brenthodge

I’m not pessimistic as much as hopeful. I’ve seen great things shaping up with Aeronautica and the Fiesta Village updates, and since they’ve proven they can do it as a company, I’m just holding them to the standards they’ve achieved other places (and even at KI) but then I see tattered and sun faded vines on the entrance to the “signature shed” on Mystic Timbers and I question their ability to deliver in the long run, and I see an old stained shingle roof on the center feature of the reimagined OktoberFest and I question how much funding is going into a total retheme. If holding the park, that I know can exectute to the standards that they’ve proven they can, get me an eye roll and a emoji then so be it.

Didn’t seem to be any real reason for that other than to make them “exclusive”. Maybe it was a production space issue, but not sure why they could run them all day long if they wanted.

No show updates yet. I don’t think anyone was expecting last years level, but the fact that they aren’t using that to create interest in pass sales seems to say there’s not a lot to talk about. Bring on the Kuntry Review in the German Food Hall with the Chinese mall food again LOL.

It was - no reason it couldn’t come back though.

Hopefully with this small of an area they are really layering on the details since it’s pretty dependent on that to see the story of a jungle outpost (that was my concern in even going with this in that it’s not ‘organic’ to the location.) but so far it’s looking like a cost-managed mild retheme. Hope I’m WAY surprised when it opens “later”

Roof is looking a bit stained in that shot - Maybe they are leaning into the funk and calling it "themed aging" LOL Interesting to see old signage is still up - leads me to peleive nothing happening with the existing roof as that would've been removed to do the work (unless its running behind as well)

Peopke need to spread their wings a bit. I’m glad those places seem to be on the way out. Personally d be fine with all franchise brands leaving, but sone people are scared of what they don’t know LOL

They need to update that “cool off inside” line unless there’s even more we don’t know yet LOL.

I’d venture the end result they came up with is neither Bellagio OR the Island.

Yeah - they definitely took a page out of the Disney World "How to renovate a Hub or Main Street for Optimum Show Efficiency" handbook LOL

And there are small trees, less landscaping close to the buildings, no gas lights, odd pavement layout (the black “road” is the narrowest with trees in the middle of it and there’s no “ implied curb” like at KD) so without people, yes… it oooks even more depressing. I’d personally take running the parade around the tower circle instead of down both sides of IStreet over the clear cut they did when they redid the area a few years ago. Always seemed odd to me anyway there are two show stops in the same area just on both side of the fountain.

Also you see that pic from the park and your realize what a bleak, blank slate they made of I street a few years ago. Ugh.

Ive been a good boy - I knew about this a week or so ago, but did what I was told and said nothing and shared nothing - CATS OUTTA THE BAG BUT I DIDNT RELEASE IT LOL

I’m a little scared this is an indication of the “value engineering” that’s gone into this quick mini-land redo. And before people start with the “wait till it’s done to judge” comments, I’d say “don’t post official pictures if you don’t want comments”

they REALLY should've added a colored metal room to the entire building. Seems like it would've been a fairly cost effective way to totally transform the look AND reduce long-term maintenance costs

No one said Skyline going away. Just that there might be a better use for that prime real estate than marginal tasteless chili on overcooked noodles. At this point- with the delay in AdventurePort being announced, they should just go ahead and drop the bomb on something new and “original” replacing Skyline. And wait… SKYLINE excited you to use food credits???

Its really not THAT difficult to navigate without it as all you really have to do is return to IStreet and go down one more street. Its actually a nice but not totally necessary path

I concur with all of that. I think if this had been planned in advance, we would've seen at least part of that path closed during WinterFest so they could've started demo. Would be interesting to know if this was a capitol expense project that was late getting approval, or if it was a corporately driven project

Amen! I’m all for local and even national brands being featured sponsors but I think with all the work the park is going to improve overall “immersive experience “ they really need to look at how these brands can enhance, not fight that. I’m not saying no skyline anywhere, but put it where it makes sense-in Coney… where you get… you know… coneys. Not front and center (left) when you enter the park. Same with LaRosas. Sell it, but make it part of an overall Italian concept, not randomly stuck in the “river frontier” I feel like the park has let the brands call the shots for a long time, probably relying on them to foot the bill for things like build out and signage.

Yeah. Indoor skyline. You could NEVET find that about 5 minutes from the park. It’s a waste of indoor seating for something you can get with quick walk a few 100 more yards. Put better fans and a little more covering on the Skyline patio and you’d be set “almost” indoor skyline.

Update. With ChickFilA leaving KI, Skyline could hopefully move there (or just out altogether since we already have it in Coney and add this to the existing IS skyline spot.

Grain and Grille looks like a solid add if they could move Skyline over to CFA (and don’t get me started on how much better their IStreet looks. KI blew it when they redid ours essentially for a parade route that is weird anyway with two show stops in the same area on opposite sides of the fountain. If they could relocate the clutter that is the fastlane Picture kiosk, they could add additional seating on that corner and even add a small outdoor bar

That would be great - maybe do healthy fresh Deli sandwiches at a new place on Street or in River Town in the LaRosas there. Why do we have limp pizza in 3 locations (4 if you count Soak City)?

I would LOVE if that was in the Italian building - even if they shared the space and one side was pizza only and the other side other options. May have to do a bit of register re-routing, but it could be done by flipping the entry and exit doors and moving the drink machines to the center point where they would merge and go to 2-3 registers at the 'front door'. That way you could also have a "quick entry" line for doing refills. Personally I wish ALL branded food was simply "featuring..." As in Luigi's Italian Kitchen FEATURING LaRosas Pizza or Coney Chili and Dogs FEATURING Skyline - then you could have more elevated options and some basic, local and kid pleasing pedestrian "safe" options, but the whole place wouldn't BE a LaRosas... Graeters Etc. Take a page from the Disney book and create your own themed spaces that trim the corporate franchise build out. They only get name recognition and the food served, but not the full signage package.

unless it is a base for tile or paving stone... but either of those I'd assume they would do with stamped concrete for better durability... time will tell