New parking structure

I can see the bakery being happy, but I doubt the movie theatre is. I would think most people going to that theatre are not going to the parks that day (why take 2-3 hours out of your park day, as expensive as park tickets are)? Some maybe, but I would think most movie patrons are locals coming specifically for a movie. If the same movie is showing at a multiplex without a security check, why not go to that one instead? Although maybe those fearful of a mass shooting might actually see it as a plus.

Had it been my decision, I think I've had kept the west side security where it was, or moved back slightly west, and then had the M&F security as they're planning it, with the trams dropping off east of the current security. Thus the large crowds parking in M&F have an improved security experience all-tolled (IF implemented correctly at M&F), and those coming from DTD and the hotels have an improved situation as well by not being mixed in with the hordes from M&F. And you only have 2 checkpoints instead of 4, and don't need to go through security if you're a local just wanting to go to DTD. That seems the best compromise to me. But of course it wasn't my decision.

 

I honestly don't really know who the primary market of the AMC is. Locals would probably prefer a theater where parking is free, and out of town tourists would probably rather spend their time in the parks. I bet some tourists see movies there on a half day if they're arriving/departing, and some APers who are bored with the parks, but I honestly don't think either is enough to supply a huge stream of customers

I've seen a couple movies there, and there's never been much of a crowd

 

I've never parked at DTD but isn't 3 hours of parking or less free? Or did they change it?

 

Get there at rope drop to beat the crowds/heat. When it gets hot/crowded, midday break at the hotel AMC theater. Back to the parks when it cools a bit.

 

I saw The Force Awakens on opening day at that AMC. I went to Disneyland in the morning and then to the movie at one. It was a nice day and the theater wasn't packed.

 

2 hours is free, and you can get your ticket validated for 2 additional hours at table service restaurants or the AMC. That said, if you're trying to do dinner and a movie, it will be a real struggle to squeeze it into the 4 hours you get for free. I've also struggled to make it through runDisney expos at the DLH in the 2 hour window, due to their nightmarish crowd control and tiny capacity relative to the size of the events (and race days will be a brand new fresh hell, with the added security around DTD which was already a fluster-cluck, but it should be a big improvement the other 355 days of the year)

On the bright side for the movie theater, they often lift the exit gates late at night and everybody gets out for free. It's been years since I last tried this (DTD parking rates jumped way up in the meantime) but it seems pretty reliable for anybody who is going to a movie that will get out after midnight...or if someone wants to spend all day in the parks and cheat the system

 

Interesting, thanks. It should be pretty easy just to see a movie (with no dinner) while parking for free, at least.

 

This is precisely why they need to convert the theater into a dine-in theater. How many people take a couple of hours to have a meal (and a couple of drinks) in DtD today anyway? If you could reserve seat at a movie theater, watch a movie while you eat and drink, and then return to the parks, I think they would see an uptick in patrons. After all, there is a shortage of dining options at night in DtD right now - this would be an easy way to add another one.

 

I like that idea. It's also something out of the ordinary, which is what people want when they're at DLR.

 

I believe the AMC in Disney Springs (formerly known as DTD) was one of the pilot locations when they first started with their dine-in concept, and as far as I know it's still going. It obviously reduces the number of seats available in any given theater (and requires some additional kitchen space), but given that the one in Anaheim is rarely half-full I think it could work

That said, I'm not sure there's really a shortage of dining options right now in DTD. Yes, the waits can be long on weekend nights, but it seems like DTD has a crazy high "table service restaurant" to "retail" ratio. In a way, it almost seems like DTD is a victim of its own success, which is ironic considering how much GardenWalk is struggling just a few blocks away. I imagine the HOB replacement will add a couple new dining locations, and there will probably be some sort of minor expansion north of the ESPN Zone/Rainforest to connect to the 4th hotel in a couple years

 

Yep, I have been there a few times. I love it. Great way to have an entertaining meal. Plus they have a full bar and bring you cocktails into the theater while you are watching a movie. And how often do you get to reserve a dinner spot at a specific time (the movie start time) and have no doubt that you will be sitting down precisely on time? If they had that in Anaheim, I would go. As it is, I have never seen a movie there.

I dunno, when I was there a couple weeks ago, getting a reservation at ANY of the DtD restaurants was nearly impossible even days in advance. And my brother is a bartender at one of the restaurants in DtD so he has a pretty good feel for it day-to-day. He sees that all of the restaurants are full most of the time. He thinks DtD could easily handle another 2-3 restaurants and, from what I have seen, I think so too.

And call me crazy, but I think the "restaurant/retail ratio" is actually too low - for the most part I eat/drink in DtD and shop in the parks. Given the high turnover of retail stores and the lackluster offerings they have in DtD today, I doubt I am alone. Does anyone do much shopping there?

 

not until you mentioned the sit down restaurant to retail ratio did i realize how many eateries there are. Its funny though because i enjoy eating in DTD when i go to the resort and for some reason we always have a difficult time getting seats or if we do the wait time is so high.
I also find the amount of variety of foods lacking but it could be because i am not a huge hamburger, pizza and pasta eater so never really go to places like rainforest or Naples. I do wish they would get some eateries that offer more international foods

 

Well, it IS an amusement park area so they do have to appeal to masses of people. And don't forget there is also a steakhouse (Catal), Mexican (Tortilla Jo's) and the Jazz Kitchen. Plus, have you noticed the food trucks that are semi-permanently stationed near the DLH? My problem is more with the quantity of sit-down options rather than the quality - I don't expect a huge variety in a place like that. That being said, adding an Asian (Japanese, Thai, or Chinese) sit-down restaurant would be nice.

Hey, what if they re-themed the movie theater to resemble Grauman's Chinese Theater, made it a dine-in theater, and served Chinese food??

 

I have seen the food trucks and some of the other smaller venues and do see that they are popular and needed to attract theme park guests.

I guess I'm just not one that enjoys eating while walking or sitting somewhere near a planter. I prefer a sit down Restauarant and a variety would with different price ranges to appeal to the masses.

Bet you if the added Vietnamese place that sold PHO'. Or an Asian fushion sit down eatery it would be busy. I would even enjoy a Sushi bar.

 

There used to be a Japanese/sushi restaurant in the Paradise Pier Hotel, which closed around 2008. I think the restaurant pre-dated Disney's ownership of the hotel, but obviously it was pretty far off the beaten path; I didn't even know it ever existed until a couple months ago. The space has been vacant since the restaurant closed, so it seems like they don't have a lot of confidence in the concept

 

Interesting that you should mention that Ferret, as that was the spot they used to take us Tokyo bound cast members for "an authentic Japanese meal" on our way to Japan (it was included in the orientation packet and everything!).

Never quite understood the point of that (I mean we were, after all, going to be thoroughly surrounded by Japanese restaurants just days later lol), but there you have it. I myself, hurried to scarf down my lunch so as to get back into the park asap (coming from Florida, the Disneyland experience was a rare and special treat...Japanese food, not so much).

 

Yah, that's really strange. You would think that most CMs would want one last hurrah with American food. If you didn't like Japanese food, it was probably too late to back out at that point

 

I have never been to a Japanese restuarant that is not crowded, seems like it has become quite a popular food.
I think the problem with the one in Paradise Pier hotel was its location add to that the limited amount of people that knew about it which included mostly hotel guests and the eatery didn't have a chance.
I am surprised to hear that the area is still vacant and that Disney hasn't turned it into some kind of character Buffet for the guests

 

I'm also surprised that they haven't turned it into something, but PPH already has a character meal at the PCH Café; I really don't think they need 2 in such close proximity. I've spent some time in the PPH lobby bar (a truly depressing experience for a Disney joint), and there's just not a lot of traffic over there in the evening. I really don't know what they could put in the old Yamabuki space that would draw people over, short of some cult hit like Trader Sam's

Each time I've been in the PPH in recent years, it really just feels like Disney is waiting it out until they can tear the whole thing down and rebuild. It's in pretty good condition, but the design is really dated (late 90's paint and accessories on early 80's infrastructure), the elevators are inadequate, and it just seems borderline abandoned. Obviously they have no trouble filling the hotel rooms at ridiculous rates, so there's little incentive for major investments, but my gut is that they want to tear it down in about 5-7 years

 

Orientation.....double meaning in that case, lol.