an old rumor About This Page:

[Chuckles]

I used to hear rumors of DQ possibly becoming ESPN Zone. I know it's been a while since I have heard that, but I wonder if it's still a rumor that ever floats around?

[jimmymac]

I haven't heard that one in a while

[chezp]

It's not one I've come across in a while either.

[mickey0823]

It's been quite some time since I heard that one.

[wvugrrrl]

It's weird, because even before the economic crisis, there was talk that DQ was just going to be plain old shut down. Then the Zone rumors came, but they were pretty much outnumbered by the insistence that the DQ was going to cease to exist.

Today, as far as I know, DQ is still going strong, and the rumors of its closing have pretty much gone away. It's strange!

[Jciambor]

It would be like how Disney has two Rainforest Cafe's its un-needed. How about just focus on the ESPN Zone that Boardwalk offers and not clone that one by replacing it with another valuable destination. Though have you noticed how often Disney rumors come to fruition rarely. Rumor's I've read on older threads and in books that date over three, four years ago are still just nothing more but text and rumors started by un-sourced members.

Though Jim Hill is sure going to post this one . It's his job to keep rumors alive.

[Caldercup]

This was a rumor back in 2006 -- with the "switchover" being projected for the spring of 2008. (Here's Jim Hill's piece on it...)

Since DQ seems to be doing just fine, I can't see them making the effort currently -- especially with the Pleasure Island changeover going on right now.
Eileen

[Disday]

I believe that I heard Jim Hill backtrack on his 2008 rumor on a podcast. I think that he now believes that it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

[Dave Marx]

There is a difference between the restaurant at BoardWalk ("ESPN Club," not ESPN Zone), and what Disney would do if they converted DQ to DZ. ESPN Club is much smaller than an ESPN Zone, and offers fewer "recreational" activities like arcade games. There's also no room for private party spaces (which the usual ESPN Zone seems to have in quantity). There is an ESPN Zone at Downtown Disney in Anaheim, which is much closer in size to DQ than it is to the place at BoardWalk, and the other ESPN Zones around the country (such as NY's Times Square andChicago) are also much closer to DQ in size, so it's natural to suppose that Disney would want to have one of those dimensions at Downtown Disney Orlando, too (especially since DQ did not succeed as a national concept, while ESPN Zone has been a reasonable success). The ESPN Club at BoardWalk would probably still survive quite nicely on the traffic provided by its proximity to BoardWalk, Yacht and Beach, Swan and Dolphin, Epcot, and Studios.

In the end, perhaps Disney decided that DQ was doing well enough that they didn't (yet) have to invest in converting it to an ESPN Zone. Who knows for sure?

[Angileyze1]

You know what would be cool? I realize there are so many rumours that its hard to keep track of it all, but it would be nice if Disney had like a few people designated to answer questions like that. Where people could just write in and say hey, I've heard that..........and we could get an answer.