Terralina Crafted Italian will be the name of the new restaurant coming to Disney Springs early next year to replace Portobello.
Terralina will be owned and operated by the Levy Restaurant Group, the same company that owns and operates Paddlefish.
According to the Disney Parks Blog, the restaurant is expected to transport guests to “la dolce vita,” (the sweet life) essence of the spectacular Lake District of Northern Italy.
Alison Weber, Chief Creative Officer for Levy, gave details of the backstory. “The story here is of a first-generation Italian family, from the Lake District, who built a home in Disney Springs, expanding it over the years to welcome more friends and neighbors to enjoy their hospitality, and, of course, food! At Terralina Crafted Italian, every detail supports the philosophy that ‘life is meant to be savored through the simplest of pleasures.’ The table is even set that way … ready for good conversations, storytelling and moments to be enjoyed.”
The building will feature an open rotunda that welcomes guests with a rustic stone fireplace, a new outdoor patio with a veranda bar that spills out into the Disney Springs promenade, and a two-story glass conservatory that showcases stunning views of Lake Buena Vista. The restaurant will have a wood-burning oven and open display kitchen.
James Beard-Award Winning Chef Tony Mantuano will lead menu development. We’ll bring you more menu details as we get them!
Star Wars – Secrets of the Empire opened today at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World, and we of course were there as early as possible to check it out.
In case you aren’t familiar with what this experience is, here’s a recap of what we knew going in:
Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire transports guests deep into the Star Wars universe, walking freely and untethered throughout the multisensory experience with friends and family. In groups of four, teams go undercover as stormtroopers to capture Imperial intelligence vital to the budding rebellion’s survival.
In basic, non-PR language, this is a very advanced virtual realty (VR) experience with characters from Rogue One present.
The lobby of Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire, where guests can check-in or buy tickets.
How was it? In short, amazing. I legitimately experienced that “wow” moment that I had felt visiting some of the most impressive theme park attractions my first time, all throughout the 13 minutes we spent running around this virtual playground. Secrets of the Empire is a reason to visit Disney Springs if you don’t already have one, especially if you are a Star wars fans. Even if you aren’t the biggest Star Wars nerd, the technology and experience is still enough of a novelty that I think just about anyone could have a good time with it. If you didn’t believe VR was the wave of the future before seeing this, you will after.
I have done other VR experiences over the last few years, and this was better in every way. The helmet and the vest were far more comfortable than any other I have ever worn (even over eyeglasses), everything worked fairly well, and the experience was seamless.
After a short preview and set-up following check in, guests are equipped with the VR equipment they will need to wear. The vest and helmet (seen above) weigh somewhere between 10-15 pounds, which could be a lot of some guests with physical restrictions, but most guests will be able to comfortable get through the 13 minutes of the VR portion of the experience without much discomfort. Guests who have done other VR experiences and have been made a little nauseous by those stated that Secrets of the Empire left them with no weird feeling afterwards.
Participants must be 10 years or older and over 48 inches in height to participate. Wheelchair access is available via transfer, and all guests sign a liability waiver as you might have guessed. Photography, videography, and recording of any kind is not allowed inside of the attraction, as you might have guessed since you are strapped to a bunch of VR equipment and wearing a headset. From check-in to exit, it should take you around 30 minutes to complete your time inside of Secrets of the Empire. In order to go through, guests will have to leave some belongings that could be in the way of the experience behind.
Guests are sent through in groups of four, so if you have more than 4 people in your party, you will be broken up, and as you might guess, you will be paired with other guests if you don’t have a full party size. Some may find this challenging as getting through the experience does require a lot of communication between teammates carrying out the mission.
The set-up inside the experience is so that every wall and item you see with the headset on (that is within reach) is really there for you to reach out and touch. Even the droids in the room with you are physically there. This makes the experience feel as real as possible, unlike VR experiences you can have in your own home. The graphics inside the game are stunning, making it feel like you are actually living a Star Wars movie thanks to the work of ILM, and the presence of actual actors from Rogue One makes the experience all the more authentic. Much like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge promises, you are living your own Star Wars adventure here, with real consequences based on choices you make while playing through the many scenes of Secrets of the Empire.
All of this is complemented by fantastic elemental effects, such as changes in temperature, smells, air blasts, rumbling floors, and more. I hate to use the Disney-PR buzz word, but it is truly immersive. If you love to smell Rome burning in Spaceship Earth at Epcot, you’re going to love a lot of the stuff they have going on in here.
Oh, and you get to pick up blasters and shoot stormtroopers, so who wouldn’t love that? You’ll feel the gun recoil and do other things as well as you go through different portions of the story. It’s fairly cool and will allow many a fan to live out some childhood dreams of being a Rebel hero. Now we just need a chance to play the bad guys…
The story guests are thrown into is fun and easy to understand, and even has a payoff for the more hardcore of Star Wars fans towards the end. It is tremendous fan service, but accessible for everyone. There’s also a reason to come back and do this again since, as we stated above, different actions have different consequences and cause different events to take place in the attraction.
Again, I can not stress how enjoyable our experience was, from myself as a Star Wars fan, to others in my party who I would claim are more casual fans, everyone had a fantastic time and was simply blow away by the technology at play here. Get tickets now to make sure you get to see this the next time you are at Disney Springs.
Star Wars – Secrets of the Empire is now open at Disney Springs, located just behind the Once Upon A Toy store, next door to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in the Marketplace section. Tickets are $30 per person and appointments are available in 15 minute intervals (and highly recommended since this is sold out for the next few weeks already. You can find ticket information and more on Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire now at www.thevoid.com.
The experience will also open in Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort on January 5, 2018.
The LittleMissMatched store at Disney Springs will close at the end of the day on December 31st, 2017.
The store is one of the few in the Marketplace section of Disney Springs that is not owned-and-operated by Disney, so it has always been a bit of a mystery as to why it was placed there. Regardless, it will close at the end of the year to make way for a yet-to-be-named replacement. There has been no word as of yet if the store will relocate to another part of Disney Springs.
If you want a reservation at a Disney-owned restaurant at Walt Disney World, you currently have to call 407-WDW-DINE or use the Disney website/mobile application to do so, but in the near future, it appears guests may be able to use OpenTable.
OpenTable allows people to make reservations for restaurants just about anywhere, in fact, several 3rd-party restaurants at Disney Springs use the service as well as the DisneyWorld.com system. Disney would add the restaurants to OpenTable as well in hopes of gaining more attention with diners in the Orlando area, as the app showcases nearby restaurants when you open it.
OpenTable does have the capability of requiring a credit card hold for restaurants, so the same reservation parameters that currently apply at Disney restaurants would still be in place if this happens.
There is no set time frame for this service to roll out, but it should be fairly soon if it clears all of the appropriate channels.
Disney and Cirque du Soleil have announced that the new show replacing La Nouba at Disney Springs will be themed to Disney Animation.
Here is the official description:
“This original show will be created by Cirque du Soleil and will pay homage to Disney’s rich history of animation, with a vivid story told in a way that only Cirque du Soleil can deliver. Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, elaborated, sharing “We are incredibly inspired by Disney’s immense creative universe. We are convinced that bringing Disney’s magic to life on stage will touch audiences and bring them back to their childhood.”
Disney and Cirque have yet to announce an opening date for the new show. La Nouba ends December 31st 2017 at Disney Springs.
UPDATE: These are now available on ShopDisney.com as well!
Guests at the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts can now pick up another Disney Parks exclusive POP Vinyl figure from Funko…
Inspired by the golden statue of the Collector outside of his fortress at Disney California Adventure’s Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission Breakout, the figure was apparently released in September, but is now available again.
The figure can be found at the exit of the attraction and retails for $19.99.
Surprisingly enough, guests at Walt Disney World can find the figure as well at select locations at Disney Springs.
Guests can now find D-Tech on Demand phone cases for the iPhone X at Walt Disney World. We found the following at the Marketplace Co-Op at Disney Springs. The cases cost $29.99, $34.99 if a guest chooses to have them personalized.
iPhone X now shows up as an option in the kiosks. Sadly, not a ton of designs are online yet, but it shouldn’t be long until they are just as plentiful as all of the others. Here’s a look at everything available as of this evening:
More designs should be on the way soon. D-Tech on Demand at the Magic Kingdom is the only other locations with the iPhone X cases currently.
Disney has shared more details on The Edison, a lavish industrial Gothic-style destination for fine food, handcrafted cocktails and exciting nightlife that will be a future Disney Springs destination. More recently, three additional food and beverages venues – Maria & Enzo’s, Enzo’s Hideaway and Pizza Ponte – were added to the list of tenants inside of the complex.
The Edison will be a landmark restaurant, bar and lounge that is sure to become a go-to hotspot for Central Florida nightlife. The building, which originally served as the power plant for the growing town of Disney Springs, showcases remnants from its past life: keep an eye out for the Boiler Bar, with its dizzying electrical display panels, and the adjacent boilers, which are still classic centerpieces of any power plant. The décor includes a one-of-a-kind mural romanticizing the golden age of innovation and a larger-than-life, working clock tower that greets guests upon arrival.
By day, The Edison will welcome families with an amazing lunch menu. In the early evening, everyone is invited to dine, but as night sets in (around 10:00 p.m.), the location transforms to an adults-only scene for guests ages 21 and up, with a groundbreaking beverage menu, delectable dining and entertainment (including gravity-defying aerialists) unlike anything else at Disney Springs. Here, you’re invited to escape the everyday and experience the era of invention and imagination.
Adjacent to The Edison is a trifecta of Italian venues, located in what was once the Disney Springs Air Terminal, a majestic Art Deco structure that welcomed guests from across the globe to a world of sun, beauty and legendary hospitality. As the story goes, the air terminal was popular into the early 1930s, but travelers diminished as the years brought on more modern flying alternatives and larger destinations. Upon its closure, the building was purchased by an Italian immigrant couple named Maria & Enzo; the duo had previously run the small bakery in the terminal’s lobby.
Inspired by their shared love of food and travel, they opened Pizza Ponte with Sicilian-style pizza by the slice, made-to-order sandwiches and handmade Italian pastries. The success of this venue allowed Maria and Enzo to fulfill their ultimate dream to restore and transform the long-forgotten terminal to its former glory, giving it new life as a grand restaurant showcasing the flavors of Southern Italy.
Named after its founders, Maria & Enzo’s features vaulted ceilings, a geographically correct mural depicting the destinations once serviced by the terminal (New York, Daytona Beach, New Orleans and Cuba among them), and an impressive globe chandelier. (Insider Tip: Look closely and you can see that Disney-inspired locations are called out, including a marker that denotes Marceline, Missouri – the hometown of Walt Disney.) The main dining room pays homage to the original departure lounge while nearby, a more intimate dining room highlights its history as the first-class lounge with service standards that are second to none.
Steps away, the unexpected Enzo’s Hideaway offers a glimpse into another lounge – this one, a secret space that first served as a bootlegger’s hideout. A legendary speakeasy that was discovered by Enzo after he purchased the terminal, this network of tunnels was the center of the Springs’ social life during the “dry years” of prohibition. Look no further than the graffiti wall and you can begin to imagine the storied nightlife that took place here.
While we have seen a few pieces of concept art and know that the NBA Experience at Disney Springs is coming Summer 2019, we know very little about what will be inside the West Side establishment when it opens. Well, at least we didn’t until now…
For the ticketed experience inside, exhibits will be distributed over 2 very tall floors, so many of the activities will be quite large and surround a “Center Court” atrium area. The “Center Court” area in the middle is reminiscent of the circular Ventureport entry area that was in DisneyQuest, so it is somewhat surprising that they bulldozed the building rather than reuse it. Perhaps at one point they wanted to reuse the DisneyQuest building, but it just didn’t completely work out for their needs?
On the first floor, guests enter through the ticketing area, go through a entry tunnel, and walk out on to Center Court. Exhibits downstairs will include the Locker Room, Hall of Champions, Hoop Sciences, and a pair of large VR Theaters. The retail shop and dining venue are also on the ground floor, but do not require tickets. As you can see in the art above, the retail shop is to the left and the dining venue the right, with the entrance to the exhibits through the center.
The second floor will feature Pop-A-Shot, Dream Dunk, Big Shot, You Make the Call, the Dream Court. One of these experiences is rumored to utilize the simulators from Cyberspace Mountain, as they were maintained and removed from DisneyQuest with labels marking them as the property of the NBA Experience.
While we still don’t know for sure what all of these exhibits are (although some seem easy to figure out based on their names), we at least now have a list of things there will be to do inside this NBA-themed interactive playground come 2019.
Disney Springs will be celebrating its second Black Friday this year from November 24-26 with the release of special limited items, including an all black MagicBand, and some accessories themed to Disney Parks attractions.
Starting with the Cast Costume Collection, Disney Parks Costuming has designed a limited-release collection of bags that have been crafted using fabric from authentic cast costumes from attractions and restaurants like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, Haunted Mansion, and The Great Movie Ride. Available options for purchase include totes, zip cases, and cosmetic cases. The products will be available at Cherry Tree Lane at Marketplace Co-Op and will release during the following schedule: November 24, 2017 – The Great Movie Ride and Tower of Terror, November 25, 2017 – Haunted Mansion, November 26, 2017 – Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto (purchase limits will apply).
The solid black MagicBand will finally be getting a release starting on November 24. Additionally, a limited-edition Disney Springs Holiday MagicBand will also be available while supplies last. Both MagicBands will be available at World of Disney store, and the solid black MagicBand will eventually roll out to other stores across property following Black Friday.
Starting on November 24 at 8am at Cherry Tree Lane inside the Marketplace Co-Op a new dress featuring the Woodland Winter Holiday design will become available, as well as a collection of Dooney & Bourke bags featuring the Woodland Winter Holiday design.
Pandora will be selling their new Mickey & Minnie Holiday Gift Set at the newly opened Happily Ever After Jewelry Co. & Accessories in Town Center, starting on November 25. Also available at the Jewelry Co. & Accessories store is the Dooney & Bourke “Disney Dogs” collection, which will be available on November 26.
A collection of limited-edition pins will be available at Disney’s Pin Traders. Here is a list of the pins along with their release dates:
Walt Disney World Resort Limited Edition Pin; Annual Passholder Pin and Ornament Set (11-24-17)
Lastly, World of Disney store will have a Black Friday “weekend only” sale that is as follows:
Select Kids T-Shirts: $15 each when you purchase two
Select Disney Mugs: $15 each when you purchase two
Classic Princess Dolls: $15 each when you purchase two
Aside from new merchandise, tons of stores will be offering unique discounts throughout the weekend. Here is the complete list, as provided by the Disney Parks Blog:
Alex and Ani – 20% off total purchase, plus debut of limited-edition snowflake bangle (offer valid Nov. 22 – Nov. 27, 2017)
Art of Shaving – 40% off all shaving and skin care kits (offer valid Nov. 24, 2017)
Chapel Hats – Buy one hat, get one 50% off (exclusions apply; offer valid Nov. 23 – Nov. 25, 2017)
Edward Beiner – Buy one pair of glasses, get a second pair at 30% off
Enjoy Your Face – Stop by this kiosk between 8:00 a.m. and noon and receive $2 off one face painting. Weather permitting, at Disney Springs location only. Offer valid Nov. 24, 2017.
havaianas – Free beach towel with purchase of $40 or more
Johnston & Murphy – multiple promotions including 40% off select men’s sweaters; buy one, get one free on select men’s scarves; $100 off leather briefcases and backpacks and more (see store for full details)
Kiehl’s Since 1851 – $20 off purchases of $65 or more (exclusions apply, see store for full details)
LACOSTE – Save 40% off entire store (exclusions apply)
La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil – All seats, except Golden Circle, are $39 each when tickets are purchased at the Box Office on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. (Up to 6 tickets per guest at the Black Friday rate, valid for shows Nov. 24, 2017 through Dec. 16, 2017.)
The LEGO Store – Get a complimentary nutcracker LEGO set with any purchase of $99 or ore, plus special doorbuster items
Levi’s – 40% off entire purchase (see store for full details)
Lilly Pulitzer – exclusive “Colorful Weekend” gift with purchase with $75 and $150 spends
Origins – Pick up the Origins Super Stars set for $70 ($170 value) or the Origins Superstar Minis (a collection of best-selling products) for $25 ($90 value). (Origins Superstar Minis offer only valid Nov. 23-24, 2017).
PANDORA Jewelry – 20% off gift sets (Nov. 24, 2017 only); buy two full-priced items, get one free (see store for full details)
Pele Soccer – Save 50% off select jerseys and apparel
SHORE – Save 20-50% off select items and enjoy other in-store promotions (see store for full details)
Sperry – Doorbusters starting at $24.99 on Nov. 24, 2017, plus 30% to 50% off select styles all weekend
Sugarboo & Co. – Doorbusters from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., plus 25% to 40% off select items in store (exclusions apply)
Superdry – 30% off entire store (exclusions apply)
UGG – Save 30% off select women’s, men’s and kid’s styles
UNIQLO – in-store games and sweepstakes opportunities, including the chance to win a trip to Tokyo
UNOde50 – Save 30% off all styles of men’s and women’s handcrafted jewelry (offer valid Nov. 24 to Nov. 27, 2017)
Vera Bradley – Save 50% off select patterns and styles and 30% off top gifts for the season!
Plus, Grand Totes are only $44 (MSRP $88) (Exclusions and limitations may apply. See a store associate for details.)
Plus Many More!
(Unless otherwise noted, all offers are valid Nov. 24 – Nov. 26, 2017, while supplies last.)
