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39 Disney employees told restaurant will close
March 26th, 2009, 5:13 pm · 20 Comments · posted by Eric Carpenter
Disney officials announced Thursday afternoon that Yamabuki restaurant, inside the Paradise Pier Hotel will close down April 11.
Some 39 hourly employees who work at the restaurant were informed of the pending closure during a closed-door meeting around 4 p.m. Thursday.
Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown said the company will work to relocate the employees to other park restaurants. Those who cannot be placed elsewhere will receive at least 60 days pay as severance and an extension of some health care benefits.
A “handful” of salaried managers could either be relocated or lose their jobs, as well, Brown said.
“The concept of the restaurant no longer resonates with our guests,” Brown said. The closure was not related to other layoffs and staff re-organizations related to the sagging economy, she added.
“We continuously evaluate all of our concepts and listen to what our guests are telling us,” Brown said. ”We’ve scaled back the hours at this restaurant since the beginning of the year. Other restaurants at the Resort are doing quite well.”
The upscale restaurant at 1717 S. Disneyland Dr., originally opened in 1996 with a lunch and dinner menu. Meals averaged $20 to $30 per diner. The restaurant shortened its hours and discontinued its lunch menu within the last year.
Restaurant hours will remain as normal until the April 11 closure.
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How sad to see such a great option at Disneyland go away. It was a a great place to go away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Disney. Now there is no Asian option for Disney guests at all. Thanks for the great food and the great service the last 13 years Yamabuki.
good. its about time over priced. its funny how the new generation of recession employees here are the ones like their your parents. losers that dont have any confidence in themselves or the people around them. I can say besides my co worker chris we did vending and we where the only ones who understood the ethics thier. i got caught up in drugs and went south thier. but i got laid a lot
sad.very sad ..this one was one of the best japanese restaurant in o.c.
Yes, very ,very sad. Disney is going to lose in the long run. It is one of the best in OC.
I absolutely love the Yamabuki restaurant, but it was never particularly busy. It’s not for everyone. I hate to see it go, but I can understand why it’s going.
One of the best sushi bars in town - that’s too bad.
I’ve been going to Yamabuki since it’s opening in 1996 and I can honestly say it’s been one of my favorite restaurants ever since. I always looked forward to going, the quality of the food and sushi, and the friendly staff. It was one of the best in OC and will truly be missed!! Sayonara Yamabuki!! Thanks for everything!!
I am sad to see it go BUT, I disagree with the comments that it is good food, It’s OK, absolutely not worth the money you pay. There is so many other places way better. It is priced for Disney that I can vouch for. The one thing that stinks, is that all those CastMembers will loose their jobs. I seriously doubt they are going to place them elsewhere since they don’t even have hours for their regular castmembers at other locations. Well that’s that, I just wish they would let go some of the management elsewhere go. Disney has plenty of not-so-great teams out there.
My family will be so sad to see Yamabuki go - it is a tradition for us to make that restaurant the first place we stop when we arrive! The staff was lovely – the food was just great. Where will we go for sushi now? Have to leave Disney property for that – doesn’t seem right.
We will miss you Yamabuki and staff! Thanks for all the fun times and good food!
VERY sad to see Yamabuki close. The best Japanese food we’ve ever had, and such an pleasant atmosphere…a nice way to escape the craziness of the Park. And Vyktor was the BEST server ever.
DH and I are AP holders in Sacramento. We visit about twice a year and ALWAYS eat at Yamabuki. Jean is a wonderful Cast Member who almost always served us. We’ll miss you Yamabuki and best of luck to Jean.
As Premium Annual Passholders and owners in the DVC, my wife Mary and I have eaten at Yamabukis’ several times and never had a bad meal or experience. Now after the 11th when we drive up from San Diego, we will have to seek someother place to eat. So sorry to see it close. I hope Disney will put another great eatery in it’s place.
The parks entrance and parking fees are outrageous. You wont get a penny from me till you open up your gates and only charge for ride tickets like the good ole days.
How old are you Smart Shopper? If you’re expecting 1960 prices in 2009 you’re crazy. If you stay home it won’t bother me or my annual pass.
Smart Shopper…..the park never had “open gates” You might be thinking of Knott’s Berry Farm. Knott’s didn’t charge an admission fee for years and only charged for the individual rides. Disneyland has always had an admission fee, even back when they sold individual ride tickets.
This is bad news. I was scheduling our vacation visit to Disneyland and was going to have dinner at Yamabuki’s one of the nights.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU BECOME GREEDY. IT WAS TOO,TOO,TOO EXPENSIVE TO EAT THERE.
What do they mean by “The concept of the restaurant no longer resonates with our guests,” Japanese food is a favorite healthy choice for many of us. My friends visit from Hawaii every year and we always eat there. There isn’t a good sushi place to go to around there at all. The problem is that Disney changed this place a couple of years ago and it just wasn’t the same. It didn’t even looked japanese anymore and the menu changes were a huge mistake. Toobad Disney had to ruin this place, I bet the “top dogs” that made the changes are still getting their big paychecks/bonusses and the employees and guests ar that ones missing out on what it once was an awesome traditional japanese restaurant.
By far the best Japanese food in OC. I’m very sad to see the restaurant close. We’ve been regulars for 11 years and we always enjoyed the service and the food.
It’s sad to see another place close. While Disney’s management keeps making cuts which effect they’re providing a service to us, they take the money and give themselves bonuses. I’ve been starting to eat outside the park now - Tony Roma”s, Knott’s Berry Farm where the chicken dinners are incredible and very affordable. A lot of the food in Disney is just not that good and way overpriced.