Would you say it's easier, as a park guest, to remain in the park to eat than to leave the security bubble and eat at the hotel? Of course not.
I imagine you meant harder here?
You can argue that the inconvenience is minor compared to the quality, but that's exactly the point. We are saying we would like more TS options IN the park, because we would like the benefit of a nice restaurant without the inconvenience of having to be held at the front gate for 20 minutes because Main Street is too crowded ATM.
But how often does this actually happen? When parades are starting or ending?
As for Mid century Modern, Disney had some history with in regard to their sign and hotel, but the parks certainly didn't have that aesthetic. The closest we got to that is the retro futurism of 67, and I know I found all that beige flat design to be quite dull. As did many others, hence the desire for a new TL it backfired for a number of reasons, but that doesn't change the fact that the style wasn't particularly beloved in the 80's and 90's.
So you agree that it makes sense that the primary place we are seeing the mid century modern is closer to the DL Hotel, a place where it is a logical fit. It may not be your personal preference, but there's a reason it's there.
That's the beauty of time marching on, sometimes society will entirely reverse its love for, or aversion towards, particular design styles. Unfortunately, we are not always consulted when they do so.
Disney made their reputation with high quality themed environments. So much so that the malls began to ditch their minimalist design and ape Disney. And instead of keeping that trajectory, Disney went backwards to look like our local outdoor mall in the 50's. Cool. I feel so transported.
Maybe this is because I'm a non-local, but I genuinely am unsure of what your frame of reference is here, that malls ditched their minimalist designs to ape Disney. I suppose City Walk would be one, a place that I agree is better than Downtown Disney but not remarkably so. What are some other examples? Malls by me have definitely NOT gone in that direction, and I wouldn't say I've ever been to a mall that feels truly transportive EVER.
But again, I fail to see how the restaurants within the parks are largely high quality themed environments in a way that the restaurants in Downtown Disney are not. High quality themed environments, for me, would describe (in park) Blue Bayou and Carthay Circle. Otherwise I would describe most Disney restaurants in California as having pleasant atmosphere but not necessarily as being highly themed in a way you simply could not find outside of the parks. Just being in the parks seems to do a lot of heavy lifting here in your reasoning, unless there's something I'm overlooking. To me, a pleasant environment or atmosphere is not necessarily a theme, certainly not enough of one to definitively say that it is inherently superior to restaurants outside of park gates.
I haven't visited Dinn Tai Fung, so their food may be incredible. But from the images on Google, I'm not too anxious to try it. The interior looks like a CPK/PF Chang with big open room and a curved bar. At least PF Chang has the horses out front.
I suppose you could always be the first Din Tai Fung hater, but why not at least try it first? You certainly don't have to do so in Downtown Disney, if that is the primary reason such a thing would be a deal breaker.
The bottom line is: if Disney wants me to leave the expensive and superior atmosphere within their parks, they need to give me something worth the trouble. Trader Sam's almost achieves it, but the lack of inside seating and size makes it fall short for me. However, if that was inside the parks, I might stop by and see if I can grab a seat more often. Outside ...it's not worth the 30 minute process of exiting the parks and walking down there to find out there's only outdoor seating available.
Either make DTD Disney quality in look and energy or give us more TS inside the parks.
It really doesn't take 30 minutes to exit the parks and head to ANY destination on property unless you're leaving from the furthest possible spot from the front gates. But based on your criteria, it sounds like you would not be satisfied by ANY Disney shopping district around the world.
I imagine that there may be some table service in the parks once they really get into the DL Forward plots, but until then, they've given you additional and/or refreshed table service options throughout the hotels and DTD. That you don't like where they are doesn't mean they haven't delivered.
