We’re gearing up to make a seaside splash at Disney’s BoardWalk! Over the next few years, we’ll be bringing new enhancements and offerings to life along this beloved, turn-of-the-century promenade – from a charming new lobby design and nearby coffee bar to delectable dining options, refreshed guest rooms and other special touches.
Waterside strolls will be extra special with storybook sweet treats and dreamy desserts at The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers, a new table service restaurant and bakery that’s sure to delight. Expected to open in 2023, this restaurant will offer both savory and dessert menus, along with afternoon tea service, in a whimsical atmosphere that complements the magic of the idyllic charm of Disney’s BoardWalk that Guests know and love.
And with this new sweet spot on the horizon, the BoardWalk Bakery will become a new sandwich shop for Guests to enjoy a bite along the water’s edge, joining other current food and beverage locations like BoardWalk Ice Cream.
Through the doors of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, light and airy touches will reinvigorate the lobby, lounge and guest rooms, carrying the seaside breeze right inside. Just off the lobby, a new coffee bar with artisanal beverages and quick bites will be available to-go or in newly refreshed seating spaces inside or outdoors.
The Disney Resort hotel experience is a special part of what makes each Walt Disney World vacation truly memorable. As one of 31 themed resorts in the Disney Resorts Collection, Disney’s BoardWalk offers something for everyone – from shopping and dining to entertainment and recreation. We look forward to sharing new details about these enhancements at the resort as they become available.
Disney’s Chief Financial Officer made a huge announcement about park capacity at Walt Disney World on Monday as she participated in a Q&A session at Morgan Stanley’s 2022 Technology, Media & Telecom Conference.
Christine McCarthy, CFO of The Walt Disney Company, was asked about Disney’s Parks, Experience, and Products division. Specifically, she was asked about experiences and about park capacity.
“We are coming back towards full capacity, we’re not yet there,” McCarthy said. “But one of the things we were able to do when the parks were closed was really look at some of the underlying technologies for how we could run the business better and give a better consumer experience.”
McCarthy touted the Park Pass Reservation System, which was unveiled when Disney World reopened in July 2020 after an almost four-month closure in response to the coronavirus pandemic. McCarthy said that the system was necessary as Disney dealt with capacity limitations as the parks reopened. But she says the company realized quickly that the system could continue to be used after those limitations were gone as a tool to “manage attendance.”
In fact, she made a huge announcement in the midst of all the questioning and answering that took place during the conference. She said that the parks will not be returning to pre-pandemic capacity levels. She even said that Disney doesn’t want the parks “bursting at the seams.”
During the conference, McCarthy was asked, “What does full capacity mean looking forward?” She answered, saying that the parks aren’t currently operating at full capacity. (Tell that to Guests who’ve visited lately and have returned with photos of massive crowds at Disney World!)
But if you’re thinking that Disney wants Guests comfortable with lots of wiggle and elbow room while they’re visiting the parks, think again. It’s much more probable that Disney wants you to have just enough room to reach for your wallet. When attendance (aka “crowds”) is managed (by the aforementioned Park Pass Reservation System), Guests have more room–spending room. They enjoy the parks more and feel freer with their money.
Think about a time you visited Disney World and it was so crowded, you couldn’t think. Crowds make us more easily frustrated, on edge, etc., and when we feel that way, we’re frustrated about spending money. But if we’re more at ease during our visit, our wallets seem to open more easily as well.
And thanks to the Park Pass Reservation System, Disney can continue to create more and more demand for its products and experiences: in this case, admission to Disney World.
McCarthy talked about several things that seem to play a role in Disney World’s “new normal,” including Genie+, Lightning Lane, character meet-and-greets, and other things, such as the upcoming debut of Guardians of the Galaxy: COSMIC REWIND attraction at EPCOT this summer.
McCarthy talked about the recovery of the company’s parks division, saying it was driven by ticket prices and by Guests’ spending while in the parks as well.
“Part of it is because people could not go to our parks for a long period of time, especially in California, and when they came back, they wanted to spend money,” she said.
The company’s latest earnings reports show a massive increase in revenue in its parks division–nearly $7.2 billion earned in just one quarter.
St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner and now is the perfect time to start making plans. The annual Mighty St. Patrick’s Festival is back this year from March 11-17 at Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant. Guests will have the chance to enjoy the very best of Irish talent, a variety of beers and cocktails, classic Irish fare and more. This festival is a can’t-miss experience!
Irish Fare & Brews New on the menu this year is a locally crafted seltzer, called “So Berry Les.” The name is a special tribute to John Cooke’s (co-owner of Raglan Road Pub and Cooke’s of Dublin) father Les, who found himself in the Guinness Book of World Records for setting a strawberry-buying record in 1977. So Berry Les was crafted in collaboration with Crooked Can Brewing Co. in Winter Garden, Florida, and is a light and refreshing hard seltzer infused with local Florida strawberry and Key Lime juice. There are also several Irish beer flights and, of course, the classic Guinness.
It’s hardly a trip to Raglan Road without their famous fresh-caught fish with chips! (Pro tip: Guests can also order fish & chips to go at the Cooke’s of Dublin counter). Or, Guests can choose from a tasty selection of authentic Irish dishes like the Shepherd’s to Die for Pie and Executive Chef Mark O’Neill’s popular plant-based pie, This Shepherd Went Vegan. All of which pair beautifully with their wide range of Irish whiskeys, local craft beers and hand-crafted cocktails.
Live Entertainment It’s no secret – Raglan Road knows how to provide an amazing entertainment lineup. And for the festival this year, they are flying in some of the top bands from Ireland including Jig Jam, known for their captivating brand of CeltGrass; the Lisa Canny Band, blending pop and hip-hop with traditional Irish rhythm; Emerald Shore, vibrant trad music – just to name a few. Of course, the fan-favorite Raglan Road Irish Dancers will also be performing throughout the festival and are ready to teach Guests a few dance steps!
And the fun doesn’t stop there! There will also be a face painter, giveaways, merchandise at the Shop for Ireland boutique and more. On March 17 Raglan Road will open at 10 a.m., seating guests on a first-come, first-served basis, with a $20 cover charge for guests 18 and older. For those planning to celebrate during the other festival dates from March 11-16, reservations are encouraged.
Spring is in the air and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is offering some limited-time sweet treats!
From a Disney Cast Member;
If you love sweets, this latest edition of Sweet Treats will have you running over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to try out the latest and greatest indulgences. This spring, our chefs have whipped up some truly decadent items crafted especially for those sweet tooth extraordinaries, like myself, to live out their own culinary adventures at the park. I don’t know about you, but my stomach can’t resist a dessert when I see one. And trust me, these treats are not to be missed.
Starting today, all across Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll be able to get your hands on these delicious dishes to celebrate the fresh flavors of spring! I hope you and your taste buds are ready, because you won’t be able to resist this Sweet Treats roundup.
First off, let’s take a little trip over to Sunset Boulevard where multiple locations are serving up sweets. At Hollywood Scoops, the Orange Blossom Shake has everything you need to stay cool and, most importantly, satisfied. This orange and cream milkshake is absolutely beautiful (and tasty), topped with whipped cream and an orange-scented donut – how can you resist that? As an avid milkshake and donut connoisseur, I know I’ll be dropping into the Hollywood Scoops for this shake (likely more than once).
If you’re interested in a treat that’s inspired by a tale as old as time, the Beauty and the Beast Rose at Catalina Eddie’s will make you feel the love … or maybe that’s just your sweet tooth calling? This dessert is as beautiful as it is tasty – take a look for yourself! This dark chocolate mousse with a taste of black currant and Morello cherry sits atop a chocolate shortbread cookie, whipped cookies, and cream fluff, and is gorgeously topped with gilded chocolate-covered cocoa nibs.
At Rosie’s All-American Café, the S’mores Cupcake will light up your appetite. What could be better than chocolate and marshmallows on a cupcake? This fudge-filled chocolate cupcake, and yes, I did say fudge-filled, is topped with graham cracker buttercream, toasted marshmallows, and even a mini chocolate bar.
If you’re looking for a twist on a classic Mickey apple, The Trolley Car Café has got you covered. Here you’ll find the Chocolate-covered Apple, a dark chocolate and peanut butter crunch dipped Granny Smith apple with marshmallow ears. Not only is it absolutely adorable and a Disney treat staple, but it’s delicious too! Sounds like a win-win to me.
Next up, we have the ABC Commissary. This spot brought its best for this roundup because they have not one but two delicious desserts – one minty and one tropical-tasting!
First up, we have the Mint Chocolate Chip Cheesecake. Enjoy this chocolate cheesecake topped with dark chocolate ganache and whipped mint chocolate chip cream. Few things go together quite as well as mint and chocolate, and when you throw in the fact that this is a cheesecake, it’s a must-try treat.
Also being served up at ABC Commissary is the Tropical Tart. This lovely dessert is a mango passionfruit curd-filled graham cracker tart topped with whipped raspberry vanilla bean panna cotta, toasted coconut, and dehydrated strawberry and passionfruit. With all these fresh, fruity flavors, this treat is a spring staple!
If you ever wondered what strawberries, cheesecake, and cannoli tasted like together, well you’re in for a treat. PizzeRizzo is joining in on the spring fun with the Strawberry Cheesecake Cannoli. This white chocolate and rainbow sprinkled dipped cannoli shell filled with whipped strawberry cheesecake is a must-try. Just look at how pretty it is!
And last but certainly not least, we venture over to where the toys hang out to find our final treat. If you stop into Woody’s Lunch Box, you’ll find the newest addition to their sweet selections – the Banana Fudge Lunch Box Tart. This peanut butter and chocolate fudge stuffed pastry is coated with banana fondant, banana chips, and rainbow sprinkles. I don’t know about you, but I think bananas and fudge are a great combo and I can guarantee I will be heading over for repeat tastings of this tart.
Disney Springs has so many amazing dining options and in March, another new option is coming that looks fantastic.
Check out the announcement from Twitter:
The newest addition to our neighborhood is bringing you culture, hip-hop and fresh healthy greens in just one bite! Get ready to taste all the goodness of @localgreenatl when they open their #DisneySprings location this March. pic.twitter.com/ZOh20D2CQ7
According to their website, Local Green Atlanta “is a fast casual restaurant whose mission is to redefine healthy, affordable food for all by creating an ecosystem based on trust and accountability. WE provide you with a culinary experience focused on your health, that tastes good and helps you feel good, while giving you a cultural experience that binds us as a community.”
Those looking for alternative food options will be pleased with this restaurant. Local Green Atlanta says, “Our focus is to shine the light on nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables; therefore, we serve a mostly plant-based menu. With our vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian menu options, we strive to appeal to the tastes of the urban palate while providing cuisine rich in fiber, healthy fats, vitamins and other nutrients.”
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