The Downtown Disney Thread

[SSG]

That is a long construction wall.

 

[Disney Analyst]

That is a long construction wall.

You know what they say... the bigger the bakery ...

 

[mickEblu]

You know what they say... the bigger the bakery ...

The more Potato Balls?

 

[Disney Analyst]

The more Potato Balls?

The harder the loaf.

 

[Disney Irish]

That is a long construction wall.

That means they aren't doing this is phases, they will move on this quickly.

 

[coffeefan]

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

Those walls are endless - saw them earlier this week. They go practically up to the DCA entrance. It's going to be a very large spot but it just seems odd to me to have a chain restaurant right at the gate. It's not very "immersive".

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Concept art doesn't look like they are adding Grand Californian rooms above them, seems like a missed opportunity considering how scarce DVC rooms at GC are.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Those walls are endless - saw them earlier this week. They go practically up to the DCA entrance. It's going to be a very large spot but it just seems odd to me to have a chain restaurant right at the gate. It's not very "immersive".

I mean, construction is construction. That's what happens. I'm sure the actual building doesn't utilize every single inch of that space and some of it is just necessary buffer until they're finished.

And perhaps Porto's is passe to you, but it's a small niche operator limited to a specific regional area. To me, that's different from putting in something huge and national. It's not like they're putting a McDonald's in that spot.

They're replacing a bakery with a bakery. It's logical. Maybe it'll look a bit weird, but it also seemed to be clear that the demand Porto's would face would mean the La Brea building was insufficient. I'm sure it will look fine when all is said and done, and even if it doesn't, it's not like Downtown Disney is particularly cohesive or that the esplanade is particularly immersive. It's the equivalent of a bricked-over football field much of the time.

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

it just seems odd to me to have a chain restaurant right at the gate

Isn't Earl also a chain?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Isn't Earl also a chain?

Yes - but they aren’t common around California which is what I think that poster was referring to. I’m not sure how common Porto’s is- I’m not familiar with them at all.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Isn't Earl also a chain?

Sure is.

Larger than Porto's too, though not dramatically so (it appears as though Porto's will have seven locations with this one opening, while EOS has ~30 locations.

 

[Disney Irish]

Yes - but they aren’t common around California which is what I think that poster was referring to. I’m not sure how common Porto’s is- I’m not familiar with them at all.

Both currently have the same amount of locations around California at 6 each. This new DTD location will be Porto’s 7th.

The main difference is that Porto’s is a local SoCal chain whereas Earl’s is a larger chain in multiple states and Canada. Though Porto’s has now expanded to ship their baked goods nationwide.

So really I think the argument that it’s odd to have a chain right at the main gate is not realizing that location has always had chains in it from La Brea to Earl’s to now Porto’s. The Porto’s location will just now be bigger. Not to mention all the other chain businesses that have location in Disney properties. Anyone remember McDonald’s INSIDE the gates?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Earl’s is a larger chain in multiple states and Canada.

And Paris! I’m neither proud or embarrassed to say my first meal in Paris was at the earl

 

[Disney Irish]

And Paris! I’m neither proud or embarrassed to say my first meal in Paris was at the earl

There is technically two locations in the Philippines as well, but I wasn't counting the international location since most here wouldn't know about them outside of maybe Paris.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Earl of Sandwich might be of the top two restaurants at Disneyland Paris.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

The construction walls look as long as World of Disney's footprint and land right before the entrance gate, not back where LaBrea/Earl was with two ticket booths between them and the park entrance, which blocked it both physically and visually.

I would object less if it was a Jock Lindsay's or something else uniquely Disney-themed rather than somewhere SoCal workplaces order from daily for lunch. Having a chain restaurant right at the park gate, as I said, is not immersive. It might as well be In 'N' Out. People like the food and it's very "California" but it would be just another 3rd party place shoved by the park gate. It's just a sad missed opportunity for something better.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Maybe that’s where they are building the new trolley barn? (A dream is a wish your heart makes!)

 

[PiratesMansion]

The construction walls look as long as World of Disney's footprint and land right before the entrance gate, not back where LaBrea/Earl was with two ticket booths between them and the park entrance, which blocked it both physically and visually.

Yes, because it's bigger. The two ticket booths that were there are being demolished to compensate. People have said multiple times that there's no way keeping the La Brea building as is would be enough to handle demand. I was surprised to learn, checking Yesterland, that La Brea itself was expanded at one point. It seems like there is a clear market for people wanting coffee and baked goods before they head to the parks; if there wasn't, they wouldn't be expanding the site's footprint.

And again, I struggle with the idea of the sanctity of the Esplanade. It was never anything special! I don't understand why we're kind of mourning it! The core of it is still there intact! And as I said, just because the construction walls extend that far doesn't necessarily mean the building will extend that entire length when it's done.

I would object less if it was a Jock Lindsay's or something else uniquely Disney-themed rather than somewhere SoCal workplaces order from daily for lunch. Having a chain restaurant right at the park gate, as I said, is not immersive. It might as well be In 'N' Out. People like the food and it's very "California" but it would be just another 3rd party place shoved by the park gate. It's just a sad missed opportunity for something better.

Again, this will literally be the seventh location of Porto's. The 7th! By that logic, La Brea was certainly objectionable as a chain too, by virtue of its bread being sold in stores all over the country and its two locations by the time it closed. So while it's technically a chain, Panera this isn't. If some people have already had too much Porto's and have grown bored with it, that is entirely on them. There are only so many people out there who have even had Porto's, let alone have seemingly overdosed on it.

There's a huge difference between Porto's (seven. locations.) and something like In-n-Out.

It's interesting how people don't like that we've getting rid of a lot of the Californian stuff, and yet others are decrying when California stuff is being put in. Can't please everybody, I guess.

And let's be real, if they weren't building Porto's here, the most logical thing for Disney to do would be to build a gigantic Starbucks in the same spot. That would be much more likely than a quaint little Disney bakery themed however you would personally desire. Be careful what you wish for. If it weren't Porto's it would likely be something much worse. So let's be thankful that they're bringing in a beloved independent relatively local bakery rather than go with the obvious alternative.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

It seems like there is a clear market for people wanting coffee and baked goods before they head to the parks; if there wasn't, they wouldn't be expanding the site's footprint.

Doesn’t the expanded footprint expand for the sit down restaurant?

This whole project has been so odd to watch… when was this announced again?