Interesting idea: Interactive Dining?

[scorsese]

Disneyland has always been a place to innovate on the guest experience, and I realized, from the success of the Blue Bayou, that there is indeed a demand for something more from the typical dining experience, especially at a theme park such as this one.

One of the reasons the Blue Bayou is so popular, and perhaps the main reason, is its atmosphere. Sure the food isn't bad, but it sure as heck isn't the main reason people make reservations weeks ahead of time to eat there. It's the wonderful, romanticized and unique atmosphere that makes it such an amazing place. Well why stop at the Blue Bayou? Why not even take it a step further, and incorporate dark ride elements, or even a queue, into a dining experience?

This isn't anything new; one of the greatest hotels in the world, the Burj Al-Arab in Dubai (http://www.burj-al-arab.com/), for example, has created an experience like this in dining at one of their seafood restaurants. Before you get to your table, you enter a submarine that takes you deep down into the ocean (not literally) to make you feel like you're eating amongst the fishies.

So, if you were to bring something like this to Disneyland, how would you do it? Would you base it off of a movie? Climb out of Wendy's window, into a pirate ship to sail off to your dining table in the sky at a Peter Pan restaurant? Or probably a better idea, create something original, where an adventureland restaurant has you walking through Indiana Jones style corridors to a table set under a ceiling of timed spikes, with some angry natives spying on you in a corner?

There are plenty of restaurants already in DL that are plenty well themed and fun to dine in; this is just taking it a step further and having a little fun thinking about more of what's possible these days.

So, how would you do it? Do you think this would be a good idea, or do you think it is unnecessary?

[EagleWings]

I would LOVE a Peter Pan restaraunt. He's my hero. It would be awesome if you went through some themed rooms and then.. hmm I dunno not a pirate themed ride into the restaraunt but something along the lines that would lead you into a Neverland themed restaraunt. Wouldn't Neverland make such beautiful scenery? You could have faeries flying around on the walls or something. And have Peter Pan make special appearances. *wanders into daydream land*

[disney jones]

Some of the Character dining experiences very interactive. And they had the Tahitian Terrace experience a long time ago, along with the former show at the Golden Nugget, and the current version with Billy Hill and the Hillbillies. Most of the restaurants are themed too, so DLR has so much already in place

First off, i'd say bring back the Tahitian Terrace.

[SCUBAbe]

I think it would be cool to ahve an undergrouns restaurant near the sub ride. There could be fish tanks in the restuarant, but large windows also, so people could see into the ride and watch the subs go by. Maybe give the restuarnt the feel of a sub. Oh nevermind they already have that in vegas...*sigh*

how about a people mover restaurant. You could get served your food and eat it inside a people mover car. there would be a table in the middle...maybe stations for refills along the route. If that ride comes back you would need somethign to do on it...it was boring...LOL

[Disneyfanatic]

with the peter pan theme
maybe somehow you can be eating on the deck [or below deck] and around you the ship is going through the scenes in peter pan
maybe through the bubble like screen on sorring, but encompassing the whole room
or how the scenes changes in the animation building

[MasterGracey]

with the peter pan theme
maybe somehow you can be eating on the deck [or below deck] and around you the ship is going through the scenes in peter pan
maybe through the bubble like screen on sorring, but encompassing the whole room
or how the scenes changes in the animation building

The main "courtyard" in Animation Building would have been amazing for dining. That room is amazing as it is... imagine eating a fine meal surrounded by the screens.. they could even wrap the room in a field of fiber optic stars that they can possibly program to "move" around maybe kind of like pixie dust or something to "enchant" certain screens at certain times... I dont know...

The potential for an interactive or heavily themed restaurant that matches or beats the atmosphere of the Blue Bayou is huge, and it's sad that Disney doesn't realize this, and instead chooses quick service counter restaurants, that might serve good food, but that just aren't as satisfying as the amazing dining experience that the Blue Bayou serves up.

[wolfy]

How about a Jazz themed dining area, but instead of like Brennan' s we have the Scat Cats playing in a French Bistro?

[dizzydisneydee]

This isn't anything new; one of the greatest hotels in the world, the Burj Al-Arab in Dubai (http://www.burj-al-arab.com/), for example, has created an experience like this in dining at one of their seafood restaurants. Before you get to your table, you enter a submarine that takes you deep down into the ocean (not literally) to make you feel like you're eating amongst the fishies.

Interesting concept but I would feel really weird looking at fish swim around and ordering fish to eat on. It would feel...cannibalistic.

[disney jones]

The problem with the Peter Pan themed restaurant is that to be accurate the food would have to be terrible - everyone knows the English can't cook.

[dizzydisneydee]

The problem with the Peter Pan themed restaurant is that to be accurate the food would have to be terrible - everyone knows the English can't cook.

But then I could actually ask for a spotted dick

[Datameister]

I would love to see another themed sit-down restaurant open at Disneyland. One just isn't enough. There are boundless possibilities for every land. Here are a few ideas:

1. As part of a HUGE Tomorrowland renovation project, a new restaurant is installed. It is impeccably themed to create a futuristic dining experience. Every detail is fashioned to look like something out of the year 2150. Perhaps it is built adjacent to Space Mountain, with windows looking out into "space." The all-organic food is served in creative ways.

2. Someone suggested a Haunted Mansion restaurant a few weeks ago. Use the Pepper's Ghost effect to create the illusion of ghosts dining on a terrace below. Additional animatronic ghosts would be briefly illuminated behind large one-way mirrors, catching the eye of observant diners.

3. A Fantasyland restaurant has potential. Peter Pan could work. The only problem is that the space in Fantasyland is very limited, unless if the theater is removed, or the area north of Big Thunder Trail is used for the restaurant.

Anyone else?

[Pizzapants]

Anyone ever read the second book of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, The Restaraunt at the End of the Universe? Why not throw Milliways into tomorrowland and have dinner shows where like every half hour, huge screens act as windows to the sky and you get to watch the entire universe explode! THAT would be cool!

[ganggreen4jc]

How about a 360 degree rotating restaurant (like the one at LAX or the Stratoshere in LV) on top of the old Rocket Rods/Peoplemover loading station done with a futuristic exterior. The view would be incredible!

[NeverNeverland]

3. A Fantasyland restaurant has potential. Peter Pan could work. The only problem is that the space in Fantasyland is very limited, unless if the theater is removed, or the area north of Big Thunder Trail is used for the restaurant.

Just gut out Village Haus and put it in there.

[CaptPhoebus]

The main "courtyard" in Animation Building would have been amazing for dining. That room is amazing as it is... imagine eating a fine meal surrounded by the screens.. they could even wrap the room in a field of fiber optic stars that they can possibly program to "move" around maybe kind of like pixie dust or something to "enchant" certain screens at certain times... I dont know...

The potential for an interactive or heavily themed restaurant that matches or beats the atmosphere of the Blue Bayou is huge, and it's sad that Disney doesn't realize this, and instead chooses quick service counter restaurants, that might serve good food, but that just aren't as satisfying as the amazing dining experience that the Blue Bayou serves up.

Quick FYI, onboard the Disney Cruise Ships, there's a restaurant called Animator's Palate that has a similiar theme concept your Animation idea. Wall paintings and lights go from white to full color by the end of the meal. The "paintings" are of various disney characters (not scenes) that are constantly changing throughout the meal. Even the Front of House staff goes from a white vest to a color vest at the end of the meal. It's definitely a dining experience.