I worry that they’re doing this with the idea of keeping Pirates on Lightning Lane
I worry that they’re doing this with the idea of keeping Pirates on Lightning Lane
Most likely but I can’t understand why. The perceived value doesn’t really change because of POTC. Unlike DCA where they added Mermaid to increase the perceived value of LL for families with little ones.
It's hard to see the utility of using Port Royal Curios as extended queue for Pirates unless the Royal St. Veranda (in red) goes away to allow a connection to the existing queue...and to devote its outdoor seating as additional queue space.
But even then, it's a modest amount of square footage to add for queue, and the project seems questionable as to whether it's worth losing a quick-service food location and retail. The only way it really makes sense to me is if this is all to allow for a staircase connection (inside Port Royal) to the Dream Suite/Disney Gallery/apartment space above, where the queue would continue, allowing for a more comprehensive solution to the Pirates queue problem.
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Tokyo uses the Dream Suite space. But also, it's not just having an expensive place for dinner, it's that they can host important business partners there. They can wine and dine potential collaborators.The rumor is that the queue will be expanded into the Royal Street Verranda and Port Royal space. They probably just don’t want construction walls up during the 70th. Not to mention having the eatery down. But good point, if they were serious about this they would use the Dream Suite space too. Maybe they have their eye on a Club 33 expansion. Or perhaps they re not willing to part with those 15k dinners they charge people. I wonder how often that’s booked?
The removal of the Royal St. Veranda was part of the original rumor. Take a look at their current menu. They went from serving gumbo and bread bowls to now only offering chicken salad sandwiches and cheesy biscuits. A menu in slow decline seems like a good indicator that the restaurant is on its way out the door.It's hard to see the utility of using Port Royal Curios as extended queue for Pirates unless the Royal St. Veranda (in red) goes away to allow a connection to the existing queue...and to devote its outdoor seating as additional queue space.
If you add up the restaurant area with the shop and "possibly" the court next to it, you'd gain a pretty descent amount of queue space. I don't believe the goal is to completely get rid of overflow into the riverfront, but more to keep the queue from going out as far as Tiana's Palace on really busy days.But even then, it's a modest amount of square footage to add for queue, and the project seems questionable as to whether it's worth losing a quick-service food location and retail.
I personally doubt this as the suite (now called 21 Royal) is still an active income stream for Disney. https://www.21royaldisneyland.com/The only way it really makes sense to me is if this is all to allow for a staircase connection (inside Port Royal) to the Dream Suite/Disney Gallery/apartment space above, where the queue would continue, allowing for a more comprehensive solution to the Pirates queue problem.
Tokyo uses the Dream Suite space. But also, it's not just having an expensive place for dinner, it's that they can host important business partners there. They can wine and dine potential collaborators.
Here's a look at what some of the extended queue looks like for Tokyo's Pirates, which is set up just like ours. Their extended queue is on the left though, where our treehouse is, ours would be on the right. You can also see where it goes upstairs into the Dream Suite space. If they put the same care into it that they did with Haunted Mansion, I'm certain it will be a tactfully done job.
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Check out this video to see the queue:
I do sometimes think the value of that revenue is over-stated. Even if they do $18k per night, booked 365 nights a year, it's $7 million gross. Then you have all the ops nuisance (it's a weird side-gig), chefs, servers, booking, food costs. So even less goes to the bottom line. I'm not sure it's booked every night, with all considered, who knows, maybe it does $5 million net? It sounds like a lot until compared to the fact that to make $7 million they just need an extra 100 guests at the park each day.I personally doubt this as the suite (now called 21 Royal) is still an active income stream for Disney. https://www.21royaldisneyland.com/
Personally I don’t want to see the dream suite space shuttered for queue line space.
I’d love for it to become the Disney gallery again
I think Disney should relaunch a lottery to win a stay in the dream suite!I’d love for it to become the Disney gallery again
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