The closings and openings coming up at Walt Disney World, including one that will upset a lot of guests. This plus EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival top food picks, more Disney After Hours events, new DVC villas and more Disney travel news.

Openings and Closings at Walt Disney World

 

Trail's End is Closing at Fort Wilderness
It looks like Trail's End has Reached the End of the Trail. For anyone who loved the buffet-style all-you-care-to-enjoy dining experience at Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground, you won't have that unlimited dessert bar anymore.

Trail's End will be closing in April and converted into a quick service marketplace. No more table service at Trail's End Fort Wilderness.

Disney's BoardWalk Inn Club Level Concierge Lounge is Closing

The Concierge Lounge at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is closing for refurbishment on March 11 until at least the end of April. How this might affect you even if you hadn't booked Club Level there.

Narcoossee’s is Reopening at Disney's Grand Floridian on April 1

After a seven-month closure, Narcoossee's is reopening with a new design concept of land and sea. Will the new enhancements mean for a better dining experience? We're hoping it will, but the signs are not all positive that Disney has addressed past issues at Narcoossee's.

 

As far as the menu is concerned, it's not entirely new--which is disappointing, as the menu was a big issue.

The Bisque is back, but with a new tableside presentation. There are also two new starters: the Beef and Ricotta Tortelloni (with brown butter, parsnip puree, and sultanta raisins) and the Ocean-inspired Charcuterie Board featuring ahi tuna pastrami, charred octopus, and house-made sausage from the sea. 

 

For the main course, Chef Noah’s signature dish is the Blackened Redfish. This is served with a crispy chorizo-sunchoke hash with hominy, Florida sweet corn, and red pepper rouille. 

Plant-based dishes include a Roasted Vegetable Paella featuring market vegetables, cannellini beans, and preserved artichoke finished with charred Meyer lemon. Land-based fare includes a new Dry-Aged Pork Ribeye Chop served with creamy goat cheese-potatoes and turnips with onion jam and a touch of fig jus.

Chefs have kept Narcoossee’s staples like the Plancha-seared Scallops with Parisian Gnocchi and Surf and Turf featuring filet mignon and butter-poached lobster tail.

The dessert course kept their trademark Almond-crusted Cheesecake with Lambert cherry sauce and Chantilly cream. New dessert items include The Berry Pavlova -- artfully crafted with Florida fresh berries and citrus delicately placed over meringue and yuzu crémeux and finished with a tableside pour of anglaise. And the Pineapple Bavarois (roasted-pineapple house-made blackberry-buttermilk ice cream). 

The wine list has been refreshed with pairings for each dish and the bar team has anew cocktail program, inspired by the Victorian era. Disney is touting a signature Empress Lime Gimlet, a modern twist on a classic gimlet with Empress Gin, Rockey’s Botanical Liqueur, and cold-pressed lime. There are non-alcoholic cocktails as well.

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San Fransokyo Square appears at Disney California Adventure Park in Summer 2023

Pacific Wharf in Disney California Adventure park is transforming into San Fransokyo from Big Hero 6.  It's a fictional mash-up of San Francisco and Tokyo. The story goes that ss the tech industry began to emerge and the local fishing trade fell on hard times, entrepreneurs came together to reinvent the seaside canneries into a vibrant, multicultural district of neighborhood restaurants and local shops.

 

An iconic landmark of the area will be the San Fransokyo Gate Bridge, which will span the tide pools linking San Fransokyo Square to the Paradise Gardens Park obelisk. 

When the transformation is completed this summer, you'll find familiar favorites like soups in freshly baked bread bowls, plus many new Asian-inspired selections. The new Port of San Fransokyo Cervecería draws inspiration from its tri-cultural influences with signage in English, Japanese and Spanish. Outside will be a beer garden decorated with festoon lights and papel picado.

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A New Theme Park and New Dates Added for Disney After Hours Events

EPCOT has been added to Disney After Hours starting on June 1 and the price does include ice cream novelties, popcorn and select beverages available at carts throughout the park.

When Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park reopens this spring, H2O Glow After Hours will be back as of May 20.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is adding more dates for Disney After Hours as well, starting May 3.

Tickets are now on sale and the usual discounts for DVC members and annual passholders will apply.

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The Villas at Disneyland Hotel Reveal First Look at Guest Rooms

The 12-story Villas at Disneyland® Hotel tower will open this September and Disney released a first look at the room themes.

You'll find room themes including The Jungle Book, Sleeping Beauty and The Princess and the Frog.

 

The one- and two-bedroom villas feature Fantasia and Princess and the Frog themes.

 

The multilevel three-bedroom Grand Villa is the showstopper. It sleeps up to 12 and has Disney artistry sprinkled throughout the space. The first floor has a full kitchen, large dining area, and a double-sided fireplace connecting the living area to a private outdoor balcony. The first floor is also home to the primary suite, inspired by Bambi.

Walk up the spiral staircase to the second floor, which features two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms inspired by Frozen and Moana, plus the washer and dryer room.

Disney Vacation Club Members will have early access to cash rental reservations starting March 15, 2023, by calling Member Services at (800) 800-9800.

Disneyland Resort Magic Key holders can start booking on the following day, March 16, 2023, by contacting (714) 956-6425.

Bookings open to the public on March 17, 2023, subject to availability.

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No New Annual Pass Sales Yet, but Walt Disney World Annual Passholders Get More Perks

• Starting March 20, 2023, all guests will get access to attraction photos with the purchase of Disney Genie+ service.
• Starting on March 20, 2023, Annual Passholders with a My Disney Experience account and the app will receive access to Disney PhotoPass Lenses and, one Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories. Plus, Passholders will get a new offer where they can create and share short Disney-themed video slideshows with favorite photos from park visits.
• Starting April 18, 2023, Passholders can visit a theme park after 2:00 p.m. without needing a park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom Park. Pass blockout dates will continue to apply like they do today. 

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Disney Eats Foodie Guide to EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival 2023

It's time for our top picks from the EPCOT Flower and Garden Foodie Guide 2023. The festival runs March 1 to July 5, 2023.

Don't forget to grab a festival passport for returning Garden Graze food stroll. If you buy five of the 11 available treats from various Outdoor Kitchens, you'll get an exclusive tre...