There is a catch the competition in the area if you are on the Disney Dining plan because Il Mullino isn't on the Disney Dining plan due to Disney not owning the Swan and Dolphin.
I love your avatar lol
They're also very expensive for what they are. Still, I guess it would be better for the new restaurant to be overpriced but good (like the ones in Epcot run by Patina Group) rather than overpriced and mediocre (Disney-operated restaurants such as Tony's and Mama Melrose's).
The thing with Italian restaurants is there is only a small percent that are great. Italian food is most likely the highest profit food in the restaurant world. Most Italian restaurants taste almost the same there is a few that are superior but not many. You can make a pasta dish for 2 dollars and charge over 15 dollars.
It has not been confirmed but I would say no.
The thing is, because Italian food is so accessible and cheap at home, it seems foolish to me to pay theme park prices for standard Italian dishes. Clearly, other people feel differently, as most Italian spots at Disney are fairly popular. Via Napoli particularly stands out, and even though the prices are ridiculous, the 'per person' cost is reasonable (for Disney) if 2 or more people split a pie.
Being so common everywhere else is probably a big part of why the Italian restaurants at Walt Disney World are so popular.
Yea I see your point. What would you have wanted to see replace Kouzzina?
Honestly, that's really hard to answer. I would've loved to see another take on Mediterranean/Greek, but clearly Disney couldn't get that concept right with Spoodles or Kouzzina. Some diners found the food too exotic, while others recognized that it wasn't authentic.
It's interesting what you say about Mediterranean and Greek food and I think you are right because Restaurant Marrakesh and Spice Road Table are not in high demand. Spice Road Table was always empty when we looked inside and Restaurant Marrakesh always has availability. I'm not sure about Tangierine Cafe.Honestly, that's really hard to answer. I would've loved to see another take on Mediterranean/Greek, but clearly Disney couldn't get that concept right with Spoodles or Kouzzina. Some diners found the food too exotic, while others recognized that it wasn't authentic.
A seafood restaurant would also be redundant (with Flying Fish next door and bluezoo nearby) and so would a steakhouse (Yachtsman, Le Cellier and Shula's are close).
I would've loved to see the place become a quick service restaurant (or at least have it be split up into quick service and table service, since it's such a massive dining room), but the profit margins on quick service are clearly lower than on TS meals. Still, the Epcot resort area could've seriously used a proper quick service location.
The Thai concept mentioned earlier could be interesting, or perhaps Asian fusion incorporating many Southeast Asian cuisines (Vietnamese, Malaysian, etc). But that also seems too 'exotic' for many visitors.
Perhaps the real solution would be to turn that space into a giant DVC kiosk or Duffy store. Otherwise, I guess Italian is worth a shot.
If you want to be fancy just drink with your pinky up as Patrick advised SpongeBoB Squarepants.
