Originally Posted By jonvn So it's open now, right? When it opened, did western civilization fall? Did it end the war in Iraq? How was it? Did anyone go?
Originally Posted By smeeeko I'm not sure what all is open there.. We drove by on Friday evening and saw the "now open" sign on Bubba Gump and there was the CPK but not sure if that was finished.. The Cheesecake factory looked as if it was having staff meetings outside (or training).. I don't know what sort of business if any they are getting yet as a lot of it still looks like construction zone. When we had dinner Friday night we went to our old standby favorite, Super Mex in Fullerton. =)
Originally Posted By smeeeko I wanted to put my 5cents in.. (now that I finally read through the whole thing). I agree that a lot of the business is going to be tourists and convention -goers. While a lot of folks may opt for the hotel, I know when we attended Anime EXPO (when it was in Anaheim) we didn't want to go home during the day and walked down to the Subway on Harbor. We realized there weren't a lot of options for having a bite to eat. I mean you can go to Red Robin or whatever but you're limited if you are walking or don't know the area too well. Having the mall will be a plus for those folks. That said, I think Americans in general are spoiled. I know we are. Even living in downtown LA where there isn't a lot for folks living downtown (we have farmers markets and like one grocery store, so we often drive to West Hollywood or Silverlake/ Atwater Village for Trader Joe's and Costco or Target). We do have some of those same restaurants.. Roy's Hawaiian Fusion as well as the McCormick & Schmicks (I've not eaten at either and they are right here) We don't do Applebees or Cheesecake factory or a lot of those chains.. My mom eats at Applebees so they have their fans. They will get customers. For those of us who go to DLR and don't eat at those places hopefully our 'regular' places will still be there. I don't dis the mall because I know when I am somewhere else I am a tourist there. When we are at WDW I look forward to going to Steak N Shake at least once. I grew up in the Midwest and while Steak N Shake is no In N Out burger, it's someplace I miss very much when one can't eat there. I assume that if we are in the DLR area and have a need to, we may go to the mall. I won't count us out on that, but based on what I've heard so far, there's the mall in Orange and the Irvine Spectrum and plenty of other places, not to mention the endless other malls in the LA county area.. Yes we are spoiled. However, I don't think the AGW will suffer for it.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "I don't know what sort of business if any they are getting yet as a lot of it still looks like construction zone." That doesn't surprise me as there was nothing more than steel frames on the site when I drove past in late July.
Originally Posted By TP2000 >>"I guess you're just too cool for IHOP, eh?"<< No, Jon, you are wrong. I'm not even cool enough to call it "IHOP" in casual conversation. I usually still call it International House of Pancakes, that's how unhip I am. What I am too cool for is eating at a 40 year old restaurant that needs a good hosing down and deep disinfectant treatment. Been in that pancake place lately? It's dirty, dingy and disgusting. Probably one of the worst looking restaurants in the chain. And it's just got this film of grease and neglect and grime all over it. I'm too cool to eat in any place like that, no matter what the price is on the Fresh N' Fruity Rooty Tooty this month. Drove by the Bubba Gump lace today at lunch and peeked inside. They had the side doors rolled up, a half dozen employees standing out front under a giant NOW OPEN banner and a huge balloon arch, and exactly one table with customers. The rest of the place was empty. Guess I'm not the only one who has no emotional attachment to that old Forest Gump movie.
Originally Posted By jonvn "Been in that pancake place lately?" No. I don't have any reason to eat in places around there. I don't travel down to SoCal to visit the lovely enclave of Anaheim. If I want to eat breakfast, I'll go to the RiverBelle Terrace or Carnation place and get it there. "Guess I'm not the only one who has no emotional attachment to that old Forest Gump movie." As I've said, I have no understanding as to why the chain even exists. I thought the movie was OK enough until I ate at one of these places, and got totally overdosed on the thing. It was on TV the other day, and I could not even watch it.
Originally Posted By juicer Is it possible to walk through the Garden Walk? Or are the now open restaurants on the outside of the mall? And Wow...I have never seen a Bubba Gumps not being busy! I guess no one knows its open yet - they might be going through a "soft opening" - to get ready for the busy times comming up.
Originally Posted By jonvn This is a very slow time of the year for these sorts of places, and it JUST opened, so no one likely knows it is even there yet. It will probably get busy closer to xmas.
Originally Posted By TP2000 I don't think they are trying for a "soft opening". The big 20 foot tall balloon arch over the front doors with waitresses standing on the sidewalk holding more balloons and waving at passing cars, and the massive banner strung across the side of the building that says "GRAND OPENING!!!" would pretty much ruin any chance of having a traditional "soft opening" where they ramp up slowly and quietly. The place is open and fully staffed and trying to get anyone who passes by to dine there. So far, it didn't appear to be working. But then, their location is on Katella across from a Disneyland employee parking lot and two crack-den sleazy motels. Not exactly prime real estate. And the rest of the mall is still closed off and under major construction. There is no foot traffic on Katella to speak of, except for people visiting the crack-den motels for "supplies". The place is completely cut off from the Resort guests. Until GardenWalk opens in May and it's possible to walk from one end of the mall to the other, they are going to need to get a replacement balloon arch every few days when the helium dies and keep a small batallion of waitresses out there waving at cars. Maybe when Cheesecake Factory and P.F.Changs opens next door over the next 30 days things will perk up.
Originally Posted By jonvn I don't think Cheesecake Factory is going to do it. When the hotels open, these places will be full. Until then, there's no reason to go over there, particularly if no one even knows the place is even open. People who go to conventions don't drive around looking for balloon laden restaurants to eat at. And people at Disneyland are not going to walk all the way out to Katella over there to eat, while on the way over, passing a couple of other dozen places to eat. If you come from far awy, that means your time is limited. You're not going to spend half a day going to eat someplace. It's just crazy to think that people would.
Originally Posted By jonvn The question is how far a walk is it fron the esplande. that is likely closer to 20 or so minutes or more. Then you eat. Then you walk back. You then are spending like 2 hours or more out of your day to for the privilege of eating at Johnny Rockets or one of the other places there. I don't think so.
Originally Posted By fkurucz I could see having dinner there on noghts when the park closes at 8:00 PM. But I agree that unless my hotel was over that way I probably wouldn't go there to have lunch, unless they run frequent (and free) shuttles from the shuttle/ART area.
Originally Posted By ni_teach I would guess that the walk is between 15-20 minutes (One way) to get from the esplanade to the shops. However, if they are smart they will get their own shuttle van that runs every 5-10 minutes or so.
Originally Posted By dshyates What if you could glide silently over traffic from the Esplanade to GW on a free PeopleMover. Most specifically as a selling point to the Disney GW hotels, but open to everyone.
Originally Posted By dshyates Maybe also a Monorail stop when they add the loop for the third gate. With a PeopleMover and a Monorail stop with 2 on-site Disney hotels, they will essentially be an extension to DtD.
Originally Posted By dshyates I would go with the PM to be ready when the Hotels open. Disney has no reason to open one until then. That really wouldn't be that far. And would be a great way to get the GW otel uests to DtD for even more shopping and dining.
