food IS a theme park
You know it! You love it! You have to have it! It’s Dole Whip (affectionately called Pineapple Soft Serve a lot of the time), and it’s been a staple of Walt Disney World for years. Of course you know where you can find it in Adventureland at Aloha Isle (Disney World) and the Tiki Juice Bar (Disneyland) in the shadows of the Tiki Room (you can even bring your sweet treat inside to eat during the show!).
Dole Whip at Aloha Isle
We’d like to introduce you to two of our newest friends in Disney Springs: Maria & Enzo!
Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante is the table service component of a trio of brand new Italian eateries in Disney Springs, along with Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar (which will open soon) and the already open Pizza Ponte.
These three restaurants, run by the Patina Restaurant Group, are part of the complete complex of The Edison. Though the three are bound together by location, atmosphere, and story, each presents its own take on Italian cuisine.
We were able to attend a Sneak Peek Media Event, which included a dedication for Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante.
Dedication of Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante
The Ristorante will be open to guests soon (a full opening is anticipated by January 10th, though soft openings may precede). But just after the Media Event, the full menu was open for the evening. So today, we’re excited to bring you both a First Look AND a full review!
All right, friends… we’re going in. Welcome to THE EDISON!
The Edison
The new, highly anticipated spot is currently open to walk-up guests in Disney Springs. (If you’re hoping to visit on or after January 15th, you can make reservations via OpenTable now.) And while the location is meant to provide some long-awaited adult nightlife to Disney’s shopping, dining, and entertainment district, it will be open throughout the day (starting at 11:30 am) and family-friendly until 10:00 pm.
If you’ve been itching to get into The Edison, then you’ll be glad to know that reservations are now available on OpenTable.com for dates starting January 15th!
Screenshot of The Edison FLA website
You can either visit The Edison website and link from there (as seen above), or visit OpenTable.com directly. In either case, reservations will be available daily starting at 11:30 am.
And remember when you are making your reservation that the spot will be family-friendly by day, but will be open only to guests 21 and over after 10:00 pm. Soft openings are currently taking place, but those will be open to walk-ups only when available.
But that’s not all… Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante — the Table Service component of the new trio of Italian eateries — is ALSO taking reservations via OpenTable.com for dates starting January 15th! [Read more…]
We’ve just got to say it one more time… Happy New Year! Because today we’re back with another DFB Video, and we’re letting you know about 15 new Disney restaurants to try in 2018!
Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar and Restaurant
You read that right… FIFTEEN!! A few of these locations opened in late 2017, such as BaseLine Tap House in Hollywood Studios and the Ale & Compass Restaurant, so you can enjoy them right now. But many are still to come, like Jaleo, Terralina Crafted Italian, and the VERY soon-to-open Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar. And that’s just scratching the surface, because there is a lot more to look forward to in the new year. And we’d love to hear which new addition you’re most excited about! [Read more…]
Remember the old days when grabbing some Counter Service Pizza in Disney World typically resulted in receiving a big pillow of not-super-great crust taking over half of the pie and not allowing for much in the way of toppings? Well, if you reeaaallly want to, you can still get plenty of that in spots like PizzeRizzo in Hollywood Studios.
But guests looking for something different from Counter Service pizza options could — and still can — rely on Wolfgang Puck Express, which serves pizza among lots of other popular menu items. But those were the old days. And now, we have two counter service spots that specialize in pizza: Blaze Pizza and the brand new Pizza Ponte.
Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza
What they share in common is location, with both in Disney Springs, not too far from each other at all. And they are both Counter Service joints (you don’t need an Advance Dining Reservation to grab some pizza at either place).
Pizza by the slice — and more! — is, at long last, available in Disney Springs thanks to the arrival of Pizza Ponte!
As one third of a trio of eateries in Disney Springs, Pizza Ponte provides a fast-casual option for guests hoping to try out the Italian cuisine offered by this new group of restaurants headed by the Patina Restaurant Group. Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante (a table service restaurant) and Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar will make up the other components of the group when they open in coming weeks.
By the name, you obviously know that the headliner item is PIZZA — more specifically, Sicilian pizza served by the slice. But sandwiches, pastries, and espresso also make up the menu.
But I’ve said the word “pizza” enough by now that I’m sure everyone’s more than ready to dig into a slice, so let’s start our tour now!
Pizza Ponte is the starting point of the greater story of the business ventures of Maria and Enzo. You’ll find the new locations in The Landing, with nearest landmarks being STK Orlando and Paradiso 37 (and, of course, the VERY soon-to-be-open Edison).
Walkway to Maria & Enzo’s, Enzo’s Hideaway, Pizza Ponte, and The Edison
In fact, you’ll enter Pizza Ponte under the sign for Maria and Enzo’s Ristorante, under the simple label of “Pizzeria.” [Read more…]
Just in time for the crazy busy holiday rush in Disney World, Pizza Ponte has opened to guests in Disney Springs! Pizza Ponte is one of three Italian eateries connected by setting and story getting set to make their official debuts in Disney Springs. This fast-casual spot (no Advance Dining Reservation required) will be joined shortly by Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante and Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar, with all spots expected to be fully operational in January.
cannoli at Pizza Ponte!
Sicilian pizza served by the slice is the headliner at Pizza Ponte (for $7 a slice), and it’s accompanied by hand-crafted sandwiches on Roman pizza bread and a large variety of desserts including Cannoli and Mascarpone Cheesecake.
Starting in 2018, Pizza Ponte will open at 8AM daily and offer an Italian quick service breakfast including coffee and pastries.
DFB was at Pizza Ponte TODAY to get you a first look! Stay tuned for our full review coming soon, but in the meantime, let’s take a look around!
We know that booking a Walt Disney World vacation can be a daunting experience — especially when trying to decide where to lay your head each night! Disney resorts number in the dozens (with expansions, renovations, and new resorts in progress!), with tons of Orlando-area hotels to consider as well.
You can never go wrong at the Polynesian Village Resort!
In anticipation of The Edison’s Grand Opening on New Year’s Eve with a celebration on December 31st, the DFB was invited to take a hard hat tour of the new Disney Springs location, as well as its upcoming neighbors, a trio of Italian eateries bound together by story: Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante, Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar, and Pizza Ponte!
Sneak Peek Tour Lanyard
Before we share the details, a note: hard hat tours do not allow photography, so the majority of the pictures below in this post were provided by the Patina Restaurant Group, which runs all four upcoming locations.
Step inside what was once the power plant for the town of Disney Springs: The Edison.
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