Let’s face it — things are always changing in Disney World.
Take a look at EPCOT, for example, which is still in the middle of a massive transformation. Then there’s all the new food that comes to the resort, as well as new restaurants. But one new restaurant is taking the idea of change to the extreme, and that could keep some Disney World visitors away.
So let’s talk about why many folks and their families return to Disney World year after year. Although things are constantly changing in Disney World, a lot has been the same for years, so when it comes to certain rides, and even certain foods, nostalgia plays a key factor in bringing people back to the resort over and over again.
That means that although many visitors DO want to check out new rides and restaurants, they also like to revisit their favorite rides and foods. We know a lot of folks would have breakfast at Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort on every single trip because it’s become part of their family tradition. Likewise, many families also visit ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort on every trip to experience the noodles and bread pudding.
Disney World, though, decided to buck the nostalgia trend, when it created its new restaurant in EPCOT, Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya. That’s because this restaurant will probably not be the same twice for anyone who visits it. The concept behind the restaurant is that its menu and theme will change regularly.
Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakya is based around Japanese seasonal festivals, and there will be new festival celebrations that change often in the restaurant, meaning new themes and new food. So you might eat there in the summer and experience one particular theme and menu, but it will be completely different if you visit during a different season.
Now that might be exciting for some diners in Disney World, but for those families who rely on that nostalgia factor and like to revisit their favorite restaurants and foods, this could be a turn-off because they may never know which theme or menu they’re going to get.
This could be especially true for families with children and picky eaters who know what they like and don’t want to try new foods every time they visit a specific restaurant, especially if that restaurant is on the pricier side, like Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya. We don’t expect some families would want to pay for a $300 sushi boat full of surprise flavors.
We have to appreciate that Disney is doing something a little different, especially since Shiki-Sai is bringing in some educational elements to dining by teaching us more about Japan’s many festivals. That, in and of itself, is a very EPCOT thing to do. But we worry about how many folks are going to want to dine there without really knowing what they might be in for.
We will say this. If you DO feel like changing these up a bit in Disney World, you’ll want to visit Shiki-Sai, if only for its beautiful setting and amazing details. It’s certainly different from any other restaurant in Disney World, even if that might end up being its downfall to others.
So give it a try, and let us know what you think — would you visit Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya in different seasons to see how the restaurant has changed? Or do you prefer your restaurants more stable, with menus that don’t drastically change throughout the year?
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Have you been to Shiki-Sai yet or have plans to visit? Let us know why or why not in the comments!
I was a huge Disney fan until the marketing people got into the planning. I’m with you on the nostalgia part of
visiting Disney World. If I didn’t enjoy a particular restaurant I won’t return. I don’t need the Disney WDW I won’t be returning. When it’s necessary to check one’s phone every ten minutes for updates and planning it’s not a ‘vacation’ but a ‘mission’. Stop changing what worked for so many years. Restaurants, rides, and experiences are the reason for visiting and Disney continues to mess with what has worked for many years.
Let’s be honest. Picky eaters aren’t going to eat at this restaurant anyway. I think it’s fun to have a menu change a bit seasonally. I may not eat at this place because of the pricing, but I think it’s an interesting concept.
The same old tired meals hurt more than help the restaurants. Fresh ideas will bring plenty of people and maybe a different type of restaurant customer who likes to explore. The restaurant menus were slaughtered post COVID and it really is a shame.
I’m visiting on an upcoming trip and can’t wait to try it. I’m EXCITED by the concept of new seasonal menus and themes! I get it—-I love nostalgia too and look forward to certain things on every Disney trip. But there are a ton of familiar restaurants at DW that we can’t count on time after time. I think there’s room for ONE with a focus on regular change. It’s fun to mix things up every now and then.