Tiana fans will be pleased to learn that an all-new restaurant, Tina’s Palace, is coming to Disneyland later this year.
From a Disney Cast Member;
Just as Tiana transformed an old sugar mill into her dream restaurant in the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, “The Princess and the Frog,” soon the French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square at Disneyland park will be reimagined into Tiana’s Palace!
As we initially shared at D23 Expo, we are excited for the opportunity to tell even more Tiana stories in New Orleans Square. We recently opened Eudora’s Chic Boutique Featuring Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets, a new retail shop that Tiana opened with her mother, Eudora. Up next will be Tiana’s Palace later this year, followed by Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the thrilling attraction that will open in Disneyland park in 2024.
Tiana’s Palace will be the newest restaurant on Orleans Street. Within its peach-colored walls and fancy green wrought-iron balconies, you’ll find elegant fixtures and appointments reminiscent of Tiana’s life and friendships. The new Tiana’s Palace will have much of the same pinch of pizzazz and flair as the restaurant from the film, offering authentic New Orleans flavors inspired by Tiana’s friends and adventures in this quick-service style restaurant. While Tiana’s Palace is not a character dining location, guests may find Tiana in New Orleans Square.
The menu at Tiana’s Palace will expand on many of the current favorites served in the location, explore seasonal flavors and, of course, offer some New Orleans classics. Tiana’s Palace is sure to be a gathering place for friends and family to enjoy great food and celebrate together, just like Tiana and her father James dreamed of.
Disney Imagineers are partnering with Disney Animation artists from the original film to bring this story to life at Disneyland park. In fact, the film designers took inspiration from the exterior of the original French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square when designing Tiana’s Palace for the movie, so this is a long-dreamt homecoming.
To begin this work, French Market Restaurant (and Mint Julep Bar) will be closed beginning February 17, 2023, and will reopen as Tiana’s Palace (alongside Mint Julep Bar with its famous mint juleps and Mickey beignets) later in the year.
In 2001, a massive Disneyland Resort expansion was finally complete, and the Downtown Disney District was open for business. Downtown Disney is a great shopping and dining area that connects Disneyland Resort’s three hotels — the Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel (soon to be Pixar Place), and the Grand Californian — with Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.
While a lot of stores and restaurants have come and gone in those more than 20 years, there is one popular restaurant that has been a staple for the area — La Brea Bakery & Café. Sadly, on January 9, La Brea announced that they were closing the doors on the Café, effective immediately.
La Brea Bakery did not say exactly what led them to close their doors at Downtown Disney, but the press release did say that they would be focusing on their in-store bakeries found at supermarkets.
After 34 years at our flagship location on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles, and more than two decades in Downtown Disney, Anaheim, Aspire Bakeries has made the difficult decision to permanently close La Brea Bakery Café. This morning, meetings were held at our Los Angeles and Downtown Disney Café locations to announce the closures, which are effective immediately.
Consistent with our strategy, Aspire Bakeries will exit the restaurant business and continue the focus on growing our thriving La Brea Bakery business in retail (grocery in-store bakeries) and foodservice. While we will no longer be operating the Cafés, consumers can still find our delicious La Brea Bakery artisan breads, both fresh baked and Take ‘n Bake, at their local grocery’s in-store bakery and at other restaurant locations that serve artisan breads.
Not long after the closure of La Brea Bakery was shared, Disney made an announcement, thanking the company for its long relationship with Disney and its Guests. Disney also shared that Earl of Sandwich would be returning to occupy the space for a limited time. Earl of Sandwich had been located at the other end of Downtown Disney, but was torn down as Disney began its major shopping and dining expansion project.
La Brea also acknowledged that the closure would affect many loyal employees. To help those who were now unemployed, the company teamed up with Disney to host a job fair immediately after the closure was announced. Disneyland Resort is currently hiring for multiple positions.
Downtown Disney is currently undergoing a major renovation and will see several new eateries coming to the area, including the incredibly popular Porto’s Bakery and the hit Chinese restaurant Din Tai Fung.
Happy (almost) Lunar New Year! The Year of the Rabbit on the Chinese calendar and Year of the Cat on the Vietnamese calendar are just around the corner and to celebrate the exciting occasion, the Disneyland Resort is serving up delightful dishes in honor of the new year. Guests will be transported with each bite and sip as they taste the delicious flavors and traditions of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other Asian cultures.
From sweet indulgences to savory snacks, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Disneyland Resort. With the help of this Disney Eats Foodie Guide, everyone will get a sneak peek at all the Lunar Near Year items that will help them and their stomach start off the new year on a happy (and full) note.
Guests can taste their way through the Lunar New Year Celebration from Jan. 20 through Feb. 15, 2023. This returning favorite at Disney California Adventure park features six marketplaces, including two new ones – Bamboo Blessings and Wrapped with Love – with can’t-miss delights guests will love! The festival fun also extends into the Downtown Disney District and the hotels of the Disneyland Resort with limited-time menu items inspired by Lunar New Year.
Now the moment everyone has been waiting for… Foodie Guide to the Lunar New Year celebrations!
Disneyland Resort
Lunar New Year Celebration at Disney California Adventure Park
For some added flavor to your celebrations, you can purchase the Sip and Savor Pass, which provides six coupons, redeemable for select food and nonalcoholic beverages at participating Lunar New Year Marketplaces and dining locations.
Bamboo Blessings
Mickey Mouse-shaped Hot Dog Bun: Brioche-style Mickey Mouse-shaped buns stuffed with hot dog and finished with sesame seeds and scallions
Mickey Mouse-shaped Purple Sweet Potato Macaron: Red macaron filled with purple sweet potato buttercream and a crème fraîche center
Young Master Brewery Neon City Pale Ale with mandarin and bergamot zest
4Sons Brewing Co. Lunar New Year IPA
Master Gao Brewery Baby Jasmine Tea Lager
Three Weavers Moon Rabbit: Golden stout with vanilla and Vietnamese cinnamon (New)
Stereo Co. Gingerine: Ginger wheat ale with tangerine, honey, and lemon juice (New)
Brewery X Green Tea Rice Lager (New)
Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Black Rice Ale (New)
Tsingtao Premium Lager (New)
Tsingtao topped with a frozen mango beer foam (New)
Lucky Flight: Tsingtao, Young Master Brewery, Stereo Brewery, and Three Weavers Brewing Co. (New)
Prosperity Flight: Kloud Brewery, Master Gao Brewery, Brewery X, and Anderson Valley Brewing Co. (New)
Lotus Flower Glow Cube (Limit 10 per person, per transaction)
Lucky 8 Lantern
Quesabirria Egg Roll with Guajillo pepper consommé filled with Oaxaca cheese, beef birria, and a side of guajillo pepper consommé (New)
Mandarin Mousse Cake: Layers of mandarin mousse with vanilla cake and clementine compote finished with white chocolate crunch balls and a tangerine glaze (New)
Coconut-Lavender Matcha Foam Iced Coffee: Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. French Bistro Blend, coconut milk, coconut cream, and white chocolate sauce garnished with lavender matcha, coconut foam, sea salt, and purple sanding sugar (Non-alcoholic) (New)
Lotus Flower Glow Cube (Limit 10 per person, per transaction)
Red Dragon Spice Traders
Gochujang Elote: Steamed corn on the cob rolled in gochujang aїoli and cotija cheese drizzled with spicy gochujang sauce (New)
Red Spice Fried Chicken Bites: Fried chicken chicharrons in spicy red chile sauce (New)
Guava Ginger Whiskey Cocktail: Whiskey, ginger liqueur, guava nectar, coconut cream, and lime juice garnished with a lime wheel (New)
Dancing Firecracker: Pineapple and lime juices, guava nectar, spicy honey, and house-made hibiscus syrup garnished with a lime wheel (New)
Lotus Flower Glow Cube (Limit 10 per person, per transaction)
Wrapped in Love
Pork and Shrimp Wontons with a black garlic sauce (New)
Bok Choy & Mushroom Dumplings with a black garlic sauce (New) (Plant-based item)
Pineapple Baijiu Cocktail: Dark Rum, baijiu, Allspice Dram, pineapple and orange juices, and falernum syrup garnished with a dried red pineapple chip (New)
Grapefruit-Melon Wine Cocktail: Sauvignon blanc, grapefruit liqueur, watermelon purée, rock melon syrup, and lime juice garnished with skewered grapes (New)
Lotus Flower Glow Cube (Limit 10 per person, per transaction)
Prosperity Bao & Bun
Pepperoni Pizza Bao Bun served with marinara (New)
Char Siu BBQ Pork Bao with pickled red onion and jalapeño
Peach Yuja-Ade: Yuja-lemongrass purée, dragon fruit and peach syrups, lemon juice, and butterfly pea flower tea garnished with a lemon wheel (Non-alcoholic)
Soju Peach Yuja-Ade: Soju, yuja-lemongrass purée, dragon fruit and peach syrups, lemon juice, and butterfly pea flower tea garnished with a lemon wheel (Non-alcoholic)
Lychee Celebration: Gin, prosecco, lychee syrup, yuja-lemongrass purée, and grapefruit juice garnished with an edible purple orchid
Lotus Flower Glow Cube (Limit 10 per person, per transaction)
Longevity Noodle Co.
Garlic Noodles: Long noodles tossed in zesty garlic butter with parmesan
Spicy Pork DanDan Noodles: Pan-fried noodles with ground pork and spicy tri-chile sauce
Raspberry Oat Milk Tea: Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. Ceylon Tea, raspberry and demerara syrups, and oat milk garnished with skewered raspberries (New)
Lotus Flower Glow Cube (Limit 10 per person, per transaction)
Lunar New Year Offerings Throughout Disney California Adventure Park
Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta
Milk Tea Taro Cheesecake with a taro mousse (New)
Lamplight Lounge
Surf & Turf Fried Rice: Five Spice-rubbed New York steak, sautéed shrimp, fried rice, ginger pea purée, and chili oil topped with a carrot salad (New)
Sesame Seed Donuts: Donuts topped with sesame seed brittle and served with a kaya jam dipping sauce (New)
Three Weavers Brewing Co. Seafarer Kolsch-style (New)
Lamplight Lounge Lunar New Year Cocktail: Han Soju, Aperitivo Aperol, carrot and orange juices, and cream of coconut (New)
Lamplight Lounge – Boardwalk Dining
Pork Dumplings with Chinese broccoli, roasted mushrooms, and fried shallots (New)
Lamplight Lounge Lunar New Year Cocktail: Han Soju, Aperitivo Aperol, carrot and orange juices, and cream of coconut (New)
Lucky Fortune Cookery (Mobile order available)
Mango Sticky Rice: Taro and coconut sticky rice with mango gel, toasted coconut, and fresh mango (New)
Lotus Flower Glow Cube (Limit 10 per person, per transaction)
Magic Key Terrace
Pork Spare Ribs with peanut-chile sauce, Asian slaw, toasted peanuts, and crispy noodles (New)
Pacific Wharf Cappuccino Cart (Mobile order available)
Green Tea Horchata (New)
Dalgona Coffee Bundt Cake: Coffee Bundt cake filled with sweet milk and topped with dalgona foam (New)
Pacific Wharf Café (Mobile order available)
White Chocolate Apple Bread Pudding: Granny Smith Apples and white chocolate with crème anglaise and whipped topping (New)
Paradise Garden Grill (Mobile order available)
Kimchi Bokkeumbap: Kimchi, potato, carrot, and onion fried rice with egg and Korean chili paste topped with crispy sweet and sour tofu and black sesame seeds (New) (Plant-based Item)
Shrimp Lo Mein: Lo Mein noodles tossed with shrimp, mushrooms, onions, carrots, and bok choy (New)
Dak Bulgogi: Korean BBQ chicken served with rice and kimchi
Bánh Mì: Grilled pork belly with pickled carrots, cucumbers, daikon, and jalapeños with a spicy mayo
Sweet and Sour Whole Fish served with steamed rice and stir-fried vegetables (served family-style for two) (New)
Tiger Milk Boba Tea with BobaBam brown sugar boba (Non-alcoholic) (New)
Hite Beer
Blackberry Soju Cocktail: Soju, blackberry purée, and lemon juice with a hint of ginger (New)
Lotus Flower Glow Cube (Limit 10 per person, per transaction)
Sonoma Terrace (Mobile order available)
Pad Thai Spring Roll: Shrimp with scrambled eggs, noodles, crushed peanuts, and Thai basil served with tangy slaw and Pad Thai sauce (New)
Goofy’s Churro Cart
Almond Cookie Churro coated in cookie crumble and topped with almond icing (New)
Outdoor Food Carts (Available Jan. 19 through Feb. 12)
Chicken Bao: Steamed bao with chicken, butternut squash, and lime served with a spicy red curry sauce (New)
Teriyaki Turkey Leg (New)
Baked Coconut Almond Nian Gao: Baked sticky rice cake topped with coconut and almonds (New)
Purple Grape Cotton Candy (New)
ACE High! Hard Cider Imperial Apple Cider
Master Gao Brewery Puffed Rice Chinese Pale Ale
Disneyland Resort Hotels
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Hearthstone Lounge
Rabbit Firecracker: Spiced rum, orange brandy, lemon oil, honey, and black tea garnished with star anise and pink peppercorns (New)
Cat’s Delight: Plantation Pineapple Rum, oolong tea, lychee purée, lemon grass syrup, lime and pineapple juices, and mint garnished with a mint sprig, lime wheel, and lemon grass shoot (New)
GCH Holiday Cart
Lunar New Year Cookie (New)
Assorted Pretzel Sticks
Storyteller’s Café
Offering Lunar New Year-inspired offerings such as fried rice and spring rolls
Disneyland Hotel
Goofy’s Kitchen
Offering Lunar New Year-inspired offerings such as fried rice and spring rolls
Downtown Disney District
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes (Available Jan. 20 through Feb. 15)
Year of The Rabbit CrazyShake: Vanilla-frosted rim with red and gold sixlet, Chinese zodiac rabbit vanilla cupcake, red and gold rock candy, whipped cream, red sprinkles, and caramel drizzle
Catal Restaurant (Available Jan. 20 through Feb. 15)
Pork Belly Bao Bun: Pork belly, soy Gochujang glaze, baby mixed greens, spring onions, spicy mayo, and charred lemon (New)
Kung Pao Paella: Valenciano paella rice, kung pao chicken, lemon vinaigrette, spring onions, water chestnuts, roasted peppers, roasted peanuts, and chiles (New)
Lunar Eclipse: Gin, cherry liqueur, triple sec, lime juice, pineapple juice, grenadine, and bitters and topped with soda and gold glitter (New)
Mad Dumplings Food Truck (Available Jan. 13 through Feb. 5, starting at 3 p.m. daily)
Food truck serving unique dumplings and rice dishes (New)
Naples Ristorante e Bar (Available Jan. 20 through Feb. 15)
Firecracker Chicken Pizza: Hoisin sauce, mozzarella cheese, marinated chicken, carrot strings, and a firecracker sauce drizzle topped with a sliced green onion garnish (New) Lunar New Year Margarita: Tequila blanco, pomegranate juice, lime juice, agave, and simple syrup with a pinch of salt (New)
Sprinkles (Available Jan. 16 through 29)
Lunar New Year Gold Bunny Almond Red Velvet: Red velvet cake with slivered almonds lined with an almond cookie crust and topped with almond cream cheese frosting (Available while supplies last.)
Lunar New Year Red Box: Three Lunar New Year Gold Bunny Almond Red Velvet cupcakes, Three Almond Red Velvet cupcakes, Three Dark Chocolate cupcakes, Three Strawberry cupcakes, and Eight Limited-edition red envelopes (Available while supplies last.)
Tortilla Jo’s (Available Jan. 20 through Feb. 15)
Asian Tuna Nachos: Tuna Saku marinated 24 hours in a Vietnamese-style sauce with diced tomatoes, green onions, cilantro, sesame seeds, avocado cream, Asian spiced aïoli, and Vietnamese-style glazed sauce (New)
New Year Sunrise: Rum, grenadine, lime juice, orange juice and pineapple juice (New)
Uva Bar & Cafe (Available Jan. 20 through Feb. 15)
Lunar Eclipse: Gin, cherry liqueur, triple sec, lime juice, pineapple juice, grenadine, and bitters topped with soda and gold glitter (New)
There we have it – the Foodie Guide to Lunar New Year 2023! We hope everyone is just as excited as we are to be transported into different cultures through flavor during the Year of the Rabbit and Year of the Cat.
Happy Lunar New Year!
(Note: All offerings are subject to change and availability.)
It’s time to grab your favorite stretchy pants, best friend, and a couple of forks as we are ready to dig into the latest dishes and sips for the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. And yes… we said FIGMENT WAFFLES are coming!
When most Disney fans think about an EPCOT Festival, it’s likely the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival will come to mind. With the 2022 Food and Wine Festival and EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays wrapped up, we’re heading into the new year eager for the Festival of the Arts to arrive.
The beloved 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts kicks off on January 13 and runs through February 20, 2023. This year, the festival features 50 new menu items at the enticing Festival food booths spread throughout the theme park.
While many of the favorite food booths are returning around the World Showcase, new food booths are debuting, including Figment’s Inspiration Station at the Odyssey: Art, Food, and Little Sparks of Magic.
Disney has already shared that sometime in 2023, Figment, the popular purple dragon from the nostalgic EPCOT attraction Journey Into Imagination With Figment, will be available for a meet and greet.
Additionally, Figment is getting the spotlight during the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts with plenty of merchandise, as well as the grand return of last year’s ridiculously popular Figment Popcorn Bucket, which will be available during the festival while supplies last.
As Disney releases foodie guides for the EPCOT Festival of the Arts, we can’t help but focus on the mouthwatering Figment delights headed to the Disney Park.
The new booth, Figment’s Inspiration Station at the Odyssey: Art, Food, and Little Sparks of Magic will feature deliciously colorful bites and sips, including:
Fruit Pizza: Watermelon, compressed cantaloupe, berries, and berry balsamic
Grape Smoothie with freeze-dried SKITTLES bite-sized candies (non-alcoholic)
3 Daughters Brewing Black Cherry Hard Cider
3 Daughters Brewing Blood Orange Hard Cider
3 Daughters Brewing Passion Fruit Hard Cider
Rainbow Cider Flight
81Bay Brewing Co. Green with Envy Blonde Ale
81Bay Brewing Co. Blue Butterfly Lager
Urban Artifact The Gadget Raspberry & Blackberry Midwest Fruit Tart
Rainbow Beer Flight
But, surprisingly, the new Figment’s Inspiration Station at the Odyssey: Art, Food, and Little Sparks of Magic booth is NOT where you’ll find what will surely be the coveted Festival of the Arts food must-have… the FIGMENT WAFFLE.
Head on over to Connections Café in the World Celebration portion of the Park for a chance to taste the Figment Liege Waffle as pictured below:
Sorry, Mickey Waffles! But we’ll be on a strict Figment Liege Waffle diet between the Festival of the Arts dates of January 13 – February 20, 2023.
Way back in the summer of 2021, Disney stated that the Disney Dining Plan would be coming back. Well, it hasn’t, and we’ve been waiting to hear any kind of update. We finally got an announcement on a dining promotion, but it’s not exactly the news we were hoping for.
Promo Dining Card Offer Details
Disney has just announced a new dining promotion that begins January 5. Guests who purchase select vacation packages will receive a new complimentary Disney Dining Promo Card. The card will be available for arrivals between June 25 and September 14, 2023. A vacation package that includes a minimum 4-nights, anlong with a minumum 4-day theme ticket is required.
The rate of the Dining Promo Card is determined by your arrival date and resort category:
June 25-30 & July 11-31
$35 per night for Value resorts
75 per night for Moderate resorts and Cabins
$125 per night for Deluxe resorts and Disney Deluxe Villas
July 1-10 & August 1- September 14
$50 per night for Value resorts
$100 per night for Moderate resorts and Cabins
$150 per night for Deluxe resorts and Disney Deluxe Villas
For all dates, the maximum value for the Promo Card will be $750. Note a lower-value Disney Dining Promo Card may also be available when you purchase this package during other select summer arrival dates. Ask your Travel Planner for details.
You cannot combine this offer with any other discounts. The room and ticket package must be non-discounted to receive the Disney Dining Promo Card offer.
Using the Dining Card
Rather than guests having credits for certain meals, they will receive a digital card that will be emailed to guests once they’ve checked in at their resort. You can also present the card barcode in the email itself, or print out an email for a back up copy. Finally, the card can be added to Apple Pay and Google Pay digital wallets but not to a MagicBand, MagicBand+, or MagicMobile. Guests can use the card to purchase food and beverage items at select participating locations at Walt Disney World. The Dining Card will have an experiration date. To learn more about using the Disney Dining Promo Card, click here.
One important thing to remember, unlike the Disney Dining Plan, the card’s value is per night, not per guest. So the reward amount is exactly the same, regardless of the number of guests per reservation. So a family of six would have the same amount as two people.
As we noted above, there has been no update on the Dining Plans status since the summer of 2021. This new promotional card may be a temporary alternative to previous “Free Dining” offers we have seen in the past, or this may be a sign that the Dining Plans will not come back. We’ll have to wait and see what happens!
