Levy Restaurants Deal

[tn1999]

I know this has been talked about before on here but I am still hearing different storys...

As you may know, Levy Restaurants is Disney's allianced restaurant owner/operator in Downtown Disney. They own and/or operate Fulton's, Captain Jack's, Portabella Yacht, Wolfgang Puck, and maybe more?

Some people are saying Levy plans to build only one new restaurant, while others say the "deal" will allow for up to 3 new restaurants, all right next to each other, built between pleasure island and marketplace (across from Fulton's) in what is now a parking lot.

P.S. - Has anyone else noticed that there are absolutely NO Disney owned/operated restaurants in all of Downtown Disney ever since Chef Mickeys left... correct me if im wrong....

 

[gregwardlow]

I remember a bunch of character-themed names for restaraunts, but not Chef Mickey's at the old Marketplace. There was Goofy's Grill, Pluto's Doghouse, Minnie Mia's Pizzaria, and an ice cream place with something to do with Donald. Food wasn't bad, but nothing to write home about.

But you're right, I can't think of anyplace to eat that's owned and operated solely by Disney. Even in Disney Quest it's Cheesecake Factory. Maybe the ones in PI, Missing Link is the only one that I can think of.

 

[SewIn2Disney]

Not only is there absolutly no Disney owned resturants, there is also absolutly no parking spots!
I don't think taking up precious parking for 3 more resturants is a good idea.

 

[jmuboy]

Amen, parking at DTD is a nightmare at night.

 

[Rosso11]

Parking is very tight right in front of DTD but the West Side parking is very big and rarely full. I heard a rumor while I was a cast member that future plans called for expansion next to West Side in the direction of Saratoga Springs. However this was suppose to be long term plans, but I think if this really does eventually happen they will have to start building some kind of parking structures.

 

[mkt]

I am hoping that they add Valet to DTD soon. I remember when they used to have it, and I miss it

 

[Carolwood]

I remember a bunch of character-themed names for restaraunts, but not Chef Mickey's at the old Marketplace. There was Goofy's Grill, Pluto's Doghouse, Minnie Mia's Pizzaria, and an ice cream place with something to do with Donald.

Chef Mickey's was located there at one time, I remember eating there. If I'm not mistaken I believe it was in the area (roughly)that Rain Forest now occupies. I remember being able to look out at the water.

 

[Captain Chaos]

The Ice Cream place that was named for Donald was called DONALD'S DAIRY DIP. Wasn't Fultons once THE EMPRESS LILY? I rememebr having a character breakfast there on my first ever trip to WDW, when it was still Disney Village Marketplace.

 

[t3techcom18]

The Ice Cream place that was named for Donald was called DONALD'S DAIRY DIP. Wasn't Fultons once THE EMPRESS LILY? I rememebr having a character breakfast there on my first ever trip to WDW, when it was still Disney Village Marketplace.

Yeah, you're memory serves right! The ice cream shop was called that, and Fulton's was the Empress Lily. I have a little flag they gave out to people from there still up in my room!

 

[DisneyJill]

The Ice Cream place that was named for Donald was called DONALD'S DAIRY DIP. Wasn't Fultons once THE EMPRESS LILY? I rememebr having a character breakfast there on my first ever trip to WDW, when it was still Disney Village Marketplace.

Yes, the boat the Fulton's is on used to be called the Empress Lily. I went to a character breakfast there once as well. The food was awful. :lol: And Chef Mickey's was at one time at the Marketplace, in or around the Rainforest Cafe location.

PS, usually there are LOTS of open spots in the Westside lot behind the Cirque tent and House of Blues!! It's a little farther to walk-but always your choice of spots! :wave:

 

[Epcot82Guy]

The food at the Empress Lily was awful, and I was 9 at the time and remember thinking that! It kind of ruined character breakfasts for me forever! :lol:

Anyway, I wish they would build a parking structure. I also wish they would be a peoplemover to run along the outer rim of the DTD area with drop off points along the way, but we can all guess how likely that would be!

 

[KaliSplash]

There used to be a beef place at the front of the Empress Lily. Very good prime rib, as i recall. I never ate in the main dining area of the boat, which at one time a long time ago was considered one of the premiere spots to eat in all of Disney (which merely consisted of MK, Contemporary, Polynesian, the Disney Golf Resort (now Shades of Green), Ft. Wilderness and the Disney Village.

Was a decent bar downstairs with live music, too.

It was a long time ago.

 

[Blizz]

The only thing that is Disney owned is the little places in Pleasure Island (D-Zertz, Missing Link Sausage Co, etc...

To my knowledge though I don't belive Levy Restaurants opperates Captain Jacks.

 

[retroeric]

I know this has been talked about before on here but I am still hearing different storys...

As you may know, Levy Restaurants is Disney's allianced restaurant owner/operator in Downtown Disney. They own and/or operate Fulton's, Captain Jack's, Portabella Yacht, Wolfgang Puck, and maybe more?

I didn't realize Captain Jack's was Levy. Are you sure about this?

 

[tn1999]

not sure at all... i just know Captain Jack's is not owned by disney and is some sort of chain restaurant, owned by a large conglomerate like Levy, perhaps Landry's?.. which owns Joe's crab shack (or is it EAT AT JOE's) in front of Celebration on 192 and of course Rainforest Cafe.

 

[miles1]

There used to be a beef place at the front of the Empress Lily. Very good prime rib, as i recall. I never ate in the main dining area of the boat, which at one time a long time ago was considered one of the premiere spots to eat in all of Disney (which merely consisted of MK, Contemporary, Polynesian, the Disney Golf Resort (now Shades of Green), Ft. Wilderness and the Disney Village.

Was a decent bar downstairs with live music, too.

It was a long time ago.

And there was an awesome German Deli in the Market Place that had great sandwiches. It was always our first stop when we got there...but I can't remember the name from 20 years ago either...

 

[gregwardlow]

Parking is pretty hard to come by on the Marketplace/PI side, but would Disney really go for an elevated parking structure? I know there's one for cast members at MGM but wouldn't they consider one for guest use an eyesore? Would help out a lot, though - the walk from the ample parking by West Side isn't all that bad, but the crowd flow at places like the front of the Lego store are rough. I remember when PI opened it really opened up a ton of parking, it was great until they put that big bus depot thing in the middle.

 

[Blizz]

not sure at all... i just know Captain Jack's is not owned by disney and is some sort of chain restaurant, owned by a large conglomerate like Levy, perhaps Landry's?.. which owns Joe's crab shack (or is it EAT AT JOE's) in front of Celebration on 192 and of course Rainforest Cafe.

I can tell you Cap'n Jack's is not Landry's and from Levy's website its not them and I know its not Orlando-based Darden Restaurants (the widely popular chain including Bahama Breeze, Red Lobster, and Olive Garden, et. al. who also likes to theme their restaurants).

After some research I found this web site (http://www.flra.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.contentItem&ID=153) which makes it sound like it is a Disney owned restaurant. I say this because the staff at HOB Orlando is run by HOB just like Laundry's is the one responsible for the RFC employees. So... by stating that this woman is responsible for not only the Cap'n Jack's employees but also those that work at some of the other Disney run places in DTD, it is safe to assume that Cap'n Jack's is in fact Disney owned.

Just a note: The smallest restaurant company in all of DTD is the Earl of Sandwich. Run by Robert Earl and Gary Davis the minds behind Planet Hollywood and Hardrock Cafe. In total the company to date only owns 1 unit (the one in DTD) however their second is planned to open in NYC at the crossroads of the word, Times Square. They soon hope to pit themselves against Panera Bread and eventually Burger King (the company that they hired one of the executives away from).

 

[Empress Room]

Actually...

Yes, the boat the Fulton's is on used to be called the Empress Lily. I went to a character breakfast there once as well. The food was awful.

There were four restaurants and lounges on the Empress Lilly when it was opened and operated by Disney in 1977. For the better part of a decade, these restaurants were signature Disney, and provided some of the best meals and memorable evenings on property.

The ship was divided into three separate restaurants and one lounge - and its interior was amazingly themed with ornate detail (as I recall, one of the Disney family members actually "christened" the ship when it opened). Fisherman's Deck was the restaurant featuring fresh seafood, and was located near the front of the ship. Steerman's Quarters served excellent steaks and chops in a true steakhouse tradition. It was located in the middle third. The signature and destination restaurant was the Empress Room, an amazingly romantic and formal dining room whose bar area looked out over the turning paddle wheel (which was removed in the early 1990s together with the smokestacks) and whose main dining area was a "secret" tucked away intimate room near the rear of the ship. I was lucky enough to experience all three - had fantastic meals there - particularly at the Empress Room. The fourth public area was the Baton Rouge Lounge - which was a bar that played jazz music.

Levy's took over in the mid-1990s as part of a cost-saving move. This is when the character breakfasts started. The interior was eventually gutted to form one big restaurant, Fulton's Crabhouse.

It's too bad you didn't experience the Lilly in its heyday. It had so much Disney Magic and detail that it was memorable. Unfortunately, like a few other guest experiences over the years, bean counters won out over magical experiences. Alas...

 

[lawyergirl77]

There were four restaurants and lounges on the Empress Lilly when it was opened and operated by Disney in 1977. For the better part of a decade, these restaurants were signature Disney, and provided some of the best meals and memorable evenings on property.

The ship was divided into three separate restaurants and one lounge - and its interior was amazingly themed with ornate detail (as I recall, one of the Disney family members actually "christened" the ship when it opened). Fisherman's Deck was the restaurant featuring fresh seafood, and was located near the front of the ship. Steerman's Quarters served excellent steaks and chops in a true steakhouse tradition. It was located in the middle third. The signature and destination restaurant was the Empress Room, an amazingly romantic and formal dining room whose bar area looked out over the turning paddle wheel (which was removed in the early 1990s together with the smokestacks) and whose main dining area was a "secret" tucked away intimate room near the rear of the ship. I was lucky enough to experience all three - had fantastic meals there - particularly at the Empress Room. The fourth public area was the Baton Rouge Lounge - which was a bar that played jazz music.

Levy's took over in the mid-1990s as part of a cost-saving move. This is when the character breakfasts started. The interior was eventually gutted to form one big restaurant, Fulton's Crabhouse.

It's too bad you didn't experience the Lilly in its heyday. It had so much Disney Magic and detail that it was memorable. Unfortunately, like a few other guest experiences over the years, bean counters won out over magical experiences. Alas...

*sniffle*

I remember the Empress Room... You're right, it was delicious AND memorable. It's one of the things that I really miss whenever I go to WDW.