Levy Restaurants Deal

[Empress Room]

*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.

Although I am not one to hold onto past Disney attractions or images simply for the sake of tradition (and am equally open to seeing attractions and events change to bring about a new generation of magic) I never did quite understand Disney's decision to abondon the Empress Lilly and its theme. There was/is certainly a place for fine dining at Pleasure Island. I believe ultimately that a decision was made that the Lilly just didn't quite fit into the club/New Year's Every Night atmosphere Disney eventually set upon. It's too bad - it brought about a certain level of class and sophistication that the area now lacks.

 

[mathmagic]

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.

I know for sure that I was at a character breakfast at the Empress Lily in the early 1980s.

 

[vonpluto]

A list of the original Village eatries and wht happened to them. Fairly accurate (I hope<G>)

In what is now the Lego building:
•Verandah Resturant 1975 - 1985
ArtEspana 1986 - 1988
EuroSpain 1988 - 1994
Christmas Chalet 1994 - 7/97
•Donalds Dairy Dip
Village Ice Cream Parlor & Bake Shop 1975? - 1990
Donalds Dairy Dip 1990 - 1997
•Plutos Doghouse
Minnie Mias Italian Eatery (Next To Donalds Dairy Dip 1987-1990)
Plutos Doghouse 1994

•Captain Jack’s 1975 -

•Rainforest Cafe
Village Resturant 1975 - 1990
Chef Mickeys Village Resturant July 1990 - 9/30/95
Rainforest Cafe 1996 -

•Village Lounge (in Village restaurant)
Jazz Lounge 1975 - 82
Village Lounge 1982 - 95

•Wolfgang Pucks Express
Heidelbergers Deli 1975 -1986
All American Sandwich Shop 1986 - 1990
Minnie Mias Pizzeria 1990 - 1997
Wolfgang Pucks Express 6/97 -

•Ghiradelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop
Lite Bite 1975 - 1988
Lakeside Terrace 1988 - 1992
Goofy’s Grill 1992 - 1997
Ghiradelli 12/15/97 -

•Empress Lilly May 1, 1977 - April 22, 1995
Fishermens Deck
Steermans Quarters
Empress Room
Empress Lounge
Baton Rouge Lounge (Denny Zavett & Riverboat Rascals)
Character Breakfasts onboard The Lilly:
•Breakfast ala Disney
Empress Lilly 1982? - 1994
Chef Mickeys 1995
•Breakfast With Cap’n Mickey
Fultons 1995 - ?

•Earl of Sandwich
Gourmet Pantry 1975 - 2003
Earl of Sandwich 3/04 -

Frank

 

[ZHoyt]

Captain Jack's is indeed Disney owned and operated.

The Lilly (named for Walt's wife) was actually "managed" by her for many years. It was the Disney company's gift of sorts to her to have her own place. It is very sad to see how tacky it became.

 

[gregwardlow]

Wow, that's a great "history," vonpluto. Any chance you have the knowledge/sources to do the same for the retail locations? I'd love to see that! You get so used to something, like Chef Mickey's being in the Contemporary, it seems like it's been there forever but then somebody shines a flashlight on it and it's like "oh, yeah..."

 

[vonpluto]

Wow, that's a great "history," vonpluto. Any chance you have the knowledge/sources to do the same for the retail locations? I'd love to see that! You get so used to something, like Chef Mickey's being in the Contemporary, it seems like it's been there forever but then somebody shines a flashlight on it and it's like "oh, yeah..."

Here ya go...

Chalet Bldg
•Christmas Chalet 197? - 94
•Pottery Chalet 1975 - 87 (area taken by Christmas Chalet 1987)
Chalet Candle Shop 1975 - 86 (Combined into Pottery Chalet 1986)
China, Crystal & Silver (Combined into Pottery Chalet 1986)
Fine China 1975 - ?
China, Crystal & Silver ? - 86
•Guest Services 1975 - 95
•You & Me Kid 1988 - 95
•Personal Message 1988 - 91
•Toys Fantastique 1995
Building torn down to make way for World Of Disney 1995 - 1996

World of Disney Building
•World of Disney 10/96 -

Team Mickey Building
•Summer Sands
Sachet In 81? - 87
Bath Parlor 1975 - 86
Part of Character Shop 1988 - 1995
Toys Fantastique 1995 - 7/02
Summer Sands 8/02 -
•Team Mickey
Port of Entry 1975 - 19?
Village Character Shop ? - 1985
Mickey’s Character Shop 11/16/85 - 10/96
Character Holiday Shop Oct 1996 - 1/97
Christmas Chalet 1/97 - 7/97
Team Mickey 8/97 -
•EuroSpain
Cristal Arts (first section)
Collanade d’Arts 1975 - 77
Cristal Arts 1977 - 95
EuroSpain 1995 -
Cristal Arts (second section)
Cane Rattan Wicker & Sons 1975 -77?
Toledo Arts 1977 - 85
Cristal Arts 1985- 95
EuroSpain 1995 -
•Studio M
Von Ottos 1975 - ?
Great Southern Craft Co 19? - 1987
Lillie Langtrys ? - 94
Studio M 1997 -
•Basin
2R’s Read’n & Rite’n 1975 - 88
Great Southern Craft Co 1988 - 95
Discover 1995 - 7/97
Christmas Chalet 8/97 - 11/97
Disney At Home 11/97 - ?/99
Resort Wear Unlimited ?/99 - 5/00
Generation BeneFITS 6/00 - 7/02
Basin 1/03 -

Disney Days Of Christmas Building
•Team Mickey (orig store)
Sportswear 1975 - ?
Sassy’s ? - 88
Team Mickey 1988 - 1997
•Mickey & Co
Womens Accessories 1975 - 77
Plus You 1977 - ?
Shoe Time ? - 86
Country Address
Miss Merrily’s Madness 1975 - 85
Miss Merrily’s Fashions 1985
Country Address 1985 - 86
Mickey & Co 1986 - 90
•Team Mickey takes over all retail space 1990 - 1997
•Days of Christmas Opens using all retail space 11/97 -

Marina Bldg
•Pooh Corner (rehab 8/00 - 12/00 taking over Summer sands and existing Pooh corner)
•Summer Sands
Toys Fantastique 1975 - 1988
Conched Out 1988 - 1993
Discover 1993 - 1996
Summer Sands 1996 - 8/00
•Pooh Corner
Childrens Fashions 1975 - ?
Its A Small World After All ? - 1988
Board Stiff 1988 - 1992
The City 1992 - 1996
Authentic AllStar 1996 - 97
Pooh Corner 11/97 - 8/00
Pooh corner 12/00 -
•Goofy’s Candy Co.
Carolyns Couture 1975 - ?
Country Address 1975 - 1985
Resort Wear Unlimited 1985 - ?/99
Disney At Home ?/99 - 1/05
Goofy’s Candy Co. 4/05 -
•Great Southern Craft/Crafty Corner 1996 - 97
•Garden Center 12/99 - 1/05
•Disney Tails 7/04 -

Harrington Bay Clothiers Bldg
Sir Edwards Haberdasher 1975 - 91
Harrington Bay Clothiers 1991 - 7/01 (Torn down for Once Upon A Toy)

Once Upon A Toy (Replaced Harrington Bay)
7/02 -

Gourmet Pantry Bldg
Gourmet Pantry & Candy Shoppe 1975 - 2003
Earl of Sandwich 3/04 -
Goofy’s Candy Shop 2003 - 1/05
Mickey’s Pantry /05 -

Art of Disney Bldg
•Art of Disney
The Apothecary 1975 - ?
Village Gifts & Sundries ? - 1986
Country Address 1987 - 1994
Disney Gallery 1994
Art of Disney 8/28/94 -
•Wonderful World of Memories
Wines & Liquors 1975 - ?
Village Spirits ? - 1994
2R’s Read’n & Rite’n 1994 - 12/02?
Wonderful World of Memories 12/02? -

Cap’n Jacks Bldg
•Captain Jacks 1975 -
•Windjammer Dock Shop
Windjammer Mercantile 1975 - ?
Windjammer Dock Shop ? - 1995

Rainforest Bldg
•24k Precious Adornments
Fine Jewelry 1975 - 1977
24k Precious Adornments 1977 - 1995
•Rainforest Cafe
Village Resturant 1975 - 7/90
Chef Mickeys Village Resturant 7/90 - 9/30/95
Rainforest Cafe 8/6/96 -
•Village Lounge
Jazz Lounge ? - 1982
Village Lounge 1982 - 7/95
•Rainforest Lounge 1996 -
•Rainforest Shop 1996 -

Disney’s Pin Traders
Captains Tower 1977 - 1995, 1997 - 98, 1998 -
Character Kids Tower 1995 - 96
25th Anniversary Tower 1996-97
Village Tower 1997, 1998
Disney’s Pin Traders 7/02-

Here are some others whose dates are uncertain and location is unknown:
Flower Garden 1975 - 76?
Mens Hairstyling 1975 - ?
Posh Pets 1975 - ?
Post Office 1975 - 79
Sportswear 1975 - ?
Tobacco Shop 1975 - ?

 

[Blizz]

Captain Jack's is indeed Disney owned and operated.

Helps when you do the homework. LOL.

 

[nickcarraway]

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.

Not sure where you got your information from, but there is no elevated parking structure for Studios cast members. Come to think of it, I don't think there's an elevated parking structure anywhere on property. And, I believe, there is always parking over in the West Side lot behind La Nouba near the bridge to Saratoga Springs. It's just quite a jaunt.

 

[PhilharMagician]

A list of the original Village eatries and wht happened to them. Fairly accurate (I hope<G>)


•Empress Lilly May 1, 1977 - April 22, 1995
Fishermens Deck
Steermans Quarters
Empress Room
Empress Lounge
Baton Rouge Lounge (Denny Zavett & Riverboat Rascals)
Character Breakfasts onboard The Lilly:
•Breakfast ala Disney
Empress Lilly 1982? - 1994
Chef Mickeys 1995
•Breakfast With Cap’n Mickey
Fultons 1995 - ?


Frank

In October 1993 we tried to eat dinner at Fulton's Crab House and did not have reservations and they were packed. We instead ate at Captain Jack's.

 

[speck76]

Not sure where you got your information from, but there is no elevated parking structure for Studios cast members. Come to think of it, I don't think there's an elevated parking structure anywhere on property. And, I believe, there is always parking over in the West Side lot behind La Nouba near the bridge to Saratoga Springs. It's just quite a jaunt.

There is an elevated parking structure at MGM, near the newer building that was built for WDFA
clicky

 

[SGT623]

Not sure where you got your information from, but there is no elevated parking structure for Studios cast members. Come to think of it, I don't think there's an elevated parking structure anywhere on property.

Sorry, but there most certainly is. I've seen it many times.

 

[tn1999]

Not sure where you got your information from, but there is no elevated parking structure for Studios cast members. Come to think of it, I don't think there's an elevated parking structure anywhere on property. And, I believe, there is always parking over in the West Side lot behind La Nouba near the bridge to Saratoga Springs. It's just quite a jaunt.

I specifically remember a parking garage for cast members at the studios. Right after you pass the backstage area for RnRc on the left. Not a very large parking garage, but atleast 3 stories tall...

 

[peter11435]

Not sure where you got your information from, but there is no elevated parking structure for Studios cast members. Come to think of it, I don't think there's an elevated parking structure anywhere on property. And, I believe, there is always parking over in the West Side lot behind La Nouba near the bridge to Saratoga Springs. It's just quite a jaunt.

As has already been pointed out you are wrong. There is a paking garage built backstage near the WDFA building at the Studios. Additionaly there is a second parking garaga on WDW property. The other can be found at the Shade of Green Resort.

 

[mkt]

the MGM parking garage was for Feature Animation and authorized CM's only. The only time it becomes open parking for CM's is when they are doing backstage parking at MGM during the holidays. However, unless you work in certain parts of the park, that is the most inconvenient parking ever.

 

[Shaman]

It would be nice to see some sort of transportation within DTD...from the West Side to the Marketplace...some kind of trolley or something...that would add to the whole atmosphere of the place and offer an easier way to get from either extremes of DTD...it would also help with parking since West Side parking is better than PI/marketplace parking...and if it gets bad...I would think the parking spaces (near the bus stop area [do they use those anymore?]) on the West Side lot would be the best place to build a parking structure....

 

[speck76]

It would be nice to see some sort of transportation within DTD...from the West Side to the Marketplace...some kind of trolley or something...that would add to the whole atmosphere of the place and offer an easier way to get from either extremes of DTD...it would also help with parking since West Side parking is better than PI/marketplace parking...and if it gets bad...I would think the parking spaces (near the bus stop area [do they use those anymore?]) on the West Side lot would be the best place to build a parking structure....

there is a boat that runs from HoB to the Rainforest Cafe area

 

[Shaman]

there is a boat that runs from HoB to the Rainforest Cafe area

There is? :lookaroun

Oops. :lol:

Naw...something over land...on tracks...kinda like at the MK with the horses...:lookaroun

Or not...