Disney update: New Orlando restaurants and new Anaheim refurbs

January 5, 2018, 3:36 PM · Hello from sunny southern California, where the temperature is heading into the upper 70s today. Yes, Orlando, we are hogging your heat. (The temperature reached the upper 40s in Anchorage, Alaska this week, so it's not just LA — most of the west coast is getting more warmth than usual while the east coast freezes.)

What else is news today? In Orlando, Walt Disney World officially opened three new restaurants in Disney Springs: Maria & Enzo's Ristorante, an Italian trattoria "set in the once-abandoned Disney Springs airline terminal from the 1930s" (back story!), and its companion eateries, the fast-casual Pizza Ponte pizzeria and Enzo's Hideaway Tunnel Bar, which "pours Prohibition-era cocktails and serves a casual menu of hearty Roman dishes," according to Disney's press release.

Pizza is $7 a slice at Pizza Ponte, with sandwiches going for $9-11. Entrees run between $22-39 at the table-service Maria & Enzo's. The three restaurants are operated by Patina Restaurant Group, which also runs Via Napoli, Tutta Italia, Morimoto Asia and the also-just-opened The Edison at Walt Disney World and Naples, Napolini, Catal, Uva Bar, and Tortilla Jo's at Disneyland.

Back on the west coast, Disneyland also announced today that Dumbo is going down for refurbishment on January 8, to install a new queue and shade structure. On the same day, the park will start replacing the track for the horse-drawn streetcars on Main Street USA, which will include new brickwork for the street. (Limited access on Main Street also means no parades and no fireworks until the work is finished.)

Will Disneyland get a complete repaving of Main Street with bricks, a la Hong Kong? Or just some trim around the tracks? Stay tuned and we will find out.

Main Street at Hong Kong Disneyland

Monday is the start of refurbishment season at the Disneyland Resort, as that's the day that many Paradise Pier locations at Disney California Adventure close for that land's transformation into Pixar Pier. It's also the day that the Southern California Select annual passholders come off their holiday blockout, so be prepared for a mild rush of locals replacing the holiday visitors.

Replies (11)

January 5, 2018 at 4:10 PM · While the Some of the US freezes the south of Australia swelters.Melbourne has an expected top tomorrow between 43-46 degrees Celsius (which is like 110-115 F). Sorry to say Orlando, we've got your heat. But you can have it back whenever you want it.
January 5, 2018 at 5:02 PM · Yes please ... as much heat and sunshine that you can spare .. :)
Looks nice in Sydney too .... just watching your boys giving England another lesson in how to play cricket ... !!!
January 6, 2018 at 1:38 AM · We'll see what we can do! Will be hot at the SCG tomorrow. I think we'll bat long just so we don't have to field in the heat. Try to bat 2 sessions tomorrow, and have a day and a session to knock them over. In fairness to the poms, these decks have all really suited us. Still always love winning an ashes series! Sorry Robert, Theme Parks!! Something something Theme Parks!
January 6, 2018 at 3:36 AM · I just think it's interesting to read someone write a compete paragraph in English and have absolutely no idea what they actually said! ;+) This shows just how international TPI is. Thanks, Dan, and I hope your cricket stuff goes..uh...like really neat....never mind...;+)
January 6, 2018 at 6:37 AM · James ... there’s no greater rivalry in cricket than the Aus vrs England ashes series. Held every couple of years, basically home and away. The Aussie boys have done us over this time, but in a couple of years it’ll be a different story on home soil. Congrats to your team Dan on a good series win, but I’ll take the ODI as a consolation.... :)
Oh yes ... theme parks .... had to feel sorry for the tourists last Tuesday ... one of the worst Orlando days I can remember. Cold, windy, wet .... just a horrible day, but I’m sure they were at the parks and enjoying the new restaurants at Disney Springs.
January 6, 2018 at 1:28 PM · Just to inform our North American friends, the ashes is test cricket, which is a best of 5 match series. Each match is two innings per team taking place over 5 days (with most matches running the full 5 days). If all 4 innings aren't finished in the 5 days, then it's a draw - no result altogether.

Some people attend the full 5 days in temperatures over 100f. So for those who consider baseball slow and boring, best avoid...

January 6, 2018 at 3:37 PM · And TPI is officially off the rails.
January 6, 2018 at 5:36 PM · Gee, like THAT'S never happened before ;+)
January 6, 2018 at 9:16 PM · Don’t worry you none cricket fans your are not missing much, 5 days and it’s boring for most of that, just watch some on line and your see people asleep in the crowd, one of the most boring sports you could imagine.
January 6, 2018 at 9:44 PM · Sorry everyone! This one is on me!
January 7, 2018 at 2:20 PM · Actually, Pizza Ponte opened in December. I ate there with my family, it's really great! Authentic italian pizza!

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