Disney News Blog

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Fans of Jiko - The Cooking Place and Boma-Flavors of Africa have a new reason to dine at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge as Sanaa debuts May 1 in the resort’s new Kidani Village expansion.

(Editor's Note: Disney previously released photographs of many of Sanaa's new dishes, which you can find in the Disney News Blog HERE.)

The new Walt Disney World restaurant’s unusual name, pronounced “Sah-NAH,” is the Swahili word for “artwork.” With interiors inspired by African art and remarkable views of the resort’s Sunset Savannah through 9-foot windows, diners experience “the art of African cooking with Indian flavors” in the 150-seat, family-oriented restaurant located on the ground floor just below the lobby.

Sanaa’s cuisine is a melting pot of tastes from the islands of the Indian Ocean that all are part of Africa – Zanzibar, the Seychelles, Comoro Islands, Mauritius and Madagascar. “These islands were on important trade routes with influences from French, Portuguese, Dutch, British, Arab and Chinese traders,” said Chef Bob Getchell. “The diverse spices and flavors give us an endless array of options for Sanaa.”

The most indelible mark on the cuisine of the region was made by Indian traders who introduced curries, spice blends and breads. Central to African-Indian cuisine is the use of the tandoor oven, essentially a large clay pot similar to a pizza oven. The tandoor provides very high, dry heat that creates a crisp outer layer and moist interior. Along with meats, a favorite tandoor oven treat is the Indian bread naan, which is slapped directly onto the oven’s clay walls and allowed to bake until puffy and lightly browned. The Sanaa kitchen will have two custom tandoor ovens.

Specialties include tandoori chicken, lamb and shrimp, slow-cooked curries, and braised short ribs. “Don’t think of curry as spicy,” said Chef Getchell, “but as a centuries-old cooking method that allows flavors to fully develop in the meats, vegetables, and sauces.” The base blend of seasonings for Sanaa’s curries include cardamom, chiles, cinnamon, cloves, saffron, coriander, nutmeg, fennel seed, cumin, tamarind, turmeric and more. The turmeric is what gives many curry dishes their characteristic yellow color.

Appetizers such as lamb kefta with tamarind-dried papaya sauce, and unusual salads like okra, radishes and tomato, roasted beets, and carrot, orange and mint start the dining experience.

Entrees include the tandoori-roasted meats, curries, and sides such as dahl (stewed lentils), curried crushed potatoes, stir-fried green beans and slow-cooked spinach and paneer (a mild South Asian cheese). Indian style flatbreads including naan, roti, and paratha are paired with chutneys, Indian style pickles and raita (yogurt-based dip).

For guests who prefer more American flavors, there is a grilled pork chop and club sandwich at lunch, and grilled flank steak at dinner.

Sweets are the final adventure, including mango pudding, cardamom-butter cake, papaya with sea salt and lime and vanilla-coconut rice pudding.

The restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and from 5-9 p.m. An adjacent 24-seat lounge serves African wines, beer and spirits. For reservations, call 407/WDW-DINE.

Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is part of Disney Vacation Club.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (March 17, 2009) -- Chef Cat Cora and Disney are joining together to open an exciting new family dining restaurant at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. Kouzzina by Cat Cora will feature a menu of Mediterranean-style cuisine that pays tribute to the chef’s Greek roots.

The restaurant, to be owned and operated by Disney, is scheduled to open by fall 2009 in the space currently occupied by Spoodles.

“I am pleased to welcome Cat Cora and her engaging new concept for Kouzzina to the Walt Disney World Resort,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “This collaboration between Cat and Disney represents a significant step in our ongoing commitment to offer unique culinary experiences and choices for our guests.”

As a Mississippi native born to a family of Greek restaurateurs, Cora grew up immersed in two different and flavorful cultures , and has taken from that unique background the kitchen “know-how” handed down through generations. The cuisine at Kouzzina (Greek for “kitchen” and pronounced “koo-zee-nah”) will showcase Mediterranean cuisine and Chef Cora’s philosophy to create simple yet sensational meals.

Cora said that the new restaurant will feature “time-honored recipes passed down from my ancestors, as well as my favorite Greek and Mediterranean dishes that my family loves.”

She began working with Disney in 2008 by creating a Disney Video on Demand series to showcase ways to help families develop more healthy eating habits. “I’m extremely excited about this latest extension of my relationship with Disney,” she said. “Together, we’re going to develop a truly amazing contemporary Mediterranean restaurant.”

The first and only female Iron Chef on Food Network's hit show “Iron Chef America,” Cora is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York. She also is Executive Chef for Bon Appétit magazine. In addition to hosting the instructional cooking demonstrations for Disney Video on Demand, Cora has been a featured chef at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and at Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival at Disneyland Resort.

Sanaa (pronounced sah-NAH), the new table service restaurant at Animal Kingdom Villas' Kidani Village is set to open May 1, 2009. Named for the Swahili word for "artwork," Sanaa will feature African-inspired cuisine with an Indian touch and will be open for lunch and dinner. The restaurant will serve familiar foods prepared in tandoor ovens, along with slow-cooked specialties showcasing the flavorful spices of Africa.

The following are some of the dishes that will appear on Sanaa's menu:

Lamb Kefta with Tamarind and Papaya Sauce.

Grilled Flank Steak, with spinach and mushroom pancake served with oven-dried chutney.

Tandoori Chicken served with basmati rice or seven-grain pilaf.

Tandoori Lamb Chops served with basmati rice or seven-grain pilaf.

Grilled Pork Chop Loin, glazed with pickled lime and ginger served with sauteed spinach.

Mustard seed-crusted Scallops with a coconut cream sauce.

Dum Biryani, Fresh vegetables and basmati rice, wrapped in bread dough served with pineapple raita.

Slow-cooked beef short ribs, shrimp with green curry sauce, served with basmati rice or seven grain pilaf.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Jan. 21, 2009 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge welcomed the birth of two Ruppell's Griffon Vultures earlier this month. They are the first hatchings of this threatened species at Walt Disney World Resort. Each chick weighed less than six ounces and was about eight inches long when hatched.

Over the past twenty years, the population of Ruppell's Griffon Vultures has been declining. This reduction led the International Union for Conservation of Nature to raise the status of this species to threatened. Members of Disney’s Animal Programs Team hope to increase the species population and generate more awareness of the challenges these birds face.

When grown, each new-born vulture could reach sizes close to three feet in height , with a wingspan of nearly eight feet, and can weigh 15-20 pounds. They are also known for their high-flying skills, being among the highest flying bird on record, once spotted at an altitude of over 37,000 feet in the skies of West Africa. Ruppell’s vultures can fly more than three miles in six minutes and are able to stay in the air for as many as six to seven hours a day.

Ruppell's vultures are highly social; they roost, nest and gather to feed in large flocks. While they are generally a quiet breed, they may become vocal at the nest and during feeding time. The Ruppell’s vultures pair up for life, which may be forty or fifty years.

Landlubbers and scallywags alike can live like Captain Jack in a pirate-themed guestroom specially created for Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. More than 350 guestrooms are getting an "Extreme Makeover: Pirate Edition" with new décor and furnishings fit for a buccaneer. Walt Disney World guests can reserve the special rooms through 407 W-DISNEY, www.disneyworld.com or by contacting their travel agent.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Dec. 19, 2008—Every day, two special guests are recruited to help rid the newly renovated pool at Ole Port Royale of pesky pirates at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Donning pirate hats and eye patches, the young lads and lassies take up their swords to defend the pool’s territory from the buccaneer who is later locked away in the pirate dungeon.

As part of the Disney Difference, this Magical Moment reflects the unique events Walt Disney World Resort guests can experience only at Disney. Robin Burkett, area manager of recreation for Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Pop Century Resort, said more guests are volunteering to participate in the Magical Moment openings. “It’s something out of the ordinary that makes the guest experience unforgettable,” she said.

The new pirate-themed pool and deck, which opened in early September, nearly doubles the capacity of the previous facility and features an 82-foot-long slide from a pirate fort. The nine-month upgrade also includes two anchor-shaped spas, another pool and a children’s “aqua play area,” which sits under a crow’s nest, emptying water on young mateys every few minutes.

Recreation Host Rich Alvis, one of the original creators of the resort’s Magical Moment, said the pool’s pirate theme sets the stage for imaginative adventures. “It’s a real Magical Moment for the kids because it’s personally involved. They make sure the pool deck is safe before we can open it,” he said. “It’s our way to make children feel a part of the magic at Disney”

Each holiday season at Disney's Beach Club Resort in Florida, a team of pastry chefs builds a giant gingerbread carousel in the hotel lobby. Every visible part is edible -- the chocolate and fondant horses, the gingerbread floor and canopy, the white chocolate figures of Mickey Mouse and his friends, sugar poinsettias -- even the accents of star anise and cinnamon stick. For more information about how Walt Disney World celebrates the holidays, visit www.disneyworld.com/holidays

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - As the nation prepares for this historic election, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin is making its own presidential history by giving one lucky guest and their family the opportunity to be treated like a president with their very own presidential vacation.

In honor of the eventful 2008 presidential election, the resort will be electing a candidate to stay in one of their eight spacious and luxuriously appointed presidential suites on a vacation fit for a leader of the free world. This is the first time the resort has offered a presidential suite prize, as the suites range in prices up to $3,100 a night. Coincidentally, the hotel’s presidential suites have hosted the likes of Presidents H.W. Bush and Clinton, presidential hopefuls like Senator John Kerry and other prominent world leaders.

As the presidential guest, the winning candidate will be invited to bring up to five “cabinet members" on a 3-day/2-night term. They will arrive via limousine transport from the airport (sorry, no motorcade!), be treated to a red carpet welcome at the resort and can celebrate their victory with a “state” dinner using a $250 dining certificate at any of the resort’s 17 restaurants and lounges, which include Shula’s Steak House, Todd English’s bluezoo and Il Mulino New York Trattoria.

The “elected” (chosen by random drawing) candidate along with their guests will receive complimentary Walt Disney World theme park three-day Park Hopper passes as well as all the other amenities offered by the resort including complimentary transportation to all Walt Disney World Theme Parks and Attractions, the opportunity to dine with loveable Disney characters at Garden Grove restaurant, Disney’s Extra Magic Hours benefit, offering early park entrance or an extended hour after park closing and advance tee times on four championship Walt Disney World golf courses. The total prize package is valued at $4900.

No caucuses, campaigning or primaries are needed for this vote - guests simply nominate themselves by visiting www.swandolphin.com/election and signing up anytime before the polls close on Nov. 4.

And just like the current race, only time will tell who will be the winning ticket. The winner will be announced Nov. 5 at www.swandolphin.com/election and has a year to “take office”.

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort offers eight presidential suites featuring elegant bathroom and bedroom appointments richly designed in residential-style décor. Presidential suites feature amenities including: multiple 42” flat-screen TVs, deluxe private bathrooms, Westin Heavenly Beds®, a full kitchen with a private bar and dining room for eight and extraordinary views of Walt Disney World Resort .

In the heart of the Walt Disney World® Resort, the award-winning Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is your gateway to Central Florida’s greatest theme parks and attractions. The resort is located in between Epcot® and Disney’s Hollywood StudiosTM, and nearby Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park and Magic Kingdom® Park. Come discover our 17 world-class restaurants and lounges, sophisticated guest rooms with Westin Heavenly Beds® and the luxurious Mandara Spa. Enjoy five pools, two health clubs, tennis, nearby golf, and many special Disney benefits, including complimentary transportation to Walt Disney World Theme Parks and Attractions, and the Extra Magic Hours benefit.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Sept. 16, 2008) – Two highly anticipated resort developments announced today will expand the Walt Disney World experience and continue the rapid growth of Disney Vacation Club, Disney’s innovative vacation-ownership program:

-- the 15-story Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is scheduled to join the Disney Vacation Club family of properties in fall 2009, while

-- the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, scheduled to open in summer 2009, will become the next room category offered at that resort.

Disney Vacation Club also announced that Bay Lake Tower sales are scheduled to begin on Sept. 21 for Disney Vacation Club Members, while sales to the general public and sales for the newest phase of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will begin at a later date.

“Our founder, Walt Disney, was well known for having one foot in the past and one in the future,” said Disney Vacation Club President Jim Lewis. “These new resort developments share that dynamic sensibility, blending modern luxury and design with the nostalgic spirit of two of the most storied resorts in Walt Disney World history.”

The announcement comes during an unprecedented era of growth for Disney Vacation Club, established in 1991 to give families decades of affordable vacations at Disney destinations and beyond. Disney Vacation Club membership has more than doubled since 2004, expanding to include more than 350,000 individuals from approximately 100 countries and every U.S. state.

That membership growth has also driven Disney Vacation Club expansion, inspiring Walt Disney Imagineers to dream up new vacation home opportunities. In addition to Bay Lake Tower and the Treehouse Villas, development continues on Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at the Disneyland Resort in California and the recently announced resort at Ko Olina on the island of Oahu.

“What excites me most about this tremendous growth is that we’re not only creating new accommodations, but new experiences,” Lewis said. “Each of the projects we’ve undertaken at Disney Vacation Club is unlike anything previously available in our resort portfolio, and both Bay Lake Tower and the Treehouse Villas proudly build on that tradition.”

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

The new, curvilinear Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is designed to complement the fabled styling of the original building, which opened with the Magic Kingdom Park on Oct. 1, 1971, and featured comedian Bob Hope as master of ceremonies. Mimicking the color palette and strong horizontal lines of its iconic predecessor, the new structure even sports a rooftop lounge inspired by the original resort’s A-frame architecture.

The tower’s crescent shape, hugging lush landscaping, planned recreation options and a lakeside pool, promises to deliver some of the most dramatic views available anywhere at the Walt Disney World Resort. Some villas face scenic, undeveloped stretches of Bay Lake, while others offer spectacular views of the Magic Kingdom Park, located a short walk away.

The views promise to be equally appealing inside the tower’s 295 two-bedroom-equivalent villas, where visionary design meets Disney chic to define the vacation experience. As the closest resort to the Magic Kingdom Park, Bay Lake Tower guests can easily return to their rooms for quick breaks from their busy day in the Park, where they can relax in an inspiring setting offering many of the conveniences of home.

Most of the rooms in this iconic resort will feature innovative touches, such as modern artwork designed specifically for Bay Lake Tower, flat-screen TVs, full kitchens complete with granite countertops and modern appliances, separate bedrooms, washers and dryers, and other home-like amenities. Plus, to accommodate larger families or families traveling together, many Bay Lake Tower vacation villas are designed to sleep up to nine, though some units can also be divided into one-bedroom villas that sleep five and studios that accommodate four, creating flexible options for smaller groups.

“These vacation homes will be furnished with some amazing custom pieces that are works of art unto themselves,” said Imagineer Brian McFarland. “It’s all about maintaining that feel of clean lines and open spaces, with plenty of Disney touches.”

Add to the plans a spacious lobby filled with woven woods and glass-wrapped columns, sweeping views from a rooftop lounge and fireworks viewing deck, and the convenience of a sky bridge linking families to shops, restaurants and the monorail station, and you have a Disney Vacation Club destination that is both practical and fashionable.

Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

Meanwhile, nestled in natural forest glens just around the river bend from the bustling Downtown Disney area, the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will mark the newest phase of what has become the largest Disney Vacation Club resort. Phase one of the idyllic lakeside community debuted in 2004, and phase three sold out earlier this year.

This new phase will revive Walt Disney World “treehouse living,” a cherished tradition from 1975-2002. While crews are replacing villas of the ‘70s with brand-new vacation homes, Imagineers took special care to honor the original octagonal design.

The construction process itself is unique as each stand-alone Treehouse Villa will come together like a giant 3-D puzzle to ensure both superior quality and environmental sensitivity.

All 60 three-bedroom homes, elevated 10 feet off the ground on pedestals and beams designed to blend into the forest environment, will sleep nine and are planned to offer modern luxuries such as cathedral ceilings, granite countertops and flat-screen TVs, all presented in a style dubbed “cabin casual.”

“I was lucky enough to have a treehouse as a kid, but it was certainly nothing like this,” said Imagineer Todd Thomasson. “In developing this resort, we’ve all learned a new word, ‘glamping,’ which apparently means glamorous camping. The Treehouse Villas will be glamping at its absolute best.”

Disney Vacation Club is owned by Disney Vacation Development Inc., part of the magic of The Walt Disney Company. To learn more, visit www.disneyvacationclub.com.

All Ears Fact Sheet and Photos: Bay Lake Tower

All Ears Fact Sheet and Photos: Treehouse Villas

Guests get VIP treatment at the elegant Chef's Table in the back of the kitchen at Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Chef Scott Hunnel and sommelier Brian Kozial offer award-winning cuisine and fine wines.

Land lubbers and scallywags alike will be able to live like Captain Jack Sparrow in a pirate-themed room specially created for Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. More than 350 rooms at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort are getting an "Extreme Makeover: Pirate Edition" with new décor and furnishing fit for a buccaneer. Guests can start booking rooms for stays in January 2009, with the entire renovation scheduled to be completed by the end of spring 2009.