Italy Pavilion Construction 1/02?

[aladdin2007]

It is pretty bad that nothing new has been added to WS since Norway in 1988, over 20 years. Yeah things like the Canada and China pavilion films have been upgraded, and Mexico's ride changed (tho tacky and cheap) and Japans insides refurbished but in general nothing has been built in WS. I wish the Mill Village had stayed permenant, that was great.

Disney needs to realize by this point that sponsors and governments are not going to pay the costs they charge for a pavilion, that whole sponsorship system needs to be retooled. Spain was so close on a couple occasions.

I would hate to see one of those expansion plots used for just some coaster with no pavilion attachment as it would ruin the look of WS but at this stage, I dont see where a new pavilion is ever going to happen..........so I guess my point is its nice they are using Italys expansion for added on dining, even though by doing so a ride for sure will never see the light of day in Italy. I guess a part of me still held out hope for one (maybe we will get some ruins attached to this new project afterall, would be nice),,,,I guess I can still hope for an attraction in Germany or Japan.

 

[toolsnspools]

Another ride in WS would be nice, but this is definitely not it. From the permit -

2. General description of Improvements: New Constriction of Pizzaria.


Looks like Patina Restaraunt Group is building it. They also built Tutto Italia and Catal, Naples and Tortilla Joe's in Downtown Disney at DL.

 

[misterID]

I heard that TDO sees WS as a mall and nothing more.

That size of the Italy plot being used for a pizzeria is ridiculous. And they'll only be serving people who would be in WS anyway. They're not bringing anyone new to WS with a pizzeria. You would think they would want to give 'more' people a reason to go back there to eat at the pizzeria, and to buy their over-priced stuff.

Lame.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I think it would bring people to another area of World Showcase. I rarely go to Italy, and a new restaurant may bring me over. Not in the same way a new attraction would bring me over, but still.

 

[misterID]

I think it would bring people to another area of World Showcase. I rarely go to Italy, and a new restaurant may bring me over. Not in the same way a new attraction would bring me over, but still.

Yeah, but there's probably not a lot of people who would go (or even know or even care about...) just for the pizzeria. This pizzeria really doesn't make any sense to me unless they're content with WS being exactly as is.

And from their perspective you'd think they would want more people in WS. Attractions will bring more people. That means more people to spend money. Adding more restaurants won't.

 

[fireworkz]

I'm surprised Tim's hasn't jumped all over this... would Disney allow them in there!?! They could even have a little shop selling Tim's products... it would make a mint!!!

I'd love to see a CS in Canada too! It would have to serve the real Montreal poutine! :slurp: Maybe a food to represent every province!?! NL would be toutons and a cup of Tetley tea! :animwink:

TOUTONS! :sohappy: Don't know about the Tetley though. You wouldn't get my grandmother to move from there if they had Tetley! I still to this day wonder why the Trading Post doesn't sell more regional items. How about some Purity stuff in there?

Must be something stopping Tim's from coming into Epcot, like a contract with another company or the $$ doesn't fit Tim's business model.

 

[EpcotFanForever]

*light bulb goes on*

Speaking of Yak/Yeti, what are the odds this was the "special project" Joe Rohde was rumored to be working on for World Showcase. :shrug:

I confirmed with someone at Patina that it will be a pizza place run by them. Also heard about some sort of long tables - but not so certain about this part.

 

[Studios Fan]

Too bad that it is only a pizza place.

 

[EPCOTPluto]

Too bad that it is only a pizza place.

That's what some of us don't really know for sure. The permits claim it's just construction for a pizzeria, but we have not a clue in what else is in store. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but at least it's something new in WS, whether it be a QS or TS.

 

[jt04]

That's what some of us don't really know for sure. The permits claim it's just construction for a pizzeria, but we have not a clue in what else is in store. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but at least it's something new in WS, whether it be a QS or TS.

Yes, I think many of us are hoping for some really detailed theming. Again on the scope of Yak & Yeti.

It boggles my mind that Disney does not seem to understand the "gem in the rough" that Epcot is. It is a cash cow if they bring Future World back to it's original vision and they add some more attractions and countries to WS.

How short sighted can people get? :brick:

 

[njDizFan]

love to see a true Naples style, well themed pizzaria/restaurant come to Italy.

But sadly I have doubts. This restaruant would have tremedous appeal and I'm sure it would be consistantly busy. To push out enough pizza that would be demanded(even though they cook in a wood fired oven in less than 5 minutes), the time neccessary to make/roll/proof the dough for all these pizzas on site would be incredible laborious.

Not impossible but difficult. Just judging as a pizza maker on a busy Jersey shore boardwalk location. We had to have a crew running all day just to keep us prepped with the dough neccesary. Then actually hand throwing the pies!!That was a typical weekend serving maybe 300 pizzas.

Epcot with 40-50,000 in attendance it would be crazy. Love to see but like I said, doubtful.

 

[NewfieFan]

TOUTONS! :sohappy: Don't know about the Tetley though. You wouldn't get my grandmother to move from there if they had Tetley! I still to this day wonder why the Trading Post doesn't sell more regional items. How about some Purity stuff in there?

Must be something stopping Tim's from coming into Epcot, like a contract with another company or the $$ doesn't fit Tim's business model.

It's the only thing my husband misses when he's at the "World"... a good cup of Tetley tea. He also enjoys Tim's steeped tea as well! It's hard to get a cup of tea in WDW

Purity stuff would sell really well, I think!

There must be something stopping Tim's... I mean, they're on every street corner around here!

Anyways, back on topic... Italy not Canada!

 

[Enchantâmes]

Ooooh! I cannot wait until they release concept art!

 

[bugsbunny]

Just the thing for WDW to save a buck and get it sponsored by Ellios's Pizza :ROFLOL: I can see it now, $7.50 for a slice!

In all seriousness, I could see them doing a boneheaded move like this. It would seem that when ANYTHING gets buillt at Epcot, it doesn't get done unless it's sponsored. No different than the food at the America pavillion being sponsored by Stouffers.

Certainly hope I'm wrong though. Good pizza is hard to come by these days and more and more places are using pre-made ingredients.

 

[Bolna]

I confirmed with someone at Patina that it will be a pizza place run by them. Also heard about some sort of long tables - but not so certain about this part.

The long table thing made me wonder wether the concept might be similar to the Vapiano chain we seem to have all over Germany (they even exist in the US: http://www.vapiano-international.com/vapiano/). It is a high end self service place. You order your pizza or pasta a cooking stations and then pick it up when it is ready, but the restaurant looks much more like a table service place with nice tables and chairs etc. In a certain way it is similar to the WPE at DTD, but without servers.

 

[Huck]

Sally's v. Pepe's. Closest product to these two in Boston is probably Santarpio's in East Boston, though I admit the New England mall chain Regina makes a decent slice. The new Pepe's outpost in Mohegan Sun is tantalizingly close for those of us from Rhode Island and Massachusetts... :wave:

For what it's worth, I prefer Modern Apizza over Pepe's and Sally's. That said, nobody can make a clam and bacon pizza quite like Frank Pepe's! Pure goodness!

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

It is pretty bad that nothing new has been added to WS since Norway in 1988, over 20 years. Yeah things like the Canada and China pavilion films have been upgraded, and Mexico's ride changed (tho tacky and cheap) and Japans insides refurbished but in general nothing has been built in WS. I wish the Mill Village had stayed permenant, that was great.

Disney needs to realize by this point that sponsors and governments are not going to pay the costs they charge for a pavilion, that whole sponsorship system needs to be retooled. Spain was so close on a couple occasions.

I would hate to see one of those expansion plots used for just some coaster with no pavilion attachment as it would ruin the look of WS but at this stage, I dont see where a new pavilion is ever going to happen..........so I guess my point is its nice they are using Italys expansion for added on dining, even though by doing so a ride for sure will never see the light of day in Italy. I guess a part of me still held out hope for one (maybe we will get some ruins attached to this new project afterall, would be nice),,,,I guess I can still hope for an attraction in Germany or Japan.

With this management? No. With new and inspired leaders that want to make EPCOT the unique and thematic place it is, yes.

Hopefully that is soon.

Another ride in WS would be nice, but this is definitely not it. From the permit -

2. General description of Improvements: New Constriction of Pizzaria.


Looks like Patina Restaraunt Group is building it. They also built Tutto Italia and Catal, Naples and Tortilla Joe's in Downtown Disney at DL.

Fine by me. Those places look good, and WDI can have fun, here.

I think it would bring people to another area of World Showcase. I rarely go to Italy, and a new restaurant may bring me over. Not in the same way a new attraction would bring me over, but still.

Exactly. I just run in to take some pics of the architecture, but there's nothing there unless you east at the expensive place. :lol: This should be good for lunch.

Yes, I think many of us are hoping for some really detailed theming. Again on the scope of Yak & Yeti.

It boggles my mind that Disney does not seem to understand the "gem in the rough" that Epcot is. It is a cash cow if they bring Future World back to it's original vision and they add some more attractions and countries to WS.

How short sighted can people get? :brick:

I've never agreed with you more. EPCOT could be it's own fantastic brand, if they wanted it to be. With a place as unique and diverse as this, they could easily take it to new heights...instead of marrying it the same mold as the Magic Kingdom.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I remember hearing a rumor somewhere that Tutto Italia would finally get its remodeling sometime in 2010, and it occured to me that the timing of this pizzeria might be related. Sure enough, I ran across this paragraph on the Yesterland site today:

Tutto Italia is just a “temporary restaurant.” At some point, Tutto Italia is supposed to close for an extended period. Back in April 2007, Patina announced plans to open a new restaurant concept in Fall 2008. That never happened. One rumor is that it won’t happen until after Disney and Patina build a casual pizza and pasta restaurant next door—and those plans were put on hold in 2009 because of the economic recession.

Perhaps this place will be similar to Patina's Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria at DL's DTD. It serves pasta and thin-crust pizzas baked in wood-burning ovens. It also has a large outdoor patio.

 

[aladdin2007]

I remember hearing a rumor somewhere that Tutto Italia would finally get its remodeling sometime in 2010, and it occured to me that the timing of this pizzeria might be related. Sure enough, I ran across this paragraph on the Yesterland site today:

Perhaps this place will be similar to Patina's Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria at DL's DTD. It serves pasta and thin-crust pizzas baked in wood-burning ovens. It also has a large outdoor patio.

I bet the new one does resemble DL's Naples a bit, but hopefully the look and feel will be classic and tie in with the rest of the Italy pavilion.
Personally I think Tutto Italia is beautiful and elegant, kinda hate to see the look changed. But que sera sera I guess.

 

[jt04]

I've never agreed with you more. EPCOT could be it's own fantastic brand, if they wanted it to be. With a place as unique and diverse as this, they could easily take it to new heights...instead of marrying it the same mold as the Magic Kingdom.

I was looking at google earth and they have so much space around WS that they could truly create amazing environments and new lands. They could even create some small boutique hotels within each land.

I'm convinced with a DCA 2.0 budget, they could fill the parking lot daily.