As 2025 begins to slip away, Walt Disney World has quietly dropped what now appears to be its final major dining update of the year. There was no big announcement, no splashy blog post, and no warning to guests planning last-minute trips. Instead, Disney did what it often does best lately—made widespread changes and let fans discover them on their own.
This time, the impact is hard to ignore. Thirteen restaurants across EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, resort hotels, Disney Springs, and even Blizzard Beach saw menu items removed, replaced, or added. And with the calendar nearly out of pages, this feels less like routine maintenance and more like Disney officially closing the book on 2025.
EPCOT Sees Some of the Most Noticeable Changes
EPCOT was hit first—and hardest.
At San Angel Inn Restaurante inside the Mexico Pavilion, Disney removed two familiar entrées that longtime guests often ordered without thinking twice. The Quesadilla del Mercado and Camarones a la Diabla are gone, replaced by a mix of new dishes and cocktails, including a Gordita, Arrachera Wagyu, and new margarita-style drinks like La Flaca and La Paloma.
This wasn’t a subtle adjustment. It changed the personality of the menu, especially for guests who return year after year expecting consistency.
Nearby at Sunshine Seasons, Disney swapped out oak-grilled entrées and a longtime dessert favorite. In their place came wood-fired versions of the chicken and salmon, plus a Mickey-shaped cinnamon roll that leans harder into visual appeal and branding.
Animal Kingdom Quietly Loses Fan Favorites
Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the changes feel smaller on paper—but more emotional for frequent visitors.
Nomad Lounge removed its pineapple-glazed pork belly, a dish many guests made a point to stop for. Tiffins quietly dropped the Balinese Breeze cocktail. These aren’t massive menu overhauls, but they sting for guests who plan entire afternoons around these spots.
On the flip side, Pongu Pongu added two new specialty drinks tied to Pandora’s nighttime atmosphere, while Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes expanded its quick-service options with snack chicken fried rice and new beverages.
Resort Restaurants Weren’t Spared
Several Disney resort restaurants were also part of this final push.
Jiko – The Cooking Place added a new Durban Biryani, expanding its globally inspired offerings. Meanwhile, Narcoossee’s at the Grand Floridian removed its plancha-seared scallops, and Primo Piatto at Riviera Resort eliminated a breakfast sandwich that many guests relied on for quick mornings.
These resort-level changes often go unnoticed until guests arrive and realize their go-to order is missing.
Disney Springs Experiences the Biggest Overhaul
If there’s one area where the scale of this update becomes clear, it’s Disney Springs.
Paddlefish removed a long list of items, including multiple entrées, sandwiches, and a specialty cocktail, replacing them with a much smaller set of new offerings. Terralina Crafted Italian swapped out its bread pudding dessert for tiramisu. Pizza Ponte dramatically reworked its pizzas, desserts, and drinks.
Even the Coca-Cola Store Rooftop Beverage Bar adjusted its menu, removing a popular sweet tea cocktail and adding several new seasonal-style drinks.
Even Blizzard Beach Felt the Impact
Perhaps the clearest sign that this was a property-wide reset is that Blizzard Beach wasn’t excluded. A foot-long hot dog disappeared from Avalunch, while classic snacks like the Mickey-shaped pretzel and waffle cone were removed from the Warming Hut.
When water park snack menus are changing this late in the year, it’s a strong signal Disney is tying up loose ends.
Why This Feels Like a Line in the Sand
Disney typically slows down major changes as the holidays approach. Making this many menu updates at once suggests something different—it feels intentional.
This dining shake-up looks like Disney’s way of stabilizing operations before heading into what’s expected to be a far bigger year in 2026. Compared to what’s coming, these changes may seem small. But they’re likely the last adjustments guests will see before the next wave hits.
If you’re visiting before the year ends, checking menus ahead of time might save you some disappointment. Because once the calendar flips, Disney World won’t just be tweaking dining—it’ll be moving forward.
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