Photo courtesy of disneyparks.disney.go.com
Some big dining news is coming out of Walt Disney World…just in time for the 50th Anniversary celebration. The biggest news is the opening of EPCOT’s Space 220 restaurant! Slated to begin service On September 20th, this restaurant is part of an epic transformation of EPCOT. Located near Mission: SPACE, this immersive experience offers one-of-a-kind dining in Future World. Guests will board “Space Elevators” that will take them 220 miles about Earth – EPCOT will shrink away, and the Space Station comes into view! The Centauri Space Station will offer a panoramic view of Earth while experiencing a two-course prix fixe menu for lunch or a three-course prix fixe menu for dinner. Space 220 will be run by the Patina Group rather than Disney itself. Never fear, the Patina Group currently runs some of our very favorite restaurants on Walt Disney World property, including Via Napoli, The Edison, and Morimoto Asia. Very few details are available as to what the prix fixe menu will look like, but Disney has stated that the out-of-this-world menu will feature “modern American cuisine, cocktails, and a wide selection of craft beer.” I can’t wait to try it out! This could be one of the best immersive experiences not only in EPCOT but one of the best on WDW property! What do you think? Are you excited? Advance dining reservations aren’t available yet, but keep an eye and ear out on Your Story Travel Company’s Facebook page or the Mousecapades Podcast…we’ll keep you up to date!
Some more delicious details about dining at the Walt Disney World resort: some of the most popular all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet restaurants are back in business! Boma – Flavors of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge opened in mid-August for breakfast and dinner! This is one of our favorite spots for breakfast OR dinner! The rotisserie area offers ribs, salmon, rotisserie chicken, lamb, and African-spiced strip loin at dinner. For the young adventurers (or me!) Disney’s delicious mac n’ cheese will be available, along with chicken bites and pasta & meatballs. You can’t go wrong with any meal that ends with the famous Zebra Domes! Biergarten Restaurant in the German pavilion at EPCOT reopened in late August, offering favorites for lunch and dinner, and Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom is slated to open mid-September. No word on whether Pooh and his friends will be making appearances, but guests will be able to feast on lunch or dinner with favorites like pork tenderloin, prime rib, and Parker House rolls. A guest-favorite spot, Cinderella’s Royal Table, opened in late August, offering breakfast. Looking for a reservation? Don’t worry; one of the Story Guides from Your Story Travel will help you every step of the way!
Photo courtesy of disneyparks.disney.go.com
With Spooky Season upon us, Disney Parks and Resorts are gearing up with ghoulish goodies for everyone to enjoy! Our journey takes us to the Disneyland Resort, where chefs and candy makers have been gearing up for their Halloween Time. Halloween Time runs from September 3rd through October 31st with special costumed character greetings, the ever-popular Haunted Mansion Holiday, and the special after-hours Oogie Boogie Bash, where your favorite Villains make appearances! New “baddies” have been added to the bash this year, including Sid from Toy Story and Agnes/Agatha from WandaVision! The selections available are numerous…it is hard to narrow down what to try! Fan-favorite Carnation Café opens September 16th and will offer a Haunted Mansion Holiday Wreath Cookie while supplies last! Hunny Spot at Pooh Corner will be offering a Mummy Marshmallow Wand, and Candy Palace will be offering a “Minnie Witch Crispy” – SO cute! Both locations offer Mobile Ordering, which I *love* at Walt Disney World…if you’ve tried Mobile Ordering at Disneyland, I’d be interested to know how you like it! On the savory side, Jolly Holiday Bakery Café will offer a Toasted Salsa Roja Chicken Sandwich – shredded chicken with jack and cotija cheeses on rustic bread served with tortilla soup (YUM!). Who wants a taste of New Orleans? Mickey-shaped *strawberry chocolate* beignets {with strawberry-chocolate powdered sugar} will be available in 3 or 6 packs at the Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square! Want to try the Grey Stuff? It’s delicious! Red Rose Taverne is offering Halloween Grey Stuff with special holiday sprinkles and a tombstone cookie! Disneyland is *famous* for its churros, and the Halloween offerings shouldn’t be missed! Various churros will be available with pumpkin dipping sauce, dusted in dark and milk chocolate, elegantly dressed in white chocolate, rolled in pumpkin spice sugar with brown butter cream cheese dipping sauce (!!!), or covered with chocolate cookie crumbles and colored sugar. The HARD question is: which one will you pick?!?!? This is just the tip of the iceberg (tip of the Matterhorn, maybe?) of what Disneyland is offering this fall. The entire Foodie Guide to Spooky Eats and Treats at Disneyland Resort can be found here.
If there is one thing I love to do at the Disney Parks, it is EAT! The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is going strong, and there is always something new and exciting on the menu at ANY dining location! Do you have a favorite restaurant when you visit Disney Parks? Is there a must-do for you and your family? I’d love to hear about it! Join the discussion on Facebook and let us know what you think!
Happy Eating!
Chrissy Pagnotti
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chrissy.pagnotti@yourstorytravel.com
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