WDW Historical Restaurant and Dining News

DECEMBER 2003

Liberty Square Market - Magic Kingdom - Baked Potatoes have returned at the Liberty Square Market. Potatoes are $3.50, and are sold with butter, shredded cheese, and sour cream.

Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe - Magic Kingdom - Breakfast will be served through the holiday season at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe daily from Friday, December 19 through Saturday, January 3. Hours of operation will be from Park opening through 10:30 a.m.

The Plaza Pavilion - Magic Kingdom will have holiday operating hours through January 3, 2004.

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue - The 9:30 p.m. seating of the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue has been cancelled for December 17 and December 18, 2003.

NOVEMBER 2003

Portobello Yacht Club at Downtown Disney is open for lunch as of 11/7/2003. You can make priority seatings also. Items offered include a variety of entrees, burgers, calzones and create your own pizzas. All lunch entrees will include a side house salad, Caesar salad or a cup of soup. (11/7/03)

FANTASMIC is scheduled to close for rehab January 25 - February 1, 2004, therefore not Fantasmic Dinner Packages are offered during this time.

OCTOBER 2003

Polynesian Luau -- The 8:00pm seating of Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show on Friday, October 31, 2003 has been cancelled. The 5:15pm seating remains open.

El Pirata Y el Perico Restaurante in the Magic Kingdom will be open from 11am - 4pm on October 11, 12, 18 and 25.

Homemade Caramel Corn returns to the menu at the Magic Kingdom's Sleepy Hollow.

Fresh Mediterranean Market is now open for breakfast (buffet) and lunch in the WDW Dolphin, in the space formerly occupied by Juan & Only's. Priority Seatings are now being accepted by 407-WDW-DINE.

SEPTEMBER 2003

For a limited time, Walt Disney World's Grand Floridian is offering a special event called "My Disney Girl's Perfectly Princess Tea Party." The party lasts from 10:30 a.m. until noon and is for children 4-12 with an accompanying adult. The morning features the following: a real Princess Tea Party at the Garden View Lounge, hosted by actress/singer Miss Rose Petal; a personal meeting with Princess Aurora; tea and brunch; a My Disney Girl doll dressed as Sleeping Beauty; a princess bracelet; and a gift for the accompanying adult. Price is $200 for one child and one adult (which includes gratuity, but not tax); additional adult $65, additional child $135. Dates for the event are October 23-26; October 29-30; and November 1-2. Seating is limited to 42 per day. Cancellation policy: Full refunds for cancellations on or before October 5. After October 5, partial payment of $30 is kept. Call Walt Disney Event Services at 407-827-7600 to reserve.

House of Blues at Downtown Disney is now taking Priority Seatings. Open daily for lunch and dinner, House of Blues features "Southern Delta" fare, such as Creole Jambalaya and BBQ ribs, as well as gourmet pizzas, steaks and fresh seafood. To make a Priority Seating, call 407-WDW DINE.

Starting September 22, Priority Seatings for Fulton's Crab House at Downtown Disney may be made by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

Conversely, Tempura Kiku, in Epcot's Japan Pavilion, will no longer take Priority Seatings. Seatings will be on a first-come, first-served basis, although all existing PS arrangements will be honored.

Beginning September 28, the Animal Kingdom Lodge's Boma restaurant's breakfast hours will be 7:30am to 11:00am

Construction on the Walt Disney World Dolphin's new restaurant, bluezoo, is slated to be finished before the Christmas holiday. The 300-seat restaurant, which will occupy the space of the former Coral Cafe, will be run by Boston chef Todd English and is designed by architect Jeffrey Beers, who also designed Jiko and Boma at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Effective September 1, 2003 the All Star Cafe at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex will operate Thursday-Sunday from 11:30am to 9:00pm.

AUGUST 2003

Brown Derby Restaurant will be closed September 14 - 20 for rehab.

Portabello Yacht Club in Downtown Disney is now part of the WDW Dining system. You can book dinner at Portabello 90 days out. In the past, you could book 30 days in advance and had to call the restaurant directly. (8/7/03)

August 4, 2003 - New Priority Seating Official Policy: A standard 90 days in advance for Priority Seatings is now in effect for all Disney Guests (no matter where they are staying or how they booked the trip), except for:

Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue 2 years out
Disney's Spirit of Aloha 2 years out
Bistro de Paris 30 days out
Lunch with a Disney Artist 30 days out
Victoria & Albert's Chef's Table 180 days out
Candlelight Processional Dinner Package Seasonal
Mickey's Backyard Barbecue When Available

JULY 2003

From Sam Knight: I Just booked my daughters for the Tea Party and Pirate Cruise (at the Grand Floridian) in October and was informed the price for all children's events (Grand Adventures in Cooking, Wonderland Tea Party and the Pirate Cruise) at the resort is now $30 per child.

As of July 1, the Florida Indoor Clean Air Act dictates that all enclosed indoor workplaces must be nonsmoking. For the Walt Disney World Resort, this will include resort lobbies, convention spaces, clubs at Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island, resort lounges and the formerly way-too-smoky Atlantic Dance at the Boardwalk. All Ears hears that Jellyrolls will remain a smoking establishment.

Speaking of Downtown Disney, look for a new outdoor bar to open at the House of Blues later this summer.

There have been a few menu changes at the Magic Kingdom's Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland. It has discontinued selling its Coffee Smoothie, and has added the following items: raspberry lemonade slush, flavored pretzels, and chocolate chip cookies. In addition, all yogurt items can now also be purchased in a cone, and there is a sprinkle topping available.

Another minor menu change: in Liberty Square, the Liberty Square Market has discontinued selling baked potatoes.

JUNE 2003

Aunt Polly's Dockside Inn on Tom Sawyer Island in the Magic Kingdom is currently open for the summer season. It will close on Monday, September 1, 2003.

El Pirata Y El Perico Restaurante will reopen for the summer on Sunday, June 22, 2003.

Guests at Magic Kingdom who keep kosher can now purchase food on the run. Kosher hot dogs, hamburgers and corned beef sandwiches are available at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland. As always, kosher items are also available at table service restaurants if guests give the location 24 hours' notice.

The newly remodeled Mitsukoshi store in Epcot's Japan pavilion now features a small market with Japanese specialty snacks and a sake tasting bar. The store offers five micro-brewed rice wines by the glass or bottle.

From the Bentlers in Iowa: We just returned from the Beach Club. To update your info regarding "morning coffee", Beaches and Cream is no longer open for breakfast. The Riptide Lounge offers the pastry and beverages that were previously available at Beaches. It is very convenient and is serviced by the same Beaches and Cream staff.

Liberty Tree Tavern - As of June 29th there is a new set of characters at the Liberty Tree Tavern dinner. New Characters are: Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Meeko. Goofy and Chip and Dale have moved over to "Goofy's Country Dancin' Jamboree".

APRIL 2003

Forty Thirst Street (West Side) closed and has reopened as Wetzel's Pretzels, serving gourmet pretzels and Hagen Daas ice cream.

Princess Storybook Breakfast at Epcot's Norway - Policy Change -- Effective April 20, 2003, there is a new credit card Priority Seating Policy. You must provide a credit card when making your Priority Seating. If you cancel within 48 hours or do not show up for your Priority Seating, you will be charged $10 per person.

March 2003

Beginning April 27, 2003, Cinderella's Royal Table will serve breakfast from 8:00am to 10:30am. The extended hours are in the Priority Seating system and ready for booking.

The Magic Kingdom's Plaza Restaurant is under rehab March 3 - April 6. A new serving counter, floor and ceiling will be installed, along with minor updates to the dining area.

Hollywood & Vine will no longer serve breakfast after March 23. It will continue to serve lunch and dinner, withOUT characters.

Beginning March 23, guests will no longer be able to walk through Pleasure Island during the day. The area will be closed off, and all shops on Pleasure Island will open at 7 p.m. Fulton's Crab House, located between Pleasure and the Marketplace, will continue to offer lunch.

February 2003

Walt Disney World has extended the trial period of the Fantasmic Dinner Package through February 28, 2002. You can book and prepay your package now by calling 1-407-WDW-DINE. Visit the Fantasmic Dinner Package FAQ for details.

The Plaza Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom will be closed for refurbishment March 3-28, 2003.

The Lunch with a Disney Artist program has been extended.

Priority Seating arrangements may now be made for the Japan pavilion's tempura and sushi counter, Tempura Kiku. Located in the lounge next to Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki, PS for Tempura Kiku may be made 120 days in advance.

The Polynesian Luau will remain closed for the month of February as the show and seating area are renovated. When the show reopens in early March, the new storyline will find guests gathering for a luau to celebrate the return of a local girl who had left the island to attend school. The luau will introduce friends she grew up with, and you'll feel like you are in someone's back yard at a party. There will be comedy, familiar Hawaiian songs and even music from Lilo and Stitch! The show area will have a new entrance, new tables and chairs, renovated stage and a new sound and lighting system.

December 20, 2002 - As of January 6, 2003, Portobello Yacht Club at Pleasure Island will no longer serve lunch. Dinner hours will remain at 5-11pm.

December 2002 - There will be a new set of characters for dinner at 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian. Called Cinderella's Gala Feast, the potential characters include: Cinderella, Prince Charming, Suzy and Perla, the Fairy Godmother, Lady Tremaine, and those two nasty stepsisters Anastasia and Drizella.

The new experience begins on January 5, 2003 and Priority Seatings can be made 120 days in advance. Price for adults is $23.99 and for children ages 3-11 $10.99 (which includes dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage. Hours are 5:00pm to 8:40pm.

11/18/02 -- Walt Disney World has extended the trial period of a new Fantasmic Dinner Package through December 31, 2002. You can book and prepay your package now by calling 1-407-WDW-DINE. Visit the Fantasmic Dinner Package FAQ for details.

From now until January 4, 2003, Disney's Animal Kingdom is testing a new drink-refill program. Guests can purchase 32-ounce sports bottles featuring the heads of several different wild animals in quick service locations and soda-fountain beverage stands around the theme park for $6.79. They can then obtain refills for $1 on the day of purchase at any Animal Kingdom outdoor stand or kiosk that sells soda fountain beverages. The refills are NOT available at any Animal Kingdom restaurants. (10/22/02)

Prices have been increased for most, if not all, of the buffets offered at WDW. As an example, the Princess Storybook Breakfast is now $19.99 for adults! Check individual Menus From Around the World for specifics. Adult ticket prices have also increased for the Polynesian Luau and Hoop-dee-Doo Revue. (10/1/02)

The new Princess Storybook Breakfast at Norway made permanent. (9/17/02)

All Priority Seatings for Cinderella's Royal Table Character Breakfast require a credit card DEPOSIT (not guarantee) of $10 per adult and $5 per child at the time of booking. Once the PS is made, NO CHANGES may be made to the name on the booking. Priority Seatings may be cancelled for a refund of the deposit at least 24 HOURS prior to the seating time. (6/9/02)

Garden Grill in Epcot is no longer open for breakfast (10/01)

The full service restaurant at Port Orleans (French Quarter) called Bonfamille's Cafe closed on August 5th, 2000.

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