Come along
on a guided sneak peek of Disney Springs’ new restaurants.
that true art-deco period.”
The restaurant’s vertical exterior sign is scheduled to be installed this week.
Standing in the door of the second level, you might feel like you’re making a grand entrance, with two sets of stairs curving down and a view of the waterfront.
“As soon as they walk in, they’re going to see the breathtaking views of Lake Buena Vista — floorto-ceiling windows,” Collins said.
The Edison, according to the storyline, will operate inside a power plant built in 1902. The look is darker than Maria and Enzo’s, with copper, rusty, burgundy flavors and décor that revolves around built-in boilers and a large clock — the face is 6 feet tall or so — with mechanisms on display.
It’s also a bi-level experience with bars sprinkled about and a dance floor with live entertainment nightly. After 10 p.m., The Edison will switch into 21-and-up mode. And there will be a dress code at that time: no flip-flops or sleeveless shirts. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, a $10 cover charge will kick in.
“We’re here and happy to celebrate all of our guests who are here on vacation,” Collins said. “We know that sometimes maybe you came directly from the park. You didn’t have an opportunity to go and dress up. But we are still trying to maintain a quality experience, specifically for the late-night crowd here at Disney Springs.”
Enzo’s Hideaway is a speakeasystyle restaurant tucked beneath the air terminal.
“If you follow along with the Disney story, the Hideaway was happening even when the air terminal was bustling,” Collins said. “The people didn’t know what was going on underneath.”
There are cozy booths, bricked archways and a large gathering room.
It also plays off the famed Disney tunnels, but it’s not what you’d call a double-secret nightspot. Lit signage will be on the rotunda, leading the way to the entrance. No secret knocks or downloads required.
Both the Hideaway and Maria & Enzo’s have distinctive wall treatments. The latter has a colorful travel-oriented mural (shades of orange and greens) ringing the room at the ceiling, pointing the way to locations. If you face the word “Cuba,” you are literally looking toward Cuba. Other images up there: flamingos, a marlin, the Statue of Liberty and an old-school race car, indicating Daytona Beach.
Down in the Hideaway, the length of a wall is black and white graffiti that dates back to the old days. It’s raw and less arty but portrays objects such as pirates, violins and portraits of young ladies.
Other quick hits: Pizza Ponte (“pahn-TAY”) represents the first restaurant owned by the Maria and Enzo’s characters. The hostesses at Maria & Enzo’s restaurant will wear flight attendant uniforms. The majority of the serving staff at The Edison and Maria & Enzo’s are “cultural ambassadors” from Italy, Collins said. (Some have also worked at Italy in Epcot). The Characters in Flight balloon descends near the windows of the air terminal. Random families visiting Maria & Enzo’s will be selected to sit in the First Class Lounge for an “elevated experience,” Collins said. (That includes a “welcome cocktail,” a gift from the chef and a souvenir flight pin for the kids. It has the same menu as the dining room.) The Edison entertainment will include aerialists on some evenings, absinthe fairies and elixirs. At lunchtime, that restaurant will have characters providing “edutainment.”
The Edison will open for business with a special New Year’s Eve event on Dec. 31. The other eateries are expected to debut in the following weeks.