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The Diamond Horseshoe opening for Thanksgiving week
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
jakeman
Well-Known Member
Makes you wonder why it isn't open all year round especially if they are doing table service.
With the stage and everything, it seems like a perfect place for a character meal that Disney seems to covet.
MK dining remains a mystery to me. The whole issue with Tomorrowland Terrace (how that place can't work is beyond me), and the Diamond Horseshoe.
jakeman
Well-Known Member
That's what, three dining locations that are shuttered (Tomorrowland Terrace, Adventureland Terrace, and Diamond Horseshoe)?
And we are getting a huge expansion to address some of that?
I don't get it either.
Sometimes I think all of WDW needs to have some sort of space allocation audit to figure out why some of these things aren't being used and a general cleanup around property (not that it's dirty or anything).
It's odd (and at crowded mealtimes, frustrating) to walk past shuttered restaurants.
Monorail Lime
Well-Known Member
What baffles me is Casey's Corner and the Lunching Pad were both down for refurb during the first two weeks of September and yet none of the shuttered locations were reopened for relief. The few open counter service locations in MK were swamped!
Shouldn't these things be managed better?
Shouldn't these things be managed better?
captainkidd
Well-Known Member
Yup. Diamond Horseshoe's being closed most of the year is bizarre. They have excellent food, and a fun atmosphere.
Almost as odd as the decision to remove the characters from Liberty Tree.
captainkidd
Well-Known Member
I don't know the complete menu, but they do serve delicious turkey sandwiches. They literally carve the turkey after you order.
ToTBellHop
Well-Known Member
Well removing the characters is obvious--save money.
But keeping the Diamond Horseshoe closed is bewildering. It functions as a sit-down at dinner when open, and sit-down dining is relatively limited at the MK (thus the Beauty and the Beast restaurant under construction)...they have a location already in existence, with a kitchen, that could easily open and make money. Instead they keep it closed. Baffling.
MarkTwain
Well-Known Member
At least we got Pirate & Perico back in the form of Tortuga Tavern.
Weren't they experimenting with keeping Tomorrowland Terrace open fulltime earlier?
Tinkerbelle*
Premium Member
Oooh that begs the question I have been wondering on...Is Tortuga Tavern open all the time now or is its still a crowd level thingy?!??!?!
Only once have I seen the Diamond Horseshoe doors opened during Presidents Day week...I peeked inside and thought what a shame this space is not utilized more often as that is my favorite area of the park. After watching the DVD on the 10,000th show of it's namesake the Golden Horseshoe and watching Wally Boag do his wonderful act he did from day one at Disneyland for the longest running stage show EVER in history...I further read up on how he came to WDW in 1971 and opened the Diamond Horseshoe, wrote script, and stayed off and on for a few years....then to find he wrote the Tiki room script and is Jose....there's slim chance they could ever match his talent EVER....but sure would be nice if they could swing ONE live show per day at lunch time....and what a nice atmoshpere....I do understand it is pricey to pay talented peeps to do a quality show, but....I for one would love to see them try again.....So am hoping someday to at least eat there and imagine what it could still be.:king:
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
MK dining must be a mystery to management as well, because it seems like they often have no idea what they are doing. The opening of new restaurants in the FL expansion to ease overcrowding while there are so many shuttered locations already is bizarre. And I still see people all the time walk through Tomorrowland Terrace on their way to/from Main St. only to realize after the fact that it is closed.
The Diamond Horseshoe theater is really nice inside, and it's such a shame they no longer have a show there. It was always popular and very busy, but apparently too expensive (in TDO's eyes) to staff with talented performers. It's also very bizarre to be there during those weeks when it's open to see the glaringly obvious unused stage.
RSoxNo1
Well-Known Member
MK Dining is quite strange. There seems to be a need for more restaurants but the existing locations apparently aren't good enough. Perhaps someone with more knowledge on the back of the house facilities can explain why the following locations aren't open more often, yet two additional restaurants are being built in Fantasyland?
- Tomorrowland Terrace
- Diamond Horseshoe
- Adventureland Veranda
- Tortuga Tavern
menamechris
Well-Known Member
As to what they serve there, I vaguely remember last year someone saying they serve the same food as Liberty Tree. I am not sure if that will be true for this year though.
I, too, am shocked that the Diamond Horseshoe is no longer open - but I always suspected that closed it because they thought it may boost ticket sales for Hoop-Dee-Doo. It may be hard for many guests to pay the $60-$70 pricetag for the dinner show when you saw a very similar show earlier in the day at MK. And as someone else mentioned, I am sure Disney saw the talent payroll as flushing money. I hope they have plans to do SOMETHING with that theatre in the future. Even if they did create a dinner show there that had one performance a night... I am sure people would fork out money for that...
I, too, am shocked that the Diamond Horseshoe is no longer open - but I always suspected that closed it because they thought it may boost ticket sales for Hoop-Dee-Doo. It may be hard for many guests to pay the $60-$70 pricetag for the dinner show when you saw a very similar show earlier in the day at MK. And as someone else mentioned, I am sure Disney saw the talent payroll as flushing money. I hope they have plans to do SOMETHING with that theatre in the future. Even if they did create a dinner show there that had one performance a night... I am sure people would fork out money for that...
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
It's extremely strange. I just chalk it up to what it is, ________ poor management.
T-Land Terrace (which used to be the Noodle Station, but before that was always the Plaza Pavilion and Cosmic Ray's is the REAL T-Land Terrace) was always a busy place before they swapped out the pizza and subs and salads menu for the Asian cuisine (it was tasty, but FLA isn't Anaheim and folks seem to require very basic food). Instead of tinkering with the menu/concept (no adding chicken nuggets and ceasar salads back wasn't it), they opted to just close it.
What does it say that two of the largest QSR in the MK (and the first two most guests come in contact with) are shuttered almost every day of the year?
DH is NOT a dining venue first and foremost. It is, or was, an attraction/show space that can ALSO serve food. I don't believe it even has a kitchen. As far as I know, they just bring food from the LTT kitchen.
AV has had numerous concepts to reopen it. The last one I saw specifically was for an AC-type (REREAD that AC GEEKS!) QS locale, but that seems to be in quicksand again.
TT wound up destroying three unique shops in its 90s redo that saw Pecos Bill Cafe expand and add the dining area on the side. Now, you have room after room, patio after patio that sit empty except in the busiest (or free dining) periods. I don't get any of it.
Let's not forget Aunt Polly's as well. What also was once a favorite Spirited dining locale that now sits and rots with a few soft drink machines in front of the serving area.
Yet, Disney is adding a major dining facility in Fantasyland ... I won't point out that space could have been used for say ... an attraction. Oh, I guess I just did.
~GFC~
InLikeFlynn
Active Member
Yes, we had some last year on Thanksgiving day...was one of the tastiest things I've ever had at WDW! I wish they were open more. For all the trips we've taken, that was the only time I've ever seen them open.
jt04
Well-Known Member
They won't do that I suspect for the exact reason you state about HDD.
Anyway, I always thought it would make a great upscale ice cream shop and could be sponsored by Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. The backstory of the company fits perfectly with the "land".
It wouldn't require an elaborate kitchen and staff and the profit margins should be excellent. Especially on hot days. Just a thought.
828tnt
Well-Known Member
BUT.... has anyone else noticed that since the character change, they are quite often all but peddling the menu in the street because of empty tables? i never took notice of this before.
ToTBellHop
Well-Known Member
I have noticed that. Apparently, even us stupid tourists won't pay $32/person for Stouffer's frozen food and no characters. The characters were the whole point...