After a four-year absence, a Disney Vacation Club favorite will return in three months. Yes, 1900 Park Fare will reopen soon at The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Here’s what you need to know.

When Will 1900 Park Fare Reopen?

The Disney Parks Blog just confirmed that 1900 Park Fare will reopen on April 10th. So, we’re discussing a timeline of two months until you can sip Strawberry Soup again!

As a reminder, 1900 Park Fare is a beloved Disney restaurant just past the lobby of the Grand Floridian. You walk from the hotel’s main entrance to the back left, where you check in for the Grand Floridian Café.

When you’re facing the check-in desk at Grand Floridian Cafe, you turn left. Now, you’re facing the entrance to 1900 Park Fare, which has remained closed since March 2020. 

In April, Cast Members will allow you into the restaurant for the first time in more than four years. Advanced Dining Reservations go on sale on March 5th, and it’s a safe bet that they’ll book quickly. 

What’s Changing at 1900 Park Fare?

Newer members may not know about the joys of 1900 Park Fare, which is legitimately one of my top ten dining experiences at Walt Disney World. Let’s quickly do a refresher course about the greatness of this restaurant. 

Disney hosts a character meal at 1900 Park Fare. Notably, the characters and themes differ from breakfast to dinner. In a potentially divisive move, Disney will change some of the characters, although we’re still not entirely clear who is leaving. The Disney Parks Blog update made no mention of the former Supercalifragilistic Breakfast. The prior experience featured Mary Poppins and characters from Alice in Wonderland and Hundred Acre Wood. 

Instead, the 2024 version of breakfast and dinner will include character interactions with Cinderella, Mirabel from Encanto, and Tiana in her Tiana’s Bayou Adventure outfit. Aladdin will also appear as Prince Ali. 

Disney’s update mentioned “returning favorites” as well. So, it’s too soon to say which characters aren’t coming back. 

Obviously, the restaurant has updated some during its downtime. As part of the restaurant’s redesign, Disney has created a new mural with tributes to Alice in Wonderland and The Little Mermaid. 

This mural is one of 12 new pieces of art prominently displayed throughout the restaurant. Disney artists have applied the Impressionist style to guarantee that the restaurant fits thematically with the hotel lobby. 

The other change is a subtle but important one. When the restaurant reopens, 1900 Park Fare won’t accept the Disney Dining Plan. Please plan accordingly. 

What’s Still the Same at 1900 Park Fare?

Importantly, the signature centerpiece at 1900 Park Fare remains. Big Bertha, the beloved antique organ, will remain an essential part of the dining experience. Also, breakfast and dinner will remain All-You-Care-to-Enjoy buffet meals. Disney went out of its way to confirm that the Strawberry Soup stays at the salad bar, too. The announcement was otherwise light on menu details, but the Strawberry Soup has to be there. So, you can put down your pitchforks and torches

Historically, fans adored breakfast and dinner at 1900 Park Fare. Despite being closed for four years, the restaurant maintains a four-star rating on TripAdvisor. It’s currently the #113 ranked restaurant among 2,112 dining options in Orlando. 

Obviously, expectations will be high for 1900 Park Fare when it returns. Thus far, the primary concern expressed by fans on social media has nothing to do with the food, though. Lady Tremaine and her daughters, Anastasia and Drizella, played a vital part in the dinner experience here. They provided heel-ish character engagements, teasing and taunting guests, a rarity at Disney. 

This announcement made no mention of them. You can read in the DPB comments how much this has upset some fans. Hopefully, it’s just a later revelation Disney is saving. 

However, the inclusion of new characters and ones with updated looks could indicate otherwise. Disney may be future-proofing 1900 Park Fare with Encanto, and Tiana instead.