The Downtown Disney Thread

[BalooChicago]

it just seems odd to me to have a chain restaurant right at the gate. It's not very "immersive".

A chain right at the gate!? Never!

 

[Disney Irish]

The construction walls look as long as World of Disney's footprint and land right before the entrance gate, not back where LaBrea/Earl was with two ticket booths between them and the park entrance, which blocked it both physically and visually.

I would object less if it was a Jock Lindsay's or something else uniquely Disney-themed rather than somewhere SoCal workplaces order from daily for lunch. Having a chain restaurant right at the park gate, as I said, is not immersive. It might as well be In 'N' Out. People like the food and it's very "California" but it would be just another 3rd party place shoved by the park gate. It's just a sad missed opportunity for something better.

Its a restaurant/bakery in an unthemed outdoor mall that happens to be also expanding slightly into the esplanade, how immersive do you need it to be? Its not like its in the Parks in one of the lands, its at worst saying its in the esplanade, but the esplanade was never immersive anyways. Its a concrete slab that lies between the two entrances where people line up for entry and take pictures of each other, nothing more.

 

[NobodyElse]

It's just a sad missed opportunity for something better.

The sad part is imagining what current Disney could or would do to try and approximate something like Porto's.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Its a restaurant/bakery in an unthemed outdoor mall that happens to be also expanding slightly into the esplanade, how immersive do you need it to be? Its not like its in the Parks in one of the lands, its at worst saying its in the esplanade, but the esplanade was never immersive anyways. Its a concrete slab that lies between the two entrances where people line up for entry and take pictures of each other, nothing more.

Not to mention there are still two original restaurants being built (one day?)

I think this is going to be just fine

 

[Disney Irish]

Not to mention there are still two original restaurants being built (one day?)

I think this is going to be just fine

And if your immersion is ruined because you will now be able to see a restaurant from the esplanade instead of an unused ticket booth, well…. then be thankful you didn’t go to the Parks before 1999 when that was a parking lot and you saw nothing but cars, your immersion would truly be ruined then.

 

[J4546]

the esplanade area sucks, and always has imo. They need trees and shade and just...something. A fountain maybe? I dunno, but bring portos out to the esplanade doesnt make it worse imo, its a baren concrete wasteland like the front half of epcot used to be.

 

[mickEblu]

I wonder how much Portos prices are going to change. Currently you can get a very tasty and decently sized cubano sandwich for $9 or so. I was at the Northridge location yesterday. Wonder what the Disney tax will be. If their prices stay anywhere near the same range I’d imagine that would drive a lot of food sales away from the parks. Especially considering its location right outside the gate. This place is going to be absolutely slammed.

On a different note, all of their locations (or at least the newer ones) devote a decent amount of space to displaying, selling and baking their whole cakes. I’d imagine that won’t be necessary for this location?

 

[Disney Irish]

On a different note, all of their locations (or at least the newer ones) devote a decent amount of space to displaying, selling and baking their whole cakes. I’d imagine that won’t be necessary for this location?

Maybe not as big a display, but I imagine it'll still have some display because there is an opportunity for guests staying in area hotels to take the baked goods back to their room.

 

[mickEblu]

Maybe not as big display, but I imagine it'll still have some display because there is an opportunity for guests staying in area hotels to take the baked goods back to their room.

Yeah that’s what I was thinking. Also I guess locals in the area could also park at DTD and grab a birthday cake but it’s not super convenient.

 

[NobodyElse]

Maybe not as big a display, but I imagine it'll still have some display because there is an opportunity for guests staying in area hotels to take the baked goods back to their room.

They also might keep some on display just to give people examples of what's available at their other locations (AKA advertising).

 

[mickEblu]

They also might keep some on display just to give people examples of what's available at their other locations (AKA advertising).

Not that this necessarily means much but they are advertising the cakes on the construction walls.

 

[Disney Irish]

They also might keep some on display just to give people examples of what's available at their other locations (AKA advertising).

It goes without saying the displays are for advertising, but as an advertisement for their other locations probably less likely. If anything that is more just a side effect of having all their locations within a hour or so drive of DTD.

For anything not sold at this location I expect the pitch will be something like "Don't see it on the menu? You can order it online and have it delivered right to your home anywhere in the nation".

 

[coffeefan]

the esplanade area sucks, and always has imo. They need trees and shade and just...something. A fountain maybe? I dunno, but bring portos out to the esplanade doesnt make it worse imo, its a baren concrete wasteland like the front half of epcot used to be.

Agreed, but with all the construction happening, hopefully the esplanade gets revamped.

 

[Disney Irish]

Agreed, but with all the construction happening, hopefully the esplanade gets revamped.

The whole Harbor side will be revamped within the next few years. They have already been redoing some of the area in-front of Disneyland, DCA has been mostly untouched.

The center area between the Parks I would guess will remain largely untouched as that is where they place event specific displays.

 

[mickEblu]

The whole Harbor side will be revamped within the next few years. They have already been redoing some of the area in-front of Disneyland, DCA has been mostly untouched.

The center area between the Parks I would guess will remain largely untouched as that is where they place event specific displays.

Ive never given much thought to the fact that DCA has absolutely no greenery at its entrance. Not that Disneyland has a ton but the few trees, climbing roses on the monorail supports, planters surrounding the monorail supports and view of the Mickey Floral astroturf go a long way in comparison. In the era of all the planter removals I’m not expecting any trees or planters to go up near the DCA entrance but maybe a small fountain between the parks? Something to break up it. Even just some higher quality stone pavers.

 

[Disney Irish]

Ive never given much thought to the fact that DCA has absolutely no greenery at its entrance. Not that Disneyland has a ton but the few trees, climbing roses on the monorail supports, planters surrounding the monorail supports and view of the Mickey Floral astroturf go a long way in comparison. In the era of all the planter removals I’m not expecting any trees or planters to go up near the DCA entrance but maybe a small fountain between the parks? Something to break up it. Even just some higher quality stone pavers.

DCA has planters to the left and right of the entrance, just not right in-front.

 

[mickEblu]

DCA has planters to the left and right of the entrance, just not right in-front.

Yeah I know we use those bathrooms all the time.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

I think it's a wasted opportunity, as I said, when they could have had something uniquely Disney at the park entrance. But ultimately I'll ignore it and pass right by as I'll never eat there.

 

[DLR92]

Porto’s seems like a better replacement for that spot over Earls of Sandwich.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Porto’s seems like a better replacement for that spot over Earls of Sandwich.

I’ve never had Porto’s and I’ll be happy to try it but I loved being able to get a caprese from the earl so close to the park gates.

The counter service in DL has really gone downhill for my tastes and with a magic key discount the earl is a great value if you just grab a sandwich.

But there is always the monorail way to the new earl!