Four New Dining Options Revealed for New Parkside Market, Plus More Coming to Downtown Disney District

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks

More delightful and delicious things are coming to Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort! As we previously shared, we have so much for guests to enjoy now and even more distinctive dining and entertainment settings coming in the future. We’re committed to bringing fresh, new, innovative experiences to make every visit special. So, let’s take a look at the latest, including plans for the new Parkside Market, plus a new stage and lawn, and more!

Announcing Plans for Parkside Market!

We are thrilled to share about more innovative food and drink offerings coming to Downtown Disney in the future! Plans are underway for Parkside Market, a new, curated collection of diverse culinary concepts brought to life by Levy, with all four offerings under one roof as part of the expansion on the west end. 

Din Tai Fung at Downtown Disney District
Din Tai Fung

Seoul Sister is a fast-casual modern eatery that will serve a Korean-forward menu based on bibimbap (Korean rice bowls) with a California twist. Executive Chef Kelly Kim will showcase bold Korean flavors through marinated meats, colorful vegetables and savory sauces over rice, noodles or salad, plus appetizers, an Asian-inspired breakfast menu, and hand-crafted drinks.

Sip & Sonder, from founders Amanda-Jane Thomas and Shanita Nicholas, is a Black women-owned brand that has been recognized as one of the best cafés in L.A. by the Los Angeles Times. Guests in the district can expect to enjoy Sip & Sonder’s signature lattes, as well as fresh treats, frozen drinks and Caribbean-inspired bites.

GG’s Chicken Shop, from Boka Restaurant Group, was founded by James Beard Award-winning restaurateurs Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm, alongside Michelin Star Chef Partner Lee Wolen. Affectionately named after Wolen’s mother Geri, the shop will serve a family-friendly menu of chicken sandwiches, salads, and classic dinner table sides.The first brick-and-mortar GG’s Chicken Shop opened earlier this year in Chicago and this new location in Downtown Disney District will be its first on the West Coast.

A second story bar will be an al fresco spot offering great views to sip signature craft cocktails and mocktails from mixologists who infuse, muddle, stir, shake and swizzle the freshest mixes using local ingredients and artful garnishes. Refreshing selections will include frozen lemonades, frozés, espresso martinis, shareable cocktails and spirit-free elixirs.

Later this year, Downtown Disney will open a new stage and lawn for special events, activities, musical entertainment and more on the west end of the district. In this brand-new area, guests will also be able to see a soaring new sculptural tower designed by Nikkolas Smith. This new tower will pay tribute to the sublime work of pioneering architects of color in Southern California during the mid-20th century with unique geometric patterns in the sculpture, evoking the famed mid-century buildings they created. We look forward to this beautiful new outdoor space!

Future plans for the district will also bring Din Tai Fung, a world-renowned Chinese restaurant known for its soup dumplings and noodles, plus masterful Mexican cuisine by Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytán at Paseo and Céntrico, and the popular California-Cuban cheese rolls and pastries to come from Porto’s Bakery and Cafe. 

Guests will want to visit again and again, as it’s always an exciting time to eat, shop and explore in Downtown Disney District. 

Numerous New Food Items Coming Soon to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Dining, Disney Parks

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is getting some great new food and beverage items for guests to enjoy. There are a lot of new things coming!

Grab your appetite and take a walk on the wild side of flavor because Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is introducing quite a few new menu items to various dining locations throughout the park starting Oct. 11. The talented culinary teams have put their creativity to the test and put together a combination of dishes that will delight your taste buds with each and every bite.

From new breakfast items like the Stuffed Pancake Sandwich to dinner delights like the Chicken and Shrimp Rice Bowl, and even a snack (or two) from Tamu Tamu, there’s something for everyone to indulge in. Once you see all these items, you’ll be roaring with excitement (and hunger).

I won’t keep you waiting anymore. Let’s see “what’s cooking” over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park starting Oct. 11!

We’re kicking things off over at Harambe Market, an open-air quick-service location that’s filled with African-inspired fare. This location is bursting with excitement, flavor, and fun – and the newest additions to the menu are no different. Starting this week, hungry visitors will be able to enjoy a variety of new rice bowls – the Chicken and Shrimp Rice Bowl, Chicken Rice Bowl, and Shrimp Rice Bowl. Each dish features jollof rice with kachumbari tomato salad and tzatziki sauce and you can choose between chermoula-marinated chicken, peri peri-marinated shrimp, or both to top it off. There’s also a new kid’s version available – the Shrimp and Rice Bowl with peri peri-marinated shrimp, white rice, and a Cuties Mandarin Orange.

That’s not all. The new Beef and Lamb Kofta Pita is a must-try. It combines house-made beef and lamb kofta with a deliciously refreshing tzatziki sauce, chermoula, and house-made chips that you won’t be able to get enough of. If you’re interested in a plant-based option, the chefs have also created the IMPOSSIBLE Kofta Pita. This plant-based bite showcases IMPOSSIBLE kofta accompanied by a plant-based aïoli, chermoula, and house-made chips.

Salad fans will be more than pleased with the latest dish to join the menu. The Harambe Salad with Chicken perfectly combines chermoula-marinated chicken with quinoa, grilled corn, black-eyed peas, and crispy chickpeas topped with a tasty chermoula-herbed vinaigrette. You can also get this salad topped with shrimp if you prefer.

And don’t worry dessert lovers. The brand-new Mango Passion Fruit Cheesecake is refreshing, delicious, and beautiful. What could be better than mango and passion fruit in cheesecake form?

Are you ready to kickstart your day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? If you weren’t sure, you will want to once you see this new bite. The salty-sweet combination has been taken to the next level with the Stuffed Pancake Sandwich. It’s filled with sausage, guava paste, egg, and cheese. If guava isn’t your thing, you can get this breakfast sandwich without it, so don’t worry. I don’t know about you, but this one is making my mouth water already. This new item will be available for breakfast at Drinkwallah, Pongu Pongu, Trek Snacks, and select outdoor vending carts.

Also serving up some new breakfast items and new snack bites is Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery. Whether looking for those early morning treats or midday cravings fix, the latest items here are going to impress. First up, joining the menu for breakfast is the Egg and Bacon Croissant Sandwich with Tomato Pepper Relish. This item features a croissant with a cheese omelet, crispy bacon, and tomato-pepper relish served with potato barrels. Also for breakfast is the Breakfast Totchos with Eggs, Bacon, and Cheese. It combines potato barrels, scrambled eggs, nacho cheese sauce, cheese curds, and crumbled bacon. I personally will be bringing my appetite for breakfast on my next outing to try everything.

But that’s not all for Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery – there are two more dishes on the way. The plant-based IMPOSSIBLE Gatsby fills a pita pocket with plant-based picadillo, tomato-pepper relish, and crispy potato sticks and tops it off with a plant-based aïoli. The Harissa Chicken brings together harissa chicken salad with vegetables and an avocado spread rolled in a spinach tortilla. Both items are served with house-made potato chips too!

In addition to the Stuffed Pancake Sandwich (which sounds incredible), Pongu Pongu will also have another item joining the menu. This fan-favorite spot nestled within Pandora – The World of Avatar serves up Na’vi-inspired refreshments and bites, like the Night Blossom. Starting Oct. 11, it will add a decadent new Cinnamon Roll. What a perfect sweet pairing to go with one of its tasty refreshments.

Barbecue lovers, are you (and your taste buds) ready for some exciting new bites? I sure hope so because Flame Tree Barbecue also has some additions on the way. The IMPOSSIBLE Burnt Ends are a can’t-miss plant-based dish whether you eat plant-based all the time or simply want to try something new. It’s paired with french fries and coleslaw on the side. If you fancy yourself a french fry fan, then I have the plate for you – the French Fries with Pulled Pork and Cheese. Need I say more?

We’re not done yet! Pizzafari is joining in on the menu updates. Here, you’ll find yet another plant-based item coming on Oct. 11. Add the Plant-based Italian Sausage to your list of things to try on your next Disney’s Animal Kingdom outing. This new offering is served alongside a side salad with Italian dressing. If you’re looking for another side option to pair with any of the tasty items already on the menu at this location, the Antipasto Side Salad will soon be available to complete your meal.

Last, but certainly not least, we’re trekking back over to Africa for one of my personal favorite snack spots at the park – Tamu Tamu Refreshments. Found in the heart of Harambe Village, those with a sweet tooth will rejoice at the options here. Joining the already delicious menu are four new snacks. First up, the DOLE Whip Orange Soda Float with strawberry syrup on top. Few things are as refreshing as pineapple, strawberry, and orange. Did you know you can also get the classic DOLE Whip Float at Tamu Tamu Refreshments already? This treat features DOLE Whip with DOLE pineapple juice for pineapple perfection. For those over the age of 21, you can enjoy the DOLE Whip Float with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum currently or the DOLE Whip Hard Cider Float featuring DOLE Whip and ACE Pineapple Craft Cider starting Oct. 11.

Wow! The culinary teams have clearly been working hard creating these incredible new delights for us to enjoy. No matter where you are, the foodie adventures are endless at Disney Parks! I can’t wait to see you all out there on Oct. 11 to try these can’t-miss eats and sips.

Ferry Boat Mishap at Disney World Sends Guest Flying From Scooter

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

The sheer size of Walt Disney World makes getting around property, or knowing how to get around property, an essential part of your Disney vacation. However, Disney has afforded guests means of travel throughout its 27,520-acre resort by way of Disney World bus service, monorails, the Disney Skyliner, and the Magic Kingdom ferry boat.

As the Orlando-based resort, known as the “Most Magical Place on Earth,” is home to four theme parks, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios, as well as numerous resort rooms, golf courses, water parks, and much more; navigating the vast property can be overwhelming. For many guests, it’s best to simply park your car at your Disney resort and utilize Walt Disney World Transportation services instead.

Disney World’s flagship park, Magic Kingdom, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Tens of thousands of guests visit the park each day, meaning its accessibility is of utmost importance to manage the flow of crowds. For this reason, Magic Kingdom, unlike Disney World’s other three parks, doesn’t have direct parking to gate service. Instead, visitors to Magic Kingdom must use a Disney bus, monorail, or ferry boat to access the park.

Although the monorail is as iconic as Cinderella Castle, many forgo the long waits and opt to use Disney World’s water transportation system instead to get to various locations, including Magic Kingdom. Disney’s water transportation system offers theme park and resort guests access to areas such as Fort Wilderness Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney Springs, the World Showcase at EPCOT, and travel across Seven Seas Lagoon.

The transportation system consists of many different styles of ferry boats; some, such as the friendship boats, which are smaller crafts, offering access to other areas within theme parks. However, some are designed to move large numbers of guests, such as the Magic Kingdom ferry boat that brings visitors across Seven Seas Lagoon from the Transportation and Ticket Center.

Guests to popular Disney World Resorts such as Port Orleans can also use Disney’s water transportation center to access fabulous dining and shopping like that found in Disney Springs. Although you’ll find several ferry boats around Disney World property, the main ferry that carries guests from the ticket center to the front door of Magic Kingdom definitely sees the heaviest traffic.

Pilots and captains of Disney’s transportation systems are highly trained. As safety remains the top priority at Walt Disney World, ensuring guests can get from point A to point B efficiently and without incident means that Disney spares little expense in preparing their Cast Members to escort thousands of guests a day.

However, this doesn’t mean accidents don’t happen. A notable history of transportation problems has occurred on almost all of Disney World’s different systems. Guests a few years back found themselves shocked when their Disney Skyliner gondola collided with another ride vehicle just outside of EPCOT. There have also been several instances of bus accidents across Walt Disney World property, and sadly, even deaths associated with monorail accidents outside of Magic Kingdom.

Although Disney does everything they can to ensure that guests are safe, accidents do happen. However, whether you’re using their transportation to get from Fort Wilderness to Magic Kingdom or to make your way across the World Showcase to the Morocco Pavilion, you should feel relatively confident that your complimentary ride will be event-free.

Liberty Square Riverboat

With so many buses running from Disney resorts, Disney Springs, and theme parks, ferry boats in waterways that alligators call home, and guests soaring high above Walt Disney World on the Skyliner or monorail, the unavoidable fact is that things will still happen. Recently, a guest at Walt Disney World learned this the hard way.

Despite the safety associated with industry-leading Disney transportation, a recent Reddit post by user u/careerpathlost suggests that a recent accident involving the Magic Kingdom ferry boat while docking at the TTC sent a guest tipping over from their motorized scooter.

“We were on the ferry Saturday night around 10:30, and I said to my daughter as we were approaching the dock at the TTC, ‘We aren’t lined up, s**t brace yourself,’ and then we hit the dock sideways,” writes the user. “One lady toppled out of her scooter, almost everyone on the boat flew sideways. No cast members said a thing; they just waited for the admiral to correct (which took a couple of minutes) and then debarked everyone. That’s all, just wondered if any of you guys happened to be on the ship as well.“

Surprisingly, many who chose to respond to the Reddit post also shared stories and experiences in which Disney World’s ferry boat system had also “crashed” into the docks. One specific corroboration stated that a water taxi collided with the ports at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

Although not mentioned in the Reddit post, it’s safe to assume everyone in the ferry boat was fine after the reported incident. As we’ve previously stated, Disney goes to great lengths to ensure that their transportation offerings are a safe service for guests at Walt Disney World, or at any of their parks, for that matter.

Disney Skyliner

As the need for buses, monorails, boats, and the Disney Skyliner remains high, transporting huge numbers of guests all over Disney World, the company often revisits its training and safety standards. However, if true, the latest report of a ferry boat colliding at the TTC dock raises concerns for future riders.

The Magic Kingdom ferry remains an excellent option for returning to the TTC or the parking lots at Disney World’s flagship park. It’s also a great place to enjoy Happily Ever After while beating some of the crowds that exit the park after the end of the nighttime spectacular. However, it can be a bit intimidating as the boats, during busy times, can become quite crowded. Despite complaints of mishaps such as this, guests can rest assured that Disney does everything to ensure their safety.

50’s Prime Time Cafe: A Nostalgic Culinary Journey Back in Time

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Within Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort, 50’s Prime Time Cafe is a dining experience that transports visitors back to the nostalgic era of the 1950s. This charming restaurant takes guests on a culinary journey that celebrates the essence of comfort food and family gatherings, all with a dash of playful, retro-themed entertainment.

As soon as you walk through the door of 50’s Prime Time Cafe, you’re transported to a bygone era. The restaurant’s design and decor capture the ambiance of a typical American home in the 1950s, complete with vintage furnishings, retro kitchen appliances, and black-and-white TVs playing classic shows. The immersive atmosphere and attention to detail create a warm and welcoming environment reminiscent of a family living room.

The heart of 50’s Prime Time Cafe is its comforting and hearty American cuisine. The menu offers classic dishes that pay homage to the home-cooked meals of the 1950s. From fried chicken to meatloaf, pot roast to Mom’s Old-Fashioned Pot Roast, the restaurant serves up generous portions of nostalgic favorites. The menu also includes vegetarian and vegan options, making it accessible to a variety of dietary preferences.

What sets 50’s Prime Time Cafe apart from other dining establishments is its interactive dining experience. The restaurant’s servers, known as “cousins,” play the role of family members, complete with playful teasing and a “mom” or “dad” who might remind you to keep your elbows off the table and eat your vegetables. This adds an element of lighthearted fun to your dining experience, making it a unique and memorable affair.

As an ode to the era, 50’s Prime Time Cafe offers TV dinners as part of its menu. These fun and nostalgic meals come in a divided tray, just like the classic TV dinners of the past. Guests can choose from options like the Fried Chicken TV Dinner or the Traditional Meatloaf TV Dinner. Don’t forget to pair your meal with a delightful milkshake, available in flavors like chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry.

After your savory meal, be sure to indulge in one of the timeless desserts on the menu. Classics like Dad’s Brownie Sundae, Apple Crisp, or the Traditional Warm Apple Pie will satisfy your sweet tooth and complete your nostalgic dining experience.

In addition to the entertaining “cousins,” the restaurant’s vintage setting adds to the immersive atmosphere. As you dine, you can enjoy classic black-and-white TV shows on the restaurant’s vintage television sets or simply take in the charming decor that surrounds you.

50’s Prime Time Cafe is an ideal dining destination for families. Children and adults alike will enjoy the interactive dining experience and the sense of nostalgia that permeates the restaurant. It’s an opportunity to share the spirit of family gatherings with loved ones, making it a special and unforgettable dining experience.

50’s Prime Time Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a culinary journey back in time to the 1950s, a decade characterized by family values, comfort food, and a sense of togetherness. Whether you’re a fan of classic American cuisine, a lover of interactive dining experiences, or simply someone looking to enjoy a meal that celebrates the spirit of family, 50’s Prime Time Cafe promises a memorable and heartwarming experience. So, take a step back in time, enjoy the retro atmosphere, and savor the delightful comfort food at this delightful dining destination that embodies the nostalgia of the 1950s.