Disney Springs Archives - Page 3 of 3

Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail

The holidays at Disney Springs are filled with fun activities, entertainment, and sweet treats…but my favorite holiday experience is the Christmas Tree Trail!

Open from 11 am until 11pm until January 5th, the Christmas Tree Trail gets you in the yuletide spirit as you explore a winter wonderland where snow falls and holiday tunes fill the air.

Make your way through a winding path lined with 23 beautifully decorated Christmas trees inspired by some of your Disney favorites including:

Walt Disney World Theme Parks
Mickey & Minnie Mouse
Beauty & the Beast
Sleeping Beauty
Aladdin
Frozen
The Princess & The Frog
The Little Mermaid
Mulan
Haunted Mansion
Snow White
Pinocchio
Toy Story
Disney Villains
Dumbo
Cinderella
Robin Hood
Star Wars
Peter Pan
Tangled
The Lion King
Mary Poppins
Fantasia

In addition to the trees, you can visit Santa’s Chalet to meet the big guy himself to let him know what’s on your wish list.

Santa's Chalet Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail 2019

You will need to visit the kiosk at the front of the trail, near Earl of Sandwich, or near Santa’s Chalet to get a return time as there is no standard queue.

To be in the queue you will need to give a Cast Member a cell phone number, and the system will send you two text messages – one to say you are in the virtual queue & one when it is your time to go to Santa’s Chalet for your visit.

Do note that once you arrive at the Chalet, all of your party needs to be present and you will still have a 30 minute wait to see Santa.

Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail 2019 Text Messages

My best tip for avoiding a long wait is to arrive at the Christmas Tree Trail about fifteen minutes early to sign up for your virtual spot in the queue.

You can find more information about the holidays in the theme parks by subscribing to our YouTube Channel and following @onthegoinmco on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

WonderFall Flavors at Disney Springs Guide

Disney Springs is once again celebrating the return of Autumn with the WonderFall Flavors at Disney Springs limited-time celebration returning September 20 through November 4, 2019.

The WonderFall Flavors at Disney Springs takes foodies on a journey around the shopping, dining, and experience destination with stops at over 30 participating locations.

From specialty cocktails and ciders to desserts and dishes featuring the popular flavors of the season like pumpkin, squash, apple, cinnamon, and more you are sure to find your favorite (or even new favorite) seasonally-inspired dish.

You can also pick up a WonderFall Flavors at Disney Springs event guide at various locations, but why wait???

The Disney Parks Blog has shared the 2019 Foodie Guide to WonderFall Flavors at Disney Springs!

4R Barbacoa Cantina Food Truck

Squash Blossom Quesadilla – fresh squash blossom, zucchini, tomato, onion, refried beans, Chihuahua cheese, and queso fresco with a side of pico de gallo

Amorette’s Patisserie

Harvest Apple Crépe – with vanilla sauce and toasted pecans
Pumpkin Crème Brûlée – pumpkin custard with brûléed sugar, candied pecans, and a pumpkin sable cookie garnished with Amorette’s chocolate

AristoCrepes

Poison Apple Cocktail – caramel apple frozen cocktail featuring apple whisky and creamy caramel served in a poison apple stein

The BOATHOUSE

Apple and Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée – topped with cinnamon whipped cream and sugared wonton chips
Pomegranate Margarita – tequila, lime juice, pomegranate liqueur, agave nectar, and a fresh lime wedge with a salted rim

Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’

Smoked Turkey Sliders – made with white cheddar cheese, spring mix, tomato, and Homecomin’s homemade cran-apple chutney
Brown Sugar Old Fashioned – featuring brown sugar bourbon, simple syrup and bitters with muddled orange and cherries

D-Luxe Burger

Oktoberfest Burger – signature blend beef patty topped with smoked sausage, braised red cabbage, stout cheese sauce, lettuce, tomato, and grilled onion on a Parker House Roll.
Pumpkin Pie Milkshake – made with gelato, caramel sauce, and graham cracker crumbles topped with whipped cream and pumpkin spice

Earl of Sandwich

Holiday Turkey Sandwich – sliced turkey with cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayonnaise on fresh-baked bread

Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC

Caramel Apple Medley – vanilla cake lightly drizzled with caramel, baked apples, and a cinnamon mousse topped with sugar crystals

Enzo’s Hideaway

Roasted Pork Porchetta – made with smoked maple polenta, delicata squash, pomegranate, and garlic gremolata
Smoked Maple Old Fashioned – featuring smoked maple bourbon, cinnamon pear syrup, and chocolate bitters topped with a cinnamon stick and an orange-peel garnish

Frontera Cocina

Chorizo Sopes – two crispy corn masa boats, pork chorizo, roasted butternut squash, cotija cheese, crema, cilantro, and onions.
Horchata Margarita – joven mezal, agua de horchata, coconut liquor, and cinnamon

The Ganachery

Pumpkin Spice Ganache Square – chocolate ganache with pumpkin spice
Chai Tea Ganache Square – chocolate ganache with chai tea
Maple Pecan Bourbon Hot Ganache – topped with a chocolate bacon garnish

House of Blues® Restaurant & Bar

Voodoo Shrimp – sautéed shrimp in a beer reduction sauce served over jalapeno-cheese cornbread
Abita Pecan Ale, Abita Brewing Company

Jaleo by José Andrés

Seared Scallops – with butternut squash, orange, and caramelized pumpkin seeds
Karlita Cocktail – brandy, amontillado, orange, lemon, and orange bitters

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar

Giant Charcuterie Pretzel – featuring an air pirate cargo pretzel, prosciutto, sliced brats, artisan pepperoni, smoked cheddar, black diamond cheddar, pickles, spicy mustard, and beer cheese fondue
Autumn Smash – spiced rum, pear nectar, simple syrup, and a splash of lemon juice topped off with a cinnamon twig

Chicken Saltimbocca from Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante for WonderFall Flavors at Disney Springs 2019

Maria & Enzo’s Ristortante

Chicken Saltimbocca – prosciutto di parma, roasted apple, cipolini onions, and balsamic glazed baby carrots
Pumpkin Vodka Cocktail – mixed with pumpkin purée, apple cider, and a splash of soda water with lemon

Paddlefish

Crispy Catfish – with southern grits, black pepper butter sauce, baby kale, and julienne apple.
Paddlefish Hard Apple – apple juice mixed with bourbon and ginger beer and garnished with a cinnamon stick

Paradiso 37, Taste of the Americas

Autumn Special Flatbread – honey-roasted pears, creamy brie, caramelized walnuts, and fresh rosemary on a delicious crispy crust
Smoky Cinnamon Old Fashioned – made with a s’more roasted cinnamon stick and bourbon

Planet Hollywood

Slow Roasted Chicken Breast – tender slow-cooked all-natural double chicken breast, pan gravy with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and green bean medley
Fall Spirit – cinnamon whiskey blended with fresh lemon juice and honey syrup finished with apple cider

Maple Bourbon Pork Belly from Polite Pig for WonderFall Flavors at Disney Springs 2019

The Polite Pig

Maple Bourbon Pork Belly – pork belly croutons on smashed sweet potatoes with maple whiskey caramel
Apple Cider Whiskey Sour – rye whiskey mixed with apple cider, lemon, brown sugar, and cinnamon

Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant

Braised Pork Shoulder – served with creamed sage cabbage, pickled mustard seeds, red wine jus, and spiced caramelized apple purée
Samhain Sangria – whiskey, sauvignon blanc, cold pressed apple cider, seltzer, and homemade cinnamon syrup with fresh orange, apple and cranberries

Rainforest Café

Roasted Fall Vegetable Tacos – roasted butternut squash with a roasted fall vegetable mix, corn, and black bean salsa garnished with avocado crema, fresh cilantro, and a lime wedge

Splitsville

Grilled Chicken and Apple Flatbread – Maple apple butter, smoked Gouda, and goat cheese topped with crisp diced apples, grilled chicken, red onion, bacon, and cilantro
Spiced Pear Spritzer – fresh pear nectar, ginger liqueur, vodka, lemon juice, and allspice topped with ginger ale and garnished with star anise

Sprinkles

Pumpkin Cupcake – pumpkin cake laced with fragrant ginger, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon topped with sweet cinnamon cream cheese frosting

STK Orlando

STK Beef Lollipops – served with cranberry spice chutney and delicious sweet potato frites
Pecan Harvest Ale from Abita – a nutty-flavored beer brewed with Louisiana roasted pecans

Sunshine Churros

Pumpkin Spice Churros – classic churro with delicious pumpkin spice

T-REX

Mushroom Ravioli – topped with Italian sausage in a butternut squash cream sauce, freshly grated parmesan cheese, and sage
Bourbon and Cider Cocktail – fall cocktail with bourbon, apple and ginger

Terralina Crafted Italian

Apple and Cranberry Bread Pudding – made with cinnamon and cloves
Terralina Cider – featuring cinnamon whiskey, apple liqueur, and sour mix

Vivoli il Gelato

Pumpkin Cannoli – Italian pastry shell filled with sweet cream and pumpkin

Wine Bar George

Ibérico Pork Pluma – made with confit Yukon potatoes and butternut squash purée
Triton, Tempranillo from Toro – full-bodied red wine with ripe plum, black cherries, and earthy notes

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill

Pumpkin Ravioli – made with a brown butter sauce, crushed walnuts, and sage
Drunken Pumpkin – vanilla vodka blended with coffee liqueur and pumpkin purée served in a graham cracker rimmed glass with a touch of nutmeg

Wolfgang Puck Express

Delicious Corn Flake French Toast – with maple syrup and seasonal fruit topping with cinnamon sugar

YeSake

Kabocha Pumpkin Bun – cinnamon-steamed bun filled with a sweet pumpkin cream and cranberries
Pumpkin Spice Boba Tea – made with tea, almond milk boba pearls, and spices (non-alcoholic)
Spiced Kabocha – made with sake, almond milk, pumpkin and cinnamon

In addition to all of these yummy items, you can also enjoy a variety of fall-inspired hard ciders at Dockside Margaritas and outdoor vending carts. And don’t forget to stop by Candy Cauldron and Goofy’s Candy Co. to snack on some fall-inspired treats like candy apples, cookies, cake pops, crispy treats, and more!

For more information on WonderFall Flavors at Disney Springs, restaurant info, full menus, and to make reservations, visit DisneySprings .com or call 407 WDW-DINE (407 939-3463).

Dream Big, Princess Movie Series Returns to AMC this Fall

Dream Big, Princess Movie Series Fall 2019

AMC Movie Theatres have once again partnered with Disney’s Dream Big, Princess program this Fall to bring four beloved Disney princess feature films to the big screen for audiences to enjoy.

Some of these haven’t been shown on the big screen in ages, meaning it might be a first-time viewing for young Disney fans.

While we are still months away from Walt Disney Animation whisking audiences back to the mythical land of Arendelle for the further adventures of Anna and Elsa in FROZEN II, this is a great way to get excited for the new film coming to theaters on November 22nd!

The schedule for the 2019 Dream Big, Princess program will be as follows.

Dream Big, Princess Movie Series AMC Movie Theatres Fall 2019 — Walt Disney Animation Studios

The Little Mermaid: September 6–12

Purchase Advance Tickets

Soon to be made into a live-action feature starring Halle Bailey, THE LITTLE MERMAID follows a restless mermaid who dreams of one day living on the surface. To get there, Ariel trades her greatest gift — her beautiful singing voice — for a pair of legs. Come for the music, including brilliant songs like “Under the Sea,” which won a Best Original Song Oscar in 1989.

Beauty and the Beast: September 13–19

Purchase Advance Tickets

A tale as old as time … and one that always warrants a big-screen viewing. The 1991 animated version translates the classic romance for a contemporary audience, riding on the coattails of some incredible songs, such as “Be Our Guest” as well as the title track.

Tangled: September 20–26

Purchase Advance Tickets

Rapunzel may have let down her hair, but TANGLED did not let down animation audiences looking for a new winner from Walt Disney Animation. Mandy Moore plays the fiery Rapunzel, and she is no damsel in distress. But the true star of TANGLED is the animators who turned Rapunzel’s flowing blonde hair into its own character.

The Princess and the Frog: September 27–October 3

Purchase Advance Tickets

Relatively new compared to the other titles on this list, though PRINCESS has built up a steady fan base over the years, and we expect them to turn out to see this one on the big screen once again. FROG has a distinct New Orleans flavor to it, tapping into the music and cuisine of the Bayou. But it also has star power, with Anika Noni Rose, Keith David and Oprah Winfrey all lending their voices.

Each film in the series will get a one-week run in participating theatres.

It’s worth noting that this will be the animated version of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST — the one that was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars— and that warrants a big-screen revisiting every chance we get.

Advance Purchase tickets for the Dream Big, Princess series at AMC Movie Theatre are available now using the links under each movie title (which, BTW, are NOT affiliate links), and if you are looking to visit the AMC at Disney Springs showings are at 2pm and 6pm at the AMC DINE-IN Disney Springs 24.

Beatrix Restaurant Coming to Disney Springs

Beatrix Restaurant Disney Springs West Side 2020

Disney Springs is quickly becoming a mecca of dining (Did you know that Disney Springs is home to six James Beard Award-Winning, chef-owned dining locations?), and they have announced a new restaurant – Beatrix – will be joining the line-up that in the last year has seen opening of two new restaurants Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill and Jaleo by José Andrés.

Beatrix Restaurant, owned by Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (a Chicago-based restaurant group), will open their first restaurant in Florida at Disney Springs West Side.

Amidst a mid-century setting inspired by Palm Springs in the ‘50s and ‘60s, Beatrix offers a smorgasbord of health-conscious food and beverage options for appetites large and small.

This restaurant, in-house bakery, full-service bar and lounge features a mouthwatering menu with something for everyone—from gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and kids’ selections to coffee, fresh-squeezed juice cocktails, beer and wine.

Need a nosh to go? Head to the onsite market for quick ‘n’ easy treats.

Executive Partner and Divisional President, Marc Jacobs, explains “Beatrix represents the way people are eating today – it’s that mix of health and comfort. Whether grabbing a cup of coffee and your favorite pastry, or having a cocktail, lunch, or dinner with friends, it’s your neighborhood meeting place.”

Beatrix Restaurant at Disney Springs West Side, former spot of Bongos, will be open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, happy hour, dinner, and beyond.

For future updates on Beatrix – as well as City Works Eatery & Pour House, and Ample Hills Creamery, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel and following @onthegoinmco on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Great Irish Hooley Returns to Raglan Road

8^th Annual Great Irish Hooley Music Festival Will Rock Labor Day Weekend at Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant in Disney Springs

Central Florida’s rip-roaring, toe-tapping, high-voltage boutique Irish music festival will serve up a colorful live playlist of traditional Irish, Celt grass, folk, blues and soul August 30-September 2 during the 8^th Great Irish Hooley at Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant in Disney Springs.

There’s no cover charge to join the fun, which begins at 4 p.m. Friday, August 30 and continues into the wee hours of Labor Day, September 2.

Never heard of a “hooley?” It’s an old Gaelic term for a party with music and entertainment with fun for the whole family. The Great Irish Hooley will include Celtic face painting, Hooley-crafted cocktails and beer plus creative new bites by the pub’s inventive culinary team. Raglan Road also will serve the delicious Rollicking Raglan Brunch Saturday, August 31 through Monday, September 2.

This year’s Hooley entertainment headliners include:

Billow Wood – Playing Irish and U.S. music festivals, this four-piece band fuses its unique brand of instrumentation with multi-vocals and harmonies for a blend of Irish and folk music. The band, which released its long-play album, “Can You See Me” – available for streaming and downloading on Spotify and other music sites – will have everyone tapping along to its bass and drums.
Strings & Things – Before returning to Raglan Road this summer, the original Irish folk/trad four-piece band Strings & Things toured in London and throughout Ireland with their own original sound and a variety of crossover songs featured on their first original album, “Turbulence.”
High Time – This fresh new trio from Connemara, Ireland, combines Irish music and an intriguing blend of modern folk influences to produce a rich sound and exciting experience. The band rocks an energetic statement with its instrumental line-up of flute, whistles, harp, bodhran, guitar and vocals – as well as some Irish dance steps thrown in!
TradGad — Three talented musicians from Kerry, Dublin, Colin Foley (guitar, vocals); Fionn Morrison (Uilleann pipes, whistles); and Ciara Ni Bhrian (guitar, fiddle, mandolin, Uilleann pipes, tin whistle, banjo and bazouki, charm Raglan Road audiences with their vibrant performances.
Maca – Two Irish sister-musician-songwriters dubbed “Ireland’s next big thing” are rocking Raglan Road Pub stages with their extraordinary talent. Saoise Carty (guitar,vocals) and Naoise Carty (fiddle, vocals) are from Wexford, Ireland.
The Rolling Wave – Stephen & Abby are one of the finest traditional Irish music duos around. These accomplished, energetic musicians work their crowd for some lively audience participation.
Atlantic Bridge – These accomplished musicians blend their rich musical backgrounds to create a fresh, exciting mix of country, folk and Irish trad music.

Raglan Road Great Irish Hooley 2019 Raglan Road Bar Disney Springs Walt Disney World

The Raglan Road Irish Dancers — Plucked from the cast and stages of the world’s greatest Irish dance shows, the Raglan Road Irish Dancers perform throughout the Great Irish Hooley. You can even learn some traditional Irish dance steps – no experience necessary!

Throughout the Hooley, guests can step up to one of Raglan Road’s 130-year-old imported-from-Ireland bars or grab a table for authentic contemporary Irish fare.

In May 2019, Raglan Road received OpenTable honors as one of the top 100 restaurants in America with “all the ingredients for the perfect big night out – upbeat energy innovative cocktails . . . and outstanding food.” A TripAdvisor Hall of Fame honoree and The Daily Meal’s 2018 “Best Irish Pub” in Florida, Raglan Road is known for its beer-battered fish and chips, Shepherd’s pie with a contemporary twist, delectable seafood and desserts, plus gluten-free entrees.

Raglan Road Disney Springs Mighty St Patricks Day Festival Great Irish Hooley Raglan Road Disney Springs 2016

The festival will run from Friday afternoon at 4 pm through the wee hours of Labor Day (actually 1 a.m. Tuesday).

Check out raglanroad.com and join us for the fun!

The complete entertainment schedule is at Great Irish Hooley 2019 .

Raglan Road Great Irish Hooley 2019 Rhythms of Raglan Road Disney Springs Walt Disney World

Owned and operated by Irish partners John Cooke and Paul Nolan, Raglan Road features traditional Irish dishes and new creations with a Celtic twist.

The restaurant’s warm interior of aged walnut and mahogany woods from old Irish bars and churches was built in Ireland and shipped to Orlando.

Live entertainment nightly includes a suite of shows featuring Irish bands and dancers. Guests also can enjoy shows beginning at noon during the weekend Rollicking Raglan Brunch. Lunch is served 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Dinner 3-11 p.m.; Bar menu 11 p.m.-late; Saturday and Sunday Rollicking Raglan Brunch is served from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant is located at Disney Springs in the Walt Disney World Resort, 1640 E. Buena Vista Dr., Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Visit www.raglanroad.com or call 407/938-0300.

Flavors of Florida at Disney Springs

This summer you can experience the Flavors of Florida on a ‘Foodie Adventure’ across Disney Springs with a selection of perfectly paired Floridian-inspired plates, cocktails, and brews at 20 different locations throughout the the shopping and entertainment district.

Let’s take a look at what you can find at each location around Disney Springs!

Foodie Guide to Disney Springs Flavors of Florida 2019

Flavors of Florida Foodie Guide 2019

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar

Fountain of Youth Chicken Wings – Chicken wings served with St Augustine Datil Pepper Sauce
Florida Rain – Orange vodka, gin, coconut rum, blue curaçao, and sour mix

D-Luxe Burger

Southern Burger – Signature beef blend patty topped with a fried green tomato, pimento cheese, lettuce, grilled onion, and bacon
Orange Crème Milkshake – Vanilla gelato blended with zesty orange flavors and topped with whipped cream

Amorette’s Patisserie

Blood Orange Mousse – Lemon chiffon cake with grapefruit gelée

The Ganachery

Disney Springs Dark Chocolate Bar – Dark chocolate bar with orange
Florida Orange Ganache Square – Dark chocolate blended with Florida orange juice and orange zest
Key Lime Ganache Pop – White chocolate blended with Key lime juice and fresh lime zest covered with dark chocolate

Conch Fritters from Rainforest Café for Disney Springs Flavors of Florida — *Photo: Disney Parks Blog*

Rainforest Cafe

Conch Fritters – Conch fritters served on a bed of tropical slaw with Key lime tartar sauce
Funky Buddha Floridian Hefeweizen

Wine Bar George and The Basket at Wine Bar George

Frozcato Cookie Sandwich – Frozen pineapple frozcato sandwiched between two house-made sugar cookies
Frozcato – Moscato, vodka, and Dole Whip Pineapple

Smoked Prime Rib Slider and Florida Mango Frosé from Disney Springs Flavors of Florida — *Photo: Disney Parks Blog*

Polite Pig

Smoked Prime Rib Slider – Prime rib served with a citrus aïoli and a green papaya horseradish slaw
Florida Mango Frosé – Fresh mango purée, sparkling rosé, and citrus

House of Blues – The Smokehouse

Key Lime Pie – Key lime pie with graham cracker crust and toasted coconut
Sandbar Sunday Islamorada Beer Company American Pale Wheat Ale

Splitsville

Tuna Poke Tower – Seared ahi tuna, spicy crab mix, diced Florida avocado, and Asian slaw stacked and served with crispy wonton chips
Strawberry Sake Spritzer – Local strawberries, lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, and rosé-infused sake garnished with a whole strawberry and mint

YeSake

Fresh Tuna Tekka Don – Fresh, customizable poke bowl featuring sushi-grade tuna on a bed steamed rice topped with avocado, cucumber, seaweed salad, tempura crunch, and a zesty house-made yuzu aïoli
Violet Sake Slushie – Japanese sake, prickly pear, and lime topped with konpeito candy
Frozen Beer Shandy – Kirin draft beer with fresh-squeezed orange juice topped with frozen Kirin foam

T-REX

Boom Boom Alligator Tacos – Flour tortillas, fried alligator, and tropical fruit slaw topped with micro cilantro and spicy garlic sauce
Sailfish Brewing Co. Tag & Release Amber
The Ice Age – Rum, blue curaçao, piña colada purée, and orange juice

Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’

Key West Shrimp Cocktail – Seasoned shrimp hand tossed with avocado, mango, cucumber, and house-made cocktail sauce and served with buttermilk crackers
Blood Orange Madras – Blood orange moonshine, freshly muddled strawberries, pineapple purée, and cranberry juice

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill

Local Buratta – Buratta made in Pompeo Beach, Florida served with prosciutto, arugula, fresh peaches, and basil pesto
Cigar City Jai Alai IPA

Paddlefish

Crab Ceviche – Blue crab, avocado, bell pepper, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime served with tortilla chips
Key Lime Wheat Ale

The BOATHOUSE

Steamed Peel and Eat Florida Shrimp – Florida shrimp dusted with Boathouse seasoning and served with drawn butter
Conch Republic Key Lime Wheat Ale

Pizza Ponte

A Zesty Slice of Florida – Pizza bianca with Florida lemon, ricotta cheese, arugula, and black pepper
Guyebera Citra Pale Ale

STK Orlando

Market or Fresh Catch Ceviche – Ceviche with passion fruit, lime, and chilis
La Playita Lager

Paradiso 37, Taste of The Americas

Florida Scorpion Shrimp Paella – Colossal gulf shrimp, mussels, pancetta, peas, crushed red pepper, tomatoes, and savory Key lime butter tossed with Calasparra rice and broiled to perfection
Sunset Margarita – Tequila, cointreau, and fresh-squeezed Florida orange juice

Planet Hollywood

Citrus Kale Salad – Superfood blend of kale, julienned broccoli, slivered Brussels sprouts and cabbage, feta, fresh grapefruit and oranges, cranberries, sunflower seeds, and agave dressing
Key Lime Martini – Vodka, ice cream, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup with a graham cracker crumbs rim

Morimoto Asia

Orange Gator & Waffle Cone – Tempura alligator wok-tossed with a sweet Florida orange sauce and served in a house-made waffle cone
Pulp Friction Grapefruit IPA

The Flavors of Florida event runs daily through September 2, 2019, and to keep track of your progress there is an event guide, available at any participating location as well as the Disney Springs Welcome Center!

For more information and to make reservations, visit the Walt Disney World Resort website or call 407 WDW-DINE (407 939-3463).

NBA Experience Opening Date Announced

NBA Experience Disney Springs West Side Walt Disney World

Guests can personalize their experience at this all new destination, bringing NBA in WNBA moments to life at Disney Springs

The Walt Disney World Resort just announced that the NBA Experience, a brand new destination coming to Disney Springs, will officially open on August 12, 2019.

The NBA experience will give guests a chance to feel like a basketball superstar in one-of-a-kind environment packed with 13 interactive elements and hands on activities across 44,000 feet and two floors.

The design of the NBA Experience at Disney Springs was created in collaboration with the NBA, and will include immersive environments such as an entryway designed to make guests feel as if they’re walking through the players tunnel at an NBA or WNBA arena.

A ticket to the NBA experience grants guess access to every activity, in any order they choose with the ability to return to stations to improve performances or learn even more about the game, players, and the teams they love.

In addition to all of the experiences you can have, there will also be a retail store featuring NBA themed merchandise.

Here are a few of the elements that you will find inside of the NBA experience at Disney Springs:

A Slam Dunk Challenge, where guests can change the height of the standard 10-foot hoop to as low as 7-feet to perform their own superstar moves – captured by burst photography.
An activity that tests shooting skills with spots on a court that light up as guests move from one location to another attempting to sink as many shots as possible in 15 seconds.
A way for guests to see how they stack up to some of the world’s best basketball players by measuring their vertical leap, wingspan, shooting, and dribbling.
Personalization for various activities with guests names and associating me activity with their favorite NBA or WNBA teams.
Real-time technology to aggregate statistics of NBA and WNBA games and players for continuous updates, while leader boards will track top NBA experience performers throughout each day.

A Stroll Down Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail

A stroll down the Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs

This holiday season Disney has added a few new entertainment options to Disney Springs. One of them, the Christmas Tree Trail, debuted this past weekend. When the Disney Parks Blog first made the announcement, I was definitely looking forward to it. The description reminded me of the trees that used decorate the Camp Minnie Mickey area of Animal Kingdom before it was closed to make way for Avatar.

The new Christmas Tree Trail is located at the old Marketplace bus depot and you enter in between Once Upon a Toy and Earl of Sandwich. There’s a DJ set up in the area, along with the large Christmas tree that they light every evening at 6:00PM.

We decided to walk the trail twice, before and after it got dark. During the day, it is much less crowded and easier to see some of the details on the trees. The snow machines run at night and of course the twinkle lights make it a bit more festive. My photos came out much better during the day too so that’s what you’ll mostly see here.

There are 15 trees and each one has a different Disney theme. The decorations went beyond just covering the tree in the characters. Some of them you even had to think about a little bit (like a spoonful of sugar on the Mary Poppins tree). It really reminded me of a hometown festival of trees.

Villians

Mickey & Minnie

Moana

Beauty and the Beast

The Little Mermaid

Cinderella

The Princess and the Frog

Mary Poppins

Frozen

The Jungle Book

Mulan

101 Dalmatians

Tangled

Muppets

Alice in Wonderland

The trail a nice holiday addition that fits with the hometown feel of Disney Springs. I hope they keep the tree trail for future years and even improve upon it. The area has a lot of space to add even more Christmas lights and decorations. Maybe even add some more activities. Have you visited the tree trail? Which tree is your favorite?Follow us for more updates:

DVC Neighborhood News: Excitement Bubbles Up with Disney Springs

Greetings Disney Vacation Club Members!
In case you missed the big news from Disney this month, I want to let you in on the fun. And I do mean fun – ABSOLUTELY HUGE FUN – for you and everyone in the family.

The Walt Disney Company announced the planned multi-year transformation of Downtown Disney® area into Disney Springs, which will bring an incredible array of new shopping, dining and entertainment options to guests of Walt Disney World® Resort, area tourists and central Florida residents.

Even more notable is that this unique family destination, which ultimately will include more than 150 shops, restaurants and other venues, sits directly across a shimmering lake from one of our most charming DisneyVacation Club Resorts, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. That means Members vacationing at the Resort will be perfectly positioned to enjoy the magic of Disney Springs, literally just steps away. In fact, a pedestrian bridge will be added between the Resort and Disney Springs to create an easier and more convenient way for Members and Guests to travel back and forth (in addition to the boat shuttles operating on the lake). Of course, Disney Springs will be a welcome respite for all of our Members visiting the Walt DisneyWorld Resort.

I am especially proud to have been intimately involved in the strategic planning for Disney Springs while leading the team at Downtown Disney. Throughout the process, it was clear to me that Disney Springs would be enormously appealing to Members of Disney Vacation Club and that we had a fantastic opportunity to connect our Members to this great new experience in unique and innovative ways.

Look for more information about Disney Springs inthe summer edition of Disney Files Magazine, scheduled to begin mailing in May, and watch future editions of the magazine, as well as the Disney Vacation Club Facebook page, for updates as new details become available during the multi-year development process. In the meantime, I encourage you to learn more about the plans for this project by clicking here.
I couldn’t be more excited about Disney Springs and how it will make your vacations with us even more memorable. By the way, construction is scheduled to begin next month with new areas opening in phases. The entire Disney Springs project is expected to be completed in 2016.

That’s the big news for now. On behalf of everyone at Disney Vacation Club, thank you for your Membership. We look forward to welcoming you home very soon!

Sincerely,

Ken Potrock
Senior Vice President and General Manager
Disney Vacation Club and Adventures by DisneyFollow us for more updates: