5 New Disney Restaurants To Get Excited About
With a new tower at an existing resort, a new DVC resort, and a new land opening, Disney's restaurant game is getting serious to accommodate the influx of guests. This blog is going to take a look at the new restaurants in Walt Disney World for 2019, some of which have already opened now that we are mid-year, and and some that are still under construction.
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Cityworks Eatery and Pour House (opening Winter 2019)
Location: Disney Springs, next to the NBA Experience
Menu: American sports bar
Why I'm excited: This sounds like a beer haven! It will have a selection of 90+ global and craft beers available.
Drop everything and make an ADR? It depends. If traveling with a beer lover, it would be worth it, but the food and atmosphere don't seem very adventurous (at least for Americans).
Toledo: Tapas, Steaks, and Seafood (just opened July 2019)
Location: The top of Gran Destino Tower, Coronado Springs Resort.
Menu: Spanish Tapas, Meals, and 75+ wines
Why I'm excited: 75+ wines sounds nice! Also, the pictures look beautiful and I always enjoy tapas.
Drop everything and make an ADR? Hard choice. It's a signature restaurant, so if on the dining plan, that's two Table Service Credits which is hardly worth it. And with the dining plan, you need to have a meal and 1 tapa where I would want several. Without the dining plan, the cost could add up fast. Also you can see fireworks, sort of, from this rooftop location, but the views are apparently not that impressive. It's nothing like the Contemporary which is right across the street from the fireworks.
Ultimately, I think if you're not on the dining plan, and happen to be staying at Coronado Springs Resort, then do it.
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Oga's Cantina (opening August 2019)
Location: Star Wars Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Menu: Mostly drinks and party mix
Why I'm excited: I want a drink called a Fuzzy Tauntaun, then I'm going to have a Yub Nub, and then a Jedi Mind Trick. Oh, and also, the drinks look reallllly coooooool.
Drop everything and make an ADR? Well, the good news is being a lounge, an ADR is not needed! So, yes, I would say for adults, drop everything and go there. Just maybe not on August 29th.
Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera (opening Dec 16, 2019)
Location: Rooftop of Disney's Riviera Resort
Menu: For dinner, Italian and French riveria inspired dishes. For breakfast, a character dining experience where Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy will be in special attire unique to the restaurant.
Why I'm excited: There's a lot to unpack here. To see characters in unique attire is always fun, and the breakfast menu actually looks like food I would look forward to eating. A bellini and sour cream waffles? Yes, please. Dinner looks yummy as well. Lots of choices and given the location of this resort, I'm thinking a view of the fireworks at EPCOT is inevitable.
Drop everything and make an ADR? If you have 2 table service credits to spare on your dining plan, or are ready to splurge paying out of pocket, then I would say heck yeah! Either time it with the fireworks once others confirm the view is good, or do the character breakfast.
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Takumi-Tei (opened a few weeks ago, and takes reservations beginning July 16, 2019)
Location: Japan pavilion at EPCOT's World Showcase
Menu: Japanese foods and sake, including sushi. You may order a la cart, or order the Omakase Tasting or Chef's Tasting menu which is a flat price for multiple choices of the chef's choice.
Why I'm excited: The Omakase Tasting menu seems like an amazing dining experience. The price is steep at $130, but includes several high quality dishes and ends with a traditional tea ceremony. I have heard they use ceremonial grade matcha too rather than culinary matcha which seems like a thing Disney could certainly food guests with, but doesn't. The experience is also supposed to be more than just a meal. You will learn aspects of Japanese culture, and experience a meal almost as art.
Drop everything and make an ADR? If I can afford the $130 Omakase Tasting menu, I am definitely dropping everything to go here. Not with kids. There's not going to be much the kids can enjoy, to be honest. But if you love culture, sake, sushi, or are a foodie, this seems like a perfect experience. Needless to say, it is a Signature restaurant (2 table service credits on the dining plan).
Honorable mention: Space Themed Restaurant (of unknown name and opening date)
Location: EPCOT, between Mission Space and Test Track
Menu: ????
Why I'm excited: Not much information has come forth about the Space themed restaurant aside from it's expected to open yet this year and will provide an experience where you feel you are dining on a space station. I can't begin to imagine the menu. Part of me really wants for there to be things like Tang and pouches of food, and space ice cream. But I kind of doubt that will happen. Surprisingly, the restaurant is not owned by Disney but operated by a third party vendor who runs other restaurants on Disney property as well. Perhaps this is why details are still so unclear.
Drop everything and make an ADR? There's a lot of unknown yet. How many dining credits is it and what's the menu, for example. I love space but with so many dining options in World Showcase, and Coral Reef on the other side of FutureWorld, I'm on the fence.
This is just a sampling of the restaurants that have opened or are opening in 2019. Did I miss one you are excited about? Comment here or on our Facebook page. And as always, if you like our blog, share the link with a friend. See you next week!
