New Enhancements, Dining Options Coming to Disney’s BoardWalk

[JMcMahonEsq]

I get it, I'm not saying it should have the umm, lower end vibe of some of the Jersey shore. I'm from the Philly metro originally and definitely have experienced what you are saying many times in NJ. However, for a place inspired by it, they could still have takes on the classic Boardwalk food. Not being able to get a QS burger, funnel cake, fried oreos, cotton candy, I mean I don't understand that logic at all. But that's just me. Yes you can pay $25 for a burger at Beaches and Cream but I think more options are needed.

Either way, I think we can all agree that while Cresent Lake has some great sit down options for special occasion type dining ($$$$) it is lacking in a true quick service or modestly priced table service other than Trattoria Al Forno which is more typical Disney prices but still not inexpensive. No one's eating at the Flying Fish or Cake Bake more than once a trip IMO if not less often than that. I think they are one and done type places for a lot of people due to the sheer cost. A lower priced Boardwalk style diner would obviously make less money per dish than Cake Bake, but would probably do far more volume. I don't know. I think a large food court style offering would do really well and fill in a lot of the gaps. They could still make it have a nicer, high quality vibe than something like All Stars food court, while filling in the gaps in the food offerings in variety and price levels. There is plenty of unused wasted space. Big River Grille has been closed for 2 years now and not a peep about a replacement. Disney could just open their own thing instead of relying on a 3rd party tenant who will inevitably have to have high prices to cover the rent.

I understand they do not want insane volume on the Boardwalk but I think they've gone too far the other direction where it is a ghost town many nights at this point, especially during the week.

I can get behind alot of this. I could see a snack shack type thing for funnel cake, cotton candy stuff, maybe right over where the 2 games are.

I was also thinking about the Bay lake area, and specifically the Contempo Cafe, which i think is just an amazing quick service location. I have to think, most of the hotels within the Cresent lake area have something similar Yacht club has the Cape May Cafe, and other quick service simple offerings. So do swan and dolphin. If the hotels themselves have those options, i don't think the need is there to add them to the board walk walking area, especially as i think most of the people who are utilizing the area, are likely guests of the resorts around Cresent lake, do to previously mentioned access limitation.

As to your last point, that's really a huge macro type question as to what WDW sees as ideal for the area. By how they are controlling access to the area, and the offerings currently open, it seems pretty clear it is their intention to keep the volume low, and have it NOT be a late night/after park closes type gathering spot. Whether that's the "right" call or not really isn't for me to say. I think logistically having the area open as a late night area poses alot of problems. I know people who stay at Boardwalk that were annoyed by the noise and disruption when we ran the 10k in the spring, and WDW does alot to keep that area quite during the races. I can't think it would be better if there was more night life in the area

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

Sure there is. On the topic of the boardwalk - there is a reason to operate shops at a loss to avoid having empty storefronts and give an abandoned vibe.

I’m not a room service type of traveler - but I would expect a Disney deluxe resort to offer it. Do the moderates and values no longer do the pizza delivery either?

I haven't ever stayed at a moderate or value resort so not sure. What do you mean by them doing pizza delivery? Like they allowed you to order off site pizza to be delivered, or that the restaurant's on site made pizza and it was room serviced to your room.

As to your first point, I would say it makes no sense to operate businesses at a loss...because you are afraid to have an empty spot or two for a limited time. The boardwalk isn't going to be confused with downtown Detroit.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

or that the restaurant's on site made pizza and it was room serviced to your room.

This.

And from what I see they no longer offer it.

At least they still offer a whole pizza - which boardwalk is somehow incapable of doing now. (What changed?)

 

[KDM31091]

I can get behind alot of this. I could see a snack shack type thing for funnel cake, cotton candy stuff, maybe right over where the 2 games are.

I was also thinking about the Bay lake area, and specifically the Contempo Cafe, which i think is just an amazing quick service location. I have to think, most of the hotels within the Cresent lake area have something similar Yacht club has the Cape May Cafe, and other quick service simple offerings. So do swan and dolphin. If the hotels themselves have those options, i don't think the need is there to add them to the board walk walking area, especially as i think most of the people who are utilizing the area, are likely guests of the resorts around Cresent lake, do to previously mentioned access limitation.

As to your last point, that's really a huge macro type question as to what WDW sees as ideal for the area. By how they are controlling access to the area, and the offerings currently open, it seems pretty clear it is their intention to keep the volume low, and have it NOT be a late night/after park closes type gathering spot. Whether that's the "right" call or not really isn't for me to say. I think logistically having the area open as a late night area poses alot of problems. I know people who stay at Boardwalk that were annoyed by the noise and disruption when we ran the 10k in the spring, and WDW does alot to keep that area quite during the races. I can't think it would be better if there was more night life in the area

I guess by ghost town I don’t mean it should h it’s sad that it’s so desolate and empty most.

Why? Room service in my experience is more utilized in business class hotels, where people are on work trips, many times solo, and are getting meals to the room either to continue working, or they don't feel like going out to a restaurant by themselves.

How many people are at WDW that are 1) staying in their rooms during regular meal times? 2) would rather sit in their room and eat as opposed to eating in parks/restaurants; 3) Want to have a family of X eating around their beds as most hotels aren't set up with area's for a family of 4+ to eat in them.

People who eat in restaurants generally order more. They have another round of drinks, they decide they do want the desert, ect. Why would WDW want to staff the infrastructure for room service without a significant value add. Especially when you consider that with independent hotels, there is at least a value of having people eating in their rooms, as opposed to leaving the hotel and going to an independent restaurant. IN WDW unless your driving off property, your alternative dining locations are going to be in the bubble and WDW isn't loosing out on any revenue.

there’s a certain price point of hotel especially that call themselves “deluxe” that offer certain amenities to justify it. Room service, a spa, an indoor pool, robes and such in the room (for DVC too not just cash guests, come on), etc. Disney hotels are mostly priced due to location and I get that but they should offer some of the amenities one expects in something charging $500+ a night on the low end. Do I care or would use room service no but it’s just something you’d think would be available for those who want it.

 

[Purduevian]

I would also say if you don't have a high enough percentage of your guests who would use an offering (here room service) it doesn't make any business sense to invest a ton of resources into it, even if the few guests who would want room service would be happy to see it added.

I can't see offering room service costing a "ton of resources" for resorts that already have onsite restaurants. Literally just put some of the menu items from the QS or TS restaurant on it and hire 1 or 2 delivery people near minimum wage based on demand

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

I can't see offering room service costing a "ton of resources" for resorts that already have onsite restaurants. Literally just put some of the menu items from the QS or TS restaurant on it and hire 1 or 2 delivery people near minimum wage based on demand

You would need a mechanism for ordering. You need to order to go packing, condiment packaging, have staff at the restaurants now working on packaging to go orders vs in house orders. Then you need staff doing the actual deliveries of the food, and you will have increased room service/cleaning costs to take care of the clean up, either in the rooms, or the hallways now full of have eaten trays of food/stuff. Then multiply that through all the deluxe resorts

Now would it be a huge expenditure, based on the total budget for WDW resort hotels? I can't really say. Would it be a positive return on the investment to do it...personal opinion i don't think it would.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Would it be a positive return on the investment to do it...personal opinion i don't think it would.

That’s race to the bottom thinking though. Who gets to decide what is a positive return on investment?

That’s how we get closed restaurants and shops in the parks, less details like custom printed napkins, less live entertainment, lowered quality of landscaping, etc.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

That’s race to the bottom thinking though. Who gets to decide what is a positive return on investment?

That’s how we get closed restaurants and shops in the parks, less details like custom printed napkins, less live entertainment, lowered quality of landscaping, etc.

The company gets to decide what is a positive return on investment...because its their company, their money, and their business. That's pretty much a given for any company, not WDW.

A company contemplates an expenditure of funds for a project, service, infrastructure, anything. The first thing they have to decide is why, what are we getting out of this new product/offering. Second it how much is it going to cost, and third is what they are going to get out of it, worth the expense.

It's also not really a decision, it comes down to basic math. How much is being spent (and how much is being lost due to disruption while its being spent) vs how much increased revenue (or reduced costs) can be expected based upon the spend. Now sure there are some decisions a company has to make based upon projected increased revenue, projected use of the service, ect. But the decision on what is a postive ROI comes down to math.

 

[CaptJackSparrow]

It needs a Dave and Busters, but Disney. Easy cash cow.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

It needs a Dave and Busters, but Disney. Easy cash cow.

A vintage arcade (like the old penny arcade) would be a wonderful addition to the boardwalk.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

A vintage arcade (like the old penny arcade) would be a wonderful addition to the boardwalk.

Why?

Is there alot of old penny arcade's out there that people are using as some kind of retro trend?

Hell all the actual boardwalks on the jersey shore have D&B style arcades that give out tickets for prizes and what not.

Who is the target audience for a vintage penny arcade?
What is it offering that people would want?

Swan and Dolphin has a full D&B style arcade. The boardwalk itself has the Side show arcade, which is similar to D&B style games. Beach and Yacht club have the Lafferty arcade, which again has all modern electronic arcade games.

So again, why are you building a penny arcade on the boardwalk when that style of game isn't popular, and each of the hotels around the boardwalk have their own arcades if guests in the area want to use them

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

It needs a Dave and Busters, but Disney. Easy cash cow.

I would see that as more a fit for Disney Springs (and they are going that way in some form with Level 99. Each hotel around the boardwalk has its own arcade (i think almost every hotel at WDW has them, or at least a majority of them do)

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Why?

Why have circus performers out on the boardwalk? Cause it helps tell the story and provides a unique, on-theme extra that people won’t get anywhere else.

That’s kind of the point of going to Disney - to experience things you don’t experience everywhere else.

 

[Purduevian]

It needs a Dave and Busters, but Disney. Easy cash cow.

Short walk away! https://swandolphin.com/dining/lagoon/

 

[Prince-1]

It needs a Dave and Busters, but Disney. Easy cash cow.

God no. D&B is trash.

 

[Comped]

God no. D&B is trash.

The one we have in Orlando has one of the smallest arcades in the chain. Shockingly. Probably because they wanted the location versus space which was a bad idea...

 

[Alice a]

Short walk away! https://swandolphin.com/dining/lagoon/

I went to that in May for food a few times. It was pretty meh. You had to mobile order any food you wanted from a kiosk in the arcade.

Every time I went it was pretty dead- deader than Pikabu was most times I was there.

Never more than 2-4 other people, always a single parent and a kid or two. On the plus side, we got our food incredibly fast.

 

[CaptJackSparrow]

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.

I think you misunderstand the boardwalk area demographic tbh. The S&D is consistently one of the best deals in WDW, and the other two hotels on the lake have sizable DVC presence. It’s not all 1%ers.

Short walk away! https://swandolphin.com/dining/lagoon/

That is decidedly NOT a Dave and Busters.

God no. D&B is trash.

Is it? My kids love going, I enjoy having a place to enjoy a beer and watch the games while they also have a good time. Win win in my book.

Im thinking a combination of ESPN zone and Disney Quest would work pretty darn well.

 

[CaptJackSparrow]

I also just thought of another good idea…

What about a dueling piano bar? That could be fun…

 

[MisterPenguin]

The S&D is consistently one of the best deals in WDW,

Used to be, but they're charging deluxe prices now.