The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that the McDonald's restaurant in Downtown Disney is closing April 30th, to be replaced this fall with a branch of Guatemala-based Pollo Campero. If this chain is anything like the Pollo Tropical restaurants already scattered around Orlando, it will be delicious. Still, it was always nice to have that cheap McDonald's option around. After a having The (Night) Time of Your Life at DTD, this will be a good place to get food to soak it all up!
I can tell you that this is a sign of how greedy Disney has become with the 3rd party operators. I heard back in 2005 that the McD's contract was coming up for renewal and that Disney was gonna up the rent from 45% of the profits to 70%...McD's said "no way" and a big negotiation - that went bad for McD's, happened.
ReplyDelete...oh by the way, I also heard that when McD's was told about the new terms, Disney threatened to give the space to Burger King - I swear this is what I heard a(but never believed) a few yars agao!
ReplyDeleteMcDonald's and Disney have long had, IMO, a contentious relationship. There was a decade or so there when there were no Happy Meals with Disney tie-in's. They kissed and made up for awhile so you would see Disney movies featured at McD's. And the french fry stands made it to some of the parks plus the 2 actual McDonald's restaurants on-property. Of course the french fry stands closed a few years ago and now this. However, apparently the McD's over near Animal Kingdom and All-Stars will remain in business. The one in Crossroads off SR535 is much cheaper anyway.
ReplyDeleteGood riddance. As a cast member who used the cast member dinning side it was always dirty, the service SUCKED beyond belief and it wasn't cheap.
ReplyDeleteNo wonders lots of us go off property for lunch.
What nightlife in DTD????
ReplyDeleteI second the good riddance comment. I only wish they'd put something unique in rather than another chain.
ReplyDeleteMy family adopted a little girl from Guatemala; so it's gotta be good!
ReplyDeleteYou don't know about all the night life options at Downtown Disney? You need to scroll down to the September 2, 2009 blog entry. Disney has an advertising campaign all about it.
ReplyDeleteThis chicken chain is new to Orlando so it will be unique in that regard.
"Soak it all up" ... I never did understand what Disney's reasoning was with food at PI. Everything but the gyro cart and pizza stand closed at what, midnight? Even the damn coffee place across the bridge to West Side... of course, nobody who'd been drinking would ever want coffee! That Perkins over at the Crossroads did a brisk business, though.
ReplyDeleteThe manager at Perkins told me one night that their business is down 68% after PI closed.
ReplyDeleteOur waiter at Denny's indicated that they had considered closing overnight but decided to remain open. I'm sure business is down but they still do ok. I know the drive-thru lines at McDonald's in Crossroads are nothing like they used to be.
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