DTD vs. "I-Drive Live"

[xdan0920]

6 days going through city walk was enough, Margarita ville...burgers and margaritas, good for adults not for a family of mixed aged children, Latin Quoter again not good for a family of mixed aged children, Bob Marley's same as above, pastamore ... have you ever heard of Frazollis? ...fast food blah pasta? Pat o Brien's not good for a family of mixed aged child.

Lol

 

[Figment1986]

Clearly you've never visited any of these restaurants. Or maybe the costumed stiltwalkers in Margaritaville and the Little Leprachuan menu in Pat O's are for adults?

After 9 these venues all become more adult, but before then, there's nowhere in CityWalk inappropriate for children.

agreed, heck the magaritaville restaurant is separated from the piano bar so it is still family oriented till like 10 :shrug:

 

[71jason]

That "fluff" is between Sea World/Orlando Convention Center and Universal. It will create a domino effect and you will see it spur other big investors to come in. This is merely a first step that the D&B folks seem also to be aware of or they would never have built there.

Dominoes are already falling. Brickhouse Grill, Joe's Crab Shack and Alehouse all built from the ground-up. Tilted Kilt is also new, but not sure if that took over somewhere else. All within the last year, maybe 18 months. Couple new places in Pointe Orlando, too, which has largely managed to transform itself into what PI 2.0 was initially supposed to be (a grouping of mostly upscale restaurant tenants, many of which offer some sort of late-night entertainment, catering to the convention crowd).

To say nothing of D&B, which in and of itself has been a game-changing success.

I have to agree. This is a step in the right direction but until they solve the traffic problem it will take a hell of a lot to get be to brave I-drive.

I don't know that this is on the table, but I-Drive Live is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the always empty Universal Blvd., which links directly to 528 (just 2 miles from I-4). If they can use signage and marketing to convince people coming from the south, including WDW, to use that route, it would alleviate a lot of the traffic problem.

JT, don't start this competing thing again. We've heard all your theories about Lego Land and FL etc - not sure we need another one. Disney have been looking at sorting out DTD for YEARS. Long before this I-Drive thing got off the ground.

Can't believe I'm defending JT in a DTD thread--there goes my Doom & Gloomer card--but I think he might be onto something here. Sure DTD has been on the table for years, but few if any of the initial plans have or ever will come to fruition. Splitsville seems an obvious response to D&B. If I-Drive Live actually gains traction--a big "if", this is already take two--I wouldn't be shocked to see some sort of response at DTD.

I kind of agree with the FLE as a response to Lego Land rather than WWoHP theory as well...but that's another thread.

 

[jt04]

Here is a link to the project in question since the OP has refused to provide it.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-08-21/business/os-orlando-eye-i-drive-live-20110821_1_observation-wheel-circle-entertainment-wax-museum

I just was short on time but thanks for assuming the worst.

Dominoes are already falling. Brickhouse Grill, Joe's Crab Shack and Alehouse all built from the ground-up. Tilted Kilt is also new, but not sure if that took over somewhere else. All within the last year, maybe 18 months. Couple new places in Pointe Orlando, too, which has largely managed to transform itself into what PI 2.0 was initially supposed to be (a grouping of mostly upscale restaurant tenants, many of which offer some sort of late-night entertainment, catering to the convention crowd).

To say nothing of D&B, which in and of itself has been a game-changing success.



I don't know that this is on the table, but I-Drive Live is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the always empty Universal Blvd., which links directly to 528 (just 2 miles from I-4). If they can use signage and marketing to convince people coming from the south, including WDW, to use that route, it would alleviate a lot of the traffic problem.



Can't believe I'm defending JT in a DTD thread--there goes my Doom & Gloomer card--but I think he might be onto something here. Sure DTD has been on the table for years, but few if any of the initial plans have or ever will come to fruition. Splitsville seems an obvious response to D&B. If I-Drive Live actually gains traction--a big "if", this is already take two--I wouldn't be shocked to see some sort of response at DTD.

I kind of agree with the FLE as a response to Lego Land rather than WWoHP theory as well...but that's another thread.

I still think they are going with getting a demographic that is not able to experience FJ but that this is a secondary consideration to that other new place. :zipit: But I will drop it as requested by the mods.

I look out anywhere from a few months to several years. If you study (as I have) the who, what, where, when, why and how of additions to WDW you see very specific trends. I just have an ability to notice trends and patterns over long periods of time. .

71jason probably has the same ability. :wave:

 

[jt04]

Dominoes are already falling. Brickhouse Grill, Joe's Crab Shack and Alehouse all built from the ground-up. Tilted Kilt is also new, but not sure if that took over somewhere else. All within the last year, maybe 18 months. Couple new places in Pointe Orlando, too, which has largely managed to transform itself into what PI 2.0 was initially supposed to be (a grouping of mostly upscale restaurant tenants, many of which offer some sort of late-night entertainment, catering to the convention crowd).

To say nothing of D&B, which in and of itself has been a game-changing success.

Wow I did not know all this. I last visited about 4 years ago and most of I-Drive was looking pretty pathetic. This is great news for getting more conventions and a rebirth of the area. Evidently real estate prices dropped to the point that investment became viable. Excellent news that D&B is doing well!

This is just great great news for the future of central Florida tourism. It is a game changer folks. Trust me on that.

PS- funny nobody seems to think Merlin's involvement is anything but a coincidence.:lookaroun :lol:

 

[NemoRocks78]

Traffic on that end of I-Drive is definitely not as bad as it is on the other side of Sand Lake. I've never had issues. Having Universal Blvd. as an option is also a big help.

The area has grown for the better over the last year or two, especially with Pointe Orlando's fabulous transformation and the recent opening of Dave & Buster's. It looks phenomenal and I can't wait for I-Drive Live to go up. This is definitely going to be the place to be at night for locals and tourists alike.

 

[unkadug]

Ohhhkaaay,

It seems as though the new project for I-Drive is going ahead at full speed. I had not understood the scope of this project until today. I think it is possible that "HW" and possibly larger sections of DTD could be being reimagined to compete with this new MAJOR attraction as much if not more than CityWalk. I have to say that the possibility that Disney may be about to compete with the ressurgence of International Drive (see also the new D&B) is the best possible scenario by my estimation. This new project will be a success. I think Disney's reboot of HW is a response. Just my opinion.

The beauty of competition.

As a local I absolutely hate I-Drive and nothing that is put in there could ever make me want to visit that traffic nightmare...albeit a few parking garages and pedestrian skybridges.

Anyway...do you have a link to some of the aspects of what's coming to I-Drive besides the giant wheel and D&B?

Just google I-Drive Live. Evidently there is much more to this than the attractions you mentioned including themed hotels. The last time I visited I-Drive it appeared to have no future. And I did not really understand D&B going in there but now it makes perfect sense. This is a huge deal and if you research the players involved I think you will conclude that while the mouse has had priorities elsewhere, the competition is setting up to take away a big chunk of his cheese in Orlando.

I went from discouraged yesterday to highly encouraged today as this perfectly explains Staggs' statement from yesterday. It all makes sense. In my opinion of course.

D&B ? Dun and Bradstreet...sounds like a real crowd puller to me.

 

[Communicore]

I-Drive dead, ha ha, I bet this thing will be the Mercado of the future.

 

[Communicore]

Traffic on that end of I-Drive is definitely not as bad as it is on the other side of Sand Lake. I've never had issues. Having Universal Blvd. as an option is also a big help.

The area has grown for the better over the last year or two, especially with Pointe Orlando's fabulous transformation and the recent opening of Dave & Buster's. It looks phenomenal and I can't wait for I-Drive Live to go up. This is definitely going to be the place to be at night for locals and tourists alike.

What's new at the Pointe? More closed shops?

 

[eddiemcgarrigle]

Up until last year (my first stay at a WDW resort), all but one of my trips (Kissimmee) had been based in I-Drive and I have witnessed the steady deterioration of the area.

I remember when the Mercado was a thriving shopping area and when there where no pubs or nightclubs anywhere on I-Drive. Other than one off licence, you had to drink in your hotel. Pointe Orlando was great when first opened but also suffered the Mercado effect when FAO Schwarz and the Disney Store closed. They then introduced more clubs to take up the empty spaces and it just got worse.

Drunks staggering about hotel areas, __________________ in corners and on doors, banging on doors and generally just shouting their heads off was bad enough but when I found a couple getting overly amorous in a stairwell, that was the end of I-Drive for me. Not exactly the place for young kids which is why we went for a WDW resort and we haven't looked back since.

I still visit the Premium Outlets aka Belz but will never again stay at one of the hotels.

 

[dreamfinder]

Dominoes are already falling. Brickhouse Grill, Joe's Crab Shack and Alehouse all built from the ground-up. Tilted Kilt is also new, but not sure if that took over somewhere else. All within the last year, maybe 18 months. Couple new places in Pointe Orlando, too, which has largely managed to transform itself into what PI 2.0 was initially supposed to be (a grouping of mostly upscale restaurant tenants, many of which offer some sort of late-night entertainment, catering to the convention crowd).

I know that the Tilted Kilt chain is taking off right now, but I can't see them being a major player for long. (Despite the initial attraction to their gimmick) Hooters is the same concept, but all over the place around me they are closing up shop and shutting down. I just don't see them having a large lasting impact over the long term. Especially not for tourists outside of perhaps some convention goers.

D&B ? Dun and Bradstreet...sounds like a real crowd puller to me.

Dave & Busters. Chuck e Cheese for adults. Bar food, drinks, arcade games, etc. As much fun as I think people would have at an establishment run by Dun & Bradstreet.....

 

[Mickey_777]

This all sounds great to me. I currently like certain parts of I-Drive (even the cheesy gift shops) even though it seems the area near Fun Spot has gotten sorta ghetto especially at night. If they class up I-Drive I'll be thrilled since I do often go off property when I'm down in Orlando. I've never encountered traffic down there though. Wax museums and aquariums may not be unique but I can definitely see how this can become highly attractive for families who just want to go out together on a warm florida evening while on vacation. And Vegas style hotels? Win.