February is Black History Month, and Disney is highlighting the “Celebrate Soulfully” experiences. The Disney Company maintains a goal of reflecting the diversity of the world we live in. Inspired by cast members who share their culture, both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort encourage guests to celebrate Black heritage and culture through cuisine, music, and experiences throughout the year.
In honor of Black History Month, Disney has expanded “Celebrate Soulfully” to include limited time shows, experiences and cuisine at both resort properties available only during the month of February. Let’s take a look at everything that is available for the coming month!
“Celebrate Gospel” at Disneyland Park
At Fantasyland Theatre from 2:30-7pm PT on February 18 and 25 guests of the Disneyland Park can once again enjoy the sounds of Gospel. Free with your ticket to the park, you can stop and listen while recording artists, including Grammy Winners, local choirs, and Gospel Music stars share their voices.
Guest Singers include:
February 18
- Jekalyn Carr with special guest Melvin Crispell,III
- Sacred Groove -an a cappella group
February 25
- Erica Campbell with special guest DOE
- The Singers of Soul
Disneyland Resort honors Black History Month
All around Disneyland parks, resorts and Downtown Disney, guest can enjoy crafts, music, and special experiences in celebration of Black History Month.
Downtown Disney
As part of Disney’s “Celebrate Soulfully” experience, families can try their hand at crafts inspired by black heritage and culture while listening to sounds of R&B, Reggae, Funk, Motown, Jazz, Doo-Wop and Gospel. Follow the rich sounds of the performers to the Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage nightly.
Scheduled Performers Include:
- LALA Brass
- Forward Motion Band
- The Rhythm & Blues Brothas
And more
If you find yourself at Downtown Disney on a weekend afternoon, you could catch Gospel music performances by Sacred Groove or The Singers of Soul.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Every evening during the month of February, guests will enjoy The Mood Indigo Group as they entertain with the sweet sounds of Jazz in the Great Hall at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
Main Street Opera House at Disneyland Park
Beginning January 27 and year long, guests of Disneyland Park can watch a new video in the main lobby of the Main Street Opera House outside of the “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” exhibit. The video feature was created in collaboration with National Geographic and honors Frederick Douglass and his work with Abraham Lincoln to end Slavery.
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
In mid-February, the Disney Channel and Disney + will debut a new series about a super genius (Luna Lafayette) and her T-Rex Dinosaur. The animated series is a story about how these two make a difference and protect her Lower East Side (New York) neighborhood.
You can meet and encounter these two new characters in Hollywood Land at Disney’s California Adventure Park for a limited time in mid-February.
Honoring Black Characters from Your Favorite Disney Films
Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure Park will both host fantastical opportunities for guests to enjoy timeless and classic characters.
photo Credit: Disney Destinations
You can catch a stage show production of the Lion King at Fantasyland Theater. You can also visit Eudora’s Chic Boutique in New Orleans Square for home goods, apparel, and more, some of which is inspired by Princess Tiana and the film “Princess and the Frog”.
In addition, at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park, join in a training session with the Dora Milaje straight out of The Black Panther film series.
Cuisine Inspired by Black Culture and Heritage
All around the Disney properties on both the east and west coast, the Disney Culinary team has created dishes and beverages inspired by black heritage and culture. Some dishes are available year-round, and some are for a limited time during February, Black History Month.
Let’s start at the original:
Disneyland Park
At Café Orleans, try some Shrimp and Grits with andouille-fava relish, cheesy grits and shrimp sauce or grab a Peach cobbler Donut dipped in vanilla icing and filled with peach compote topped with a cinnamon sugar puff at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café.
The River Belle Terrace has a southern BBQ Platter featuring mashed potatoes, baked beans, slaw, and a house-baked biscuit.
During the “Celebrate Gospel” concerts, the Troubadour Tavern will offer guests the Fried Chicken Bowl with spicy honey-glazed fried chicken served with four-cheese mac n’ cheese, smoked turkey collard greens and sweet potato cornbread. Also available during the gospel concerts is the Red Velvet Bundt Cake with chocolate mousse, cream cheese frosting topped with chocolate chips.
Special Popcorn Bucket
At the popcorn cart in Fantasyland, you can reenact that famous opening scene from the Lion King with a baby Simba popcorn bucket.
Hotels at Disneyland Resort
At Hearthstone Lounge inside The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa you can feast on Andouille Mac n’ Cheese and wash it down with a Apricot Manhattan made with Uncle Nearest 1884 Whiskey, Giffards Abricot du Roussillon and Amaro Nonino. A “Special Fizz” is also available at this lounge made with Hanson of Sonoma Habanero Vodka, ginger beer, lime juice and raspberry syrup.
Downtown Disney District
The black-owned food truck College Boy Cheesesteaks will serve up Philly style Cheesesteak made from local Philadelphians (as someone from the Philadelphia area, I may have to be a judge on that!) Also available from black-owned food truck Wings and Waffles will be more delicious sandwiches and dishes.
At Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, guests 21 and over can enjoy a Peach Pie Old Fashioned with Whiskey, peach liquor, bitters, and brown sugar.
Disney World Resort Celebrates Soulfully
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The ABC Commissary at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will begin serving Gumbo through the month of February in honor of Black History Month, and Dockside Diner with serve a South African Hot Dog. This hot dog is made with South African boerie and topped with sweet spicy chakalaka relish on a brioche bun.
Hollywood Scoops will feature a Tiana Mardi Gras Milkshake. Taste amazing Cinnamon Sugar with this shake topped with a Mardi Gras king cake!!
Continuing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, at Hollywood and Vine try Poulet Marine Au Four which is a Baked marinated chicken. This was created by cast members exclusively to celebrate Haitian Flag Day and remains on the buffet menu
Woody’s Lunch Box will have a new lunch box tart with sweet potato, cinnamon, marshmallows and pecans, while 50’s Prime Time Café will serve Shrimp and Grits with Creole-seasoned shrimp, cheesy grits, peppers, and onions.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park
Flame Tree Barbecue will serve Creole Smoked Sausage Sandwich that includes Piccadilly relish and stewed black-eyed peas as well as a “Soul Cupcake”. The cupcake is made of vanilla cake, bananas foster filling, has vanilla marshmallow buttercream topped with a Joe Gardner white chocolate medallion. This cupcake will also be served at:
- Pizzafari
- Restaurantosaurus
At Nomad Lounge, enjoy the Ginger Whiskey made with Uncle Nearest 1856 Whiskey which is also available at their signature restaurant- Tiffins. If you find yourself dining at Tiffins you can dive into Spiced Shrimp and Grits with spicy shrimp and corn grits. Your dessert can include a Peach Cobbler Whiskey Cake.
If you like Braised Collard Greens with Bacon, make your reservations for dinner at Tusker House Restaurant. This character dining experience will also have Harira Soup and Jollof Rice with a plant-based sausage.
Looking for a special cocktail? Try the Mint Julep with Pineapple available at:
- Dawa Bar
- Restarauntosaurus Lounge
- Thirsty River Bar
Epcot Honors Disney’s Celebrate Soulfully
Head to the American Adventure Pavilion for your sweet stuff. Step into Regal Eagle Smokehouse for some comforting “Tiana’s Banana Pudding” or sip on a ‘Half Note Float with Fanta Wild Cherry, Minute Maid Lemonade, Fanta Blue Raspberry and Vanilla Ice Cream at Fife and Drum.
You can also indulge in the savory and get Shrimp and Grits from Coral Reef Restaurant made with sauteed shrimp, cheddar grits, local corn succotash, andouille sausage and creole spice emulsion.
Magic Kingdom Celebrates Soulfully
Cinderella’s Royal Table will feature wines from McBride Sisters Wine Company, a black-owned and female-led company.
In addition, at Magic Kingdom, if you want the adventurous, as always, head to Skipper Canteen. This table service spot will serve Kungaloosh! An African-inspired chocolate cake as well as the Golden Haze Margarita made with Teramana Blanco Tequila, Grand Marnier liqueur, Hella Cocktail Co. Smoked Chili Bitters, lime, and agave.
Disney’s Celebrates Soulfully at the Springs
Let’s get to the savory offerings first!
Jock Lindsey’s Hanger Bar will be serving Chicken on the Egg. This dish includes buttermilk fried chicken, deviled eggs, and hot honey sauce. Jock is also featuring a fried sweet potato pie.
Poutine will have a special poutine with Jamaican Jerk Chicken, scotch bonnet aioli, and pineapple salsa, while the Polite Pig offers The Soulfully Chef Special which is fried pork belly, beef empanadas, and pikliz.
Lastly, B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co. will have the savory Chicken Jambalaya Dog served on a Tuscan roll, roasted corn, and lemon caper aioli.
The sweet stuff includes..
Amorette’s Patisserie will have a petite cake in honor of the movie “Soul” with Joe Gardner on top made with chocolate chiffon cake, dark chocolate mousse, raspberry pate de fruit, raspberry mouse, and white chocolate crispy pearls.
Amorette’s isn’t the only place to find Joe! The Ganachery will have Soulful Pralines decorated in honor of the Jazz Musician as well.
In addition, At Vivoli Il Gelato indulge in a Candied Yam Cannoli or Carver’s Peanut Butter Explosion, a peanut butter milkshake with chocolate drizzle, whipped cream and a chocolate peanut butter cake on top.
Cocktails?
The Dockside Margaritas as well as the other outer bars, will serve Royal Sunset made with Empress 1908 Gin, grapefruit juice, cane sugar and cherries.
Meanwhile, The House of Blues will have a “Celebrate Soulfully Special”. This special features 2 beers, a pilsner and an IPA from Green Bench Brewing, Florida’s only Black -owned brewery. It will also include a chardonnay from Brown Estates, Napa Valley’s first Black-owned estate winery.
Disney World Resorts Celebrate Soulfully
All-Stars, Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Contemporary Resorts
The resorts are getting in on Disney’s Celebrate Soulfully experience as well. At each of the All-Star resorts, guests can try a Banana Pudding Cheesecake! Contempo Café at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will serve Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese. At Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge guests can try Sana Spiced Shrimp.
Coronado Springs and Port Orleans Resorts
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort at Barcelona Lounge the Whiskey Tart will be available made with orange cardamom infuse cake, dark chocolate mousse, and diplomat cream infused with Uncle Nearest 1884 small batch premium whiskey.
Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts will both have special sweets in honor of Black History Month. At Sassagoula Float Works at French Quarter and Riverside Mill Food Court at Riverside, try a Comeback chocolate Cake which is a German style chocolate cake made with a pecan coconut topping.
Moreover, The Port Orleans French Quarter Resort will also have Mickey shaped “Berry Beignets” filled with mixed berry compote and topped with house-made Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Bach Premium Whiskey caramel sauce at Scat Cat’s Café.
Saratoga Springs along with Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts
Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa will serve the Soulful Sunday Dinner at the Artist’s Palette. This traditional dinner will include barbeque chicken served with collard greens, black eye peas and house-make cornbread. It will be available Sundays in February. End your dinner with a traditional slice of golden pound cake for “Celebrate Soulfully”.
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts at either Marketplace inside the resorts will serve the “Tiana Praline Cupcake with vanilla cake filled with pecan praline filling and vanilla buttercream.
In addition to the dishes and treats served at the resorts, various lounges, table service restaurants and outdoor bars will serve either or both:
- Golden Cocktail: Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Premium Whiskey, pineapple juice, almond, agave, and aromatic bitters
- Pineapple Mule: Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Premium Whiskey, Hella Cocktail Co. ginger bitters, pineapple juice, ginger beer and mint.
Wrapping up Disney’s Celebrate Soulfully
I hope this helps you along your journey of celebrating Black History Month at the Disney properties. Don’t hesitate to join in on the festivities while enjoying some delicious cuisine.
If you are interested in booking a vacation to any Disney destination, reach out to our friends at DizN Vacations. Their team of experienced and knowledgeable travel advisors can help you book and build your best trip! You can also submit a free no obligation quote request to start planning your vacation right away.
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