WDW Daily News

Frontera Cocina, the newest dining experience to join the lineup at Disney Springs™, is now open!

Located in Town Center, Frontera Cocina features exciting flavors and a contemporary Mexican experience developed by renowned Chef Rick Bayless.

Chef Bayless offers his award-winning taste of dishes such as Oaxacan Red Chile Chicken, Salsa Verde Shrimp Enchiladas Suizas and freshly made salsas and guacamole. There’s also a quick-service taco counter.

Chef Bayless created his Frontera franchise in Chicago in 1981. His other notable restaurants include Xoco, Frontera Grill, Toplobampo, Leña Brava and Cruz Blanca. He may be best known for winning the title of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef Masters,” but his national Public Television Series, “Mexico–One Plate at a Time,” is in its 10th season. He’s won multiple awards from the James Beard Foundation, including the foundation’s highest award, Outstanding Restaurant, for Frontera Grill in 2007. He also won two for his cookbooks, Midwest Chef of the Year, National Chef of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year and Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America.

Frontera Cocina is a welcome addition to the diverse dining lineup at Disney Springs!

Coca-Cola Store Orlando opens July 2 at Disney Springs, allowing guests to experience the world’s most iconic beverage brand at a new immersive retail destination. Just as Disney Springs is a one-of-a-kind Disney experience delivering great dining, shopping and entertainment, Coca-Cola Store Orlando is uniquely designed to showcase Coca-Cola branded merchandise and entertaining experiences that inspire the senses.

Coca-Cola Store Orlando is modeled after a 1920s Coca-Cola bottling plant. Celebrating the history of Coca-Cola, the inviting brick exterior gives a nod to the brand’s heritage while the glass-accented entry pays tribute to the iconic Coca-Cola green glass bottle. Inside, guests are welcomed by a 30-foot-wide blown-glass chandelier crafted from repurposed Coca-Cola bottles – just one example of how this unique retail experience was designed with the environment in mind. The store – one of only three retail locations operated by The Coca-Cola Company in the United States – features a broad assortment of Coca-Cola branded merchandise. A line of sustainable fashion apparel and other handmade items crafted from recycled materials showcase the 5by20™ collection – an array of items created by women artisans from around the world.

Guests can visit the refreshing rooftop beverage bar and taste an ice-cold Coca-Cola while taking in the sights of Disney Springs. For the ultimate Coke experience, guests can choose from a variety of Coca-Cola brands from around the world such as Beverly from Italy and Thums Up from India, frozen beverages and over 100 drink choices via Coca-Cola Freestyle^®. A selection of specialty adult beverages is available in the evenings.

“Coca-Cola shares much in common with Disney, including our ability to inspire unique moments of optimism and happiness for our fans,” said Russell Jacobs, General Manager of Retail and Attractions at The Coca-Cola Company.

Stefanie Miller, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnership Marketing added, “We’ve been a proud partner of The Walt Disney Company since 1942, and both brands hold a special place in people’s hearts and minds. Now we’re raising a glass to Coca-Cola Store Orlando, where Disney and Coca-Cola fans alike can truly ‘Taste the Feeling.’”

Beginning in August, guests can share a moment with the famous Coca-Cola Polar Bear. Bear hugs, high fives and photos will all be welcome!

UNIQLO today announced that it will open its newest location in the U.S. on July 15 in Disney Springs, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The new UNIQLO store, the first in the Southeast region of the United States, will occupy 25,000 square feet (2,300 square meters) across two sales floors and showcase the brand’s full assortment of LifeWear – innovative, high-quality clothing that is universal in design and comfort – as well as items that incorporate its Japanese heritage. The new location will give families from all around the world an innovative and unforgettable retail experience, as well as feature an assortment of Disney-inspired products.

“We are very excited to introduce our UNIQLO products, customer service and shopping experience to Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort,” said Hiroshi Taki, CEO of UNIQLO USA. “We are proud of our collaboration with Disney Consumer Products, and we look forward to offering our unique retail concept and products to vacationers and locals alike at Disney Springs. We hope to make every day at our store feel like opening day for our customers.”

The core products, innovative fabrics and technologies that will be available from UNIQLO at Disney Springs include items like Ultra Light Down, HEATTECH, and AIRism, as well as Premium Linen, Denim, and Supima Cotton.

In addition to exclusive UNIQLO merchandise, the new store will incorporate the brand’s unique Japanese heritage by conveying Japanese tradition, culture and beauty through colorful visuals and displays. Japanese-inspired daily giveaways, as well as in-store events each week and month like Taiko drummers and a Japanese-style game show, will provide fun and entertaining ways for families to engage with UNIQLO and its Japanese origins.

UNIQLO at Disney Springs will be the company’s first store in the Southeast region, and it marks the company’s fourth corner in the country, with its 43 current stores including Los Angeles, Seattle and Boston, and its UNIQLO.com online store.

Customers and fans can share their excitement about the new UNIQLO at Disney Springs store via the company’s social media channels including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #UniqloDisneySprings.

 

Walt Disney World’s shopping, dining, and entertainment complex, which had been known asDowntown Disney for a couple of decades, is undergoing an expansion and transformation. Now dubbed Disney Springs, visitors will have even more opportunities to browse and nosh as new locations open this summer and throughout the rest of the year.

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Beginning last week, Guests traveling to Disney Springs™ via complimentary Disney Resort bus transportation noticed some changes. Disney motorcoaches now have their own dedicated bus lanes, giving them more efficient access to the property. Once they arrive at Disney Springs, Guests are dropped off at The Gateway, offering a stunning arrival into our newest neighborhood.

With the opening of this new location, the former Marketplace bus loop will support other transportation needs including vehicles coming from nearby Good Neighbor Hotels, Hotel Plaza Boulevard and Shades of Green.

The Disney Springs area is an exciting metropolis of restaurants, theaters and merchandise shops incorporating the The Landing, Marketplace, West Side and Town Center (coming in 2016).

Location: The Disney Springs area borders the south shore of Village Lake at the intersection of Buena Vista Drive and Hotel Plaza Boulevard in the east-central portion of Walt Disney World Resort. Disney Springs parking is free.

Disney Springs Marketplace

Exciting restaurants and extraordinary shopping experiences in a strolling street environment with a wide variety of venues. An assortment of outdoor artisans with merchandise from cloth-covered balloons to creative hair wraps, and silhouette portraits to personalized wood nameplates can be found throughout the Marketplace.

Arribas Brothers — Glassware, crystal and metal artisan products; glassblowing; custom decorating.

The Art of Disney — Disney animation art and collectibles from original paintings and prints to figurines and Vinylmation.

Basin — All-natural bath and skin care products with interactive sugar- and salt-scrub sink for sampling.

Disney’s Days of Christmas — Christmas collectibles, ornaments and Disney character holiday items.

Disney Design-a-Tee presented by Hanes — Customized T-shirts in a variety of colors, styles and themes.

Disney’s Pin Traders — Largest collection of collectible pins and pin accessories at Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories — Disney scrapbook supplies, stationery and postcards.

Dockside Margaritas — A waterfront margarita bar offering live entertainment daily in a laid-back environment amid tropical décor. Menu includes a variety of handcrafted margaritas, specialty cocktails and authentic Florida brews.

Earl of Sandwich — A 220-seat casual quick-service restaurant serving breakfast as well as freshly prepared sandwiches, salads and delicious desserts.

Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop — San Francisco’s famous sweet-maker comes East with a soda fountain featuring its world-famous chocolate and hot fudge sundae.

Goofy’s Candy Co. — An assortment of candy, cookies, taffy, chocolates, frozen drinks and more.

The LEGO Store — A dynamic showplace and retail store for famous LEGO bricks and toys with an interactive playground and towering LEGO displays indoors and out.

LittleMissMatched — A colorful and playful retail store filled with fashionable accessories, beach bags, flip flops and mismatched socks for the teen, tween and mom.

Marketplace Co-Op – Unique new shops, products and retail concepts are tested in this shopper’s paradise in Disney Springs.

Marketplace Fun Finds – Disney character merchandise including plush, clothing and housewares at prices to fit every budget.

Mickey’s Pantry — The family chef can explore culinary trends and find kitchen gadgets galore, from unique cooking utensils to mugs and dishes.

Once Upon A Toy — This 16,000-square-foot toy store features fun new toys, games and Disney collectibles.

Rainforest Cafe — A wild place to shop and eat with favorite sandwiches, pastas, pizzas and an amazing array of appetizers in a rainforest setting. Gifts are available at the Rainforest Café Retail Village.

Starbucks at Disney Springs Marketplace — Starbucks espresso, frozen specialty beverages, savory Artisan sandwiches and an assortment of pastries are offered at this unique Starbucks location near World of Disney.

The Spice & Tea Exchange — Experience a world of gourmet spices, teas, herbs, sea salts, sugars and more at this aromatic merchandise store.

T-Rex Café — Casual dining in a prehistoric world of adventure with life-size animatronic dinosaurs and prehistoric artifacts. Children of all ages can enjoy the dig site or the Dino-Store with educational toys and Build-A-Dino by Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Tren-D — Hip apparel and novel accessories for women with a fashion sense.

Wolfgang Puck Express — World-famous chef Wolfgang Puck turns his talents to quick service and signature treats including pizzas, sandwiches, soup and fresh salads.

World of Disney Store — Centerpiece of Disney Springs, this 51,000-square-foot retail palace is the biggest Disney shopping destination on Earth. Specialties include Disney-themed merchandise rooms, each telling stories based on classic Disney films, and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, a magical salon for little princes and princesses ages 3-12.

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The ONE Group Hospitality, Inc. (“The ONE Group”) (Nasdaq:STKS) is pleased to announce that STK Orlando officially opened its doors to welcome its first guests today at Disney Springs in Walt Disney World Resort at Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

The new location is the 11^th STK worldwide, and at more than 14,000 square feet, it is one of the largest to date. Featuring rooftop dining with scenic views, the restaurant boasts both indoor and outdoor seating on two levels, a bistro, bar, private dining room and a fire pit. With a sleek and contemporary design, STK is known for its high-energy fine dining experience.

“We are thrilled to enter the Orlando market, especially at a premier destination like Walt Disney World,” said Jonathan Segal, CEO of The ONE Group. “Strategic relationships, as well as great real estate, will remain integral to our growth plans as we expand our company footprint, and with an additional nine STK restaurants currently in development, we are excited to bring the STK experience to new cities across the globe.”

Previously announced locations for new STK restaurants include Boston, Edinburgh, San Diego, Denver, Miami, Austin, Ibiza and Toronto.

 

If you vacationed at Walt Disney World in the past few years, you probably wound up at Downtown Disney, grabbing a table at Planet Hollywood or eating dinner beside a larger-than-life dinosaur in a Mesozoic Era-themed restaurant. While the old classics still remain (yes, T-Rex is as busy as ever), so, so much has changed since your past visit.

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Kipling North America, a division of VF Sportswear, Inc, is proud to announce this week’s opening of its first interactive retail store concept in Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort. Kipling in Disney Springs, a full-price retail location in Orlando, Florida, will provide consumers the opportunity to explore and shop Kipling through inventive activations offered throughout the space for a unique and personalized shopping experience.

“Disney Springs is quickly establishing itself as an exciting shopping, dining and entertainment destination for both locals and visitors alike,” said Nina Flood, president of Kipling North America. “We are thrilled to be one of its first retail tenants to open in Town Center and to unveil our new retail concept there. Shopping in-store remains a vital driver of not only sales, but of the overall brand experience. We have revisited ways in which we can better connect with guests to ensure we are doing our best to meet their needs and make their Kipling experience more memorable.”

Personalization – a key feature at Kipling in Disney Springs – is emerging as a new trend in retail. Centrally located in the store will be an area dedicated to inspiring “make it your own” style options, such as monogramming and adorning one’s new purchase with a Kipling iconic monkey keychain, playful patches, buttons, and more. This service is complimentary with any in-store Kipling purchase with proof of purchase.

A digital activation unique to Kipling in Disney Springs is a fun photo booth that has been built into the store’s design and will engage Kipling fans to “snap and share” their customized graphics interchange format photos (GIFs) onto their social channels for a chance to win fun prizes throughout the year and to be featured on Kipling North America’s social media pages.

Adding to the digital experience in-store and beyond is Kipling’s launch of retail bots. Kipling will use messenger technology to chat live with its digital-savvy visitors on their smart phones and with Qr Codes thoughtfully placed throughout the retail space. Scanning a barcode will offer the visitor style suggestions, Kipling fun facts and instant offers. Meanwhile, Kipling fans from afar can learn the latest Kipling news, upcoming retail events in their area, and more.

Opening Event – Kipling in Disney Springs is celebrating the launch of its interactive retail space Friday, May 20 through Sunday, May 22 offering visitors refreshments, a tour of the space and each activation area, and a complimentary Kipling monkey keychain with any purchase of $100 or more while supplies last.

Ample Hills Creamery, a new flavorful ice cream parlor, is now open at Disney’s BoardWalk at Walt Disney World® Resort. Located next to ESPN Club, this whimsical take on the turn-of-the-century ice cream parlor offers 16 signature ice cream flavors, including Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, Coffee Toffee Coffee, Malty Salty Pretzel Punch, Cotton Candy and more! Guests can also indulge in homespun milkshakes, luxurious sundaes and six different ice cream cone options – from the classic waffle cone to the adventurous pretzel cone.