What kinds of restaurants would like to see at Disneyland or Disney World?

old lady

DIS Veteran
Joined
Mar 15, 2007
Is there new concepts or ideas from other parks or Disney ones in other countries?
 
Is there new concepts or ideas from other parks or Disney ones in other countries?

Im not sure I understand your question. Your title doesnt quite match your post, but going off your title...

Instead of Skipper Canteen, I would have LOVED to have seen a jungle book themed restaurant where you literally take a small boat (like on the jungle cruise) through a a little jungle and got let off at an open air jungle themed restaurant (just a roof, no sides) with jungle sounds and eating on tin plates kind of like this....

upload_2019-3-14_17-7-53.png

Or this with a waterfall in the background, and we could watch the people on the Jungle Cruise ride by...

upload_2019-3-14_17-10-59.png


But instead, we got...

upload_2019-3-14_17-8-36.png

BORING!
 




A Jersey diner. Breakfast all day, specials, cheesecake. And, no, Prime Time 50’s Cafe is nothing like a Jersey diner.

I recently went on a business trip to Carteret NJ. Was there 4 days. 1st day I saw a "diner" (Bus stop Diner) and walked right by. 2nd day a coworker recommended a great place for lunch. Next thing I knew I was at that diner! OMG. I returned for dinner that night and dinner every night for the rest of my trip. I managed to get cheesecake and cannolli cake wrapped in a small box into my suitcase and brought it home to Boston. Next trip I went straight from Newark Airport to the Bus Stop Diner and more recently, I ordered 3 cannolli cakes that a co worker from NJ drove up to me when we had a meeting here! Its the BEST. This diner orders from The Bake Zone in Mountainside NJ. I HIGHLY recommend the bakery and the Bus Stop Diner in Carteret. If Disney would put one in Id be in heaven!
 
A Spanish restaurant that has grilled artichokes. There are two new Spanish restaurants coming, but neither has artichokes on the menu and that was my favorite thing from my trip to Spain. Well, maybe aside from the chocolate con churros.
 
I was going to "vote" for some ethnic cuisines I enjoy (Indian, Thai, etc.), but it seems like anything like this gets so "Americanized", that I would likely be disappointed. It's an interesting question, though. I'm looking forward to seeing what others have to say!
 
I want a TS at Galaxy' Edge. After getting burned enough at CS except for Santuli and the occasional trip to Casey's we have pretty much decided on avoiding CS from now on.
 
A Spanish restaurant that has grilled artichokes. There are two new Spanish restaurants coming, but neither has artichokes on the menu and that was my favorite thing from my trip to Spain. Well, maybe aside from the chocolate con churros.
Whaaaaaaa?! The fact that the building's exterior design was inspired by an artichoke isn't enough for you? Sheesh, people want so much:D.
I suspect the veggie will show up as a tapas offering in time; it certainly has at the DC branch:).
 
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More themed restaurants; 50's PT and Sci Fi are great examples that execute the theme so well. I know they tried that with Skipper Canteen but I think it fell a bit flat. More dinner shows and interactive dining experiences (sad they got rid of the BBQ). All that's left is hoop dee doo (love) and the luau. More restaurants themed after the actual Disney movies, only current ones I can think of BOG, Tony's and the new Artist Point. So much they could do with so many of the places they already have to really amp up the theme and tie it more to Disney movies. Having Lion King theme/characters at a meal in AK seems like a no brainer to me. More character meals that just focus on one movie/theme instead of a nonsensical mix up. More variety/new choices in Epcot, they do a great job with the F & W booths but it would be great if some of those could be permanent and turn into a sit down experiences. An Irish pub would be awesome with live entertainment (aside from Raglan Road at Disney Springs). Bringing more entertainment into the restaurant settings; live music, dancing, comedy etc. as part of the dining experience.
 
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I was going to "vote" for some ethnic cuisines I enjoy (Indian, Thai, etc.), but it seems like anything like this gets so "Americanized", that I would likely be disappointed. It's an interesting question, though. I'm looking forward to seeing what others have to say!

Totally agree, but I think you mean "Disneyfied" instead of Americanized. I know what you mean by likely being disappointed though. Tusker House's "Curries" - don't get me started. I completely should have expected they'd be more like the shelf-stable pkgs than anything else, but, live and learn. I will say this though - there are some restaurants that do things pretty darn well in WDW - it just seems that the ethnic tinged ones are not part of that group.
 
Totally agree, but I think you mean "Disneyfied" instead of Americanized. I know what you mean by likely being disappointed though. Tusker House's "Curries" - don't get me started. I completely should have expected they'd be more like the shelf-stable pkgs than anything else, but, live and learn. I will say this though - there are some restaurants that do things pretty darn well in WDW - it just seems that the ethnic tinged ones are not part of that group.
Disneyfied is much better wording! :) I was searching and couldn't come up with quite the right word and that is it.
 
One challenge facing Disney is theming. The type of cuisine needs to fit within a park's theming, which can limit in-park choices. Of course, anything goes at Disney Springs, but the overhead is so high, most places are part of big restaurant groups like Patina, Levy, Gibson's, etc., and they tend toward traditional steaks/seafood or high-profit Italian food. Those $20+ plates of spaghetti are money in the bank.

I do have a wish list that would fit with existing theming:

1. Change Hollywood & Vine from a 1930s-ish looking place with a very lackluster buffet to a 1930s authentic Jewish deli. Model it after LA's famous Canter's Deli (which is pretty close to the actual Hollywood & Vine intersection). I think people would love giant pastrami sandwiches, really good bagels and lox, chicken-in-a-pot, etc.

2. Make the food at Nine Dragons as nice as the decor; maybe themed to a Chinese wedding banquet or high-end Hong Kong style buffet at dinner and a dim sum restaurant at lunch (with the rolling carts and some familiar "safe" kitchen choices, too). Could be 2-credits at dinner and 1 at dim sum.

3. Change Monsieur Paul from a late 20th Century French restaurant into something that represents what actual up and coming chefs are doing in France in today. Like a place that aspires to earning a Michelin star. They'd really need to upgrade their service, too.

Finally...build more pavilions in World Showcase! Greece, Thailand or Vietnam, Spain, or anywhere in South America would be great and each has a lot of QS/TS/kiosk dining potential as well as interesting retail prospects.
 
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Im not sure I understand your question. Your title doesnt quite match your post, but going off your title...

Instead of Skipper Canteen, I would have LOVED to have seen a jungle book themed restaurant where you literally take a small boat (like on the jungle cruise) through a a little jungle and got let off at an open air jungle themed restaurant (just a roof, no sides) with jungle sounds and eating on tin plates kind of like this....

View attachment 388182

Or this with a waterfall in the background, and we could watch the people on the Jungle Cruise ride by...

View attachment 388184


But instead, we got...

View attachment 388183

BORING!

Have you been in the other rooms? It’s awesome!
 

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