food IS a theme park
A NEW restaurant is coming to Disney World!
Japan pavilion
Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya is now OPEN at EPCOT’s Japan Pavilion, but just for walk-ins. Reservations are available for dates starting on August 28th, 2023 and we couldn’t be more excited to check it out. And now, we are one step closer to trying this new table service spot — dining reservations are open!
We’ve got more Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya news!
Japan Pavilion
This is the new restaurant coming to the Japan Pavilion in EPCOT. We got a first look at the menu a little bit ago, and now the FULL menu has been released!
DON’T WORRY. The popular Haunted Mansion ride has reopened in Magic Kingdom after a brief closure last week. But what’s still CLOSED in Disney World?
Cinderella Castle
There are four attractions and two restaurants that are currently closed at the parks, and most of them have no official reopening date set. Let’s take a look at what will be closed from August 13th through the 19th so that you’re prepared for your next trip.
There are a few very important (and specific) rules to follow at Disney World. For example, adults can’t dress up like Disney characters while they’re in the park (but Disney-bounding is OK), and you cannot bring any balloons into Disney’s Animal Kingdom. But sometimes what you can and can’t do in the parks is dictated not by the rules but by temporary CLOSURES!
Magic Kingdom Entrance
Next week, there are six things that you CAN’T do in Disney World, not because they’re against any rules, but just because those attractions and restaurants are temporarily closed. Here’s a complete list of those scheduled refurbishments so that you’re prepared for your upcoming vacation.
There’s SO MUCH to do in Disney World — you can hop on the new TRON Lightcycle / Run roller coaster, check out the Broadway-style “Festival of the Lion King” show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and eat around the world at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. But there are a couple of things that you CAN’T do in Disney World next week due to ride and attraction closures.
Cinderella Castle
Disney occasionally has to shut down attractions, restaurants, and certain parts of hotels in order to update and refurbish them. To make sure you’re prepared before your upcoming trip, here’s a complete list of the closures scheduled for next week, from July 30th through August 5th.
Next week is a SUPER important week in Disney World. Do you know why?
EPCOT
It’s because the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival begins on Thursday, July 27th! On that same day, two EPCOT snack spots that have been closed for a couple of weeks now are expected to reopen, likely with some festival-inspired eats. However, there are other restaurants, attractions, and water parks that are currently CLOSED and will remain closed throughout the week. Let’s take a look at all the scheduled closures for the week of July 23rd through the 29th.
If you’re going to Disney World next week, WATCH OUT! Not one, not two, but FOUR restaurants are going to be closed (spoiler: most of them are in EPCOT).
EPCOT
In addition to the restaurant closures, there are a few other rides and attractions that’ll be closed. Here’s a full list of everything you CAN’T do in Disney World next week, from July 16th through the 22nd.
Lots of Disney World visitors like staying at Disney-owned hotels because of the fun theming and added perks (like free transportation to and from the theme parks). But right now, there are a few hotels that you might want to AVOID.
Polynesian Village
A few hotels on Disney World property are currently getting some updates and changes, which means if you’re staying there, you’ll probably see and hear some construction. It’s not the end of the world if this happens to you (usually the construction only happens during the day, so you might be away at the theme parks anyways), but if you’d prefer to stay away from the noise, these are the hotels you should skip for now.
Imagine you’ve just arrived at Magic Kingdom. You’ve been planning this trip for ages, and now you’re HERE! You walk down Main Street, U.S.A., drinking in all the sights and sounds. Incredible smells are wafting out of the Confectionery. But there’s no time to stop — you head straight for your favorite ride. But what’s this? What’s happened? The ride is CLOSED?!
Main Street
Encountering unexpected ride closures can be one of the most disappointing parts of a Disney World vacation. Sometimes those closures pop up suddenly due to bad weather in the area or technical difficulties, but others are planned ahead of time, so you can prepare for them! To help you prepare, we’ve got a full list of next week’s planned ride and restaurant closures.
Dining options in Disney World are constantly changing.
Japan pavilion
Price increases hit some of our favorite restaurants, new dining locations take over old ones, and seasonal menus come and go throughout the parks. Thankfully, these changes can lead to exciting new experiences in the park, and Disney has shared that EPCOT would be getting just that this summer. Shiki-Sai Izakaya and Sushi is a table-service restaurant coming to the Japan pavilion, presenting a “festive dining experience in a sharable Izakaya-style.” We’ve been waiting for the news of its exact location since it has been announced, and now, we have a new clue about its potential whereabouts.
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