New Enhancements, Dining Options Coming to Disney’s BoardWalk

[lazyboy97o]

They stopped selling whole pizzas because they were routinely hitting one hour waits and just couldn’t keep up, which seems to have happened after Covid when the little QSR stands and ESPN didn’t come back. Good example of how cutting things in one place has a negative consequence elsewhere.

I remain perplexed as to why theme parks have so much trouble scaling up pizza. Small pizzerias, particularly those that do focus on slices, can be small places that move people. Part of it is just having a bunch of cheese pies prepped and ready to just reheat with the selected toppings. If someone orders a whole pie you can grab one of those and throw it in too. Instead, parks seem stuck on trying to bake pies on a more as needed basis.

 

[UNCgolf]

I remain perplexed as to why theme parks have so much trouble scaling up pizza. Small pizzerias, particularly those that do focus on slices, can be small places that move people. Part of it is just having a bunch of cheese pies prepped and ready to just reheat with the selected toppings. If someone orders a whole pie you can grab one of those and throw it in too. Instead, parks seem stuck on trying to bake pies on a more as needed basis.

It is strange. A freshly baked pizza is significantly better than a reheated slice, but it's a theme park -- people aren't expecting high quality fresh pizza anyways, especially at something like a pizza window.

 

[lazyboy97o]

It is strange. A freshly baked pizza is significantly better than a reheated slice, but it's a theme park -- people aren't expecting high quality fresh pizza anyways, especially at something like a pizza window.

Nah, there are plenty of places that do high quality slices. The big thing is to not fully bake the prep pies so the slices don’t end up overdone.

 

[UNCgolf]

Nah, there are plenty of places that do high quality slices. The big thing is to not fully bake the prep pies so the slices don’t end up overdone.

It's personal preference, I suppose. I've never had a slice that was even remotely as good as a quality freshly baked pie.

It's also partially a NY style thing, though, which is admittedly not my favorite type of pizza (nothing beats a high quality Neapolitan pizza, and I also prefer thin crust/tavern to NY hand-tossed). It's definitely the best style for just getting a slice, though, even though I still think a full freshly baked NY style pizza is still better than an individual slice.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

It's personal preference, I suppose. I've never had a slice that was even remotely as good as a quality freshly baked pie.

It's also partially a NY style thing, though, which is admittedly not my favorite type of pizza. It's definitely the best style for just getting a slice, although I still think freshly baked ones are better than slices.

Yes, definitely a NYC thing - but I’ve had some insanely good re-heat slices in nyc. And some average ones too of course.

Actually what they should do at the boardwalk when they reopen a restaurant at the old big river space they should convert the entire old Spoodles restaurant into counter service pizza and bakery.

They could keep the window for quick by the slice purchases but then go inside and get full pizzas with any number of toppings, salads, etc.

 

[Jwhee]

There’s a poster on inside universal claiming that Jellyrolls is reopening at Pointe Orlando. Will be interesting if true

 

[Nickm2022]

Really hope they add more to the boardwalk quick. Really need to fill up the offerings

 

[KDM31091]

It needs more well rounded offerings in different price ranges. It’s sad the state it is in at this point.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

It needs more well rounded offerings in different price ranges. It’s sad the state it is in at this point.

No it doesn’t. Well rounded offerings are only needed when you are looking to serve a large cross section of the general public and/or looking to attract multiple different consumers do a location. Disney isn’t looking to do either.

The boardwalk location isn’t open or really marketed toward the general public. There isn’t public parking located at the boardwalk. There isn’t Disney transportation that brings people to and from the boardwalk area itself (as distinguished from the Boardwalk hotel.). There isn’t dedicated or late night transportation leaving the boardwalk area either, making it hard for people to visit the area after visiting a park/park closing and then get back to their resort (unless they are staying in area.)

Right now the boardwalk is basically an extended lobby for the hotels in this area. If you are Disney you are looking for business and offerings that are going to be popular for the people staying in that area. As there isn’t really an economy hotel in this area, you aren’t focused on offering that would be popular for the demographic typically staying at art of animation for example.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

As there isn’t really an economy hotel in this area, you aren’t focused on offering that would be popular for the demographic typically staying at art of animation for example.

Deluxe hotels typcially have a food court style counter service.

 

[lewisc]

It needs more well rounded offerings in different price ranges. It’s sad the state it is in at this point.

Deluxe hotels typcially have a food court style counter service.

Yes. Expensive and extravagantly Expensive are the intended price ranges. Boardwalk Deli is Disney's idea of reasonable prices.

I don't agree . Many deluxe hotels don't have a food court counter. Older Disney deluxe hotels yes.

 

[KDM31091]

so you suggest the areas sit vacant and rot? Big River Grille was modestly priced. All I’m suggesting is replacing it with something of similar price range. Who would that hurt? I don’t get the argument.

They’ve got the high end and pricey stuff well covered already. Don’t need more.

Disney could easily improve access and not charge for parking at least later in the evenings. Usually the parks aren’t enforcing parking fees in the evenings anyway. So Disney could get more traffic that way since obviously some of the businesses are/ were struggling.

 

[lewisc]

so you suggest the areas sit vacant and rot? Big River Grille was modestly priced. All I’m suggesting is replacing it with something of similar price range. Who would that hurt? I don’t get the argument.

They’ve got the high end and pricey stuff well covered already. Don’t need more.

Disney could easily improve access and not charge for parking at least later in the evenings. Usually the parks aren’t enforcing parking fees in the evenings anyway. So Disney could get more traffic that way since obviously some of the businesses are/ were struggling.

I'm not suggesting what "should" be done but rather what I think Disney will do. ESPN became CBS. Reasonable prices won't support unreasonable rents.

There isn't enough parking. Valet parking, validated with a meal or minimum spend makes sense. Maybe a small garage.

I wouldn't be shocked if some of the space gets converted to DVC units.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I don't agree . Many deluxe hotels don't have a food court counter. Older Disney deluxe hotels yes.

I’m pretty sure Boardwalk and Old Key West are the only 2 that don’t. I’m trying to remember what yacht and beach club have?

 

[James Alucobond]

Boardwalk Deli is Disney's idea of reasonable prices.

… Are you saying it’s not? It’s comparable in price to a midwestern Panera. The problem is the size of the venue and lack of variety, not that it’s especially pricy.

 

[KDM31091]

The fact that you can’t get a simple burger, funnel cake, cotton candy, fried Oreos, classic Boardwalk/ carnival junk food etc on the boardwalk is kind of mind boggling, but you can instead pay $22 for a piece of cake, as if that would exist on any real Boardwalk. For what they’re trying to draw inspiration from — the Jersey shore — there’s not much on the Disney Boardwalk that is even remotely what you’ll find in the place it is allegedly inspired by.

High end is fine but two expensive options are enough. Give us some moderate options and a true quick service with indoor seating and a varied menu. I don’t see why that is an impossible ask.

 

[Centauri Space Station]

The fact that you can’t get a simple burger, funnel cake, cotton candy, fried Oreos, classic Boardwalk/ carnival junk food etc on the boardwalk is kind of mind boggling, but you can instead pay $22 for a piece of cake, as if that would exist on any real Boardwalk. For what they’re trying to draw inspiration from — the Jersey shore — there’s not much on the Disney Boardwalk that is even remotely what you’ll find in the place it is allegedly inspired by.

High end is fine but two expensive options are enough. Give us some moderate options and a true quick service with indoor seating and a varied menu. I don’t see why that is an impossible ask.

You can get lots of options on the boardwalk. Corn dogs, a pizza window, ice cream shop, they have pretzels and nachos at the margarita stand too.

 

[Centauri Space Station]

I’m pretty sure Boardwalk and Old Key West are the only 2 that don’t. I’m trying to remember what yacht and beach club have?

OKW has a stand by the pool and the boardwalk deli is more counter than the grab and go in the yacht club gift shop.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

OKW has a stand by the pool

Yes - I wouldn’t count that as a food court style counter service. It’s similar to the boardwalk deli.

Yeah I couldn’t remember what Y&B clubs had….

 

[WorldExplorer]

Yes - I wouldn’t count that as a food court style counter service. It’s similar to the boardwalk deli.

Yeah I couldn’t remember what Y&B clubs had….

They have a quick service/gift shop hybrid thing. Yacht Club has a few tables inside the area itself, Beach Club does not though I assume the little tables outside across the hall are supposed to make up for it.

Crescent Lake is the best resort complex with the best resorts as far as I'm concerned, but the quick service options/set up are definitely the weak point at all of them.