Do It Disney

The Walt Disney Company announced plans for its seventh global theme park to be built in Abu Dhabi. It will be Disney’s first theme park in the Middle East.

This is an excerpt from the press release:

‘The Walt Disney Company and Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, announced an agreement to create a landmark Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The waterfront resort will be located on Yas Island, a world-class destination for entertainment and leisure, connecting travelers from the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond. This seventh Disney theme park resort will combine Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture.

“Abu Dhabi is a place where heritage meets innovation, where we preserve our past while designing the future,” His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman at Miral, said. “The collaboration between Abu Dhabi and Disney demonstrates the remarkable results of combining visionary leadership and creative excellence. What we are creating with Disney in Abu Dhabi is a whole new world of imagination — an experience that will inspire generations across the region and the world, creating magical moments and memories that families will treasure forever. Through the development of unique attractions and experiences, Abu Dhabi continues to be a destination of choice for the world.”

If you’re heading to Disney’s Hollywood Studios (DHS) on May 4 (or Disneyland for that matter), you are in good company. Big crowds are expected for the annual Star Wars Day celebration in Galaxy’s Edge. Park reservations for May 4 go quickly at Disney’s Hollywood Studios so it’s best to plan early.

While there are no special events planned, be sure to stop by the Galaxy’s Edge at night, when park goers light up their lightsabers to create a mosaic of light in front of the Millennium Falcon.

All the usual activities will be available including rides (Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run), stores, Oga’s Cantina, and the quick service restaurants like Docking Bay 7. Don’t forget to get a blue or green milk as well!

There’s no doubt it. Traffic on I-4 near Walt Disney World is a nightmare. Fortunately, central Florida drivers are getting some relief in the form of extra lanes!

A new lane has opened in each direction on I-4 so hopefully that relieve some of the massive congestion that goes from exit 55 to 62 eastbound, and from before exit 62 to exit 58 westbound. The source of all the traffic is the heavy merge from 417 and 429 onto I-4.

The affected area. Hopefully new lanes will improve the flow.

To say the extra lanes are needed is an understatement. There was nearly always traffic on this portion of I-4 at almost any time of day, except for the middle of the night. Even 11pm could see heavy traffic on a Tuesday! So cheers to the new lane.

There’s a deal for holders of the Disney Visa Card, offered by Chase.

According to the Walt Disney World website, holders of the card can get a “FREE dining plan when you purchase a nondiscounted 4-night, 4-day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a select Disney Resorts Collection hotel and a theme park ticket with a Park Hopper option.”

This deal is good through for bookings made by March 26, 2025.

And people who don’t have the card are still eligble for the deal if they apply and are approved.

Both the full service and quick service dining plans are eligible for this promotion.

Deal rating: On the surface, Disney food is extremely expensive as anyone who has been to the House of Mouse can well test. A free Disney dining plan offers good value, especially if you plan on staying at a Disney hotel this year. Paying for the dining plan out of pocket is another matter altogether, but a free meal plan to go along with your stay at a Disney resort is a good perk.

Dining at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club, twin resorts in the Epcot Resort area located just off Buena Visit Drive, is a treat. This post will rank the four full service/buffet restaurants at the resorts: Ale & Compass, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Cape May Cafe, and Beaches & Cream. Off we go into the wild yonder of restaurant rankings.

4. Cape May Cafe (Beach Club)

The only buffet style restaurant at the Y&BC, Cape May Cafe serves breakfast and dinner only. Breakfast is a character meal with appearances by Minnie Mouse and other characters dressed in beach gear.

Dinner is just a straight-up buffet, reminiscent of a casino buffet in Atlantic City quite frankly. The food is adequate. The kicker: crab legs are not included and cost at time of writing $29 for one pound. Add that to the $50 price tag, and this meal will quickly add up.

The decor is northeast beachy, with pictures of people vacationing from the turn of the century. Not my favorite at Y&BC.

3. Yachtsman Steakhouse (Yacht Club)

High-end steakhouse. Certain tables have a view of the Stormalong Bay pool area.
This is priced like a high-end steakhouse too. The food is adequate, but nothing to write home about given the price. The Mickey Puzzle is a fun kid’s option however.

2. Beaches & Cream (Beach Club)
The classic soda fountain full of burgers, fries, onion rings, and ice cream, ice cream, ice cream. Most notably home of the “kitchen sink” sundae, which is loaded with eight scoops and a whole can of whipped cream (the place turns off the lights and makes an announcement whenever some hungry group orders the thing).

Ice cream is fine. Sandwiches are ok. I actually prefer the french dip or the reuben to the burger. Another nice perk is the flavorings you can add to the sodas. Pricey but hey it’s Disney.

The decor is light and airy. There’s a jukebox and plenty of pictures of Mickey & friends eating ice cream.

1. Ale & Compass (Yacht Club)

You may not agree, but I like Ale & Compass and am naming it the top restaurant in all of Yacht and Beach Club world.

There’s nothing flashy, and in fact the decor in the dining room is rather dark, but it’s a pleasant place to enjoy a meal. The menu recently got a refresh and there are several quality dishes such as the pappardelle pasta with chicken, the Vermont cheddar burger, and the seafood pot pie. As for appetizers, the Parker House rolls rule, especially with the three spreads (citrus butter, bacon jam, and pub cheese— cheese is the best!)

A&C also does breakfast where it offers salted caramel french toast and dark chocolate waffles among more standard options. The place nearly always delivers at a good price point too for Disney. (It’s not uncommon for 2 adults, 2 kids, to get out of there under $100). Price good, food good, atmosphere good! Plenty of fun times walking around the boardwalk and the resorts too after a lovely meal. #1 at the Y&BC.

If you’re considering staying at off property at Walt Disney World, the Champions Gate area is a prime destination.

Home to the Omni Resort, the area is also chock full of potential rentals, including apartments and single family homes (usually with caged-in pools).

Here’s a few things to know about Champions Gate located southwest of Walt Disney World, straddling Osceola and Polk Counties.

PRO:
It’s just about 15 minutes to Walt Disney World, barring any traffic on Interstate 4.

CON:
There’s almost always traffic on I-4, so realistically you’re looking at about 30 minutes to WDW. Exit 62 is the most convenient while coming from Championsgate.

PRO:
The area has become saturated with a variety of restaurants, mostly of the chain persuasion, meaning you won’t lack for places to eat. In recent years, Ford’s Garage, The Olive Garden, Miller’s Ale House, Panera Bread, Red Robin, Tijuana Flats, First Watch, Huey McGoo’s, have all sprung up on and around Champion’s Gate Boulevard/

CON:
The area is saturated. Traffic is heavy (it can be a nightmare getting down Champion’s Gate Boulevard alone, especially during peak periods). Restaurants are crowded! Kind of goes with the territory.