Abandoned MK Area, should it open again?

[kittybubbles]

Last couple of times we were there it was open but it is no longer the noodle station. I think it is just Tomorrow Land Terrace. Anyway, the food selection was a lot better than what they had at the Noodle Station. They had a beef and blue salad that was real good, an ok chicken sandwich and the 'Lobster Roll' (which was a sub) looked good but we never got around to trying it.

I imagine if it did well it would stay open, but the lines were never bad when we decided to eat there.

 

[TinkerBelle8878]

What I'm having trouble understanding is why years and years ago the Terrace was always open as a restaurant (pizza and that kind of stuff) and now with all the free dining and crowds (which there is no more 'off' season) its closed.

I thought the Asian idea was good. It was at least different than the other food in the park. Almost every QS has burgers and hot dogs. There's only so much of that a person can eat.

Why not do lighter food like sandwiches and salads? Those are certainly healthier options than all the fried foods. There isn't any one set restaurant that has that kind of thing if memory serves.

 

[cheezbat]

I find it open only when the park is absolutely packed...I've visited so many times and seen it closed. It is an eyesore and ridiculous to leave standing vacant like that. The Magic Kingdom is THE MOST ATTENDED theme park in the world...the park is pretty busy even on slow days now...how can they NOT need this open?

 

[MarkTwain]

I voted absolutely yes, and I would even say it's a top priority to have it permanently open again ASAP. Regardless of what Walt would or wouldn't think, it's undoubtedly very bad show to have such a massive and visible onstage area shuttered for most of the year (right by Main Street and the castle, no less!), and it's made even worse when you consider how much the lines at nearby Cosmic Ray's could be alleviated if it were open. These abandoned areas are one of MK's top problems right now IMO. Those problems came closer to being solved with the opening of Tortuga Cavern, but there's still quite a ways to go.

 

[skyzoober]

when some of the food outlets are closed seasonally, why aren't they rotated so different ones are open on different days? surely it would benefit the CMs if they got to cook (or re-heat) some different menus, would keep the kitchens in working order instead of being closed for weeks at a time, and give guests a bit of variety in where to eat?
we find ourselves eating in the same places all the time, especially QS, because we there is no choice in some areas of the parks.
and the ones that are open are always packed, especially MNSSHP and MVMCP nights....

FOOD for thought....

 

[njdan]

Last two time we were at Disney (xmas 10 & easter 11) it was open but not as Noodle Station had old food burgers ect. but maybe only open during busy times

 

[BadWolf]

It seems to me that WDW opens the Tomorrowland Terrace during peak times only. For obvious reasons, it does not make sense to have all food service areas operational, when the park is not filled to capacity.

Apparently, the OP is an infrequent visitor to the Walt Disney World Vacation Resort and has only visited during non-peak times (rates are cheaper).

As a frequent vacationer to WDW, I have observed many differences between peak and non-peak times at the parks. Several non-peak experiences include dining at an empty Harbor House at 12 noon, multiple rides (without exiting) on pirates and splash mountain. These anomalies, would be consistent with the OP's observations.

 

[TimeTrip]

Every park should have an equivalent to Sunshine Seasons. Too bad the terrace area couldn't fit something like that in there

 

[AEfx]

Every park should have an equivalent to Sunshine Seasons. Too bad the terrace area couldn't fit something like that in there

Now that I can agree with. They have some great choices there.

I love burgers - and on vacation I love them even more. I've eaten nearly every different burger available at WDW (and I'm making a special trip to AK just to try the Kobe beef at Yak & Yeti). However, choices like that are great and even I appreciate the change of pace (especially since a burger isn't far away should I really want them).

It's the Noodle House that was a poor idea. Some people latched on to it simply because it was different, but the truth is serving a cup of hot noodles in the middle of a busy theme park in Florida just isn't everyone's cup of tea, so to speak (and even a lot of people that wanted to like it didn't care for the noddles flavor/texture/whatever).

But a lighter choice other than the Tuna Salad at harbor house, especially a wide variety of choices, would be excellent.

 

[fngoofy]

I suggest they build the area up to good sit down restaurant. They could do a character breakfast with the characters from the Toy Story movies. You know they would fill it each day just with people looking to get into the park earlier.

Just what I was thinking. Charge a premium for the seats you can see Wishes from and we're done.

MK really does need more sit down. I wish they would turn the Tahitian Terrace into a sit down as well, get Trader Vics to open a place in there.

 

[cowanfamily]

Some of the worst food I have had on property has been at this location. However there is always a nice breeze blowing through this location. On a hot summer day I will settle for the sub par food just to feel that wind on my face!

 

[AEfx]

Just what I was thinking. Charge a premium for the seats you can see Wishes from and we're done.

I'm pretty sure the desert party was held there, wasn't it?

I was so disapointed that wasn't permanent. I'd pay $20/head just to not worry about Wishes - all those fabulous treats would just be a bonus!

 

[progroupie]

I was a CM at TTNS when it first re-opened with the asian theme.
There were a lot of days even in peak season where we were practically deserted other than people cutting through and asking for directions or asking where they could get a burger or maybe just buying a round of cokes and sitting down to rest.
I can easily see why they don't want to spend the money to staff it and run it especially during the slow season.
Although I wish they would just get rid of it altogether than leave it empty, seems like they could make a wider path way into Tommorowland by getting rid of it.

 

[RogueHabit]

What do you mean? It's open almost everytime during the busy seasons. The seating area on the left is used for the fireworks dessert party. The last couple months the noodle station has been open serving everything from chicken sandwiches to noodles.

This!!!

We visited MK on 4 different occations during the first 2 weeks of April and it was open on every day.

Additionally the lower terraces are used for the Fireworks Dessert Party, which we saw running on 3 occasions and attended on one of those nights.

 

[RogueHabit]

I'm pretty sure the desert party was held there, wasn't it?

I was so disapointed that wasn't permanent. I'd pay $20/head just to not worry about Wishes - all those fabulous treats would just be a bonus!

We went 3 weeks ago and it was held on 3 other nights that we saw.

Bookable on the WDW website right now!

 

[PhilharMagician]

Yes it should be opened! Yes they all should be open!

There are few food choices at MK. If you want a burger that is no poblem, but it was refreshing when the Tommorowland Terrace Noodle Station first opened with choices like Pad Thai or chicken noodle bowl. When you look at food service at MK which the most visited theme park in the world and they have the following restaurants closed or at least seasonal.

1. Aunt Polly's
2. Adventureland Terrace
3. Tortuga Tavern
4. Diamond Horseshoe

It is really frustrating standing in line for 20 minutes just to get your food and then another 10 minutes trying to find a seat just for lunch when many restaurants are not even open.

Last year we got to have lunch at the Adventureland Terrace and one of the food options was Jambalaya which was tasty and differant. Tortuga Tavern's taco's and taco salads are another welcome change to the same boring WDW burger. Aunt Polly's only served cold sandwiches and ice cream from what I remember, but it offered the peace and tranquility of being away from the crowds. It was always a pleasure to sneak over there in the afternoon and snack on the deck and watch the hustle and bustle in Frontierland.

 

[SMRT-1]

yes and they should actually serve noodles.

 

[goofntink]

Don't see it mentioned but they use the Tommorrowland Terrace kitchen for preparing the turkey legs!!!:slurp:

 

[blueboxdoctor]

I was a CM at TTNS when it first re-opened with the asian theme.
There were a lot of days even in peak season where we were practically deserted other than people cutting through and asking for directions or asking where they could get a burger or maybe just buying a round of cokes and sitting down to rest.
I can easily see why they don't want to spend the money to staff it and run it especially during the slow season.
Although I wish they would just get rid of it altogether than leave it empty, seems like they could make a wider path way into Tommorowland by getting rid of it.

Concerning the first part of your post, I feel like this should have been a lesson learned for Disney. It is easier to have an actual restaurant that serves specific foods than a counter service that usually needs to fulfill the needs of an entire family consisting of adults and young children. After the lack of attendants, the area should have been converted into a more generic burger and chicken stand. Though, I do agree with you that they should do something to cover it up or just get rid of it as you suggested.

 

[blueboxdoctor]

Yes it should be opened! Yes they all should be open!

There are few food choices at MK. If you want a burger that is no poblem, but it was refreshing when the Tommorowland Terrace Noodle Station first opened with choices like Pad Thai or chicken noodle bowl. When you look at food service at MK which the most visited theme park in the world and they have the following restaurants closed or at least seasonal.

1. Aunt Polly's
2. Adventureland Terrace
3. Tortuga Tavern
4. Diamond Horseshoe

It is really frustrating standing in line for 20 minutes just to get your food and then another 10 minutes trying to find a seat just for lunch when many restaurants are not even open.

Very good point here. Even when it's not "peak" season there are still quite a lot of people in the park. I often find myself just looking for the place to eat with the shortest line, which leaves me missing out on places I'd rather get food from but just don't feel like waiting in line for.