To paraphrase the lead actor of the American Journey, nothing is definite in life besides dying, taxes and fan controversy surrounding each change made by Walt Disney World. It could possibly be the alternative of Primeval Whirl or Electrical Umbrella and also you’re nonetheless going to discover a sure subset of followers who’re upset. Nostalgia is a helluva drug!
Accordingly, we be aware on occasion when sure selections are polarizing, however have a tendency to not focus a lot on it until it’s a big contingent–or perhaps a majority of followers–and never only a vocal minority who’re upset. There’s a purpose why entries on the High 10 Visitor Complaints About Walt Disney World deal with larger image modifications that influence everybody and, for essentially the most half, are cutbacks or methods the visitor expertise has been eroded, reasonably than subjective or taste-specific tweaks.
With all of that mentioned, we now have to confess that we have been considerably stunned by the response to Walt Disney World’s announcement of the 1900 Park Fare reopening date and particulars. That is the character eating expertise on the Grand Floridian, Walt Disney World’s flagship resort, that has been closed since March 2020. When will 1900 Park Fare reopen? had develop into such a standard query amongst its followers that we wrote a publish particularly speculating about it. So we have been barely stunned that, as an alternative of pleasure about its triumphant return, the highest response was extra: No! Not like that!
In hindsight, this shouldn’t have been an enormous shock. If that many individuals have been asking, it’s as a result of 1900 Park Fare loved a fervent fan following. The identical ardour that gave rise to the query itself would make them protecting of the character eating expertise and their recollections of and nostalgia for it. In order that checks out.
Nonetheless, there’s extra to the story than WDW diehards being upset about inconsequential modifications after 4 years. This isn’t only a matter of little tweaks; it’s essentially overhauling the character of the character meals, even when it’s maintaining the identical restaurant title and among the identical meals. That is much more materials than, for instance, the ‘Ohana “noodlegate” from just a few years again. And that unpopular change was rolled again!
Anway, Walt Disney World introduced that 1900 Park Fare is reopening on April 10, 2024. (Advance Eating Reservations for 1900 Park Fare open on March 5, 2024.) This iconic restaurant will function returning visitor favorites together with a newly refurbished eating room and different particular touches.
This character eating expertise at 1900 Park Fare options new royalty: Aladdin in his Prince Ali apparel, Cinderella, Mirabel and Tiana in her new costume for Tiana’s Bayou Journey, as all of them “have fun the ability of a want.”
A fascinating buffet shall be served for breakfast and dinner at 1900 Park Fare, that includes returning meals (together with the fan-favorite strawberry soup) together with new menu choices to pay tribute to among the characters and tales you’ll encounter all through the restaurant. Large Bertha, an vintage organ that has referred to as the resort house since 1988, additionally returns to the primary eating room as its grand centerpiece.
So within the “not altering” column, we now have Large Bertha and the strawberry soup (so no less than they’ve averted a noodlegate situation), and within the altering column, there’s the entire characters and who is aware of what else.
For reference, 1900 Park Fare beforehand served up the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast within the morning. This was a fabulously festive, all-you-care-to-enjoy breakfast buffet! “Popp in” for custom-made omelets, fluffy mini pancakes, Mickey-shaped waffles, carved ham and extra.
Disney characters at 1900 Park Fare for the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast included Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, The Mad Hatter, Tigger, and Winnie the Pooh. It was fairly the eclectic crew. (It was additionally topic to alter–however that was kind of who you’d get every morning.)
Within the night, the character eating expertise at 1900 Park Fare reworked into Cinderella’s Fortunately Ever After Dinner, a fascinating buffet dinner hosted by Cinderella and Prince Charming. The Princess’ storybook mates joined within the festivities as visitors had a ball eating on delectable seafood, salad, pasta and beef specialties. The culinary alternatives are consultant of a number of “kingdoms” from across the globe and embrace such kid-friendly fare as rooster, cheese pizza, and macaroni & cheese.
Characters for Cinderella’s Fortunately Ever After Dinner have been usually Cinderella (clearly), Prince Charming, Girl Tremaine, Anastasia, and Drizella. This meal had a way more logical solid of characters–all from Walt Disney’s 1950 animated function movie, Cinderella.
As you may in all probability guess, the core of the controversy comes from the character modifications.
With regards to dinner, some followers are unhappy to see the cohesive Cinderella meal gone. That is smart, as they have been all from that one film, and it was additionally a well-rounded slate of characters: princess, prince, and lovable villains. Despite the fact that Prince Charming is about as bland of a royal character as conceivably potential, it wasn’t “too princessy” or something like that. It was possibility, as long as you favored the animated film Cinderella. And who doesn’t?!
Different followers have been particularly dissatisfied concerning the lack of the Tremaines. This trio wasn’t simply lovable villains, in addition they supplied nice comedic aid and have been glorious at improv. Within the feedback to our publish sharing the announcement particulars, loads of 1900 Park Fare followers shared particular memorable interactions they’d with the Tremaines over time.
This checks out. The Tremaines are sometimes free-roaming characters in Fantasyland, and they’re unbelievable at heckling visitors in a approach that’s each pointed and lighthearted. It truthfully takes super expertise to string that needle, making sharp feedback geared toward visitors that received’t harm emotions and trigger complaints. I’ll admit there have been various occasions when Anastasia or Drizella mentioned one thing that left me stuttering and considering “ouch, sick burn” in a non-ironic approach–however one which additionally left me laughing. I’m not a fan of face characters for essentially the most half, however I really like them.
Lastly, different followers have been dissatisfied concerning the lack of Mad Hatter, Mary Poppins, and (to a lesser extent) Alice in Wonderland from breakfast. I don’t suppose anybody from Pooh’s Posse spoke up about him being gone, however in equity, he and the gang have their very own restaurant in Magic Kingdom.
The sentiment, no less than with regard to Mad Hatter and Alice in Wonderland was pretty much like the lack of the Tremaines. That these two have been nice for interactions and spontaneous hijinks. I might positively agree with regard to Mad Hatter, who was all the time a supply of zaniness. Our experiences with Alice over time weren’t as nice; memorable, however in additional bizarre methods. (According to the character, although.) That’s to not say others didn’t have nice experiences along with her over time–I do know interactions can range and infrequently, you get out as a lot as you place in. Maybe it was a abilities problem on our half!
Then there’s the lack of Mary Poppins, which has the added angle of being an odd resolution after principally redoing the outer buildings of the Grand Floridian to be Victorian meets trendy meets Mary Poppins motifs. We’ve been crucial of modifications on the resort over time–however not these. The brand new visitor rooms (see Grand New Rooms at Walt Disney World’s Flagship Resort for a glance inside) are a night-and-day enchancment over the previous mid-tier Marriott-inspired visitor rooms they changed. The lobbies and hallways additionally look good and contemporary, utilizing ‘Enchanted Gardens’ and motifs from Mary Poppins because the unifying visible identification of the resort.
We agree with the 1900 Park Fare followers on all of those factors. Cinderella’s Fortunately Ever After Dinner did have rather a lot going for it, and when you have been within the door, the character part actually provided one thing for everybody.
As for breakfast, despite the fact that it was extra of a grabbag of characters, it was enjoyable and pretty well-rounded. I don’t suppose many (cheap) 1900 Park Fare followers would’ve been upset by just a few tweaks. Maybe swapping out Pooh for Bert, or perhaps a penguin or two in the event that they didn’t need extra face characters.
With all of that mentioned, I may also perceive why Walt Disney World made these modifications. It doesn’t imply I personally like them, however I nonetheless “get it.” To start with, I don’t recall 1900 Park Fare ever being that aggressive of an ADR. In wanting again by our posts over time, it all the time appeared comparatively straightforward to e book. This isn’t to say it was unpopular–like all character meals, it didn’t have bother filling tables (no less than, in our expertise).
Right here’s the place I feel there’s presumably a disconnect between diehard Walt Disney World followers and common ole vacationers, who make up a disproportionate variety of the visitors at a restaurant like 1900 Park Fare on any given day.
Whereas a majority of lifelong Walt Disney World followers in all probability additionally love Cinderella or the zany antics and interactions of the Tremaines, Mad Hatter, and many others., the typical visitor might really feel in another way. When you have a look at streaming knowledge, you’ll see a bunch of Disney motion pictures from the final decade high the checklist–and never Cinderella.
In fact, first-timers could possibly be received over in the event that they booked 1900 Park Fare and obtained to expertise these memorable interactions, as that’s precisely the kind of factor that forges lifelong followers! However that’s additionally the problem–getting them to e book within the first place. This could clarify why Walt Disney World is shifting to a extra well-rounded roster of princesses. It’s much less reliant on a visitor or household being a fan of a single film, and each character on the meal has no less than some “drawing energy.” (With that mentioned, Story Guide Eating at Artist Level is the excellent counterpoint to this.)
With regards to characters just like the Tremaines and their offbeat antics, I can’t assist of interested by my beloved Nation Bears. There’s a purpose why characters like this are “allowed” to be free-roaming within the parks and have looser character integrity guidelines relating to interactions: the stakes are decrease as a result of they’re much less well-liked. (It’s additionally extra in-character, however reputation performs a component.) I can’t rely what number of occasions I’ve seen a visitor have a terrific interplay with the Nation Bears, regardless of having no clue who they have been.
This works within the parks as a result of there’s no barrier to entry, however I can’t think about how unpopular a Nation Bear character meal could be, even when it’d even be the most effective factor ever. Bloggers and diehards like me would rave about it, and the restaurant could be booked strong for 3 complete weeks. After that, crickets–there aren’t sufficient of us to maintain the idea for 12 months, 12 months after 12 months.
I’m not suggesting the masterpiece that’s Cinderella is just as well-liked because the masterpiece that’s Nation Bear Jamboree. Simply that each current the identical points and aren’t as well-liked with common households as franchises and characters from more moderen releases. Followers who learn websites like this one have to appreciate that what our demographic needs and prefers is usually totally different from or utterly at odds with the typical one-and-done visitor (see additionally, resort refurbishments).
It’s a considerably comparable story with breakfast. Going all-in or no less than “extra in” on a Mary Poppins meal looks as if it will’ve been good given the brand new rooms and different components of the redesign. However on the identical time, the redone Grand Floridian has been far and wide. There’s additionally a Magnificence and the Beast bar, and who is aware of what’ll occur with the primary foyer.
I feel there was in all probability a need to make it the “royal resort” at one level (a la Disneyland Resort in Paris), however there have been too many cooks within the kitchen and the top result’s extra scattershot. Truthfully, I don’t thoughts the outcome to date (knock on wooden), because the more moderen efforts with Mary Poppins and the Enchanted Gardens motif have been much better than Enchanted Rose Lounge. Had the redo began in 2020 as deliberate and adopted that “template,” it’d in all probability be much more far and wide. However I digress.
It’s an analogous story as a result of there’s no approach Walt Disney World would go all-in on a Mary Poppins meal for the very same causes they in all probability wished to broaden the attraction of the Cinderella dinner. Sure, I’m a fan of the film Mary Poppins and would actually love a personality meal that went all-in on it. I’d additionally love an all Aristocats character eating expertise that includes reside music by the Scat Cats. This could be the good factor ever and anybody who disagrees has poor style. However sadly, lots of people would in all probability disagree (as measured by ADRs).
With all of that mentioned, I do suppose the brand new characters for 1900 Park Fare are odd decisions even when the idea is an all-princess meal. I wouldn’t be in the slightest degree stunned if this was dreamt up again when Want was anticipated to be a smash success. However it wasn’t, so somebody swapped out Asha for Tiana in her new bayou explorer look.
I additionally wouldn’t be stunned if Tiana is just right here briefly, in anticipation of the recognition of Tiana’s Bayou Journey and wanting to provide the character someplace till her personal restaurant is prepared, both in Magic Kingdom or at Reflections Lakeside Lodge. A technique or one other, Tiana’s Palace is going on at Walt Disney World. It’s too apparent to not do.
On a constructive be aware for the characters, 1900 Park Fare not that includes Rapunzel & Flynn Rider from Tangled or Ariel & Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid strongly means that the plan remains to be to carry again Bon Voyage Breakfast at Trattoria al Forno. These royal duos are/have been extremely well-liked, and never having 3 of the 4 at any character meals at Walt Disney World is a obvious omission that you need to determine shall be remedied sooner reasonably than later.
If I’m not mistaken, there’s additionally no character eating in any respect that options Moana, Pocahontas, Anna and Elsa. I’m considerably stunned none of these princesses have a presence anyplace, and suppose a meal that features these main girls could be fairly well-liked. I get that Walt Disney World in all probability needs to incorporate a token prince to provide it extra attraction, however is that basically crucial? (Particularly with out Jasmine?!)
Finally, it’s straightforward to see why the modifications to 1900 Park Fare have been controversial with loads of diehard followers who’ve nostalgia for the previous meals. I share a few of that sentiment, particularly relating to characters who’re identified for being enjoyable and nice for spontaneous interactions. However it’s additionally laborious to “promote” first-timers on that–what does Disney even say? A few of our princes and princesses are kinda boring to satisfy, belief us, you’ll make extra lasting lifelong recollections with these oddballs!
I may also perceive the need to broaden the attraction of 1900 Park Fare and make modifications which are extra marketable to common first-timers or rare visitors. Personally, I feel that Walt Disney World possibly isn’t giving visitors sufficient credit score, and a extra cohesive character meal would’ve been completely well-liked right here. (Once more, have a look at Artist Level! As franchises, Mary Poppins or Cinderella are no less than as well-liked as Snow White, proper?!) Even assuming that 1900 Park Fare “wanted” to function a wider vary of royal characters and films, the alternatives nonetheless appear a bit odd to me. The tip outcome right here simply strikes me as jumbled–like there have been 3 totally different concepts for a personality meal and administration couldn’t agree on one, so that they selected all of them. However what do I do know?
In the long run, we’ll miss among the hijinks of 1900 Park Fare, however we by no means had as a lot sentimentality for it as loads of WDW followers. So admittedly, the stakes aren’t as excessive for us. Whereas we’ve loved the delicacies and the interactions, the restaurant (truthfully) all the time type of reminded us of a random factor thrown collectively and shoved into an unused area (the inside had conference heart vibes). So we’re no less than tentatively on board with the modifications, even when among the decisions are a tad puzzling. We will see why longtime followers anxiously awaiting its return are dissatisfied, however the reopening of 1900 Park Fare ought to nonetheless be a win for a lot of households wanting princess eating at Walt Disney World.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on the character decisions on the new 1900 Park Fare? Anybody you’ll actually miss? Excited that new meals are debuting, or would you favor a return of the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast and Cinderella’s Fortunately Ever After Dinner? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
