Disney Moving 2,000 Jobs Out of California – Joins a Big Trend

 by Ray Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 16, 2021

 

People and businesses have been moving out of California for some time now, and in significant numbers. Disney has joined the exodus with an announcement that the company will be moving some 2,000 jobs out of California and to Florida.

The Orlando Sentinel reported: “Most of the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products professional roles based in southern California that are not fully dedicated to Disneyland Resort, or in some cases the international parks business, will be asked to relocate to Orlando, said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.” The jobs will be relocated over the coming year-and-a-half to a hub Disney is developing in the Lake Nona area, about 20 miles east of Disney World.

 

In a letter to employees quoted by the Sentinel, Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, explained, “As someone who has moved with my family from California to Florida and back again, I understand that relocation is a big change, not only for the employee, but also for their families. Therefore, moving these roles to Central Florida will take place throughout the next 18 months, providing flexibility in timing to accommodate individual situations and needs.”

 

The New York Times quoted D’Amaro adding, “In addition to Florida’s business-friendly climate, this new regional campus gives us the opportunity to consolidate our teams and be more collaborative and impactful both from a creative and operational standpoint.”

 

Indeed, while Florida has a friendly climate for businesses, as well as for employees and their families, California does not, at least from a governmental cost standpoint, such as taxes. And the Golden State has paid a price. 

 

Since 2000, no state other than New York has sent more people to other states than California. Net domestic migration (changes in a state’s population excluding births, deaths and international migration) captures the movement of people among the states, and California excels at exporting people. From 2000 to 2020, for example, California registered net domestic migration of -2.66 million, with only New York’s -3.27 million coming in worse. If it weren’t for international immigrants, both New York and California’s state population would be in decline. And in fact, California’s population declined in 2020 – which was the first time that happened since it became a state in 1850.

 

By the way, Florida gained 2.64 million people from other states from 2000 to 2020 – leading the nation as a net importer of people. It’s no mere coincidence that while California has some of the highest taxes in all of the land, Florida has some of the lowest, including no state personal income tax and a corporate income tax that’s about half of California’s.

 

What’s interesting and distressing is that it’s rare for any state that has gone so far down the road of taxing and regulating as California has, to actually reverse course and work to fix things. Instead, denial sets in, and a long stagnation and relative decline follows. California is a beautiful state, but quality of life for businesses, individuals and families includes being able to afford to live and thrive in a place.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the  Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Keating has three new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Again, get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. And order the 15th book in the series What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story – grab it at Amazon.com or signed editions at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. 

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Wisdom from Marvel's Stan Lee

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #88: Life Wisdom from Marvel’s Stan Lee – Stan Lee played a key role in giving great Marvel characters, along with some tidbits of wisdom.

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Very Merriest of All After Hours Parties Scheduled for Disney World

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 13, 2021

 

“The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” Disney World’s 50th anniversary festivities, will get a holiday twist with a new special-ticketed event kicking off on November 8th. “Disney Very Merriest After Hours” will be replacing “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” in the post-COVID days.

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

“Disney Very Merriest After Hours”  is a limited ticket, after hours event in the Magic Kingdom with special entertainment and access to more than 20 select attractions.  The four hour long party (from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM) will be offered on select nights through December 21st, and will be highlighted by “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks.” As with other Disney After Hours events, Disney characters will put in appearances throughout the park (no meet-and-greets yet); and holiday music and festive décor; specialty treats; seasonal food and drinks; and, of course, holiday-themed merchandise will all be part of the event. Holiday overlays are being planned for certain attractions, and snow will be falling on Main Street to enchant party-goers. Unique holiday PhotoPass opportunities will also be available during the party.

A number of holiday treats, ice cream, popcorn and bottled beverages are included with the cost of admission. No word yet on specific pricing, but if the pent-up demand and change-over from “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party” to the recently released “Boo Bash” is any indication, the tickets are sure to go quickly. Tickets for “Very Merriest” go on sale next month.  

 

In addition to the “Very Merriest” After Hours party, Mickey and friends will also be celebrating the holidays elsewhere in the parks.  In the Magic Kingdom, special holiday projections will appear most nights on Cinderella Castle.  Since the Castle will also be transformed into a “Beacon of Magic” for the Park’s 50th anniversary beginning October 1st, the holiday projections will be alternating with the anniversary décor.  Similarly, the Hollywood Tower of Terror in Hollywood Studios will alternate between its duty as a “Beacon of Magic” and the much-loved “Sunset Seasons Greetings” projections on the Hollywood Holiday Tower Hotel on Sunset Boulevard. At Animal Kingdom, the Tree of Life will do double duty as well, both as another “Beacon of Magic,” and as the holiday edition of Tree of Life Awakenings.  

 

The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will be returning this year, and will run from November 26 to December 30, with Holiday Kitchens throughout the park, traditions from around the world, musical performances by the Voices of Liberty, and the ever-in-demand Cookie Stroll. 

 

If you are looking to catch a glimpse of the big man himself – Santa, that is, not Mickey this time - he will be putting in an appearance at Hollywood Studios with his holiday motorcade making its way down Hollywood Boulevard. “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” will be returning to Hollywood Studios, and Minnie and friends, including Santa Goofy, will be welcoming guests at Hollywood & Vine, dressed in their holiday best.  

 

Over at Animal Kingdom, the Disney friends will be dressed in their holiday party outfits as they sail their way down the Discovery River on their character flotillas.

 

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

If you are looking to do a little holiday shopping for some unique gifts for your friends and family, Disney Springs is the place to go. Not only are there tons of shopping opportunities, but the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll, with elaborately decorated, Disney-themed trees, will be returning this year.  Surprise magical snowfalls will add to the holiday atmosphere, and limited time seasonal food and beverages will be available at a number of the Disney Springs restaurants, including “Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar.”  

 

And much to everyone’s delight, the enormous and beautifully decorated gingerbread displays will once again be on display at Disney’s Resort hotels, which will also be decked out for the holidays.

 

More details on the celebrations will be released as the holiday season gets closer.

 

__________

 

Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Catch Up with Bob Iger and Jon Favreau

Catch up on the two latest episodes of the Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating.

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #86: Iger on Anxiety – Leaders share their people’s stress. They don’t project their own stress onto others.

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #87: Jon Favreau and Happy Endings – Director Jon Favreau likes happy endings, and for good reasons.

 

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Disney Offers Disney+ Numbers on “Black Widow”

 by Ray Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 12, 2021

 

The Walt Disney Company announced today that Black Widow debuted over the weekend to the tune of $218 million. Disney noted that the film had “the largest domestic box office opening since the pandemic began and the largest domestic opening weekend since Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker in December 2019.”

 

Most interesting is the breakdown supplied by Disney, that is, “$80 million in domestic box office, $78 million in international box office and over $60 million in Disney+ Premier Access consumer spend globally.”

 

This is the first time that Disney has released numbers from its Disney+ Premier Access option. With the Premier Access priced at $29.99 (in addition to the Disney+ subscription), that means 2 million of the 103 million Disney+ subscribers paid to watch Black Widow. The $60 million from Disney+ subscribers accounted for nearly 28 percent of the total box-office take announced by Disney.

 

Unfortunately, there’s nothing to compare the Disney+ Black Widow revenues to since this is the first time that Disney has announced Premier Access revenues. There was no word regarding Mulan, Raya and the Last Dragon and Cruella. And no one knows if the company will continue to make such announcements in the future. 

 

Obviously, though, Disney must have been very pleased with the Premier Access performance of Black Widow … and/or disappointed with previous efforts.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the  Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Keating has three new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Again, get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. And order the 15th book in the series What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story – grab it at Amazon.com or signed editions at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. 

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Iger on Anxiety and Leadership

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #86: Iger on Anxiety – Leaders share their people’s stress. They don’t project their own stress onto others.

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Disneyland as Virtual Reality

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #85: Disneyland as Early Virtual Reality – Disney theme parks are a kind of virtual reality. 

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Disneyland, Steve Martin and Bad Psychoanalysis

 Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #84: Disneyland, Steve Martin and Bad Psychoanalysis – Comedian Steve Martin really loved working at Disneyland.

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Paid Fastpass Program on the Way to Disneyland Paris

by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 8, 2021

 

While FastPasses at Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California are still on hold, Disneyland Paris has announced the debut of a new “Premier Access” Fastpass program.

 

According to Disneyland Paris, “Disney Premier Access is a paid service that gives you speedy access to some of our most popular attractions thanks to a dedicated fast lane.”  The program replaces the formerly free FASTPASS program.

 

Disney Premier Access, debuting this summer, will be available for Big Thunder Mountain; Peter Pan's Flight; Ratatouille: L'Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy; Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast; Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain; Star Tours: l'Aventure continue; The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror; and Autopia.

 

The limited availability option will cost between €8 to €15 (roughly $9-$18 dollars) per attraction, with the price per Guest and attraction varying according to the attraction and the day of visit.  Guests can access the program via the official Disneyland Paris app on their phones, or in person at City Hall or Studio Services, and will be able to see the attractions that are available during their visit via the app.   

 

“Once you're in the Disney Parks, choose an attraction and select the Guests that want to ride. You'll be offered a time slot, depending on availability,” instructs Disney. “After you've paid, head to the dedicated line of the attraction during your allocated time slot and present your QR codes (in the ‘My Disney Premier Access’ section of the app).”

 

Guests must be inside the park to participate in the Premier Access program, and can either purchase Premier Access through the official Disneyland Paris app, or from a Cast Member, again, at City Hall or Studio Services. Guests do not need a smart phone to participate in the program, but can work directly with Cast Members to make purchases.  Disney Premier Access is valid only on the day of purchase. There are a limited number of Disney Premier Access spots available for each time slot.

 

Guests can only buy Disney Premier Access for one attraction at a time. If they would like to buy Premier Access for another attraction, the Guest needs to make a separate purchase, select the attraction they want to ride, and if there are time slots available, complete the purchase. 

 

According to Disneyland Paris, Guests can “buy a maximum of 3 Disney Premier Access for each attraction per Guest per day, and up to 12 Disney Premier Access for one attraction and one time slot at a time, depending upon availability.”

 

In addition to the new fee-based program, Disneyland Paris is also offering a “Standby Pass,” a free option that allows guests to sign up for a virtual queue so they can experience other attractions while waiting their turn at the first attraction. It does not guarantee immediate access to the ride when your turn comes, however.  The service will be activated during certain times of the day, and will be dependent on day-to-day needs in the parks. The Disneyland Paris app also will be the vehicle to book a Standby Pass with a specific return time. 

 

In Florida, Disney World’s FastPass+ system did not return when the theme parks reopened post-COVID closures last summer. There, the program allowed guests to pre-book up to three FastPasses per day for free, and once those passes were used, guests could select additional passes, one at a time, pending ride availability. In California, both traditional and paid FASTPASS programs exist. Disneyland California’s MaxPass is a $20 a day program that mixes the ability to make Disney FASTPASS choices with unlimited Disney PhotoPass downloads from the day. Both the Florida and California FastPass programs are currently suspended, however. No word yet on their return.

 

Additional information on the new Disney Premier Access program may be found on the Disneyland Paris website.

 

__________

 

Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks! 

Maui, Moana and Lightening Up

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #83: Give Self-Deprecating Humor at Try – Do you get the feeling that too many people take themselves too seriously? Lighten up with some Disney humor.

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Disney's Brand, Your Brand

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #82: Eisner and Disney on Your Brand – If the brand matters to Disney, then your own brand should matter to you.

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Celebrate America with Captain America

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #81 – Celebrate America with Captain America – There’s no one better to hear from in the MCU as we celebrate Independence Day than, of course, Captain America.

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Walt Disney on the Blessings of America

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #80 – Walt Disney on the Blessings of America – Walt Disney was a patriot in the best sense of the word, and offered some rather profound insights on being an American.

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Disney Feedback and a Kick in the Teeth

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #78: Disney Thumbs Up on Feedback – Stay open on all fronts to constructive feedback, ideas and creativity.

 

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #79: Walt’s Kick in the Teeth – Lessons for life, career and business come on all fronts, including from a kick in the teeth.

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Raglan Road: Irish Food and Entertainment at Its Best

 by Ray Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 2, 2021

 

So, where does a guy with the last name “Keating” go for dinner on his birthday at Disney Springs? Not surprisingly, I chose Raglan Road: Irish Pub and Restaurant. While walking by many times, I had never entered Raglan Road. It was time to give it a try. This writer of Irish descent enjoyed the entire experience.

Raglan Road is a place filled with conversation, Irish music, friendly bartenders, a wide choice of beverages, and excellent food. This is an Irish establishment as it should be.

 

When I arrived two performers – with guitar and violin in hand – were serving up some classic Irish tunes, and the bartender poured a pint of the TriWishes Grand Irish Red Ale, from the Raglan Road Signature Collection. Can one call an ale smooth and full-bodied? Well, I am.

But then came the Irish dancers, who were wonderful and energized the room, and the food menu. Now, it’s fair to say that the Irish aren’t exactly known for their fine cuisine – or at least, one could have said that years ago. No longer, and that is clear by the food offered at Raglan Road.

I began things with the Kiss Before Shrimp appetizer. How to describe this pan-seared shrimp in a garlic, chile and lemon butter sauce, along with a sliced baguette? The phrase “freakin’ awesome” comes to mind (hey, I’m of Irish descent from New York). I used up all of the bread, and got a little more, trying to gather up and enjoy all of this spicy sauce. The bartender said that some people will drink the remaining sauce, and well, yeah, I get that.

Many options for the main course caught my eye, but I had to go for the Fish & Chips. The huge North Atlantic cod fillet was done to perfection, with the beer battered coating sweet and crispy. It will be difficult for me to choose something else the next time I visit.

Oh, and before I forget, Raglan Road has the most unique Irish soda bread I’ve ever had. Indeed, just forget everything you’ve known about Irish soda bread. This bread was completely different. It’s brown and full-flavored, accompanied by a wonderful, sweet Guinness reduction dipping sauce.

I was asked about dessert? It would have been impossible to eat any more. But like I mentioned earlier, there will be a next time at Raglan Road – indeed, many more visits. Raglan Road does Irish right.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the  Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Keating has three new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Again, get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. And order the 15th book in the series What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story – grab it at Amazon.com or signed editions at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. 

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Pizza Ponte Review: Go For The Pizza, But Skip the Sandwiches

 by Beth Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 1, 2021

 

A recent afternoon found us at Disney Springs when a sudden Florida thunderstorm cropped up. Crazy, right? We didn’t have lunch reservations anywhere, and having just parked in the Orange garage, we were on our way across the bridge when the skies threatened to open up. We made a last minute decision to scoot into Pizza Ponte, and we were glad we did.

Pizza Ponte is the quick-serve restaurant under the Maria & Enzo’s sign in The Landing section of Disney Springs, and is part of the Patina Restaurant Group that also brings you Via Napoli in EPCOT, and Maria & Enzo’s, Enzo’s Hideaway, and The Edison in Disney Springs.  The unassuming counter service room has a few indoor seats, but as those were already full, we opted for an umbrella-topped table outside.  Between being tucked next to the side of the building, and the oversized umbrella, we were easily protected from the rain.

 

I’ll put it out there, right up front.  We are New Yorkers by birth, which means we are, for all intents and purposes, pizza snobs.  Our recent arrival in Central Florida has meant that we haven’t yet found a pizza place that rivals our much loved New York-style pizzas.  And while we initially went into Pizza Ponte with skepticism – Disney rarely gets rave reviews for pizza – we left pleasantly surprised.

We ordered a slice of the four cheese pizza ($7.95), an oversized square white slice that rocked. A thick, soft crust was abundantly topped with a mix of mozzarella, provolone, fontina, and parmesan cheese, as well as a drizzle of olive oil. It was closer to a Sicilian or pan slice, and perfectly baked, with its edges nice and crisp without being burned.  We also opted for a rather large slice of the pepperoni pizza ($7.25) with lovely little “pepperoni cups” on top.  (If you are from the northeast, you know what I’m talking about. It’s those little pepperoni slices that curl and crisp around the edges when cooked, curving upwards into a “cup” shape with all the delicious oils pooling in the middle of the cup. Stop going “ewww.”  It’s a pizza thing.)

 

Both the slices were delicious, and we have plans to order them again.  For those of you who would like your pizza a little more Neapolitan-style and traditional, “The Big Roman”($6.95) is a plain, yet gigantic, slice of regular, triangle-shaped, red-sauced pizza.

 

Also on our dining menu that day were two of Pizza Ponte’s handmade sandwiches. The sandwiches weren’t pre-packaged, and we watched the cast member assembling the sandwiches and popping them into the pizza oven to bake, so it took a few minutes to gather our lunch. That was okay by us, as it meant the sandwiches were hot and fresh.  

 

The chicken parmigiana sandwich ($9.95) was somewhat forgettable, however, and while it was okay by quick-serve standards, we wouldn’t go out of our way to try it again. The chicken was a tad on the dry side, with a light amount of sauce on a short “hero” roll. (That’s another northeast term – for those of you elsewhere in the country, substitute the word “sub” or “hoagie” roll.) In its favor was the fact that the sauce tasted “real,” and not like a canned sauce.

On the other hand, the prosciutto sandwich ($9.75) was a flavorful, oblong sandwich, which would make a nice light lunch or dinner if you were looking for something not quite as overwhelming in the Florida heat, or after a day spent stuffing yourself in the theme parks. The bread itself was toasted, with a slight char, and the heat from the sandwich had melted the fontina cheese just a little.  Each bite was a touch sweet, and just the tiniest bit salty, with a hint of bitterness from the arugula to balance it out.  The cheese was strong, but in a good way.  The sandwich passed the “I’d get this again” test. For those of you from the northeast, though, this is a smaller-sized sandwich. Don’t expect the foot-long hero rolls you’d get in a sandwich shop in Jersey.

 

While waiting out the rain, we decided we’d throw caution to the wind and test out the desserts while we were there.  We tried the tiramisù cup and the cannoli (each $8.00).  There were also cheesecake, chocolate cake, and chocolate chip cookie selections available.

The tiramisù cup was an unexpectedly light dessert with a soft cake base and a dusting of cocoa that was obvious in the taste blend.  Coffee was the dominant flavor without being overwhelming.  It was a nice afternoon boost, and we’d be tempted to grab one of those little bowls on our way back to the garage on future trips.

The cannoli was a bit heavier in the dessert category, but yummy, nonetheless. The shell remained crisp, and the inside filling was a softer texture than we were anticipating, and not as firm as the more frosting-like consistency you sometimes find in cannoli cream.  It was, however, a welcome treat as we waited out the storm.

 

If you are looking to “grab a slice” while you are at Disney, let the name “Pizza Ponte” catch your attention. It was worth our stop.

 

__________

 

Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Iger on Prioritizing and More

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #77: Iger on Prioritizing – The former Disney CEO packs a lot into a small quote on value and communicating what matters.

 

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.