food IS a theme park
We hope you’re enjoying all that’s new at Walt Disney World this week! We’ve already visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs this week, and now we’re journeying to Epcot! So come along as we explore what’s new in food, merchandise, construction, and… vikings?
Welcome to Epcot!
Welcome back to another installment of What’s New! This time we’re at Disney’s Hollywood Studios where there’s a whole lotta new we won’t get to see until June 30 when Toy Story Land opens! But in the meantime, we’ve got the skinny on menu changes, pop-up bars, and merchandise that just might tide us over until Woody welcomes the gang to his new land (and opens his lunchbox)!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Sweet Spells closed a couple of weeks ago
, and let’s just say that almost no one was happy about it. Where would we get our sweets? What would happen to the spells? (Okay, maybe we’re just worried about the carbohydrates…) And while we haven’t seen any of the Sweet Spells-specific food items shift over to Trolley Car Cafe, we’re glad that Sweet Spells favorites like the Carrot Cake Cookie, Napoleon, Danish, and Candy Brownie have all remained at Trolley Car.
Trolley Car Cafe Treats
So while we hear you, lovers of treats who don’t want to wait in that Starbucks line, we’re still relieved that the Carrot Cake Cookie and these beautiful treats are still nearby! But note that the carrot cake cookie has had a bit of a makeover — the cake part is now pretty thick and serious, so it’s more like a round cake versus a whoopie pie.
Trolley Car Cafe Treats
Guests can also pick up a Tale As Old As Time Cupcake at Trolley Car right now, and it sounds lovely. Vanilla cake, raspberry filling, white buttercream (which is actually yellow…maybe they meant to put “vanilla buttercream”?). Classic and sweet.
Tale As Old As Time Cupcake
The Tale As Old As Time Cupcake features some details from Beauty and the Beast, including red roses, yellow frosting, and Belle and her prince in white chocolate form.
Tale As Old As Time Cupcake at Trolley Car Cafe
If the heat of late spring and impending summer have got you down at Hollywood Studios, there are a couple of great pop-up bars to fuel your adventures. Sunshine Day Cafe Pop-Up Bar is conveniently located on Sunset Boulevard, and is serving up wine, beer, and a couple of specialty drinks.
Sunshine Day Pop Up Bar
Sunshine Day Pop Up Bar
We have previously seen Baby Blues and Green Screen elsewhere in Hollywood Studios, but those bright colors suck us in every time.
Sunshine Day Cafe Pop Up Bar
If you’re in Echo Lake, you’ll find the Echo Lake Pop-Up Bar with specialty cocktails and wine.
Echo Lake Pop Up Bar Menu
At Fairfax Fare and Rosie’s All-American Cafe, Red Stag Black Cherry Bourbon Lemonade has replaced Jim Beam Black Cherry Lemonade.
Fairfax Fare and Rosie’s All-American Cafe Drinks
In the world of desserts, Backlot Express now offers BB-9E and Kylo Ren Cupcakes instead of BB-8 and Darth Vader Cupcakes.
Backlot Express Desserts
And the missing menu boards at ABC Commissary have been replaced with digital menu boards, just as predicted.
ABC Commissary New Menu Boards
KRNR Station is now serving up nachos!
KRNR Station now has nachos!
And a super yummy-looking S’mores Brownie has appeared at Dockside Diner. We definitely want to get into that!
Dockside Diner S’mores Brownie
Merchandise at Hollywood Studios is exciting this week! For starters, guests can purchase ties with character at various locations in the park, including the Orange Bird, Haunted Mansion, and Monorail designs! These have been around for a while and aren’t “new,” but they’re still super fun!
Orange Bird Tie
Haunted Mansion and Monorail Ties
And if you get the Tiki Room Tie, we beg of you: please request it as the Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Tie.
Tiki Room Tie
Also available are a couple of elaborate Minnie Ear designs. Belle is loaded with detail!
Belle Minnie Ears
As is the Cheshire Cat, whose tail curls around one ear!
Cheshire Cat Minnie Ears
We have a thing for the VHS Notebooks that have been available for a couple of years, and now we can get our VHS-loving fingers on The Little Mermaid, Lady and the Tramp, Peter Pan, and Dumbo!
VHS Notebooks!
The biggest news in merchandise is happening at the former Sweet Spells location, which is now a Pixar merchandise location — Tinseltown Trinkets and Reel Vogue!
Sweet Spells is now Pixar Merchandise Shop
Inside the store portion of the old location there’s lots of merch to peruse, as well as some packaged sweets like cotton candy and massive lollipops.
Sweet Spells’ New Look
Sweet Spells’ New Look
The promised Pixar merchandise is actually very sweet, including these Up!-inspired couples’ tees!
She’s My Greatest Adventure
He’s My Greatest Adventure
Mike and Sully get some love with Monsters, Inc./University-inspired gear.
The Overachiever Monsters Tee
The Natural Monsters Tee
This tote ain’t subtle, but it’s fun!
Roar Your Heart Out Tote
And, well, if you’ve been in the market for a plush Sully tail, we say why? But also: you can find yours here!
Sully Tail
But, oooooooh! You knew there had to be Toy Story merchandise! This tank celebrates the little green guys!
Oooooh! Tank
And this hoodie is colorful and playful.
Toy Story Hoodie
Meanwhile, we’re totally into this Squad Goals tote. What other squad could a Disney fan need?!
Squad Goals! Tote
If MagicBands are your thing, you’ll definitely want to check this out: a Toy Story MagicBand!
Toy Story MagicBand
Toy Story MagicBand
Toy Story MagicBand
That’s it for now from Disney’s Hollywood Studios! You know we’ll be back with more What’s New — so stick with the DFB crew!
With more than 650 pages, the 2018 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 20+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2018 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2018 to save 25% today!
Use code WDW2018 at check-out for a 25% off the cover price! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 🙂
Which of the new DHS tidbits are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments!
The Refreshment Port in Epcot at Walt Disney World is a convenient spot to grab a snack — including Canada’s famous Cheddar Cheese Soup and Poutine!
Refreshment Port
Animal Kingdom Lodge is a mecca for unique dining at Walt Disney World.
Whether you’re sampling the buffet at Boma, selecting stellar wines at Jiko, or digging into soulful food at Sanaa, Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Jambo House and Kidani Village have always been destination eating.
And it’s clear to see why. From the moment that you set foot into one of these restaurants, you are embraced by the warm atmosphere and intrigued by the art of Africa all around you. And then there’s the aroma, which you know means amazing eats await.
Sanaa is the newest of the three Animal Kingdom Lodge restaurants, and it’s made its mark on guests since day one. We’ve loved the Indian-Style Bread Service every time we’ve tried it, and the Butter Chicken has stood the test of time.
But I’d been hearing from some of our readers and followers that Sanaa’s time was up. That the experience there wasn’t living up to the hype and the food just wasn’t what it used to be. So I made a reservation and headed over ASAP to experience it again for myself.
Sanaa
is themed and highly visual, with artwork greeting guests from the moment they arrive. The sign outside the restaurant is surrounded by woven baskets of various designs. And while they are stationary, something about their arrangement is still energetic.
Sanaa
is a terrific place to dine if you’re looking for a little Hollywood Flair at Disney’s Hollywood Studios — and the best part is that there’s no ADR required!
That’s right! You can saunter up to Brown Derby Lounge on a whim and experience the understated elegance and tasty menu that so many have lauded in the Brown Derby Restaurant proper.
We’ve enjoyed our visits here, where Margarita and Martini Flights rule and you almost can’t go wrong with the menu of Brown Derby Restaurant-approved eats. And with outdoor seating on Hollywood Boulevard, it’s a great place for people watching!
During a recent visit to the World, I dropped in for a few plates of food — and left having eaten the best thing I ate in my entire visit! I love being surprised by awesome food — even more so when it’s served in such a great location!
Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge Bar
Halloween is HERE!
No matter what the actual calendar says 😉 , the Disney Parks on both coasts are already celebrating the most epic Halloween ever — especially when measured in Seasonal and Spookerrific eats!
Disneyland Minnie Mouse Jack O’Lantern!
We recently checked out Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World, so today we’re kickin’ it west coast style.
Halloween-ified Disneyland Maps and Times Guide!
And Disneyland is killin’ it this year! Take a spook… I mean, a LOOK!
They’ve introduced a super cool Halloween overlay in Cars Land that we can NOT get enough of!
Cars Land Signage and Fun!
The Halloween-ization of Cars Land is just… well, look for yourself. [Read more…]
Cove Bar‘s job is to remind you that you’re in the Happiest Place on Earth, over and over again. And it does that job well.
Cove Bar Sign
That’s why it’s #OnTheList this week!
It’s almost September, but everyone knows that we’re still looking at summertime temps to continue in Florida — expanding well into October (at least). So you may find it good to know about some cold adult refreshers that have popped up in Disney’s Hollywood Studios in recent months!
Let’s start on Commissary Lane at the ABC Commissary.
The ABC Commissary
The Cold Front not only promises a relief from the heat, but it’s also well in keeping with Frozen Summer Fun (which won’t conclude until September 7th, so you’ve still got time a little time to catch it!).
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
No, I’m not talking about Christmas in July. Instead, we’re excited to have nearly all of the details about the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival in place!
It’s been a week full of news gathering where this year’s Festival is concerned, as we’ve also been busy putting the final touches on the DFB Guide to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival! More about that in just a bit.
First, let’s look at all the Disney Food News — there’s a ton of stuff happening!
C’mon kids!! Everyone into the Studios for another look at Hey Howdy Hey Takeway in Pixar Place!!
This is one of my favorite little kiosks in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Lots of folks just wander on by, but there are so many cool themeing elements here to gawk at!!
Banner Over Hey Howdy Hey Takeaway Kiosk
Hey Howdy Hey Takeaway is a wagon-shaped kiosk located across from the entrance to Toy Story Midway Mania.
Hey Howdy Hey Takeaway Wagon
Theming for the spot comes from the Toy Story franchise — specifically, Toy Story 2, which explores Woody’s history as a TV personality.
You’ll remember that in that film, Woody learns that “he” starred on a TV show, along with Jessie, Bullseye, and the Prospector. And of course, there were many products created to promote the kids show. (Sound familiar??)
What self-respecting Woody fan wouldn’t start the day without a heapin’ helpin’ of Cowboy Crunchies?
Cowboy Crunchies Giant Box
And, much like you’d find in the [Read more…]
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
