Disney World’s New Meals Sales space Does Its Residence State Proud

Walt Disney World would possibly as properly name the 2025 EPCOT Flower & Backyard Pageant, “a salute to all cuisines, however largely Florida’s.” Whereas Meals & Wine is decidedly worldwide, there’s way more of a regional taste to Flower & Backyard. Certain, there are nonetheless international Outside Kitchens round World Showcase, however a lot of the finest cubicles are on the entrance of the park, and lots of emphasize Southern delicacies–and Floridian meals, specifically.

These cubicles have menus that might be completely at residence being served within the eating places at Outdated Key West or Grand Floridian. Unsurprisingly, that is most obvious in Florida Recent, a new-look sales space that’s relocated to CommuniCore Corridor. This World Celebration venue is residence to 2 meals cubicles on the 2025 EPCOT Flower & Backyard Pageant, each of that are glorious choices.

As beforehand talked about, EPCOT Farmers Feast is my #1 Outside Kitchen on the 2025 EPCOT Flower & Backyard Pageant. Properly, Florida Recent is true up there. Positively not #2 or #3, however prime 7–and a part of a slate of formidable front-of-park Outside Kitchens that make it troublesome to justify even bothering with World Showcase meals cubicles.

Right here’s a full rundown of the Florida Recent meals & drink menus:

From a sensible perspective, that is one other sales space–as with EPCOT Farmers Feast–with a menu providing an appetizer, entree, and dessert. This setup permits CommuniCore Corridor to function a de facto secondary counter service restaurant servicing the entrance of the park. Connections Cafe & Eatery is actually busy–even throughout competition season–and this turns into overflow for that.

It’s additionally price noting that on a number of days, we noticed Florida Recent opening round 10 a.m., versus the conventional 11 a.m. for all different cubicles. It’s unclear whether or not that is its scheduled opening time, or if it was merely occurring as a launch valve for demand (and a dearth of eating choices for breakfast) on busier days throughout spring break. Both method, Florida Recent nearly immediately had an extended line.

If it does open early, my advice can be to seize a desk below the shade cowl tucked away within the far nook (reverse the Encanto stage, heading in the direction of Creativeness). Begin by consuming at Florida Recent, then ship runner(s) to get meals from inside CommuniCore Corridor at Farmers Feast, adopted by Yacht & Seaside Grub and Honey Bee-stro. It’s a comparatively brief stroll to all of these cubicles, and that is the perfect seating space for all of those cubicles.

Listed here are our meals evaluations from the Florida Recent:

Conch Fritters ($6.50) – These Conch Fritters served with key lime aïoli jogged my memory a lot of the fan-favorite appetizer served at Olivia’s Cafe at Disney’s Outdated Key West Resort. When menus have been first launched, I discovered this intriguing, as Walt Disney World controversially eliminated the conch fritters and changed them with subpar shrimp fritters.

This was executed as a part of some sustainable seafood initiative and Disney’s company partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. Because of this we’ve additionally misplaced lobster from a variety of menus (RIP Grand Floridian Cafe’s Lobster Thermidor Burger). Anyway, I’m not sure whether or not Disney has ditched that partnership or is sourcing sustainable conch (they’re not all rated “keep away from”), however I’m simply glad to have these fritters again.

I’ll additionally notice that Conch Fritters have additionally returned to Olivia’s Cafe. I don’t know when this occurred, and really feel it’s my obligation to go verify they’re nonetheless the unique recipe (for the sake of Very Essential Analysis, clearly).

Anyway, the Conch Fritters at Florida Recent are improbable.

These provide a crispy and crunchy exterior, with the uneven batter additionally offering a pleasant little bit of texture to enhance the mouthfeel of the fritters. That provides approach to a young and nearly gooey inside, full with chewy chunks of conch. The batter is properly seasoned, however to not the purpose that it overwhelms the conch. Unsurprisingly, the batter to conch ratio skews in the direction of the previous, however these fritters are nonetheless scrumptious.

The important thing lime aïoli takes them to the following degree, and is addictively good–creamy and with a little bit of piquancy. Native Floridians in all probability have had higher conch fritters at their favourite gap within the wall, however as somebody who has this dish on extra uncommon events, I’m an enormous fan of Walt Disney World’s model. Extremely really useful.

Cubanito ($6.75) – This Cuban sandwich is a little more easy of a dish, with mojo-marinated pork stomach, ham, swiss cheese, pickles, and stone floor mustard sauce.

The pork stomach here’s what actually makes this extra of a standout. As a sucker for pork stomach, I beloved this Cubanito. It gave the already indulgent sandwich a deeper and richer taste, and I felt it punched above its weight because of this. In case you’re on the lookout for envelope-pushing delicacies, this clearly isn’t it. It’s a sandwich. Nevertheless it’s a very good one.

Florida Strawberry Shortcake ($5) – This Florida Strawberry Shortcake consists of vanilla pound cake, macerated strawberries, strawberry sauce, and whipped cream.

My expectation right here was shortcake tasting like one thing from Publix. Fortunately, it cleared that bar. The pound cake itself is nice by way of high quality and consistency. The strawberries style contemporary. The sauce isn’t simply thick syrup. The whipped cream is okay. It doesn’t style pretend or low-cost, but additionally isn’t going to wow you. It’s a reliable dessert.

In the end, Florida Recent is without doubt one of the higher Outside Kitchens on the EPCOT Worldwide Flower & Backyard Pageant. Every thing right here is no less than price making an attempt and sharing, and I personally love the Conch Fritters (and that scrumptious dip) sufficient to get them repeatedly.

Florida Recent isn’t as glorious as the opposite sales space in CommuniCore Corridor, however every thing right here is no less than good. It might not wow, however it additionally received’t disappoint. It’s sufficient to be within the dialog as top-of-the-line cubicles on the occasion, and the highest tier in World Celebration.

World Showcase has a number of Outside Kitchens with strong gadgets right here and there, however solely a pair are as sturdy from top-to-bottom because the cubicles within the former Future World (minus Citrus Blossom). Virtually all of those provide glorious and impressive delicacies at comparatively truthful (by Walt Disney World requirements) costs. You can simply do a number of meals from these Outside Kitchens alone and depart very happy!

Try our Outside Kitchen Sales space Menus & Meals Photographs at EPCOT Worldwide Flower & Backyard Pageant submit if you wish to see and browse extra about each menu this yr. You’ll additionally need to learn our full Information to the EPCOT Worldwide Flower & Backyard Pageant earlier than you go to get an thought of what to do, technique for the competition, images of the topiaries and floral shows, and way more!