Planet Hollywood Observatory Finally Opens
The revamped Planet Hollywood Observatory opened at the Disney Springs dining and entertainment district Friday afternoon.
The restaurant, which closed nearly a year ago, is one of many hit spots getting a redo at Disney Springs.
Planet Hollywood Observatory has a remodeled menu with burger and sandwich selections curated by celebrity food personality Guy Fieri.
Now Planet Hollywood has changed from the 90s era design, globe-shaped building to looking like a turn-of-the-20th-century observatory.
According to owner Robert Earl, the renovation cost the Orlando-based company about $25 million.
“It’s a lot more theatrical, more Hollywood,” Earl told OBJ. “We’ve cracked a new wave of entertainment. It’s an emersive experience.”
“It’s imminent,” Earl said during a phone interview with the Orlando Business Journal. “It’s such a big project, such a large investment and there are so many new pieces to it. And to transform it within Disney Springs was a very big job. I think I expected it to have been ready two months earlier, or something like that. But all good things are worth waiting for.”
The restaurant opened for lunch on Friday at 11 a.m. and will be taking reservations as late as 10:45 p.m.
Come of the items featured on Fieri’s menu include the Mayor of Flavortown sandwich and a burger called the Straight Up with Cheese.
Back in September the company hosted a job fair to hire nearly 500 workers after it laid off 468 people in January 2016 when it closed.
The restaurant was initially intended to open in June 2016, but experienced unexpected construction delays, a representative for the company told the Orlando Sentinel.
Disney fans are excited about the new opening and reservations are filling up fast.
@WDWToday @WDWToday Will be going to the Flower & Garden Festival and have reservations for Planet Hollywood Observatory!
— Loretta K (@RikkiLo70) January 28, 2017
