When dining at Walt Disney World Resort, there is something for everyone. From a quick snack to full-on sit-downs and buffets and nearly 400 places to eat, food experiences loom large at The Most Magical Place on Earth. However, when the Parks were forced to shut down due to the pandemic, Disney decided to take a hard look at its dining experiences and has made the decision that not all of them will return.
We have just learned that The Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Disney’s Polynesian Resort will not be opening back up. The show had been unavailable to Guests since the Parks reopened last summer. At this time, Disney has not announced if a new show will take its place or if they will no longer offer any type of dinner show. The Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show had been a part of the Resort since Walt Disney World opened in 1971. Guests loved being a part of a traditional Hawaiian luau that brought them straight to the islands.
While The Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show will no longer be a dining option for Guests visiting Polynesian Village, there are still a number of other delicious spots to enjoy. ‘Ohana is a great sit-down restaurant that is open daily for breakfast and dinner. Both breakfast and dinner feature all-you-care-to-enjoy family-style meals. It should be noted though that, at this time, character dining is still unavailable for breakfast.
Kona Café is another great dining option at the deluxe resort. Kona Café is open daily for breakfast lunch and dinner and features a number of signature dishes like Tonga Toast, Pineapple Macadamia Pancakes, and Kona-Braised Short Rib.
Walt Disney World Resort Annual Passholders are given much more than access to booking reservations to the Disney Parks.
Throughout the year, Disney offers exclusive discounts and perks that are only available to those who hold the Annual Passes.
At this point, the selling of Annual Passes has not returned at Walt Disney World Resort. While the Disney World Annual Pass Incredi-Pass, Disney Sorcerer Pass, Disney Pirate Pass, and Disney Pixie Dust passes are all still noted on the website, they are all listed as “unavailable” and have not been available for purchase since November of last year.
Current Annual Passholders can still renew their passes online, meaning that they are in a select group when it comes to accessing massive benefits and perks that come with being a passholder.
That’s why, if you are a Walt Disney World Resort Annual Passholder, you need to get to shopDisney quick!
Through March 17, Walt Disney World Resort Annual Passholders can now get 25% off their purchases of $75.00 or more.
To take advantage of this perk, you’ll have to link your Disney Annual Pass to your shopDisney account, if you haven’t done so already. From there, just sign into your shopDisney account and place all the items you want to purchase in your bag. Enter the code “WDW25” at checkout and you’re all set! Please keep in mind that select merchandise, including non-Disney branded items, are not eligible for this discount.
shopDisney is the official home of all Disney merchandise. The online store carries just about anything Disney-themed you could imagine, including Park collections, Ears, as well as Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar merchandise, and much more.
The Foodie Guide to St. Patrick’s Day is here! We’ve put together all the tasty concoctions coming to both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, and the chefs and mixologists from both coasts did not disappoint. From savory dishes to sweet delights, even deliciously crafted cocktails, there is a little bit of everything for everyone.
Walt Disney World Resort
Resorts
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Intermission Food Court (available March 13 through 19)
St. Patrick’s Day Mickey: Chocolate Irish crème mousse and chocolate cake with a sugar cookie (Mobile Order available) (New)
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
World Premiere Food Court (available March 13 through 19)
St. Patrick’s Day Mickey: Chocolate Irish crème mousse and chocolate cake with a sugar cookie (Mobile Order available) (New)
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
The Drop Off (available March 13 through 19)
Good Luck Charm: Vodka and Irish cream liqueur blended with vanilla ice cream topped with fresh whipped cream and cookie ears
Landscape of Flavors (available March 13 through 19)
Luck of the Green: Chocolate cupcake filled with marshmallow mint crème topped with vanilla buttercream, shamrock sprinkles, and gold shimmer (Mobile Order available)
Disney’s BoardWalk
AbracadaBAR (available through March 31)
Irish Magic Trick: Irish whiskey, Italian liqueur, and bitters (New)
Atlantic City Dance Hall (available through March 31)
Shamrock Punch: Apple whisky, vodka, apple sour, lime sour, Granny Smith apple, and Sprite garnished with a glow cube (New)
Bellevue Lounge (available through March 31)
Irish Mule Cocktail: Irish whiskey, ginger beer, and lime juice garnished with a lime (New)
BoardWalk Bakery (available March 12 through 17) (Mobile Order available)
Mint Cookies ‘n Cream Cupcake: Chocolate cupcake filled with mint cookies ‘n cream mousse topped with whipped cream, holiday sprinkles, and a sugar cookie shamrock
Shamrock Sugar Cookie: Sugar cookie with green holiday decor
Cannoli: Traditional Cannoli with green holiday decor
Coconut Macaroon: Traditional giant coconut macaroon with green chocolate decor
Mickey Brownie: Ganache brownie with green holiday sprinkles
Boardwalk Joe’s (available through March 31)
Pot O Lucky Gold: Coconut rum, vodka, lime, pineapple juice, and honey-mango flavors garnished with lime and pineapple (New)
Leaping Horse
Fuzzy Leprechaun: Vodka, blue curaçao, peach schnapps, orange juice, and pineapple juice garnished with an orange slice and maraschino cherry (New)
Trattoria al Forno (available through March 31)
Italian Leprechaun: Limoncello, prosecco brut, and elderflower liqueur garnished with mint (New)
Mimosa Verdi: Prosecco brut, blue curaçao, fruit liqueur, and pineapple juice (New)
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Centertown Market (available March 13 through 19)
Mint Chocolate Cheesecake: Mint chocolate brownie topped with vanilla cheesecake, whipped mint ganache, and a shamrock chocolate décor (Mobile Order available) (New)
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Contempo Café (available March 17)
St. Patrick’s Day Cupcake: Green cupcake filled with gold crispy pearls topped with buttercream, green sugar, shamrock sprinkles, and white chocolate Minnie hat (Mobile Order available)
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Gasparilla Island Grill (available through March 18)
St. Patty’s Day Hat: Caramel Irish cream mousse on a shortbread cookie (Mobile Order available) (New)
Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Goods to Go and The Artist’s Palette (available March 17)
St. Patrick’s Day Cupcake: Irish dry stout cake with Irish cream liqueur mousse and whiskey caramel finished with vanilla buttercream, gold crisp pearls, and a white chocolate shamrock (Mobile Order available) (New)
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Kona Cafe and Capt. Cook’s (available March 17)
Patrick’s Day Cupcake: Vanilla cupcake topped with chocolate and vanilla buttercream, chocolate Mickey ears, and a shamrock (Mobile Order available) (New)
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Everything POP Shopping & Dining (available March 13 through 19)
Luck of the Green: Chocolate cupcake filled with marshmallow mint crème topped with vanilla buttercream, shamrock sprinkles, and gold shimmer (Mobile Order available)
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory (available March 13 through March 19)
Mint Chocolate Cheesecake: Mint chocolate brownie topped with vanilla cheesecake, whipped mint ganache, and chocolate décor (Mobile Order available) (New)
Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside
Riverside Mill (available March 13 through March 19)
Mint Chocolate Cheesecake: Mint chocolate brownie topped with vanilla cheesecake, whipped mint ganache, and chocolate décor (New)
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Le Petit Café (available March 17)
Caramel Hazelnut Profiteroles: Caramel hazelnut custard filled chocolate profiteroles with chocolate ganache (Mobile Order available) (New)
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Roaring Fork (available March 17)
Shamrock Cupcake: Chocolate cupcake filled with mint cookies ’n cream (Mobile Order available)
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
The Market at Ale & Compass (available through March 17)
Irish Cream Chocolate Cupcake: Chocolate cupcake with a Irish cream mousse covered in chocolate ganache and finished with chocolate and vanilla crisp pearls and a chocolate clover (Mobile Order available)
Disney Springs
Amorette’s Patisserie (available March 12 through 20)
Luck of the Irish Petit Cake: Layers of praline, whiskey-scented vanilla chiffon cake, and Irish cream liqueur pastry cream (New)
City Works Eatery (available through March 17)
Irish Nachos: House-made corned beef, hardwood-smoked bacon, caramelized onions, IPA cheese sauce, green onions, and chips
Take part in the festivities of Raglan Road’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival [Insert link here] this year with classics like fresh-caught fish and chips, Shepherd’s to Die for Pie, and the plant-based take on shephard’s pie, This Shepherd Went Vegan, along with delicious drinks including the new So Berry Les.
So Berry Les: Local Florida strawberry and Key lime-infused hard seltzer (New)
Vivoli il Gelato
Float: Vanilla gelato with an Irish dry stout (available through April 30)
Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake: Mint chocolate chip gelato, cookies and cream gelato, chocolate sauce, and chocolate chips (available through April 5)
Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Park
Red Rose Taverne (available March 17 through 30)
The Green Stuff: Mint White Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Cake, Mint Chocolate Chips and Chocolate Cookie Crumbs on a Shortbread Cookie (Mobile Order available) (New)
Disney California Adventure Park
Corn Dog Castle (available March 17) (Mobile Order available)
Hot-Link Corn Dog: Coated with green corn dog batter and served with mandarin orange or small bag of chips (New)
Original Corn Dog: Coated with green corn dog batter and served with mandarin orange or small bag of chips (New)
Cheddar Cheese Stick: Coated with green corn dog batter and served with mandarin orange or small bag of chips (New)
Hollywood Lounge (available March 17)
Strawberry Elderflower Whiskey: Strawberry lemonade mixed with ginger syrup, elderflower, and whiskey (Mobile Order available) (New)
Lamplight Lounge and Boardwalk Dining (available March 17 through 20)
Watermelon Cooler: Irish Whiskey, Muddled Watermelon, Agave and Lemon Juice (New)
Disney’s Grand California Hotel & Spa
GCH Craftsman’s Grill (available March 17 through 20) (Mobile Order available)
Leprechaun Cupcake: Chocolate cupcake filled with pot of gold and frosted with vanilla buttercream (New)
Leprechaun Mickey-shaped Donut: Vanilla cake donut dipped in dark chocolate and decorated with Leprechaun decor (New)
GCH Holiday Cart (available Mach 17 through 20)
St Patrick’s Day Whoopie Pie: Chocolate whoopie pie filled with vanilla buttercream and rolled in shamrock sprinkles (New)
Mickey-shaped Leprechaun Cookie: Vanilla sugar cookie dipped in dark chocolate and decorated with rolled fondant (New)
St Patrick’s Day Double Chocolate Cookie Shot: Available with milk or liqueur (New)
St Patrick’s Day Chocolate Cookie Shot: Available with milk or liqueur (New)
Downtown Disney District
Ballast Point Brewing Co. (available March 17 through 20)
The Rueben: Marble rye, thinly sliced corn beef, Russian dressing, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese served with chips or fries & pickle spears (New)
Hair of the Dog: Bratwurst braised in a porter topped with peppers, onions, beer cheese, and bacon bits on a pretzel bun and served with chips or fries (New)
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes (available through March 31)
Reuben Burger: Burger with prime beef, swiss cheese, griddled corned beef, sauerkraut, sliced pickles, and special sauce
Lucky Charms Classic Shake: Lucky Charms Shake topped with whipped cream and Lucky Charms (New)
California Churro (available March 17)
Pot of Gold Churro: A churro rolled in Key lime pie sugar drizzled with white chocolate sauce over top, dusted with gold and green sprinkles, and served with a side of whipped cream (New)
Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen (available March 16 through 20)
The Emerald Breeze: Vodka, peach schnapps, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, and orange juice (New)
Salt & Straw (available through March 31)
Pots of Gold & Rainbows: A legendary favorite with hand-sorted luck from the charms, steeping the whole-grain cereal in cream for that bottom-of-the-bowl sweetened milk before stirring in mountains of rainbow marshmallows
Sprinkles (available March 14 through 20)
Irish Coffee: Chocolate coffee cake and marshmallow core topped with Irish whiskey-infused green and vanilla buttercream frosting (recommended just for adults due to hint of alcohol)
Uva Bar & Café (available through March 31)
Beer Cheese Burger: Corned beef, burger patty, Irish stout beer cheese, pickles, and mustard aïoli on a Brioche bun served with sweet fries
Disney’s Vero Beach Resort
Wind & Waves Market (available March 16 through 18)
Shamrock Whoopie Pies: Vanilla cake with golden citrus crème
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.
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