Two new restaurants planned for WDW

New restaurants, run by Landry's restaurants, are planned for Pleasure Island and Disney's Animal Kingdom and will be opening in 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Pleasure Island eatery, T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure, is set to be a cornerstone of a larger Disney initiative

to makeover the nightclub/island, in hopes to extend the average visit length to the area of Walt Disney World and change the overall traffic flow through the area.

T-Rex will feature a mix of attraction and restaurant, similar to the company's Rainforest Cafe chain, three of which Landry's operates at Disney locations — including two at Walt Disney World. Plans for T-Rex call for a new two-story building, which will feature an outdoor water feature, and dramatic lighting and landscaping. Inside, the restaurant will feature several different themed eating areas, as well as a bar that features 20-degree vodka being served by a robotic barkeep.

The Animal Kingdom location will combine a quick-serve eatery with a larger table service restaurant. Although the names have yet to be decided, the overall themes are expected to tie-in with the location, an area adjacent to the new Expedition Everest village. This would make both table service restaurants in the AK Landry's establishments.

"Landry's has a record of success with Rainforest. They like the themed concepts and do well with them." says Mike Gallo, an analyst from C.L. King & Co. "I can't think of a better place for something like this than Disney, because kids are king when it comes to dining decisions."