The Destination D23 Celebration was in full swing at the Walt Disney World Resort this weekend, and lots of exciting parks news was shared with fans from all over the globe.
One of the exciting announcements made today was that of the name of a new quick-service restaurant at EPCOT. The quick-service eatery will function like other quick-service locations throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, where Guests can order at a counter or use the My Disney Experience app to place a mobile order from their phones for quicker pick-up at the eatery.
The announcement was made by Disney’s Josh D’Amaro, who currently works as Disney’s top man overseeing its Parks, Products, and Experiences. (Sounds like the most exciting position within The Walt Disney Company to me!)
The all-new Connections Café and Eatery will be located in the World Discovery neighborhood at EPCOT. It’s just one of the many changes coming to Disney World’s second park, which opened on October 1, 1982.
EPCOT was originally divided into two sections: Future World and the World Showcase. After the park’s transformation is complete, EPCOT will feature four distinct areas, each one full of new experiences, attractions, rides, and more magic than ever before. The four sections, or neighborhoods within EPCOT are World Showcase, World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery.
The new neighborhoods were first announced at the 2019 D23 Expo in California, along with the announcement of a new Moana-themed ride that will be located near the front of the park.
Big changes have been taking place all over the park as Disney’s Imagineers re-imagine the retro-futuristic park that also has a focus on cultural cuisine, traditions, and customs. We can’t wait to see all that’s in store for Guests who visit EPCOT in the coming years. We kind of think of it as an “EPCOT 2.0,” and it’s very exciting!
It’s time to eat, drink, and be spooky!. From the spellbinding shopping at World of Disney to all the ghoulish good treats and sips! Guests will find some returning favorites and sweet new additions this spooky season, including the Haunted Mansion Petit Cake, Pumpkin Donuts, Monster Cookies, and more.
We’ve rounded up all the “fa-boo-lous” and yummy details. (Most of these are only available through Oct. 31)
Amorette’s Patisserie
Haunted Mansion Petit Cake – Chocolate and vanilla chiffon cakes, with chocolate brownie, and diplomat cream sprinkled with candy-coated chocolate pieces and chocolate chips
Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake Roll – Pecan Chiffon cake, pumpkin cheesecake filling, and dulce nutmeg chocolate mousse
Pumpkin Crème Brûlée – Pumpkin custard with brûléed sugar, candied pecans, spiced whipped cream, and raspberry cranberry tuile
StrawScary Float and BlueScary Float with Ice Cream
Disney’s Candy Cauldron & Goofy’s Candy Co. (mobile order now available)
Minnie Witch Caramel Apple
Mickey Mummy Marshmallow
Mickey Halloween Marshmallow
Pumpkin Spice Fudge
Pumpkin Spice Cupcake
Mickey Halloween Cupcake
Minnie Halloween Cupcake
Mickey Candy Corn Sugar Cookie
Mickey Spider Web Sugar Cookie
“Pumpkin Pie” Slice Crisped Rice Cereal Treat
Mickey Pumpkin Crisped Rice Cereal Treat
Jack Skellington Caramel Apple
Jack Skellington Crisped Rice Cereal Treat
Dockside Margaritas
Jack O’Lantern – Black rum, rum, white rum, orange-flavored triple sec liqueur, orange juice, lemonade, and a grenadine float
Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC
Vegan and Gluten-Free Halloween Cupcakes and Brownie Bars – Vanilla and chocolate cupcakes and chocolate brownies topped with vanilla frosting and decorated with spooky designs
Vegan and Gluten-Free Halloween Sugar Cookie Kit – Six sugar skull shaped cookies, Six sugar pumpkin=shaped cookies, purple, orange, and white icing, and sprinkles
Vegan and Gluten-Free Custom Cakes – Available by pre-order only; Call (855) GOBABYCAKES to learn more.
Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew
Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew
The Great Pumpkin Donut – Plump yeast donut with vanilla icing, black and orange sprinkles, and crowned with candy corn-studded buttercream and pumpkin-shaped marshmallow candies (Available only Oct. 25–31.)
The Ganachery
Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows
Caramel Chocolate Skulls – 65% dark chocolate skulls filled with caramel ganache
Pumpkin Spice Latte Ganache Squares – Pumpkin, spices, and Italian espresso with milk chocolate
Mickey Mummy Piñata – 65% dark chocolate sphere filled with sweet treats
Sister Elixir Cocoa Bomb – Dark chocolate cauldron filled with hot cocoa mix and green marshmallows topped with an edible image of the Sanderson Sisters and a chocolate broom stirrer (Available Oct. 19–31)
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar
Witch’s Flight – Whiskey, white grape juice, lime juice, and sweet and sour with flavors of green apple, orange-tangerine, and blackberry
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company
Pumpkin Pie Latte – Pumpkin pie syrup, milk and espresso (available hot or iced)
Harvest Chai Latte – Pumpkin pie syrup and chai tea (available hot or iced)
(Ask your barista to top your beverage or a donut with new Disney and fall–inspired designs!)
Gideon’s Bakehouse
The Frankenstein Cookie – Limited-edition almost ½ pound cookie filled with chocolates, chocolate sandwich cookies, and M&M’s
The Bride of Frankenstein Cookie – Limited-edition almost ½ pound cookie filled with white chocolate, golden chocolate sandwich cookies, and M&M’s
Frankencake – Three layers of chocolate cake, cookies & cream buttercream, layers of M&M’s, and spooky reverse ganache
Morimoto Asia
Black Magic Martini – Grapefruit Vodka, lemon, agave and grape boba
Twisted Pumpkin Cocktail – Vodka, Bols Lychee and Pumpkin Spice Liqueurs and house-made lychee syrup.
Paddlefish
Vampires Kiss – Sparkling wine and raspberry red cocktail
Splitsville Dining Room
Black Cauldron– Blackberry vodka, blackberries, apple liquor, activated charcoal, and fresh lemon juice
Poison Apple– Apple whiskey, spiced whiskey, apple cider, and gold glitter with a dried apple garnish
Sprinkles Cupcakes
Black Velvet – A twist on a Red Velvet classic, this decadent dark chocolate cake is topped with whipped chocolate ganache frosting and a black modern dot (Available Oct. 11-17).
Double Stuffed OREO– Rich chocolate caked filled and topped with orange, color vanilla buttercream with Halloween orange OREO cookie crust and an OREO rim topped with a black bat (Available Oct. 18-31).
Bewitched – A Red Velvet cake rolled in Halloween-inspired décor by Fancy Sprinkles (Available Oct. 25-31.)
Trick Or Treat – A Belgian dark chocolate cake with dark chocolate frosting, topped with a variety of candy including Twix, Kit Kat, Snickers, Milky Way, 3 Musketeers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and M&M minis (Pre orders: Oct 25-26; pick-up and delivery: Oct 30-31.)
Terralina Crafted Italian
Crisp Apple Martini – Vodka cocktail with the fruit flavors of apple and the crisp bite of sparkling wine
Vivoli il Gelato
Pumpkin Waffle – Pumpkin waffle topped with vanilla gelato, whipped cream, and brown sugar
Pumpkin Cannoli – Crispy pastry shell filled with a sweet cream made with ricotta cheese
Jack-O-Lantern Float – Vanilla gelato, Fanta Orange. and whipped cream
S’mores Pumpkin Cookie Sandwich – Freshly baked s’mores cookies with pumpkin gelato
Mocha Caramel Bombolato – Coffee gelato, chocolate chips. and caramel sauce in a warm Italian Doughnut
We’ve been waiting to hear when FastPass+ would be returning and today we finally have an answer regarding its future. FastPass+ will be retired and replaced by a new paid offering this fall as part of a new digital service called Disney Genie.
From a Disney Cast Member;
We’re almost ready to let Disney Genie out of the lamp!
Coming this fall to Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, Disney Genie is a complimentary and convenient new digital service designed to create your best Disney day. We’ve been listening to your feedback – you want planning to be easier, you want more flexibility and you want better tools to help you make the most of your visit – and that’s exactly what Disney Genie is here to do. We’ve made significant investments in this cool new technology, which guides you through our theme parks with tips that can help you reduce time in lines, discover magic around every corner and take the guesswork out of “what’s next.”
Built right into the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps, Disney Genie service will maximize your park time, so you can have more fun. It includes a personalized itinerary feature that will quickly and seamlessly map out an entire day. From specific attractions, foodie experiences and entertainment, to general interests like Disney princesses, villains, Pixar, Star Wars, thrill rides and more – just tell Disney Genie what you want to do and it will do the planning for you.
Here are a few more features:
Get Itinerary Updates from Morning to Night: Disney Genie will continue to update your itinerary throughout your day, so you can be more spontaneous and go with the flow.
Find Your Favorites at a Glance: Create your very own personal tip board to instantly see your favorites. It will display current AND forecasted future wait times, helping you predict when you might experience quicker entry to attractions.
Enjoy More Flexibility and Fun: Disney Genie brings existing planning features together in one place. Join a virtual queue at certain attractions, make dining and experience reservations, mobile order food at many locations, get help from a virtual assistant and more.
For even more convenience and flexibility, there are two other options for enjoying our theme parks, through a queue we are introducing called the Lightning Lane entrance that also saves you time in line:
Disney Genie+ service (available for purchase): For the price of $15 per ticket per day at Walt Disney World Resort and $20 per ticket per day at Disneyland Resort, choose the next available time to arrive at a variety of attractions and experiences using the Lightning Lane entrance. You can make one selection at a time, throughout the day – from classics like Haunted Mansion to thrill rides like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and newer favorites like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (attractions subject to limited availability). This convenient option is the next evolution of the fan-favorite Disney MaxPass service from Disneyland Resort. Disney Genie+ will also include Disney parks-themed audio experiences and photo features to capture your memories – augmented reality lenses for those visiting Walt Disney World Resort and unlimited Disney PhotoPass downloads from your day if you are visiting Disneyland Resort.
Individual attraction selections (available for purchase): Schedule a time to arrive at up to two highly demanded attractions each day using the Lightning Lane entrance – like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom Park and Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure park (subject to limited availability; attractions not included with Disney Genie+). Pricing for this option will vary by date, attraction and park and will be announced closer to launch.
Lightning Lane selections will be made on the same day of your visit and can be used across multiple theme parks, great for those who love the Park Hopper option. Attractions continue to offer a traditional standby queue, or a virtual queue at certain attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – to maximize flexibility.
While the FASTPASS, FastPass+ and Disney MaxPass services will be retired, we’re incredibly excited about the flexibility and choices Disney Genie service provides. You can choose from all of our new options, a mix of them or none at all, and continue to have a great experience no matter how you decide to plan your best Disney day.
We are also making some enhancements to our Disability Access Service (DAS) program, including new options to enroll in the program pre-arrival and for DAS participants to select attractions directly in the app. These options will be available in addition to our existing, in-person DAS program. Visit our Services for Guests with Disabilities page DisneyWorld.com and Disneyland.comfor more details.
As we’ve previously shared, there’s new mouthwatering magic this summer at the Walt Disney World Resort with the debut of our Disney Family Night Dinner experiences. And today, we’ve ordered up even more terrific tidbits to share on these tasty, take-out meals for everyone to enjoy.
Disney Family Night Dinner is an attention-grabbing dining bundle that includes a flavorful feast, delectable dessert and original card-type games inspired by favorite Disney characters and friends. These three-course meal packages are available at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and feature the following:
Centertown Market at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort:
Roasted Jamaican-style Chicken
Fried Yucca
Cilantro Rice
Seasonal Vegetables
Caribbean Pull-apart Rolls with Onion Jam and Guava Butter
Decorate-your-own Mickey and Minnie Cookies
Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:
Garden Salad – Tomato, cucumber, carrots, and a duo of dressings
Savory Lasagna – Three cheese lasagna with tomato sauce
Two Mickey-shaped Cheese or Pepperoni Pizzas
Minnie Cheesecake with strawberry sauce, whipped cream, and fresh berries
And while enjoying the fabulous feast, Guests can let the games begin! Mickey and Minnie Mouse host a one-of-a-kind Game Night through card games that’ll bring out every family’s most creative and playful qualities. And when the games are completed, they’ll reveal a special dose of Disney magic!
Disney Family Night Dinners are sharable and serve three to four people. The meals are available from 5-10 p.m. ET now and through the summer via mobile order and at the two resort locations.
We are excited to announce Princess Breakfast Adventures at Napa Rose will again be delighting kids (and adults!) with everyone’s favorite Disney Princesses. We also have more fan-favorite restaurants opening as well!
Explorers and adventurers will be thrilled to know Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar will start taking reservations for lunch AND dinner beginning Aug. 11, with the first reservation date Aug. 15. We all know it’s a real jungle out there, so be sure to book a reservation!
Carnation Café at Disneyland Park, opening Sept. 16, is all about classic comfort food! Guests can start their morning with Mickey waffles, and for lunch (and dinner!), enjoy some of Walt’s favorite chili or Chicken fried Chicken. Maybe find a new favorite like the Parmesan-crusted Patty Melt or the new Short Rib with homemade Mac and Cheese. We can’t wait for the Fried Pickles!
When Guests arrive at Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures at Napa Rose, Disney Princesses will greet them on a private patio for an exclusive photo opportunity. Throughout the experience, little princesses and princes will enjoy fun Princess-themed activities and receive a special keepsake to remember their special morning!
The menu at this magical breakfast features delicious breakfast and luncheon offerings. Start with three-tier towers of appetizers, which may include chia and granola parfait with mango, kiwi, and coconut; ham and cheese sandwiches with cranberry cream cheese, and lobster salad crostini with a dinglehopper. (How cute is that?)
Kids can choose from house-made mac ‘n’ cheese, princess waffles, and barbecue beef sliders for the main course. A selection of savory options for adults includes scrambled eggs, turkey sausages, vegetables, and a selection of meats, such as applewood-smoked pork belly and braised short ribs.
Chocolate princess cake pops, petite raspberry tarts, seashell macarons, sorbet, and more are the perfect sweet ending to this enchanting experience.
Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures at Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa opens on Aug. 26, with booking available Aug.11.
The fantastic all-you-care-to-enjoy breakfast and dinner buffets and serving stations at Goofy’s Kitchen will welcome Guests back starting Aug. 18. Although Goofy and Friends will not be hosting at the reopening, they will be returning at a later day – stay tuned for more details.
Guests can start their day with made-to-order omelets, Mickey-shaped waffles and pancakes, French toast, sausage, bacon, eggs Benedict, smoked salmon, pastries and fresh fruit, and fresh vegetables. And don’t forget to try Goofy’s very own peanut butter and jelly pizza!
Dinner offerings include fresh fish, seasonal vegetables, tossed salads, mac & cheese, and pizzas, as well as an onstage meat carving station. And a trip to the decadent dessert buffet is a must at Goofy’s Kitchen!
Goofy’s Kitchen at Disneyland Hotel opens on Aug. 18, with booking available Aug. 11. Note: Goofy and Friends will not be hosting at the reopening. They will be returning on a later day – stay tuned.
Rise and shine for “Minnie & Friends – Breakfast in the Park,” an all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet at Plaza Inn. Join Minnie and some of her favorite Disney pals while dining on hearty breakfast classics: made-to-order omelets and Mickey waffles, French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, breakfast potatoes, fresh-baked pastries and breads, fruit, and hot and cold cereals.
Minnie & Friends for breakfast at Plaza Inn opens on Aug.12, with booking available Aug. 11.
While the dining experiences may look a little different, Guests can still expect to smile and wave, snap selfies, and make unforgettable memories with some of their favorite Disney friends as they make appearances in the restaurants.
Below is the current Dining Guide. Enjoy!
Disneyland Park
Alien Pizza Planet (mobile order available)
Bengal Barbecue (mobile order available)
Blue Bayou Restaurant
Café Orleans
Carnation Café (opening Sept. 16)
Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo (mobile order available)
Edelweiss Snacks (mobile order available)
French Market Restaurant (mobile order available)
Galactic Grill (mobile order available)
Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor (mobile order available)
Harbour Galley (mobile order available)
Hungry Bear Restaurant (mobile order available)
Jolly Holiday Bakery Café (mobile order available)
Kat Saka’s Kettle
Little Red Wagon (mobile order available)
Market House
Maurice’s Treats
Milk Stand (mobile order available)
Mint Julep Bar (mobile order available)
Oga’s Cantina
Plaza Inn – Minnie & Friends Breakfast (opening Aug. 12; booking available Aug. 11)
Plaza Inn
Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante
Red Rose Taverne (mobile order available)
Refreshment Corner (mobile order available)
River Belle Terrace
Ronto Roasters (mobile order available)
Ship to Shore Marketplace
Stage Door Café (mobile order available)
The Golden Horseshoe (mobile order available)
The Tropical Hideaway
Tiki Juice Bar (mobile order available)
Various vending carts serving ice cream, popcorn, churros, beverages, snacks, and hot foods
Disney California Adventure Park
Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats
Alfresco Tasting Terrace (open exclusively for Legacy Passholders and their guests through Aug. 15)
Angry Dogs
Award Wieners (mobile order available)
Bayside Brews (mobile order available)
Cappuccino Cart – Gourmet Coffee (mobile order available)
Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining
Carthay Circle Restaurant
Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream (mobile order available)
Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill (mobile order available)
Corn Dog Castle (mobile order available)
Cozy Cone Motel (mobile order available)
Fiddler, Fifer & Practical
Flo’s V-8 Café (mobile order available)
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop
Hollywood Lounge (mobile order available)
Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums
Lamplight Lounge
Lamplight Lounge – Boardwalk Dining
Lamplight Lounge Brunch Fri., Sat. & Sun. only
Lucky Fortune Cookery (mobile order available)
Mendocino Terrace
Pacific Wharf Cafe (mobile order available)
Pacific Wharf Distribution Co. (mobile order available)
Paradise Garden Grill (mobile order available)
Poultry Palace
Pym Tasting Lab (mobile order available)
Pym Test Kitchen featuring Impossible® (mobile order available)
Rita’s Baja Blenders (mobile order available)
Schmoozies! (mobile order available)
Shawarma Palace
Shawarma Palace Too
Smokejumpers Grill (mobile order available)
Sonoma Terrace (mobile order available)
Studio Catering Co. (mobile order available)
Terran Treats
Wine Country Trattoria
Various vending carts serving ice cream, popcorn, churros, beverages, snacks, and hot foods
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
GCH Craftsman Bar
GCH Craftsman Grill (mobile order available)
Hearthstone Lounge
Napa Rose (dinner only)
Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures at Napa Rose (opens Aug. 26 with booking available Aug. 11)
Storytellers Café (dinner)
Storytellers Café – Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Breakfast (Daily breakfast; Friday, Sat., and Sun. Brunch from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
Disneyland Hotel
Goofy’s Kitchen (opening Aug. 18 with booking available Aug. 11. Note: Goofy and Friends return at a later date)
Tangaroa Terrance Tropical Bar & Grill (mobile order available)
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar
The Coffee House (mobile order available)
Downtown Disney District
Ballast Point Brewing Company
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes
Crazy Shake™ Window by Black Tap
Catal Restaurant
Earl of Sandwich
Jamba
La Brea Bakery Café
Marceline’s Confectionery
Naples Ristorante e Bar
Napolini Pizzeria
Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen
Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen Express
Salt & Straw
Splitsville Luxury Lanes
Sprinkles
Starbucks
Tortilla Jo’s
Taqueria at Tortilla Jo’s
Uva Bar & Cafe
Wetzel’s Pretzels
(Note: Dates and locations subject to change.)
Reminder to download or update the Disneyland mobile app*, as this is the primary way to order food and beverages at most quick-service dining locations.
Guests with confirmed theme park reservations and tickets for the same park can make dining reservations on the same date 60 days in advance with mobile check-in and mobile wait-list at select full-service locations, available on the Disneyland mobile app.
