Trattoria al Forno to replace Kouzzina by Cat Cora on Disney's BoardWalk

ABQ

Well-Known Member
But I don't see it as competition. People generally make their plans based on whether they want to be in the parks for their meal or not... or at least that is often a deciding factor. Which side of the gate they want to be on for that meal will likely impact which of those restaurants they choose. Therefore, it's not really a competitive thing between them.
But that's not true all the time. I think I'm an average guest and if I'm going to be in Epcot or even the Studios for a day and am looking for a dinner option that night, I'll look at everything from Epcot to the Boardwalk/Yacht/Beach and Swan/Dolphin. Before I had Italian in Epcot and Greek in the Boardwalk, now I have fewer varieties. Sure, I'm certain both places will book up with or without me, but one will not get my reservation when in previous year's I've dined at Kouzzina and Via Napoli in the same trip, but I'll never dine at Trattoria and Via Napoli in one visit.
 

cw1982

Well-Known Member
But that's not true all the time. I think I'm an average guest and if I'm going to be in Epcot or even the Studios for a day and am looking for a dinner option that night, I'll look at everything from Epcot to the Boardwalk/Yacht/Beach and Swan/Dolphin. Before I had Italian in Epcot and Greek in the Boardwalk, now I have fewer varieties. Sure, I'm certain both places will book up with or without me, but one will not get my reservation when in previous year's I've dined at Kouzzina and Via Napoli in the same trip, but I'll never dine at Trattoria and Via Napoli in one visit.

True. I was just thinking about it in terms of picking a place for one meal... not really thinking in terms of the whole trip. I'm still not sure that Via Napoli will feel much of a pinch just from the existence of this place for the reasons I outlined above (then again, if the new place offers gluten free pizza, this might be another story!) but you do make a good point. It'll be interesting to see what happens when all is said and done.
 

FutureCEO

Well-Known Member
Via Napoli isn't going to be hurting. Plus the company running the restaurant might even be the same company running the world showcase restaurants. It sounds like the same restaurant group from the name.
 

ABQ

Well-Known Member
Do you think Italian is just viewed as a safe bet? The location has had two restaurants that did not succeed.
Perhaps, and to @cw1982 's point of not entering the parks, the Boardwalk area when combined with the Swalphin, has a good amount of convention space which would imply a large number of people in the area that will not be entering the parks and will certainly help full the seats in the restaurant.
 

NiarrNDisney

Well-Known Member
Do you think Italian is just viewed as a safe bet? The location has had two restaurants that did not succeed.

I certainly do! Personally I loved Spoodles and never understood why the chose to replace it! Maybe Kouzzina would have done better if it was located in DTD where there is certainly more traffic, seeing how the Boardwalk can be difficult to get to for guests not staying at the resort or the other surrounding hotels. Plus there are quite a few other options available to those guests so maybe the space would be better as a low key TS option thats focused on breakfast and lunch since BWR already has a Signature and two other TS options that are heavily themed and frequented at night.
 

wdwmagic

Administrator
Moderator
Premium Member
Original Poster
I certainly do! Personally I loved Spoodles and never understood why the chose to replace it! Maybe Kouzzina would have done better if it was located in DTD where there is certainly more traffic, seeing how the Boardwalk can be difficult to get to for guests not staying at the resort or the other surrounding hotels. Plus there are quite a few other options available to those guests so maybe the space would be better as a low key TS option thats focused on breakfast and lunch since BWR already has a Signature and two other TS options that are heavily themed and frequented at night.
I'm not sure the location was an issue for Kouzzina - it got a lot of horrible reviews. There definitely seemed to be some issues at that restaurant. I only dined there once, for breakfast and thought it was good.

But you do raise a valid point that the BoardWalk is not the easiest place for some guests to get to. Or at least they think it isn't.
 

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
My comment is a business based one for Disney. THey are charging people nearly $100 per to get in Epcot. Now if a person wants to eat Napoleonic Italian they can now choose to park for free at the Boardwalk (or hotel) and go to the new place. I could see this REALLY hurting Tutto and Via since I would choose another restaurant on Epcot day than one in Italy and go to the new place for Italian food after a different park day.
Is Napoleonic Italian food dishes that were popular during the First French Empire? ;) I think you've been meaning Neapolitan.
 

seahawk7

Well-Known Member
I think that people who do not go to WDW regularly don't know about the International Gateway and might not see the boats taking off from HS. I think it was my third trip that I discovered it because I think I was just so immersed in the parks.
I think the discussions here have all valid points and I do wonder how Disney decided to put an Italian restaurant there. Do you think the post trip online surveys emailed to us about dining had something to do with it?

I don't have an AP so on a free day, I would look to eat at this new restaurant and explore the Boardwalk/Yacht/Beach Club area. I would also eat there if I toured Epcot during the day then wanted to go HS at night. Maybe is I can't get a reservation at Via Napoli and I'm craving their pizza, I will leave Epcot to go eat here and come back it. Maybe if I get tired of the sometimes bad service at Via Napoli I will eat here instead of Via Napoli.

I like the new option. Not disappointed one bit.
 

MarkTwain

Well-Known Member
Well, I will say that after Spoodles and Kouzzina, this seems to be a problematic location for restaurants... Perhaps too much proximity to World Showcase and Yacht & Beach Club. Maybe Disney thinks that a simple Italian restaurant would be a safer idea that would more likely be a hit with guests.
 

barnett

Member
As has been many times on this forum, if there is one thing that Disney does well it is to separate us from our money. If ANY type of restaurant was going to make more money than the planned Italian, that is what would be opening. Italian is a business decision plain and simple. And call me lazy but if I'm in Epcot and I want a nice pizza I'm going to stay in the park rather than take the time to go to the BW. If I was hotel hopping or spending a day outside the park, sure, I'd stop by the BW for dinner.
 

barnett

Member
Maybe they are trying to keep the Boardwalk theme...Boardwalk is New Jersey region...New Jersey is mostly Italians...Voila!!! I see the pattern.
I can only hope the comment about Jersey being mostly Italians is humor. We like our pizza but we are not mostly Italian. :)
 

DonaldDoleWhip

Well-Known Member
All Italian places are both overpriced and mediocre. Growing up Italian, Italian food at Disney is horrible. But it's good for those people who don't have great Italian restaurants near them.

Plus, a $20 meal for $2 pasta that you can get at the market is crazy for anywhere you get Italian food.

I haven't been to the fancy Itl place but I've only had Via Napoli for their amazing pizza and Tony's Town Square was ehhhh....never do it again sorta of place.
I count Via Napoli (and its sister restaurants - Tutto Italia and Tutto Gusto) in the overpriced group. They're all decent quality (and run by the same restaurant group), but are they $20 for an individual pizza (or $9 for some gelato) good? I don't think so. Tutto Italia suffers because it doesn't have anything memorable like the pizza, not because it's lower quality.

Il Mulino also disappointed me - everything I had there was average quality for Italian but very expensive. Mama Melrose's is a joke, and I've never tried Tony's but don't think I'm missing out.

In comparison, Vivo at Universal offers surprisingly decent quality at reasonable prices for a restaurant in the theme park bubble. I'll try this new one to see how it compares to Vivo, but given Disney's history, I'm not convinced.
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom