food IS a theme park
There is so much happening at Disneyland Resort!
Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland
The original Disney park is turning 70 this year, there are new shows and characters coming, and now, even Downtown Disney is getting in on the fun! Disney just announced several new restaurants coming to the shopping and dining district, so let’s check them out.
You truly can’t go wrong with a classic sandwich.
Earl of Sandwich
Sandwich lovers typically flock to Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney (Disneyland) and Disney Springs (Disney World) for a bite of classic, old-fashioned deliciousness. Disneyland guests were saddened, though, when Earl of Sandwich closed indefinitely in Downtown Disney in January of 2022.
Disneyland’s Downtown Disney District is full of shopping, dining, entertainment, and more.
Downtown Disney
We recently shared that a Downtown Disney restaurant — Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen — would be closing for refurbishment. And now, it looks like another Downtown Disney dining location has closed — but this time it’s for good.
With chillier temperatures this season, nothing warms you up quite like hot food.
Ralph Brennan’s
And when we say hot we mean both temperature AND spice level. Check out the new dish coming to a Downtown Disney restaurant!
Disneyland is going through a lot of changes right now, including a complete makeover of Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland Park. But this area isn’t the only one that’ll see some major updates in the near future.
©Disney
Disney has announced a few BIG changes and additions coming to Downtown Disney, the shopping and dining district near Disneyland. There will be new restaurants, innovative spaces, and more. Take a look at the concept art and check out the brand new restaurants here! [Read more…]
You know the old saying, “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!“? Well, we’re not sure whose idea it was to scream about ice cream — seems a little extreme, doesn’t it? Of course, we, too are pretty passionate about ice cream, especially Salt & Straw ice cream. Now, it’s our turn to talk (in an appropriate volume) about the latest ice cream flavors to arrive in Downtown Disney.
Salt & Straw
Before we get into it, for our friends on the east coast, we’ve got good news! Salt & Straw is opening a location in Disney Springs, and it’s coming very soon! But while we wait for Disney Springs to get it together, let’s check out the seasonal flavors at Salt & Straw in Disneyland.
Downtown Disney has been continuing its slow and steady phased reopening with the addition of Buena Vista Street reopening for shopping and dining last week. With Orange County currently in the most restrictive reopening tier, only outdoor dining is permitted at this time.
UVA Bar
That said, outdoor dining is still available, and another restaurant in the Downtown Disney District will be reopening its doors TODAY for guests!
National Pizza Day is coming up on Sunday, February 9th and we’re already planning out how we’re going to eat our weight in pizza.
Neapolitan Pizza
And a perfect place to do just that is at Naples Ristorante e Bar in Downtown Disney.
Yes! We are thinking about Christmas in July! The July 31 deadline for purchasing pre-sale tickets for Breakfast with Santa at Disneyland’s Downtown Disney Catal Restaurant this December is quickly approaching!
Breakfast with Santa at Catal Restaurant
Breakfast with Santa includes joining Santa and his merry band of elves for a fun-filled family event.
Alrighty Guys, it is time. We are heading over to Walt Disney World’s Downtown Disney to travel back 200 million years for dinner.
We’ve gotta do T-Rex again.
This super-themed-to-the-max restaurant is the sister of Rainforest Cafe. If you’ve been to one, you have an idea for the feel of the other (even if the themeing is different).
I’ll confess I wasn’t looking forward to this Advance Dining Reservation with great anticipation. But every restaurant at Disney deserves a little love from me, right? 😉 After all, it’s my job. So on a recent visit, over I went to check out if my experience would be better, worse, or the same as my previous visit.
Besides, there’s a Cotton-tini involved this time! More on that just around the corner. Let’s go!
As you probably expect, there’s a whole lot going on when you walk inside T-Rex. The outside view of rock outcroppings and dinosaurs give you an idea of what you’re in for.
Outside View of T-Rex
Once your eyes adjust, you’ll notice that there are four major themed areas inside the space. The bar is themed to look like an Undersea Scene, complete with a giant, moving octopus. (What?! It’s true!) You’ll see some jellyfish floating above you too.
Under the Pre-Historic Sea
You may recall this area experienced a little drama last year, when one of the cylindrical aquariums started gushing water right in the middle of meal service! Fortunately, fish and diners alike were all fine. (See the video here.)
The floors throughout the restaurant are themed as well. Check out the watery undercarriage of the Undersea Scene. These are actually tiles printed like water.
Watery tiled floor
The themeing throughout the restaurant does vary a bit. A lot actually. Beyond the sea, you have a verdant Forest Area, where you can sit in the belly of a Triceratops if you’d like. (I have asked how I can get this table. I want to sit in that Triceratops. If any of you are willing to join me on a Triceratops challenge, let me know and we’ll go and wait for this table some night!
The Triceratops Booth!
And then, there’s the Meteor Shower Room. Somehow you are simultaneously on Earth and viewing Earth. (Don’t think about it too hard.) You’ll find the star of the show here — T-Rex himself.
T-Rex! Ruuuuunnnnn!!!
Be forewarned — this room is very, very loud at regular intervals. Like every 10 minutes, when meteor showers rain down from the heavens.
Did I mention that it’s loud??
The Universe on the Ceiling
Seating near the animatronic dinosaurs brings your experience to life. And for educational value, they have plaques scattered throughout the scenes that tell a little about the creatures.
Seating by the Dinosaurs
In the Meteor Shower Room, you’ll also find the [Read more…]
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