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Restaurant News and Rumors
(Listed in no particular order)
McDonald's in Disneyland Coming soon to a Frontierland near you! Disneyland will soon be opening a French Fry stand (operated by restaurants, not by Outdoor Vending) opposite the exit to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Many Internet veterans resent the intrusion of corporate America (and possibly also this particular corporation) into the magic and supposed land of enchantment. The stand, which will open in Fall 1998, will feature only McDonald's fries, but may expand to include other sandwiches and burgers. Several internet webmasters have already declared a boycott to protest the intrusion of "reality" into this land of "fantasy."
Price Hikes! Every year Disneyland restaurants raise their prices, in keeping with increases to the cost-of-living and inflation. However, it has been reported that there have been three price hikes in 1998 alone for food/drinks, and complaints have even come my way about the exorbitant prices. It may be true that hikes this year exceed those of all previous years; current management likes to test the tolerance levels of "the market." In a few years you'll be able to eat at nearby Disneyland Center restaurants or in DCA, but these will doubtless be high-priced as well.
It seems that the higher prices and reduced operating hours of many of the park's restaurants may be due to the Empowerment Evolution, begun in 1995 by the new Park management. Under this new system, individual locations were pitted against each other in a competitive environment, the better to optimize their respective labor costs and profit margins. So runs the theory anyway. In practice, the abandonment of the departmental system and overall management plan (Disneyland as an integrated organic system) has led to appalling price hikes and reduced hours of operation. The loser, of course, is the customer.
Plaza Inn Rehab This one is fact, not rumor. Beginning January 1999, the Plaza Inn will be transformed into "Scramble Service" like Redd Rockett's Pizza Port and will no longer be a buffeteria. The good news is that the decor will remain posh and largely untouched in deference to Walt, who helped design the PI at the beginning. Another bonus: lines will soon be much faster at this facility. And they will be keeping some menu items, as well as importing some from the Plaza Pavilion. The bad news: it will likely be deemed fast-food, more or less, and thus not qualify for Annual Passport or Magic Kingdom Club discounts.
New Orleans Menu Upgrades Sometime in Fall 1998, the Cafe Orleans and French Market will be receiving new menus. A few of the favorite items from the current menus will be recylced, such as the Market's Jambalaya, but many of the other items will be replaced, by choices as yet undetermined (they are currently undergoing tests). I'll update as soon as the changes take place.
Carnation Plaza Gardens Rehab The following information was posted semi-anonymously to alt.disney.disneyland, and I simply quote it here for your benefit.
[Begin Quote]
Carnation Plaza Gardens, as we now know it, will close for good on
September 13th, 1998. The area will be completely gutted and rebuilt
over the fall and winter. The new area will offer enhanced entertainment
facillities for dancing and Magic Music Days performances. No real word
yet on what type of food service will be available at the new venue.
What is also unclear is wether Carnation will still sponsor the rebuilt
location.
The popular Swing dancing on weekend nights will be moved to another
park location over the winter. Tommorowland Terrace seems the most
obvious choice, although there is some concern that the music of the
40's will not mesh very well with Tomorrowland.
Cast Members presently working at Plaza Gardens are being offered
transfers to other locations.
Carnaton Plaza Gardens opened in 1956 and has been the site of countless
Big Band, Swing and Jazz performances. If only the old red and white
dancefloor could talk before it's torn out next month. And let's not
forget about all those old Attractions posters that line the back wall
of the patio...
[End Quote]
Main Street/Adventureland Food Court. The persistent rumor among various websites and Usenet newsgroups (such as alt.disney.disneyland) is that the Plaza Pavilion and Tiki Room will be closed, to be replaced by a "food court" type location. This rumor has been around since mid-1997, but more recent rumors suggest that the Tiki theming, perhaps even Show elements, might be retained. Officially, this rumor has not been acknowledged; City Hall insists that currently there are no plans to remove the Tiki Room or Plaza Pavilion. Still, Plaza Pavilion has been closed frequently since 1998 began, adding fuel to the fire.
New information: apparently the Pavilion has been budgeted to remain closed for the next fiscal year, so don't plan on it re-opening. That food court just might happen.
Citywalk-Area Restaurants. Apparently, the restaurants in the new "Disneyland Center" zone between Disneyland and the Disneyland Hotel will be big-name, recognizable chains. Mentioned in connection with this project so far are: Planet Hollywood, House of Blues, and the Rainforest Cafe. Internet reaction has been mixed, but largely negative of this proposed "intrusion" of name-brand restaurants into the Disney realm.
Most recently, it has been reported that an ESPNZone Sportscenter will also appear in the DL-Center (this is a sports bar and grill type operation).
California Adventure Restaurants. DCA, the new theme park being built in the former DL parking lot, is itself subject to much speculation and debate. The current news, apparently confirmed by official sources, is that Robert Mondavi will feature a restaurant and vineyard somewhere inside the new park. Reportedly, this restaurant will not be owned by Disney, but will pay a licensing fee to operate at the theme park.
Naturally, there will be dozens of other locations and restaurants at DCA. In fact, there are more per acre than at Disneyland itself - the new park is conceived as primarily a shopping and dining experience (much like Epcot at WDW). Nothing is known about the nature of these restaurants, but I can say that their designs and themes are being created and coordinated by Walt Disney Imagineering.
The following two rumors (or is it "news"?) about DCA restaurants originate on Al Lutz's website:
1. the "Rocket Dime Cafe" -- a fast food establishment shaped like an airplane
2. in the Hollywood section, there will be the 'ABC Soap Opera Cafe', with real actors and actresses mingling about, playing
characters from your favorite ABC soaps... the decor to resemble the sets from the soaps themselves.
Please email me your comments, questions, additions and corrections (if something is out-of-date). I love to get email, so send your feedback!
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