Family, travel, mom blog | Theme Park Mom (Leigh Caldwell)

Walt Disney World has announced a series of new additions at Downtown Disney, a shopping and entertainment complex at the resort.

First up is the new store RIDEMAKERZ, which is opening March 25 on the Downtown Disney West Side. Shoppers can trick out their own remote-controlled car in an interactive environment. This store is open for a limited time, with plans to close it in the fall. The RIDEMAKERZ at Disneyland is apparently a big hit. Sounds like fun!

Another new store, D Street, will sell urban apparel, accessories and Vinylmation figures.  D Street comes after the successful launch of Tren-D on the opposite end of Downtown Disney. Disney says the store will have an industrial look and will showcase Disney-inspired art by local artists. D Street will open in April.

Downtown Disney’s AMC movie theater is also undergoing renovations. One of the theaters is getting a larger, floor-to-ceiling screen and video and audio enhancements to make for better 3D viewing. The changes will be done just in time for Friday’s Alice in Wonderland premiere.

And a new quick-service restaurant – Pollo Campero — will open in the space that was once a McDonalds. Pollo Campero will dish up chicken, yuca fries and sweet plantains, as well as Latin drinks such as horchata and tamarindo. The new restaurant is scheduled to open this fall at Downtown Disney.

Cat Cora talks about her new restuarant, Kouzzina, at Disney's Boardwalk. She's with Disney Parks President Al Weiss.

Celebrity chef Cat Cora opened her new restaurant, Kouzzina, at Walt Disney World’s Boardwalk on Thursday.

I tasted many of the dishes on the menu at a media lunch. So, here’s a look at some of the food at Kouzzina:

Spiro's Greek salad at Kouzzina

Spiro’s Greek Salad is a pretty combination of tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, Kalamata olives, a wedge of feta and just a touch of arugula underneath it all. It was (more…)

Walt Disney World announced today that celebrity chef Cat Cora will open a new family dining spot at Disney’s Boardwalk this fall.

Courtesy photo / Walt Disney World

The restaurant, named Kouzzina, will replace Spoodles. Not surprisingly, the menu will be Mediterranean influenced. Cora grew up in a family of Greek restaurateurs.

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.”

I always enjoy watching Cora on “Iron Chef America,” I like her southern, easygoing style.

I’m eager to check out the new restaurant when it opens. Especially since Disney’s Boardwalk is one of my favorite places to spend an evening, outside of the parks. It’s a great place to catch Epcot’s Illuminations without paying for theme park admission.

Hopefully, Cora will use her own experience as a mom to make the restaurant truly family friendly.