Josh Siegel’s 12/15/11 Epcot Photo Report

WDWNT on December 17, 2011

WDWNT Reporter Josh Siegel visited Epcot last night and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:

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The Germany train village is decorated for the holidays

Candlelight Processional

Santa’s Village at the American Adventure

Plenty of holiday merchandise available

Precious Moments Disney dolls

More Precious Moments

You can build your own Disney Christmas village with these pieces

Decorations at the American Adventure

Hanukkah display

How to make one large gingerbread house

Katsura Grill at the Japan pavilion is now open

It looks nice after the long remodel

A look at the menu

Epcot Christmas tree

New directional signage is up around Future World

The signage is either blue or green, again pointing to the eventual renaming of Future World East and West as Blue/Green that we have been talking about for a few years

Topiary display near Innoventions

A booth on the walkway between Future World and World Showcase behind walls

Stage set for Joyful!

The tip board still works and is decorated for the holidays!

The Stitch topiary lights up at night

Lilo and Stitch signed the back

Bambi

Thumper and Flower

If you can’t have real snow…

Sayonara Yakitori House, Konnichiwa Katsura Grill

WDWNT on December 6, 2011

From Pam Brandon on the Disney Parks Blog:

Just in time for the busy winter holidays, Katsura Grill at the Japan Pavilion in Epcot World Showcase is open – a beautiful space that replaces the former Yakitori House. The new exterior is inspired by the strolling gardens at the historic Katsura Imperial Villa outside Kyoto, Japan, established in the 1600s and one of Japan’s cultural treasures.

It’s a nice respite on World Showcase Promenade, with quick-service dishes from sushi to Japanese curry, teriyaki and udon noodles – no big changes from the old menu (but they did add edamame, a favorite lo-cal, high-protein snack) and tweaked a few of the old favorites. Our new favorite addition is Okonomiyaki, a traditional Japanese pancake (sometimes described as a pizza) topped with veggies and a tangy sauce – crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Also new is a crispy, panko-breaded chicken sandwich, and a cold ramen noodle dish with shredded crab stick in a sweet soy dressing.

Sip a Kirin beer, plum wine or hot or cold sake and enjoy the gardens!