Orlando theme park attractions that closed in 2014

I was sad to see the music go at Epcot. I always felt like Off Kilter and Mo'Rockin were an essential part of the experience. I was happy to see such a huge crowd show up for them on their last day.

NASCAR Cafe sucked. I went once, like 12 years ago when staying on-property, and just thought it was terrible. Still surprised that NASCAR fans couldn't keep it afloat.

The whole themed chain restaurant thing seems to be slowly dying outside of Hard Rock.

Jeff said:

NASCAR Cafe sucked. I went once, like 12 years ago when staying on-property, and just thought it was terrible. Still surprised that NASCAR fans couldn't keep it afloat.

Been a long time for me too - as I recall, the food was fair/poor at best.

Still somewhat surprised the NASCAR fans couldn't keep it afloat on a sea of Budweiser sales alone...

Why are we suprised that NASCAR fans didn't support a poor food experience at a terrible restaurant?

Because they support a poor "sports" experience at terrible venues?

Edit: I actually have nothing against NASCAR or its fans. I just knew that someone would say this eventually.

Yeah, I'm a hater. I think little of NASCAR and assume that if your taste in sports is that low, it can't be much better for food. :)

"I don't like car racing so people who do must like bad food."

Got it.

(for the record, I wouldn't sit through a NASCAR race if you paid me)

I dunno. It's a simple kind of person enjoying a simple thing. No harm no foul. Too easy of a target. Feels mean spirited.

I prefer to hate on people who should know better - like educated, affluent people complaining that vacation is hard.

I feel entitled to rip on NASCAR since every member of my family has a favorite driver.

Besides, South Park ripped NASCAR better than I ever could....

Tekwardo said:

...seems to be slowly dying outside of Hard Rock.

I'd say theme restaurant chains are pretty much dead aside from Hard Rock and Rainforest Cafe.

There was a fad for theme restaurant chains back in the 90s. All Star Cafe (sports), Fashion Cafe (supermodels -- because who wouldn't want to eat at a restaurant themed to people who notoriously don't eat much...), Marvel Mania (Marvel comics), Motown Cafe (guess) -- all long gone; none of the restaurants that did manage to open lasted very long.

Most of these places apparently had business plans that boiled down "theme = money!!!!"

Hard Rock has lasted, I think, because they have been very good at managing the brand all these years, and the restaurants put out good food. Not great food, but good, and at a price point people are willing to pay.

I have no understanding of either the appeal or the longevity of Rainforest Cafe.

I didn't say I didn't like auto racing, I said I didn't like NASCAR. I kind of like Indy racing. I'd love to see a Formula E race.

It's still rude and condescending to say that people that like NASCAR are lesser individuals.

We're really going to go there? Trashing sports fans as a civil rights issue? I grew up in Cleveland... I think I've earned the right to rag on any sport after a lifetime of losing.

In all fairness, you weren't ragging on the sport. You were ragging on the type of people that like the sport. Not a civil rights issue, but definitely an issue of being civil towards a stereotype.

But, as I have in the past, I'd like to commend you for not using "Hilljack" anywhere in this thread. :)

No biggie. I'm open to poking fun at all, let's knock down those walls. But NASCAR watchers having lowbrow tastes is such an easy and lazy target. It's easier than enthusiasts and gravy. Go for the higher hanging fruit, man.

It's one thing to playfully trash sports fans. It's another thing to post stereotypical, ignorant comments on a website just because you don't get why they like it.

It's not s civil rights issue. It's an issue of being classy.

There are over 196 million licensed drivers in the US alone. That does not make "go fast, turn left" a sport.

(Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics 2003, Washington, DC: 2004)

I was lucky enough to snag a credit on the old town windstorm. It cost 5 bucks for a crappy credit.

Being classy, about sports no less, and avoiding cheap shots, is now a thing here?

What has happened to CoasterBuzz?

The only thing worse than NASCAR is monster truck racing.

Pete I have to disagree... Monster Jam in the big stadiums is AWESOME! NASCAR, meh...