Like They Didn't See This Coming?

[Princess Susi]

Susi, you've never been into Stormalong Bay? Oooh, now I'm gonna have to tell my wife so she can expect you.

No I haven't had the fun of playing in that pool. Like I said, we had resses for Yacht this past May, never went...soooo...I have Ralphie working on our next trip. What does your wife do? I would love to meet her there! :D:

[Zazu]

I love to eat at the Concourse Steakhouse and watch the Monorails go by. The whole thing is being remodeled as I understand it, the gift shop, restaurants, all of it except Chef Mickey's. Is that correct? Zazu, is the restaurant going downstairs where the recreation center is now? That is what I *heard*

You heard almost correctly. A recap:

So far:
*Fantasia Gifts has closed.
*The Arcade moved upstairs to the Fantasia location.
*First floor Food Center has closed.
*Contemporary Grounds, the 1st floor coffee bar has closed.
*A temporary quick-service foods location has opened on the 4th floor, across from the Concourse Steakhouse.
*A temporary coffee bar has opened in the lobby's SW corner.

In progress:
*The former Food & Fun Center on the first floor is being remodeled into a new, casual dining restaurant (to replace Concourse Steakhouse). Working name: The Wave. Planned cuisine: Asian (but no word on whether that means Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Indian, or Aussie Steakhouse).
*A new gift shop is being built on the 4th floor concourse, between Bayview Gifts and the new Arcade. Giant Mickey ears are up.

In future:
*Concourse Steakhouse will close in Summer 2008 (presumably when The Wave opens).
*Half of the Steakhouse will become additional seating for Chef Mickey's.
*The other half will become a new quick-service foods location.
*The temporary quick-service foods spot will close.
*A permanent coffee bar will open across from the temporary spot, which will then close.

Meanwhile, the lobby is being remodeled. So far they've finished the front desk (except the parts they broke), bell services window, and most walls. Work is under way on the restrooms, ceiling, and other walls. Still to come is the new kids waiting area, new lobby waiting area, coffee bar, entry icon (while a water feature had been proposed, it now looks like we may get the Stokowski statue back from the convention center), and maybe even the parts of the front desk that got broken.

All this, plus the new tower going up. If DVC is "Disney's Best Kept Secret", then the DVC nature of this project must be the worst kept.

[Princess Susi]

WOW! Thank you so much for the update, Zazu :hug: :zazu: . I never trust those boards to get the right info out. I have seen some pics from another Message Board and it looks like construction is going along swimmingly. It is going to look so different when we come back! *sniffle* I hope the revamp was really needed and not just cause they felt they needed to *spend money*. I liked the interior of the 4th floor. It was spacious and airy and I liked that. I really enjoyed the food at Concourse when we were there, but that, alas, has been too long ago. I had heard that *The Wave* would replace the Concourse. I hope they have a good selection of food. I never had a bad steak at Concourse. I am glad to hear it will be there when we come in May or earlier. We try to wedge a month in between Easter and Memorial Day which will be easy in 08. Easter is the end of March and Memorial Day is the end of May so we have a good amount of weeks to pick from. I cannot wait to meet the bebeaked and beloved Zazu. :zazu:

Will the arcade include the much sought after Pinball machines??? Hmmm? I love Pinball and can never find a machine in any arcades any more. The Chuck E. Cheese here used to have one and Ralph and I would spend hours being the Pinball Wizard. We also have a town called Lyon that has one of the largest collection of Pinball machines in their arcade. Seems they have all vanished into people's rec rooms and basements now.

I look forward to meeting you, Zazu and seeing the *new and improved* Contemporary Toaster when we come in Spring. I wish we could be there now. I wish the damn house would sell and we could MOVE there right now!
Soon. I must be patient. Soon.
susi

[Cheshire Figment]

I hope, when they bring the Sorcerer Mickey/Leopold Stokowski statue back they install it correctly this time. I have complained for years to many people at CR that the way it was installed was bad show.

In Fantasia, when facing the screen from the audience Mickey was approaching Leopold from the left, and again was on your left when shaking hands. This should have been the view one saw when entering the lobby. It was backwards for years.

And maybe, since they are fixing the lobby up, they will go back to the tacky aluminum Christmas trees and decorations, which were perfect for the other decor in the Resort.

[Bochocho]

I watched the Coral Reef/diver threads for a while, figuring this would happen. What was once a secret - a nice surprise - becomes expected and demanded.

I have a friend that had a knack for getting something special at Boma from Chef TJ. I kept that quiet, figuring that everyone would start demanding it if word got out.
Well, word got out and from what I hear that has been discontinued.

Pretty soon everything will be standardized with very few secret surprises. Thanks, Internet!

[Syndrome]

I read about the Boma/TJ thing too and thought exactly the same thing. They've hosed a lot of stuff by spreading it around on the DCL boards there too.

[Zazu]

I hope, when they bring the Sorcerer Mickey/Leopold Stokowski statue back they install it correctly this time.

Amen! I bitched about this too, but some moron put the label on the wrong side, and the riggers placed it so the label faced out (reasonably). Still doubt I have the clout to have it fixed.

And maybe, since they are fixing the lobby up, they will go back to the tacky aluminum Christmas trees and decorations, which were perfect for the other decor in the Resort.

Nope, those went the way of the orange plastic trees from the concourse -- Property Control. Wish I'd bought one now.

[vixen101485]

Is that the same statue that is at the animation place (where you can learn to draw pics of characters) in MGM? I took a pic of it cause I liked it. They still have it backwards there too if it is. Something was bothering me about it but it has been years since I have seen Fantasia so it didnt click.


Tacky aluminum Xmas trees are all the rage right now (at least around here) I have seen them for sale in every store in town. I want the pink aluminum one....lol

[Big Wallaby]

Still an Oregonian. I'll always like a real Douglas Fir in the house. Of course, I don't think I'll be seeing that any time soon.

Oh, and if you do happen to use a real tree, don't do like one hotel where I worked. Water the damn thing.

[mechurchlady]

Amen! I bitched about this too, but some moron put the label on the wrong side, and the riggers placed it so the label faced out (reasonably). Still doubt I have the clout to have it fixed..

Just have a bunch of SGT members turn it around