Three very popular restaurants are reopening at Walt Disney World in November. The full story, plus the right way to pronounce Akershus (you're probably saying it wrong) and Wakanda hits Disneyland.

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More Restaurants are Reopening at Walt Disney World (including character dining)

Three more restaurants will soon reopen at Walt Disney World: Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at EPCOT.

Starting November 1, Tusker House will transition to an all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet. For breakfast the menu will include an assortment of pastries (like Zebra Coffee Cake), breakfast classics (like Simba Waffles and Mickey Waffles), and a variety of breakfast meats.

For lunch and dinner the menu will include various breads and dips, house specialties like the Spit-roasted Tandoori Chicken and Green Curry Shrimp, plant-based options including the Cauliflower Bunny Chow, and various salads. There are also classics for the kids, including corn dog nuggets and macaroni and cheese. And of course, there are plenty of desserts as well

Characters will also be back, as Donald Duck and friends will take a break from their safari adventure to celebrate with you. 

At Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Kona Cafe will reopen November 1. The newly refurbished look, feel, and some food will be different. Kona Cafe will feature American cuisine with Asian flare, but you can still watch chefs at work in the onstage sushi kitchen.

Breakfast favorites like Tonga Toast and Pineapple Macadamia Nut Pancakes will still be served at breakfast. But also watch for other menu items, like the Big Kahuna Burger and Seafood Pu Pu Platter and a new plant-based dinner offering, the Sautéed Red Quinoa.

Finally, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall will reopen its doors on November 4. This is located at the Norway pavilion at EPCOT and features Norwegian cuisine.

Want to know how to pronounce Akershus?

Even expert Disney travelers get this one wrong. In this episode we share the proper way to pronounce Akershus (yes, you're probably saying it wrong). The meaning of Akershus is also a mystery to many. Akershus a county in Norway, which is where the name originates. Oslo is located in Akershus.

This is a family-style dining restaurant including traditional Norwegian food including meatballs and the Norwegian version of chicken and dumplings. They also offer classic American-cuisine including mashed potatoes and gravy, grilled salmon, and macaroni & cheese. Desserts include a rice cream with strawberry sauce and a chocolate roulade with lingonberry cream.

And in case you were wondering, yes, Disney Princesses are back for Storybook Dining at Akershus.

‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ gets a Celebration at Disneyland's Avengers Campus

In “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” the leaders of Wakanda fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must forge a new path for their beloved kingdom. At Disneyland you join the journey.

From November 11, 2022 through January 8, 2023, you can encounter, learn from and celebrate the arrival of new visiting warriors, taste Wakanda-inspired delicacies, discover props from the film and more in Avengers Campus. Plus you can pose with a special art installation in Downtown Disney.
Visit Avengers Campus to witness the introduction of the next warrior taking on the legendary mantle of the Black Panther.

At Flavors of Wakanda marketplace in the Hollywood Backlot you can try spiced traditional African dishes and experience the vibrant culture of Wakanda through its food. Wakanda-inspired delicacies include the Peri-Peri Chicken with yellow Jollof rice, the Butterfly Pea Tea Lemonade, the Dawa beverage, consisting of vodka, lemonade, honey, ginger beer and butterfly pea tea, and Maafe, a ground peanut stew with sweet potatoes, tomatoes, black-eyed peas and spices, served with naan.

At Shawarma Palace and Shawarma Palace Too inside Avengers Campus, try the Wakandan Roasted Pork Wrap, featuring spiced pork with black garlic sauce and chermoula.

Adventures by Disney to Debut Its First-Ever Adriatic Sea Expedition Cruise in 2024

In 2024, guests can set sail on Adventures by Disney expedition cruises exploring Antarctica, the Arctic and the Galapagos Islands, as well as an all-new itinerary in the picturesque Adriatic Sea. This famed waterway filled with captivating history, exquisite cuisine and breathtaking views provides the perfect setting for an enchanting adventure.   

The eight-day, seven-night round-trip sailing from Venice, Italy, will visit seven ports in Croatia and Montenegro before returning to the Floating City. The chartered Adventures by Disney expedition voyage is planned for two sailings in 2024.

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!

Shop Disney

Be sure to visit our online shop for a wide selection of 1923 Main Street merchandise, plus original Disney-inspired t-shirts and more.

Thank you for listening and have a magical day!

Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic

Why Disney's price increase for Genie+ doesn't go far enough to fix the problem with Lightning Lane, plus great new food at Walt Disney World Resort hotels, the return of Fantasmic at Disney World and everything Christmas and holidays coming to Disneyland.

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Disney Genie+ will now cost you more at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort

To manage demand for Disney Genie+, Disney is has switched to a variable pricing model, but in our opinion the price still is not high enough to curb demand.

At Disneyland Resort, Disney Genie+ now costs $25 per day when purchased in advance as an add-on with a new ticket or vacation packages. Single-day purchases through the Disneyland app will start at $25 per day, and may vary by date, based on demand. WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure at Disney’s California Adventure Park is now part of Disney Genie+.

At Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Genie+ will also vary in price based on the date you're visiting. Prices may be lower on less busy days and higher during peak periods like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Prices are expected to range between $15 and $22 per day.

Some Great New Food is Now Available at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Enchanted Rose has some great new editions. These include a charcuterie board, artisanal cheese selection, and hummus with tapenade, smoked paprika, and grilled pita bread. The Smoked Trout and Crab Dip features salmon roe, chive oil, and sesame seed lavosh combined into an elegant tasty dish.
 
If you like caviar, this includes Siberian caviar, an egg yolk spread, crème fraiche, caper berries and brioche. Lastly, the Seasonal Flatbread is topped with artichoke, fig, ricotta, roasted garlic and watercress.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside 
Boatwright’s Dining Hall has expanded to include more authentic Cajun and Southern flavors to the menu. 

The Lowcountry Seafood Boil is a classic filled with shrimp, mussels, and Andouille sausage with corn on the cob and potatoes simmered in a spicy Cajun brother (it comes with a toasted baguette). The slow-roasted Blackened Prime Rib is topped with Cajun butter and served with classic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

The Taste of the Bayou is an all-you-care-to-enjoy platter with hickory-smoked pork ribs, crispy Cajun chicken, smoked sausage, barbecued beef brisket, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, roasted corn with Cajun butter, and seasonal vegetables.

For a plant-based offering, try the Harvest Red Beans and Rice. This features red beans simmered with plant-based sausage, peppers, onions, and celery served over rice along with cornbread.

For dessert you can choose between the Southern Cheesecake (a classic vanilla cheesecake with a bourbon-caramel sauce garnished with pecan-praline brittle), the plant-based Peach-Blackberry Cobbler (a classic peach and blackberry cobbler topped with blackberry sorbet), or the Mississippi Mud Crème Brûlée (a milk chocolate crème brûlée with a sablé breton cookie and fresh fruit).

For the little ones, try the Row Row Oar Your Boat Sundae and Cookies and Milk featuring two house-made chocolate chip cookies.

Rounding out all of these new offerings is a new cocktail – the Big Easy Whisky Sour. This drink combines Maker’s Mark Bourbon, lemon juice, and pure cane sugar with a float of Fess Parker Big Easy Red Blend.
 
At the River Roost Lounge they have a new plant-based dish and a signature drink. The Spinach and Artichoke Dip is a creamy new dip served with Cajun-dusted cornbread crostini. The French 75 is a fizzy cocktail made with Argyle Sparkling Brut, Hendricks Gin, fresh lemon juice and pure cane sugar.
 
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
The Scat Cat’s Club – Lounge has a plant-based Sassy Sassagoula Sliders dish. This trio features BBQ jack fruit with slaw and fried pickles, fried green tomatoes with giardiniera and pepper jelly, and a ‘fish’ cake with spicy rémoulade and arugula.

Disney’s Riviera Resort
Bar Riva has a new Burrata Salad with heirloom tomatoes, fresh pesto and focaccia bread. The Salmon with Orzo is a seared salmon with Pomodroccio tapenade and lemon orzo. The Mushroom Arancini features risotto, mushrooms, cheese, and truffles with a house-made marinara.

For dessert, the Molten Chocolate Cake is a new edition. It's a warm chocolate cake with a molten center, topped with a raspberry sauce and fresh raspberries.

The Riviera also has a new signature sweet. The Riviera Signature Cookie bakes together semi-sweet chocolate chips, ground oats, California walnuts, toasted pistachios, dried cherries and flake sea salt. You'll this one at Primo Piatto.
 
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn 
The Belle Vue Lounge has new signature cocktails and mocktails. The Orange Blossom Manhattan has made its debut at the resort. A holiday fan favorite, this beverage fits nicely within the year-round ambiance of Belle Vue Lounge. The Sparkling Hibiscus features Sorel Hibiscus Liqueur and sparkling grapefruit. The Agave Garden is a mocktail featuring Lyre’s Agave Reserve and passion fruit green tea.

Fantasmic! Returns to Disney's Hollywood Studios on November 3, 2022 at Walt Disney World

Disney has announced the date of November 3, 2022 as the return of Fantasmic! to Disney’s Hollywood Studios -- including a brand new sequence in the show.

More Merry Magic Coming This Holiday Season to Disneyland Resort

The holiday season festivities at Disneyland Resort take place between November 11, 2022 and January 8, 2023. Here are some additional details of what's in store.
 
At Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park, holiday festivities include Christmas, Navidad, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day. New for 2022, Tina and The Sounds of Celebration perform holiday tunes with an uplifting repertoire of salsa, merengue, cumbia and rock Latino. Returning acts include the Mariachi Divas, Mostly Kosher, Blue13 Dance Company, Phat Cat Swinger and The Mistletoes, and the Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party returns.
 
Be sure to catch the character celebration “Mickey’s Happy Holidays” and the magically merry rhythms of the Holiday Toy Drummers performing throughout the day in Disney California Adventure Park.
 
“World of Color – Season of Light” at Disney California Adventure Park and “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade and “Believe…in Holiday Magic” fireworks will be on select evenings at Disneyland Park.

With MagicBand+ you'll be able to light up your Disneyland holiday experience in an all-new way this year. MagicBand+ will come alive with vibrations and colorful holiday lights during the nighttime spectaculars of “World of Color – Season of Light” and “Believe… in Holiday Magic” fireworks.

Direct from the North Pole you can mingle with Santa Claus as he visits various locations throughout the Disneyland Resort including Critter Country in Disneyland Park, Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in Disney California Adventure Park and at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort.

Eat, drink and be merry at the Festive Foods Marketplace in Disney California Adventure Park, with a seasonal smorgasbord of multicultural cuisine across nine different kiosks. Visions of Sugar Plums is an all-new added marketplace where you will find sweet and savory bites. 

And don’t forget, the Disney Festival of Holidays Sip and Savor Pass is a terrific way to sample your way through the day. The pass provides eight easy tabs that you can redeem for select food and non-alcoholic beverages at participating Festive Foods Marketplace kiosks and dining locations.

Seasonal sweets and treats are always on the list throughout the Disneyland Resort.

Disney California Adventure Park:

• Grizzly Peak Churro Peppermint Churro – Churro coated with crushed candy canes, drizzled with chocolate and vanilla sauce
• Lamplight Lounge Peppermint Donuts – Hot cocoa-dusted donuts with toasted marshmallow crème and peppermint-chocolate dipping sauce
• Festive Foods Marketplace Merry Mashups Esquites Carnitas Mac & Cheese – Esquites-style mac & cheese with carnitas, salsa macha, spiced puffed rice, freeze-dried corn and chopped cilantro
• Smokejumpers Grill Loaded Latkes -Traditional Latkes loaded with smoked brisket, topped with dairy-free horseradish cream and scallions
• Sonoma Terrace Mistletoe Mule – A holiday take on a classic mule cocktail with cranberry juice and agave, garnished with a sprig of rosemary and a Cape cranberry

Disneyland Park:

• Red Rose Taverne Holiday Grey Stuff – Traditional Grey Stuff with a holiday twist

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa: 

• GCH Holiday Cart – Poinsettia Cookie

To commemorate Diwali at the Disneyland Hotel, The Coffee House is featuring an Indian chai Archisha Tea on the menu through January 9, 2023. 

Woody and Buzz Lightyear will be lending a hand with a holiday popcorn bucket, available for a limited time at select popcorn carts in Disney California Adventure Park, while supplies last.
 
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their pals will don their holiday finest and newest fashions in Town Square at Disneyland Park.  These festive new looks reflect this year’s warm, vintage-inspired holiday celebration. In classic red and green, their holiday attire was designed in wintry textures and patterns such as velvet, chenille, herringbone and plaid, and accented with gold for a touch of sparkle.

Returning this year is Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Tour, where this specially guided journey of Disneyland Park tells stories of Walt Disney and gives unique facts of how Disneyland celebrates the season, followed by setting sail on “it’s a small world” Holiday. The 2.5 hour walking tour ends on Main Street, U.S.A., with a reserved viewing area of “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade where you will receive delicious holiday treats and a commemorative pin. For more information, pricing and reservations, visit Disneyland.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!

Shop Disney

Be sure to visit our online shop for a wide selection of 1923 Main Street merchandise, plus original Disney-inspired t-shirts and more.

Thank you for listening and have a magical day!

Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic

Disney100 Celebrations will Kick-Off in January 2023, plus new PhotoPass lenses, Disney Destination Gatherings and new dining reopens at Disney Aulani, Hawaii. These stories plus hotel refurbishments at Walt Disney World and more of the latest Disney travel news.

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Disney100 Celebration Begins on January 27, 2023

The Disney100 anniversary celebration will officially kick off on January 27, 2023 at Disneyland Resort with special limited-time offerings taking place for all of 2023.

Starting January 27, Disneyland will get new platinum-infused décor across the resort, including new sparkling looks for Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their pals, along with special food and beverage offerings, merchandise and more. Sleeping Beauty Castle will be adorned with platinum banners and bunting, accented by an array of polished gems featuring Flora, Fauna and Merryweather -- who will illuminate the castle with shimmering pixie dust. Two water fountains will grace either side of the castle moat, while a wishing star will sparkle from the tower above.

World of Color – One at Disney California Adventure Park is a new version that will celebrate the storytelling legacy of Walt Disney. It will tell a new story of how a single action, like a drop of water, creates a ripple that can grow into a wave of change. The show will feature a new song: Start a Wave. 

Disneyland Park will feature Wondrous Journeys, a new nighttime spectacular. It will have nods to every Walt Disney Animation Studios film so far. It will continue to build on the park’s projection effects, turning Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, the façade of it’s a small world and the Rivers of America into an artist’s canvas that brings characters to life. On select nights, Wondrous Journeys will go even bigger with the addition of fireworks above Disneyland. This show will also feature a new song: It’s Wondrous.

Even though Mickey’s Toontown isn't opening until spring 2023, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction will open early to kick off Disney100 on January 27. 

Disney PhotoPass Lenses Now Available at Disneyland along with more features in the Disneyland App

Disney Genie+ now includes Disney PhotoPass Lenses in the Disneyland app – some of which are unique to Disneyland Resort. The app also offers the car locator, mobile checkout, cast compliments and more

Aulani's Signature Dining Experience, ‘AMA‘AMA, Returns with a New, Locally-inspired Menu

Friday October 14 is the reopening date for ‘AMA‘AMA, the signature restaurant at Disney Aulani.

The newly reimagined fine-dining experience offers a four-course, prix fixe dinner menu that pays homage to the spirit of Hawai‘i, with unique flavors, quality ingredients and locally sourced fish and produce.

New Disney Destination Gatherings Helps Groups Reclaim Lost Time, Experiences Together

Disney has pulled together a collection of Disney experiences specifically designed for groups – from family reunions and weddings to school trips and conventions – under a whole new brand called Disney Destination Gatherings.

Disney Destination Gatherings brings together three different group-travel experiences specifically to meet the needs of those who plan meetings, social events, weddings and student-group travel:

Disney Meetings & Events
With a meticulous approach to every need, Disney professionals bring the Disney difference to conferences, association meetings, incentive programs, social events and corporate meetings at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Disneyland Resort in California, and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, and aboard Disney Cruise Line ships.

Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons
For three decades, engagements, weddings, honeymoons, and vow renewals have come to life in magical ways thanks to the pixie dust that Disney brings to each celebratory event held at Walt Disney World Resort; Disneyland Resort; Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa; or aboard Disney Cruise Line ships.

Disney Imagination Campus
Workshops offered at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts include immersive hands-on learning so students from elementary through high school and college can build their skill sets and prepare for life’s adventures.

With Disney Destination Gatherings, Disney aims to bring people together with unforgettable experiences. Whether a group gathers at a Disney theme park, resort, or aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship, Disney will help to create shared memories and meaningful moments together. 

Walt Disney World Refurbishment Update: Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

Some of the resort rooms in the Trinidad area of Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort will be receiving a brand-new look and feel. These new rooms, which will include subtle nods to fan-favorite characters from under the sea, will accommodate more guests and feature updated finishings that can’t be found anywhere else at the resort.

Refurbishment work began on October 3 and will reopen at some point in 2023.

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!

Shop Disney

Be sure to visit our online shop for a wide selection of 1923 Main Street merchandise, plus original Disney-inspired t-shirts and more.

Thank you for listening and have a magical day!

Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic