wsmith1978
Well-Known Member
I love TSI and would be so happy if AP opened... I've never seen it open!
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Aunt Polly's gets permit for mechanical work...
- Thread starter steve2wdw
- Start date
Mr_Incredible
Well-Known Member
Used to love getting cold fried chicken there when i was a rugrat
wolf359
Well-Known Member
Mmmmmmm...I still remember the root beer floats.
Even if they didn't go back to serving anything more than the last menu at least it would be better than a couple of vending machines.
GymLeaderPhil
Well-Known Member
This could also be wifi installation for next gen.
Tom
Beta Return
It isn't. It's HVAC work.
Clever Name
Well-Known Member
It's probably a small AC unit to keep the wifi router cool.
unkadug
Follower of "Saget"The Cult
To keep the next-gen equipment cool.
Tom
Beta Return
That is exactly what it is. They're putting in a window air conditioner in the side of Aunt Polly's to keep a wireless access point cool. Those WAPs get pretty hot when a lot of people start using the wifi, and with Aunt Polly's being a 40 year old wood building, you can't risk catching the old wood on fire.
Clever Name
Well-Known Member
I forgot about that part. Thanks for the update.To keep the next-gen equipment cool.
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
How can one have such a fantastic location and not make any money?
How about selling picnic baskets - to be enjoyed on the island? Anything Mark Twainish? Some Americana foods?
Why, just coffee, tea and cold drinks for the parents while the kids play on the island would be good.
Me, I sneaked in some ice cream and sat on the porch, enjoying the view of LS. There were five people in all. Bliss. Normally I don't share Disney secrets like that, but this one I might as well, since the rest of the world apparantly does not appreciate a quiet, undisturbed view of LibertySquare and the paddle steamboat the way I do. Maybe I've just got an inane love for 19th century river paddle boats.
Here's my view:
PhilharMagician
Well-Known Member
I bet Aunt Polly's did make money, but just not enough for Disney. The reason we enjoy the island is because it is quite and a retreat from the hustle and bustle of MK. Just simply not enough people to buy stuff over there.
I like the idea of a picnic basket. There are many good locations around the island to sit and relax.
You will always find me at least once during a WDW vacation sitting on the porch @ Aunt Polly's watching the crowds across the river. I love the place and I would almost like that it did not reopen so I can still find that seat in the rocking chair on those busy days.
Weather_Lady
Well-Known Member
The picnic basket idea is a winner! I can see it now: little red and white checkered napkins, cold chicken and sweet tea, cornbread and crisp apples, enjoyed in rocking chairs on the porch... Forget the ferry raft -- I'd swim across the water for that! Even if it got dumbed-down to a "Lunchable"-style sandwich and fruit in a little cardboard "basket," it would still be an instant way to create a special moment -- and another destination activity -- on Tom Sawyer's Island.
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
Actually is a great idea. For a reasonable price it sounds great.
But I could quickly see TDO turning it to Mickey's Magical Picnic Experience at TSI. For the low low price of just $34.95 per person! Including a photo meet 'n greet with the fab 5 dressed up like Tom, Huck, Joe, Jim, & Becky!
TDO has forgotten about the simple pleasures of the MK as a park....trees, flowers, benches, places to sit. I guess you don't make any money off of those though (on a spreadsheet anyway).
nepalostparks
Well-Known Member
I have to disagree with this point. Look at the current FLE. In Storybook Circus, almost all of the walls and planting beds are flat topped to be able to be used as a bench. There are also a number of trees they planted both in Storybook Circus and elsewhere in the expansion. And the plans for the walkway and restroom project over on the other side of Fantasyland show several planting beds.
Tom
Beta Return
How can one have such a fantastic location and not make any money?
How about selling picnic baskets - to be enjoyed on the island? Anything Mark Twainish? Some Americana foods?
Why, just coffee, tea and cold drinks for the parents while the kids play on the island would be good.
Me, I sneaked in some ice cream and sat on the porch, enjoying the view of LS. There were five people in all. Bliss. Normally I don't share Disney secrets like that, but this one I might as well, since the rest of the world apparantly does not appreciate a quiet, undisturbed view of LibertySquare and the paddle steamboat the way I do. Maybe I've just got an inane love for 19th century river paddle boats.
Here's my view:
I'm relaxing as I sit here......
Probably true. I'm sure Disney looks at each LOCATION as its own Profit Center. Most places would accept the "loss" at Aunt Pollys (cost of CMs and utilities outweighs sales of goods) because it would be more than offset by the balance of the Food & Bev division. But not Disney. If Polly ain't making no money, shut her down!
As nepa said, they have indeed turned a small leaf with the D-Zone concepts and additional shade and take-a-break areas they're putting in. But at the same time, they have indeed forgotten about the little extras that are active, not passive. Paint brushes (if they're really gone) is a good example. Just because you have a giant theme park doesn't mean you can't still offer little things, like picnics.
Alektronic
Well-Known Member
The biggest problem with Aunt Polly's was the access, trying to get supplies over there and keep things stocked up. Then there was a separate raft just for maintenance and food and beverage and then you needed someone to drive the raft to the separate landing and then you had to wheel the supplies through the island. I guess it was just too much of a hassle.
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
That may be true, but in reality operating a theme park is a hassle. Cleaning it is a hassle, stocking food and merch is a hassle, as is changing lightbulbs, painting and fixing wood rot. All during the overnight hours, no less.
Operating Aunt Polly's was a hassle from from 1971 until the mid 2000's too, but they still did it.
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
True, the new additions look like they are taking in seating, landscaping, etc. into account. But look at the rest of the park - tons of benches, seating, trees, and landscaping not only removed from the hub (I know, I know, Wishes viewing) but also removed from Town Square (why?). Twinkle lights removed, fountains and other water features turned off or removed, and a gradual movement away from the park-like setting.
Clever Name
Well-Known Member
I too like the picnic basket idea.
Pixiedustmaker
Well-Known Member
I remember eating something at Aunt Polly's a long time ago. When I returned to MK as an adult, I was upset to see that Aunt Polly's was shutdown. It's not like when they stopped selling stuff at the fort (in Disneyland they had great brownies) as Aunt Polly's is pretty visible to everybody on the Mark Twain, and to guests walking on that side of the river.
When it was open, it made the river seem more lively, and was a draw for TSI.
Sure, it was probably a hassle to boat over food . . . but this job went to near minimum-wage castmembers I guessing, not the higher ups. When I worked fast food in college, the hassle factor didn't mean anything to the boss.
If they just served ice cream, soda and chips, then that stuff lasts pretty long in the freezer, maybe they'd just need to stock up every couple days with a big enough freezer.
I think we all know what happened, a scrooge of a middle manager who is in charge of food in Frontierland looked at the whole balance sheet and figured that he/she should consolidate food services in fewer locations to save money and get a bonus. It wasn't made by a higher up, or a lowly castmember serving ice cream, but some middle man who might have moved on already to another area, or even left Disney.
It's not about how much a single location "makes", guests already paid to enter the park and eating something on TSI is a nice little part of the experience you already paid for. Even if every other food location in MK lost $1,000 dollars a day, they'd still make money overall as the guests paid to enter the park.
Selling an ice cream product that costs probably $1.50 wholesale for $7 bucks on TSI still makes money. I really loved the brownies they had on the fort on TSI in Disneyland, if they came up with something 100% unique for TSI, then it would be a tradition for families like Aunt Polly's was.
When it was open, it made the river seem more lively, and was a draw for TSI.
Sure, it was probably a hassle to boat over food . . . but this job went to near minimum-wage castmembers I guessing, not the higher ups. When I worked fast food in college, the hassle factor didn't mean anything to the boss.
If they just served ice cream, soda and chips, then that stuff lasts pretty long in the freezer, maybe they'd just need to stock up every couple days with a big enough freezer.
I think we all know what happened, a scrooge of a middle manager who is in charge of food in Frontierland looked at the whole balance sheet and figured that he/she should consolidate food services in fewer locations to save money and get a bonus. It wasn't made by a higher up, or a lowly castmember serving ice cream, but some middle man who might have moved on already to another area, or even left Disney.
It's not about how much a single location "makes", guests already paid to enter the park and eating something on TSI is a nice little part of the experience you already paid for. Even if every other food location in MK lost $1,000 dollars a day, they'd still make money overall as the guests paid to enter the park.
Selling an ice cream product that costs probably $1.50 wholesale for $7 bucks on TSI still makes money. I really loved the brownies they had on the fort on TSI in Disneyland, if they came up with something 100% unique for TSI, then it would be a tradition for families like Aunt Polly's was.