunned by some of the places named as "top" restaurants---.

 

[onelilspark]

I think the combination of limiting the diners at Signatures within MK and alcohol defintiely play a role.

Also, I believe Club 33 in Disneyland serves alcohol while the rest of the park is dry.

 

[TDC Nala]

Also, I believe Club 33 in Disneyland serves alcohol while the rest of the park is dry.

Club 33 is also restricted access. You can't get in unless you are a member or are sponsored by a member.

 

[madalex]

There are three signature restaurants (California Grill, Citricos, and Narcoosees) located within walking or monorail distance from MK. Another, Artist Point, is only a short bus or boat ride away. This makes MK the park with the greatest close access to signature restaurants. Only two (Flying Fish and Yachtmans) are within walking distance of Epcot (unless you count Brown Derby and you'd have to enter DHS to eat there).

Of course, bluezoo, Il Mulino and Shula's are also within walking distance of Epcot. They are not "signature" restaurants only because they do not particiapte in the DDP. They are, however, as good, if not better, than the "fine dining" Disney signature restaurants.

 

[Golf4food]

Makes you wonder how the new Beauty & the Beast restaurant (for dinner) will be treated on the DDP once the Fantasyland expansion is complete...

 

[BillSears]

King Stephan's Hall used to be what I would consider a signature restaurant. Unfortunately they kicked him out and Cinderella took over.

Eating in the Castle used to be the highlight of our trip. It's been years since I've done that though...I'm not interested in the current iteration.

 

[TDC Nala]

King Stephan's Hall used to be what I would consider a signature restaurant. Unfortunately they kicked him out and Cinderella took over.

Eating in the Castle used to be the highlight of our trip. It's been years since I've done that though...I'm not interested in the current iteration.

He was trespassing. I used to wonder what Sleeping Beauty's father was doing in Cinderella's castle.

 

[JDUCKY]

Every time I pass by the old Skyway station near IASW I think, "Hey, wouldn't that make a GREAT place for a Signature restaurant?"

 

[BillSears]

He was trespassing. I used to wonder what Sleeping Beauty's father was doing in Cinderella's castle.

True we always did wonder about that.

 

[Redwitch]

Did I imagine that V&A was not on the list?

 

[bigAWL]

Did I imagine that V&A was not on the list?

Yeah, I noticed that too. Not sure why it was overlooked or excluded for some reason.

 

[cbg1027]

He was trespassing. I used to wonder what Sleeping Beauty's father was doing in Cinderella's castle.

Oh that is so, so very wrong!

Who made that top ten list??? Les Chefs de France is in the top ten and Citricos only gets an honorable mention? That's whack!