There are some exciting new sweet and savoury food options coming to Walt Disney World this summer. We share what to watch for and where to find it. Plus, Disneyland's Pixar Place Hotel is finally getting a full re-theme and there are some great new options coming your way.

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What's New and Where to Find it: Summer 2023 Dining at Walt Disney World
 
If you're a Disney traveler who always likes to try the latest and greatest that Disney culinary has to offer, then listen up.

At Le Cellier Steakhouse in the EPCOT Canada pavilion there are a few new dishes on the menu. New appetizers include the Green Onion and Garlic Canadian Cove Mussels featuring P.E.I Mussels with ramp pistou cream, and broiled ciabatta. The Mushroom Bisque soup combines morel mushrooms, potatoes, and crème fraiche. Finally, there's Jumbo Chilled Shrimp with cocktail sauce and Espelette pepper cream.

There are also two plant-based dishes: 1) Fried Cauliflower combined with Tahini espuma, pine nut brittle, and radishes. 2) Canadian Tourtière: a chickpea and mushroom pie with braised endive, snap peas, stone fruit ketchup, and plant-based demi-glace.

New entrees include the Prime Steak Tartare “Kibbeh Nayeh” with Bulgar wheat, radish, mint, and garlic aïoli, and the Grilled Scallops with caviar, zucchini fritter, patty pan squash, sweety drop pepper, and a creamy piquillo sauce.
 
Over at the food courts in Disney’s All-Star Resorts, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, and Disney’s Pop Century Resort, there's a new Korean-style IMPOSSIBLE Burger. It's topped with a Korean-style barbecue sauce and pickled vegetable slaw. These locations also have a plant-based chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream and sprinkles.

At Disney’s Pop Century Resort, the Cuban Burger has ham, pickled pepper relish, provolone, and dijonnaise on a toasted brioche bun. The End Zone Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort has a new burger starting June 21 – the Bases Loaded Burger. This one has bacon jam, an onion ring, and beer-cheese sauce on a toasted brioche bun.

Also in the food courts at all All-Star Resorts, the Sweet Summertime Favorites is a dessert version of a summertime classic hot dog and french fries. It has chocolated sugar cookies and raspberry dipping sauce.

Want more Disney sweet treats? Centertown Market at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is offering two new sundaes. The Mickey Sundae is vanilla-chocolate swirl soft-serve topped with mini brownies, Mickey ears, and chocolate décor. The vanilla soft-serve Minnie Sundae has strawberry sauce, Minnie ears, a bow and chocolate décor.

In the Deli at Disney’s BoardWalk you'll find the Strawberry Shortcake Croissant Roll. This is croissant dough with strawberry filling BUT it is only available on weekends.

Gasparilla Island Grill at the Grand Floridian has a Summer Berry Shortcake. It is moist vanilla sponge, blueberry compote, strawberries, and Chantilly. 

Geyser Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has a new summer Margarita Flight featuring black cherry, spicy pineapple, raspberry, and cucumber melon margaritas.

Another new cocktail is at Toledo at Coronado Springs. This is a Smoked Passion Fruit made with Agustín Blázquez Felipe II Solera Reserva Brandy, demerara syrup, passion fruit, smoked cinnamon, and a house-made frozen orange juice cube.

Tamu Tamu in Animal Kingdom Park has a new Pineapple Crisp Sundae, which combines a pineapple crisp cake with vanilla ice cream and is topped with pineapple caramel and crispy streusel topping.

The Fried Chicken Sandwich is returning to Restaurantosaurus in Animal Kingdom. This is a warm brioche bun with crispy fried chicken breast, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and a roasted garlic aïoli. And yes, it comes with fries.

Flame Tree Barbecue also has a returning fan-favorite: the Ribs, Chicken, and Pulled Pork Sampler.

And finally, if you love a good ice cream sandwich, the Dino Dig Ice Cream Sandwich has vanilla ice cream between two house-made sugar cookies with chocolate sprinkles, cookie crumbs, sugar bones, and an cute white chocolate dinosaur. 
 
Disneyland's Pixar Place Hotel is Finally Getting Pixar Themed

At long last, the theming of Disney’s renamed Pixar Place Hotel at Disneyland Resort is catching up to its name.

The hotel’s exterior already has a new look and now the lobby will continue to evolve over the next few months as Pixar imagery is added. 

By winter, the hotel lobby will feature the classic Pixar Lamp playfully balancing atop its ball.

Later this summer, an all-new water play area inspired by Nemo and his friends will open, where Crush the sea turtle goes with the flow atop a 186-foot-long waterslide and Hank can be seen hanging out at the pop-jet splash pad.

Later in the year, a family play court will be added to the pool deck with activities inspired by Pixar’s short films. Interactive games and imaginative free play celebrate favorite friends from “La Luna,” “Bao,” “For the Birds,” and “Burrow.” And when it’s time to relax, Guests may enjoy food and drinks under the love-struck umbrellas from “The Blue Umbrella.”

After dark, the pool deck will become a great spot to watch the Disneyland Park fireworks, or just to lounge by cozy character-inspired fire pits.

In the fall of 2023, the hotel will unveil a new restaurant at the resort: Great Maple. This Southern California-based modern American eatery specializes in playful takes on upscale comfort food. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner all day, the ground-floor restaurant — with an outdoor patio — will be open to Hotel Guests, local diners and theme park visitors.

Signature dishes will include Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Maple Bacon Doughnuts, Cajun Shrimp & Cheddar Biscuit Benedict, and the Soda Pop-Braised Baby Back Ribs! Great Maple will also have a full bar including beer, wine and cocktails.

There will also be food and beverage service at the pool, as well as a new grab ‘n’ go coffee shop and café near the lobby, and eventually at the hotel’s new concierge lounge.

Contact us at 1923 Main Street

Thank you for listening to the Disney Travel News Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. We try to bring 15 minutes of Disney magic every week. As always, we love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas that we can include in future episodes.

Please be sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

Your Source for the Latest Disney Travel News

If you would like to help support the show, please share 1923 Main Street with your friends and on social media. We very much appreciate the support!

Thank you for listening and have a magical day!

Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic

As we predicted, Disney's upscale Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience is dead. The ill-fated Disney immersive experience failed for three very clear reason. This story, plus magical Steamboat Willie at the new Disneyland Hotel DVC tower and a tempting new menu for Hollywood Brown Derby at Hollywood Studios.

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As Predicted, Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser is Closing: Here's Why

It was doomed to fail before it ever sailed, which we discussed at length most recently in Episodes 163 and 168.

We now know the final voyage for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will take place Sept. 28-30, 2023.
While Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser was one of our most creative projects Disney has ever implemented at Walt Disney World, there were a number of epic fails that have led to its demise.

• Bad marketing that pandered to "influencers" and turned off their upscale target guest demographic
• An immersive experience that wasn't truly immersive, a ban on mobile devices should have been number one
• Guest accommodations that were not of the stature they should have been. This could have been remedied while staying on theme.

Disney is in the process of contacting guests who had booked voyages to sort out how they will manage this in the time remaining

All is not lost, however. We shared several ideas for what we believe are workable solutions for this space. So we will see how things evolve over the coming months.
 
Steamboat Willie at the Upcoming Villas at Disneyland Hotel

Classic Disney animation is at the heart of the theming for the upcoming Disney Vacation Club property at Disneyland Hotel (opening in September).

As part of this, the new Palette Pool, Palm Breeze Bar, and themed splash pad will incorporate elements from Steamboat Willie.

A large model of the Steamboat Willie boat will be captained by Mickey Mouse as it comes to life with fun water play features. From the boat’s cascading waterfall, misty fog effects rising from the boat’s funnels and the variety of pop jets and fountains, it promises to be an instant classic for your little ones.

Thanks to a little Disney magic, after dark the Steamboat Willie splash pad will transform from black and white to vivid colors with the help of some artistic lighting.

For us older kids, the artist-palette-shaped pool anchored by rainbow glow of multi-colored lounge areas will be a place to relax and unwind.

Drinks and snacks will be available at the Palm Breeze Bar. This outdoor venue will feature modern decor inspired by the imaginative artistry of Disney Legend, Mary Blair (who also worked on it’s a small world and the murals in the Grand Canyon Concourse at Walt Disney World’s Contemporary Resort Hotel).
 
Will a New Menu Helpt to Elevate The Hollywood Brown Derby from Disney Dining Obscurity?

Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios recently launched a new seasonal menu. Will this help to elevate this Signature Dining to a level that it has never really reached?

New starters include the Crab Louie, which features crispy olive bread, citrus blend, fried capers and Louie sauce. There's also Shrimp Cocktail topped with shaved fennel cucumbers and a traditional cocktail sauce.

For cheese lovers, the Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad combines shaved onions, Thai basil, gremolata, and a delicious citrus vinaigrette, while the Charcuterie Board features the Chef’s selection of cured meats, cheeses, and accompaniments.

An Escargot app is accompanied by roasted garlic béchamel and crispy prosciutto and the Roasted Bone Marrow is composed of braised beef, pickled mustard seeds and a fig bread crostini. 

The entrée menu includes a classic Filet Mignon with glazed carrots, potato pave, horseradish cream and a peppercorn sauce. The Lamb Shank comes with summer vegetables, harissa vinaigrette, and nasturtium chermoula.
 
The new Free-Range Chicken and Dumplings dish features a lemon-ricotta Gnudi, shishito cream, and a gooseberry jus. If pork is your thing, the recently added Grilled Pork comes with a lavender-sage polenta and local corn salsa, complete with a huckleberry barbecue sauce.
 
On the seafood side, the Sustainable Fish dish has a white bean ragout, derby summer vegetables, and roasted tomato emulsion. The Seafood Cioppino brings together shrimp, sea scallops, seasonal fish, mussels, a toasted baguette and aromatic tomato broth.
 
Finally, there's even a classic comfort dish in the Shepherd’s Pie. This combines roasted garlic mashed potatoes, mushrooms, peas, corn, and carrot Romesco and it's plant-based.

Disney notes that the Cobb Salad and Grapefruit Cake are both still on the menu.

Contact us at 1923 Main Street

Thank you for listening to the Disney Travel News Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. We try to bring 15 minutes of Disney magic every week. As always, we love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas that we can include in future episodes.

Please be sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

Your Source for the Latest Disney Travel News

If you would like to help support the show, please share 1923 Main Street with your friends and on social media. We very much appreciate the support!

Thank you for listening and have a magical day!

Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic

A new restaurant is opening at EPCOT, plus we share the top 10 Walt Disney World table service restaurants for Summer 2023 and a look at who's playing at this year's Eat to the Beat music festival at EPCOT.

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Top 10 Restaurants at Walt Disney World for Summer 2023
 
Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya (EPCOT)
This brand-new dining experience is a must-try.
 
Takumi Tei (EPCOT)
If you want a fine dining experience, Takumi Tei is a top pick and a great AC relief sheltered from the buzz of the outside world.
 
Narcoossee's (Disney's Grand Floridian Resort)
Newly reopened, Narcoossee's aims to reclaim its former glory. You make the call.
 
The Boathouse (Disney Springs)
A staple for any Disney World vacation, The Boathouse shines during the summer months and you have your choice of indoors or outdoors.
 
Cinderella's Royal Table (Magic Kingdom)
Summertime in the Kingdom; what's not to love? If you want a character experience with great food options, this one is hard to beat.
 
Le Cellier (EPCOT)
Looking to beat the summer heat? Le Cellier is a perennial classic and a great spot to enjoy an upscale meal.
 
Topolino's Terrace (Disney's Riviera Resort)
Whether it's the character breakfast or the fine dinner experience, this is a great summer dining location.
 
California Grill (Disney's Contemporary Resort)
Not only is the food excellent here, but the view from the top of the Contemporary is an added bonus--even when a summer storm is rolling in.
 
Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria (EPCOT)
For a little Italian-style pizza in a courtyard setting, Via Napoli makes a great summertime stop.

Grand Floridian Cafe (Disney's Grand Floridian Resort)
Casual table service dining in an upscale environment, with something for everyone. The perfect pick for summer casual elegance.

The EPCOT Japan Pavilion Gets a New Restaurant

Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya is a new EPCOT table-service restaurant offering a festive dining experience in a sharable Izakaya-style. It is located on the second floor of the Japan pavilion in the space previously occupied by Tokyo Dining.

The theme at Shki-Sai is Japan's seasonal festivals. Each month will bring a new celebration to your table, making for a unique experience every time. From hanging tanzaku to celebrate Tanabata in July to savoring moon-viewing dumplings in September, a cultural representative from Japan will guide guests through each unique festival experience, one bite at a time. The atmosphere also embraces the festivals of Japan, with the atmosphere featuring beautiful, hand painted artwork and lanterns highlighting some of the natural wonders that Japan offers as well. Each and every visit is designed to create unforgettable memories that capture the spirit of Japan's vibrant seasonal festivities.

In addition to a full menu of sushi and teppan items, there will be an open sushi bar and grill. Sushi lovers will see sushi being made by the chefs when sitting at the sushi bar.

The menu is designed to appeal to both sushi newbies and sushi aficionados.

Don't like sushi? Don't worry as the grill will also be serving up specialties commonly found in Japanese cuisine. Among the grilled items to enjoy, Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savory pancake is made with a batter of flour, eggs, and water, and then filled with shredded cabbage and bacon, and topped with tangy okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, aonori, bonito flakes, and pickled ginger.

Welcome to EPCOT, Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya. We hope everyone is as excited as we are for this new location to open its doors this summer!

2023 Eat to the Beat Concert Series at EPCOT

The Eat to the Beat Concert Series kicks-off on July 27. Here is a first look at the lineup coming to the America Gardens Theatre at EPCOT!

In addition to the headline acts, local bands will take the stage Tuesday through Thursday. Visit TasteEPCOT.com for more information.

July
28-29 – Orianthi (NEW)
July 30-31 - For King & Country (NEW)

August
4-5 – Southern Avenue
6-7 - Tiffany
11-12 – Ruben Studdard with Haley Reinhart
13-14 – The Bacon Brothers (NEW)
18-21 – Joey Fatone & Friends
25-26 – Ayron Jones (NEW)
27-28 – Phillip Phillips (NEW)

September
1-2 – Baha Men
3-4 – MercyMe
8-9 – Ray Parker Jr.
10-11 - Tobymac
15 – Celebrity Latin Talent
16 – Celebrity Latin Talent
17-18 – Raul Acosta and Oro Solido (NEW)
22-23 – Los Amigos Invisibles
24-25 - 98°

October
29 – October 2 – Boyz II Men
6-7 – Mark Wills
8-9 – Sugar Ray
13-14 - Hoobastank
15-16 – Air Supply
20-21 – Taylor Dayne
22-23 – Billy Ocean
27-30 - Hanson

November
3-4 – We The Kings (NEW)
5-6 – Sheila E.
10-11 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
12-13 – 38 Special

Beginning July 6, you can secure your spot for these performances with an Eat to the Beat Dining Package. Visit TasteEPCOT.com.

Contact us at 1923 Main Street

Thank you for listening to the Disney Travel News Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. We try to bring 15 minutes of Disney magic every week. As always, we love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas that we can include in future episodes.

Please be sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

Your Source for the Latest Disney Travel News

If you would like to help support the show, please share 1923 Main Street with your friends and on social media. We very much appreciate the support!

Thank you for listening and have a magical day!

Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic