A few more details have been released on La Hacienda de San Angel, opening mid-September in Walt Disney World’s Epcot.
Reservations will be available for dates after October 15th, and the dates from opening through October 15th will be a soft opening period (i.e. walk-up guests only).
The Disney Parks Blog caught up with Richard Debler, the president of San Angel Inn LLC, and Executive Chef Ernesto Zendejas, in charge of the big changes at the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot. Here are some of the new insights:
New “Flex-Space” Concept for Disney Dining
The space will be used as an air-conditioned dining room for La Cantina de San Angel next door during the day, and as a full-service restaurant after 4pm.
The Cuisine and Menu
Two taco specialists are being brought in from one of the best taquerias in Mexico to work with the La Hacienda team. Corn tortillas will be made fresh on the premises daily for La Hacienda and La Cantina (the counter-service restaurant next door). Tomato, chipotle and serrano, tomatillo, and mango salsas will be made fresh as well, and there will be unique flavors from different regions of Mexico represented, including cilantro and habenero flavors Southern Mexico.
Favorite La Hacienda de San Angel menu items include mini tacos, including a chiles toreados y chorizitos version with roasted sweet peppers with lime and sea salt and mini chorizos (pork sausage). Skillet entrees will also be available, with meat, veggies, and seafood for make-your-own-taco.
La Cantina de San Angel Counter-Service Menu
The Cantina menu will focus on tacos with grilled meat or chicken, garnished with fresh pico de gallo. Less Tex-Mex, more regional authentic Mexico.
Margaritas
La Hacienda will have a tequila ambassador on staff every day. We will feature tequila flights similar to La Cava del Tequila. We’ve developed a whole new line of margaritas with a mixologist from New York City that include a coffee margarita, which incorporates the smoky-cacao flavor of Mescal. Other favorites are the passion fruit and lime-raspberry margaritas. We’re going to serve a mango-blueberry-basil margarita with fresh blueberries, mango puree and mashed basil, and an orange mango fire margarita with a dash of Tabasco and chile powder and ginger liquer. Margaritas will be frozen at La Cantina, on the rocks at La Hacienda.
Desserts
La Cantina will offer paletas (Popsicles) with fresh fruit, such as mango with peppers. At La Hacienda, sorbets will include tamarind, watermelon, and some tropical fruit flavors. A sweet tamal del dulce filled with guava paste will be good for sharing.
Disney Dining Plan Credits
La Cantina de San Angel is one counter service credit. La Hacienda de San Angel is one table-service credit per person. If guests order one of the dishes meant for sharing, that will be two points. (Clarification — to cost two points, the menu item must be designated as being large enough for two people.)
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OMG – new margaritas? PTTP is sooooo over this asap! Coffee? That one may top the jalapeno as the most outrageous.
Any idea when they’ll allow us to make those reservations?
“If guests order one of the dishes meant for sharing, that will be two points.” That is interesting. I found that when I have shared on the dining plan before, they only used one point.
I think they’re talking specifically about larger “____ for two” options, not just sharing one meal (that is intended for one, but then split).
Jeni — Sounds good, right?
Jo — Nope. No idea on WHEN the reservations will be open. There’s an open question in the comments section of the Disney Parks Blog, so hopefully someone there will respond with an answer.
Jo and Jennifer — Yes, they mean that if you order one of the menu options that is specifically designated for two people, it will be charged as 2 credits.
OOO, ADRs open just in time for my bday… BUT ill definitely be trying it out before it officially opens, as now i can run over in a hurry (10 minutes)
I’ve never really done a soft opening before. I’ll be down in Disney first week of October before reservations are available to be made at Hacienda. How likely am I to get a table there for an Illuminations-timed dinner (mid-week)? Am i going to be waiting a long time because nobody can actually reserve ahead of time? Or because it’s a soft-opening, is it easier to get a table?
Great question, Jason. Wish I knew the answer, as I’m curious too. I’ll be in Disney around the same time – Food & Wine, Wine & Dine, and now these margaritas! They’ll have to roll me back onto the plane when it’s time to leave.
I’m definitely obsessing about the orange mango fire margarita.
Of course I’ll miss the opening by days!
It will be interesting to see if this one is as good as we’re hearing Via Napoli is. I hope so!
AJ – Any idea when the soft opening will start? This sounds like a great lunch option for us on our first Epcot day!!