Disney Dish Podcast: Restaurant News, Listener Questions & Survey Results (2018)

Disney Springs Restaurant Updates

• 🍽️ Fura Coachina at Disney Springs has debuted a new menu, with speculation that this is a response to the upcoming opening of Chef Jose Andres' restaurant, Helo.
• 🏗️ The Bongos location at Disney Springs is slated for demolition in late 2019 to make way for a new, established restaurant concept from an owner successful outside of Disney Springs.
• 🗺️ This change, along with the opening of Helo, the NBA Experience, and a new show at Cirque du Soleil, aims to revitalize the west side of Disney Springs, which has lacked a strong anchor.

Restaurant Rating Trends

• 📈 Victoria & Albert's at the Grand Floridian has risen to become the highest-rated restaurant in Walt Disney World, achieving a 99% positive rating, noted for its exceptional food, presentation, and service.
• 🐻 Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue surprisingly ranks as the second-highest rated restaurant in the Magic Kingdom Resort area (96% positive), attributed more to its entertainment value than its food.
• ☕ The Garden View Tea Room at the Grand Floridian also receives high marks, highlighting the trend of experiential dining being highly valued by guests.
• 📉 L'Artisan des Glaces at Epcot's France pavilion shows a decline in quality ratings over five years, dropping from 92% to 85%, possibly due to increased prices and a standardized menu.

Listener Questions & Park Insights

• 🚀 Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opening in late fall 2019 is expected to draw massive crowds, making December 2019 potentially unbearable for visitors; February 2020 is suggested as a slightly less crowded alternative, though still busy.
• 📱 The Shop Disney Parks app faces challenges with inventory management, leading to many park-exclusive items being unavailable online due to the difficulty in predicting demand and avoiding overstock or stockouts.
• 💡 A planned but never realized parade for Disneyland was the Lightkeepers parade, which would have featured a simulated UFO landing and alien races.
• 🏰 The Spider-Man ride at Walt Disney Imagineering is expected to have a massive footprint, comparable to other large-scale attractions like the Galaxy's Edge coaster and the Frozen attraction at Tokyo DisneySea.

Resort Restaurant Ratings

• 🏖️ In the Epcot Resort area, Beaches & Cream Soda Shop is the top-rated table service restaurant (92% positive), praised for its burgers and ice cream, despite its small size.
• 🍳 Trattoria Al Forno at the Boardwalk is rated highly (91% positive), with its new character breakfast potentially boosting its appeal.
• 🚢 At Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jiko, Sanaa, and Boma consistently receive high ratings (94-95% positive) for their food, atmosphere, and dedicated staff.
• 📉 Lower-rated restaurants include ESPN Club (78%), Big River Grille & Brewing Works (75%), and Captain's Grill (74%), often cited for food quality or being merely convenient resort options.
• 🌟 Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort, despite high demand and profitability, receives a below-average rating (83%) due to its perceived