Post by johnb on Jan 20, 2024 15:21:25 GMT -5
The Big River closing got me thinking about how much the Boardwalk has changed since we first went there in 2004.
2004 (from memory)--ESPN/arcade/bakery/Spoodles/Seashore Sweets/Flying Fish/gift shop/Big River
2024--Cake Bake (under construction)/ice cream/deli/Trattoria al Forno/Abracadabar/FF/gift shop/vacant
On the boardwalk--games are mostly unchanged; Boardwalk to go closed (corn dogs opening sometime); margarita stand (what year did this open??); photo booth, lots of new "buskers."
Questions/observations/discussion...
IMO, the new lineup of buskers sucks. Magic and juggling > jumping and flipping any day. The really fun performers know how to make a connection with the audience. Does anyone else remember Bill (juggling and balancing act), Sasha, Carlo, Bryan (still my all-time favorite), Coney Island Chris? They told silly jokes and involved the crowd in their acts. The tricks/stunts were the same every time, but it was the unpredictable banter with audience members that made the shows memorable. After dinner, we'd stay on the Boardwalk from at least an hour to catch multiple shows. Now, we rarely bother. We might stop and watch for a few minutes then move on.
Flying Fish has been very consistent over 20 years. Staff has come and gone, but every meal we've had there has been (letter grade) a solid B to an A+++. It is, and will always be, my favorite WDW restaurant.
Trattoria al Forno--I want to love it, but I just like it. Service has been B- to A+; food C to B+. Breakfast more consistent than dinner.
Corn dog stand--why does WDW need to copy DL? Come up with something good but original. Look at what is popular on the boardwalks like Ocean City, MD, Ocean City, NJ, etc. and put the Disney touch on it. Fresh cut fires with an assortment of dipping sauces. Soft ice cream and water ice. Inappropriate t-shirts (j/k--that's Wildwood, NJ).
ESPN out/Cake Bake in--I'm waiting for the WDW "story" about how Cecelia McMoney, the wife of Wall St. tycoon Cyrus McMoney, in 1922 in Coney Island had a vision to open a fancy, frilly bakery on the Brooklyn water front...now Disney s making that dream come true...bleck!! I'm not gonna buy that story, just like I'm not buying their story that Guardians makes sense in Epcot!!!!
Abracadabar--another place I want to love but just like. Old fart comment--I don't like kids making unnecessary noise running around a bar while their parents ignore them, and that's somewhat common at Abracadabar. It's 9:30, Epcot just closed, let's put a few down while Billy and Susie jump from high top chair to high top chair and annoy the other guests. Drinks are good, sometimes inconsistent. Chill your glassware!! A cocktail that is meant to be cold, but served in a room temp glass, isn't appealing.
Edy's/Ample Hills--I really liked Ample Hills, and didn't mind paying the quality ice cream. I won't pay premium prices for supermarket ice cream, so I haven't been to the new place. It seems less busy than Ample Hills was.
The pizza window--I know it's popular. I think it's an "ooh, big slice" vs. "ooh, this is quality pizza" thing. The one and only time I tried it was the only time in memory that I threw away a half eaten slice of pizza. Too much flavorless cheese, dull flavorless sauce, soggy uninspired crust. One and done.
The new tables by the water--very nice addition.
Deli/Bakery--same thing different name. Just my "I think I know why WDW made this change" hunch--sandwiches have a higher profit margin than bakery goods; "bakery" says sweets, "deli" says "sandwiches." More sandwiches...more dinero.
Big picture/overall--change isn't always a good thing.
2004 (from memory)--ESPN/arcade/bakery/Spoodles/Seashore Sweets/Flying Fish/gift shop/Big River
2024--Cake Bake (under construction)/ice cream/deli/Trattoria al Forno/Abracadabar/FF/gift shop/vacant
On the boardwalk--games are mostly unchanged; Boardwalk to go closed (corn dogs opening sometime); margarita stand (what year did this open??); photo booth, lots of new "buskers."
Questions/observations/discussion...
IMO, the new lineup of buskers sucks. Magic and juggling > jumping and flipping any day. The really fun performers know how to make a connection with the audience. Does anyone else remember Bill (juggling and balancing act), Sasha, Carlo, Bryan (still my all-time favorite), Coney Island Chris? They told silly jokes and involved the crowd in their acts. The tricks/stunts were the same every time, but it was the unpredictable banter with audience members that made the shows memorable. After dinner, we'd stay on the Boardwalk from at least an hour to catch multiple shows. Now, we rarely bother. We might stop and watch for a few minutes then move on.
Flying Fish has been very consistent over 20 years. Staff has come and gone, but every meal we've had there has been (letter grade) a solid B to an A+++. It is, and will always be, my favorite WDW restaurant.
Trattoria al Forno--I want to love it, but I just like it. Service has been B- to A+; food C to B+. Breakfast more consistent than dinner.
Corn dog stand--why does WDW need to copy DL? Come up with something good but original. Look at what is popular on the boardwalks like Ocean City, MD, Ocean City, NJ, etc. and put the Disney touch on it. Fresh cut fires with an assortment of dipping sauces. Soft ice cream and water ice. Inappropriate t-shirts (j/k--that's Wildwood, NJ).
ESPN out/Cake Bake in--I'm waiting for the WDW "story" about how Cecelia McMoney, the wife of Wall St. tycoon Cyrus McMoney, in 1922 in Coney Island had a vision to open a fancy, frilly bakery on the Brooklyn water front...now Disney s making that dream come true...bleck!! I'm not gonna buy that story, just like I'm not buying their story that Guardians makes sense in Epcot!!!!
Abracadabar--another place I want to love but just like. Old fart comment--I don't like kids making unnecessary noise running around a bar while their parents ignore them, and that's somewhat common at Abracadabar. It's 9:30, Epcot just closed, let's put a few down while Billy and Susie jump from high top chair to high top chair and annoy the other guests. Drinks are good, sometimes inconsistent. Chill your glassware!! A cocktail that is meant to be cold, but served in a room temp glass, isn't appealing.
Edy's/Ample Hills--I really liked Ample Hills, and didn't mind paying the quality ice cream. I won't pay premium prices for supermarket ice cream, so I haven't been to the new place. It seems less busy than Ample Hills was.
The pizza window--I know it's popular. I think it's an "ooh, big slice" vs. "ooh, this is quality pizza" thing. The one and only time I tried it was the only time in memory that I threw away a half eaten slice of pizza. Too much flavorless cheese, dull flavorless sauce, soggy uninspired crust. One and done.
The new tables by the water--very nice addition.
Deli/Bakery--same thing different name. Just my "I think I know why WDW made this change" hunch--sandwiches have a higher profit margin than bakery goods; "bakery" says sweets, "deli" says "sandwiches." More sandwiches...more dinero.
Big picture/overall--change isn't always a good thing.
