Disney Springs Welcoming Three New Italian Restaurants; New Concept Art for Sunshine Season Greetings

Disney Springs will Welcome Three New Italian Restaurants:

Three new restaurants with an Italian flare are coming to Disney Springs very soon this winter. All three restaurants will be brought to us from the Patina Restaurant Group with each featuring unique menus and authentic Italian foods in a beautiful and expansive dining complex.

Maria & Enzo's Ristorante:

The first concept, called Maria & Enzo’s, is a trattoria set in the town’s abandoned 1930’s airline terminal which has now been transformed into an open and airy restaurant. Featuring gorgeous views of Lake Buena Vista and incredible 50-foot ceilings, the interior dining room is adorned with artifacts that reflect air travel of the time such as maps and historic flight paths. Inspired by Sicily, the menu has a delightful range of family-friendly dishes – Arancini di Carne (rice balls stuffed with meat), Melanzane Parmigiana (eggplant parmesan), and handmade pastas including Busiate con Granchio (spiral pasta with crab) and ‘Ncasiata al Forno (Sicilian baked pasta) – all served tableside. Other delectable highlights include fresh fish, richly flavored steaks and chops.

Enzo's Hideaway Tunnel Bar:

The second concept is Enzo’s Hideaway – Enzo’s own personal speakeasy inspired by Roman aperitivo bars. Located in the storied rum-runner tunnels that adjoin Maria & Enzo’s and steeped in Florida’s true history of rum-running, Enzo’s Hideaway will pour Prohibition-era cocktails at its Tunnel Bar and serve a casual menu of hearty Roman Dishes such as the city’s legendary Bucatini alla Carbonara (hollow spaghetti with creamy egg and pancetta sauce) and Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe (square-cut spaghetti with pecorino and black pepper).

Pizza Ponte:

Pizza Ponte rounds out the group with a fast-casual restaurant serving pizza, pastries, Italian sandwiches and espresso. With the perfect blend of savory and sweet, Pizza Ponte is the ideal place quick bite. On the savory side, the menu features Pizza al Taglio (Sicilian-style pizza served by the slice), signature Tirangolo (stuffed pizza bread) sandwiches, and Porchetta (roast pork). To satisfy your sweet tooth, pastry specialties include Bombolini (Italian donuts), Sfoglia di Riso (pastry with rice cream), and Tiramisu.

Maria & Enzo's Ristorante, Enzo's Hideaway, and Pizza Ponte will all open this winter at Disney Springs in the dining complex located adjacent to The Edison, which is also slated to open soon. 

Source: Disney Parks Blog

New Concept Art Revealed Sunshine Seasons Greetings at Disney's Hollywood Studios:

Today, Disney released some new concept art of the Hollywood Tower Hotel which will become the Hollywood Toy Hotel in one scene during the new Sunshine Seasons Greetings. The new projection onto the Tower will begin on November 9 at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

“Toy Story” is just one of of the four special projections that will be shown on the Hollywood Tower Hotel. The other scenes projecting on the Tower will include:

• Mickey and Minnie reminisce about hometown Christmas as a romanticized, Norman Rockwell-inspired scene changes from black & white to color
• The Swedish Chef from The Muppets babbles in front of giant gingerbread houses
• Olaf pines over his holiday wish and iconic music from “Frozen” plays as the scene transforms into a winter wonderland – complete with projected falling snow and dancing Aurora Borealis lights

Sunshine Seasons Greetings will debut next Thursday, November 9. 

Summer of Heroes Coming to Disneyland Paris in 2018; More Details on Pixar Fest at Disneyland

Summer of Heroes Coming to Disneyland Paris Next Summer:

Just announced a few short hours ago at Comic-Con London, Summer of Heroes will be coming to Disneyland Paris next Summer to help close out the parks 25th Anniversary. Announced by David Bushore, Vice President Franchise Creative and Marketing for Marvel Studios and Mark Huffman, Creative Director at Disneyland Paris, the celebration will begin June 10, 2018 and run through September 30. The 25th Anniversary Celebrations will now be extended through September 30 as well.

Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Spider-Man, Star-Lord and Black Widow will appear for the first time exclusively at Disneyland Paris in summer 2018 in a special Marvel Summer of Super Heroes season. Your favorite heroes will be featured in the Walt Disney Studios Park for exciting meet & greets and breathtaking, epic shows (replacing CineMagique).

That’s not all for Marvel fans at Disneyland Paris. Disneyland Paris is also re-imagining from October 2018 one of its Resort Hotels into a universe that would make Tony Stark proud. Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel will transport guests to the action-packed, inspiring world of Super Heroes including Iron Man, The Avengers, and Spider Man among others, and will open within 2020. Construction on the hotel will begin early next year in 2018.

Stay tuned for more details on Marvel Summer of Super Heroes coming in the future.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Pixar Fest Details Released Beginning April 13 Throughout Disneyland Resort:

During the D23 Expo, President of Disney Parks & Resorts Bob Chapek announced that Pixar Fest would be coming to Disneyland Resort sometime in 2018. We now know the date where the festival will begin in April 13. The limited time celebration of friendship and beyond will feature the debut of an all-new fireworks spectacular and the return of two favorite parades as well as even more beloved Pixar characters, new décor, atmosphere entertainment, themed food and beverage and new merchandise items.

“Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular”  (Concept art pictured above) will light up Disneyland park beginning April 13. In addition to dazzling pyrotechnics and memorable music, the theme of friendship, ever-present in most Pixar films, is celebrated in this nighttime spectacular. Guests are invited to embark on an emotional journey that starts when unlikely Pixar characters first meet. As they set out on adventures and overcome obstacles together, “Together Forever” celebrates the everlasting friendships forged by beloved Pixar pals. The story comes to life through projections on iconic park locations: Sleeping Beauty Castle, the water screens of the Rivers of America, the façade of “it’s a small world” and the buildings of Main Street, U.S.A. This nighttime spectacular will even feature a special flyover by Buzz Lightyear at Sleeping Beauty Castle.

April 13 will also mark the return of Paint the Night at Disney California Adventure. A new Pixar story (float) will join other floats depicting our favorite Pixar films like "Toy Story", "Cars", and "Monsters Inc." Later in the year, the Pixar Play Parade will make its way through Disneyland for the first time. It will also see new elements with the likes of "Up" and "Inside Out." 

The Pixar Shorts Film Festival will also be running with rotating favorites such as "For the Birds" and "Lava" at the Sunset Showcase Theatre in Hollywood Land in Disney California Adventure throughout most of the festival. The Paradise Gardens area will feature a new Pixar-themed musical troupe along with Pixar character greeting opportunities as well as crafts and activities for our younger guests.

There will also be plenty of new merchandise, including an exclusive bracelet that will have multiple charm options with fun, friendship messages, and our favorite Pixar characters. The celebration begins April 13.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

The SpectacuLAB Interactive Show to Debut at Epcot

A new interactive show is set to debut next month at Epcot, called The SpectacuLAB. The show will take place in Innoventions. 

In it, guests will be invited to join a group of real scientists – and their tech-savvy intern – for a series of thrilling experiments that put scientific principles like ultrasonic pressure, barometric pressure, acceleration and force to the test. Through this funny and fascinating show, guests of all ages will have the opportunity to participate in the demonstrations and discover how each scientific principle has inspired amazing technologies we enjoy today.

The show is presents by Murata, whom is a global leader in design, manufacture, and supply of advanced electronic components. Also The SpectacuLAB is sponsored by Science from Scientists, a nonprofit organization that aims to improve STEM literacy at schools.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

New Hotel Plus Parking & Transportation Improvements Coming to Disneyland in 2021

News just broke a little while ago of a new Four Diamond Hotel being built in Disneyland by 2021. The hotel will transform the West End of the Downtown Disney District and anchor a new gateway into Disneyland.

The new 700-room hotel will feature a sophisticated design and be a game-changer for Anaheim, creating a dynamic dining, entertainment and hotel experience for resort visitors and local residents. Extensive landscaping and water elements will create a resort oasis, showcasing nature on every level of the hotel. The hotel’s location embraces the iconic Disneyland Monorail with a dedicated platform inside the hotel for direct transport into Disneyland park.

Guest rooms, public spaces and gardens will provide views of the Downtown Disney District. An upper-level restaurant and lounge will give guests a view of the popular Disneyland park fireworks.

The ground level of the hotel will include shops and restaurants opening onto an expansive landscaped plaza complete with playful water features, creating a gathering place for guests and visitors. The new hotel will also connect all four Hotels of the Disneyland Resort through lush gardens and beautifully landscaped walkways, transforming the gateway on the west side and creating a welcoming entry for our Disneyland Resort guests.

The new grand hotel will benefit the community as well, generating approximately $25 million n new taxes in its first five years of operation that go directly to Anaheim’s general fund. It will also create thousands of additional construction and permanent jobs and attract new guests to the resort area. Construction is scheduled to begin Summer 2018 and be completed by 2021. 

With the new hotel being built it will also see many current places in the Downtown Disney District be demolished. This will include popular places like ESPN Zone, AMC Theatre, Earl of Sandwich, Starbucks, and Rainforest Cafe as the new hotel takes up 17 acres of the Downtown Disney District West Side. Officials have reportedly begun telling the tenants of their plans and some may even begin operating inside the hotel. 

Not only is a brand new Four Diamond Hotel being built but a brand new 6,500 parking structure will also be built. The new structure will be built on the current Pinocchio surface parking lot next Mickey & Friends.

This new 6,500-space structure is designed to dramatically improve parking and traffic flow throughout the resort. It is expected to significantly speed up guest arrival by providing a 60 percent increase in the number of access lanes and adding additional parking capacity on the west side of the resort.

The additional parking capacity and access lanes will streamline vehicle arrivals on the west side of the resort and eliminate backups onto city streets. In addition, the tram boarding area will be reconfigured to enhance the transportation experience for guests parking at both the new structure and Mickey & Friends. 

Construction on the new parking structure will begin sometime in 2018 and be completed by the following year.

Sources: Disney Parks Blog
               Orange County Register
               Disney Parks Blog

Disney Pixar's 'Coco' Family Celebration Coming to Disney Springs This Friday

With the release of Disney Pixar's "Coco" under a month a way on November 22, Disney Springs and Walt Disney World is amping up excitement for the film. Beginning this Friday, Disney Pixar's 'Coco' Family Celebration will kick off on the West Side of Disney Springs. It's a family friendly fiesta to help celebrate the film's release.

"With a flurry of colorful papel picados planned and décor depicting scenes from the movie, Exposition Park will be a lively cornucopia of family-friendly fun. On weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), there will also be face-painting and activities for kids. Hungry for more? Springs’ Street Tacos Food Truck will serve up vanilla flan for a limited time, alongside their signature taco offerings."

Guests will also get a taste of the bright and colorful world of "Coco" through a medley of themed music, food, and decor daily from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. The film tells the story of Miguel, an aspiring young musician, who teams up with a charming trickster named Hector as they take an extraordinary journey through the Land of the Dead.

Disney Pixar's 'Coco' Celebration runs from October 27 through November 26, 2017.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Introducing Woody's Lunch Box Coming to Toy Story Land

In breaking news this morning, we now know the quick service location that is coming to Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Introducing Woody's Lunch Box which will open inside the land when it debuts in Summer 2018. 

"When Toy Story Land opens in Summer 2018 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests will shrink to the size of a toy and explore all of the fun (and toys!) Andy has constructed in his backyard. This story continues at Woody’s Lunch Box, where Andy has used his lunch box and thermos to create a walk-up quick-service window that will serve up tasty meals and old-fashioned soda floats. In the rendering above, you can see that Woody’s Lunch Box – like the rest of Toy Story Land – has been adorably strewn about with some of Andy’s favorite toys and items from his lunch. You can even spot a green army man on a nearby lookout tower, keeping watch for Andy’s return."

Walt Disney World will partner with Mini BabyBel to bring the restaurant to life. Stay tuned for future updates on Woody's Lunch Box and a menu that is sure to be filled with exciting items in the coming months right here on It All Started With a Mouse.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

First Look at The NBA Experience Coming to Disney Springs Summer 2019

Today, the Disney Parks Blog shared with us our first look at The NBA Experience at Walt Disney World which is coming to Disney Springs in Summer 2019. Taking the place of the old Disney Quest, which closed back in July, the new experience and building is inspired by the modern architecture of new NBA arenas around the country. 

It will exude the same spirit and energizing impact all while creating an unmistakable and entertaining connection to the NBA in a way that only Disney can. The state of the art space will include interactive games and competitions, immersive experiences, a retail store, and an adjacent restaurant. 

“We are inspired by the design of the new building and the energy that it will bring to the West Side of Disney Springs,” said Senior Vice President of Disney Springs and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Maribeth Bisienere.

“This one-of-a-kind experience is sure to be enjoyed by basketball and Disney fans of all ages who visit Disney Springs from around the world," recently said by Sal LaRocca, NBA President of Global Partnerships. 

Stay tuned for more updates in the future on The NBA Experience coming to Disney Springs' West Side Summer 2019.

Source: Disney Parks Blog