PHOTOS - The backstory of the latest Disney Springs restaurants - including The Edison and Maria & Enzo's

Dec 05, 2017 in "The Edison"

Gallery / 4 Photos
Inside details at The Edison and Maria and Enzo's

Posted: Tuesday December 5, 2017 7:22am EDT by WDWMAGIC Staff

With a look at the backstories, Disney has given us some more details on the three new restaurants and one new bar coming to Disney Springs in the next month.

The Edison

The building, which originally served as the power plant for the growing town of Disney Springs, showcases remnants from its past life: keep an eye out for the Boiler Bar, with its electrical display panels, and the adjacent boilers, which are still classic centerpieces of any power plant.

The décor includes a one-of-a-kind mural romanticizing the golden age of innovation and a larger-than-life, working clock tower that greets guests upon arrival.

Inside details at The Edison and Maria and Enzo's

By day, The Edison will welcome families, in the early evening, everyone is invited to dine, but as night sets in (around 10:00 p.m.), the location transforms to an adults-only scene for guests ages 21 and up, with a groundbreaking beverage menu, dining and entertainment unlike anything else at Disney Springs.

Inside details at The Edison and Maria and Enzo's

Maria & Enzo's

Adjacent to The Edison is a trifecta of Italian venues, located in what was once the Disney Springs Air Terminal, a majestic Art Deco structure that welcomed guests from across the globe to a world of sun, beauty and legendary hospitality. As the story goes, the air terminal was popular into the early 1930s, but travelers diminished as the years brought on more modern flying alternatives and larger destinations. Upon its closure, the building was purchased by an Italian immigrant couple named Maria & Enzo; the duo had previously run the small bakery in the terminal’s lobby.

Inside details at The Edison and Maria and Enzo's

Pizza Ponte

Inspired by their shared love of food and travel, they opened Pizza Ponte – a favorite of Disney Springs locals for a quick bite any time of the day or night – with Sicilian-style pizza by the slice, made-to-order sandwiches and handmade Italian pastries. The success of this venue allowed Maria and Enzo to fulfill their ultimate dream to restore and transform the long-forgotten terminal to its former glory, giving it new life as a grand restaurant showcasing the flavors of Southern Italy.

Named after its founders, Maria & Enzo’s features vaulted ceilings, a geographically correct mural depicting the destinations once serviced by the terminal…New York, Daytona Beach, New Orleans and Cuba among them…and an impressive globe chandelier. (Insider Tip: Look closely and you can see that Disney-inspired locations are called out, including a marker that denotes Marceline, Missouri – the hometown of Walt Disney!) The main dining room pays homage to the original departure lounge while nearby, a more intimate dining room highlights its history as the first-class lounge with service standards that are second to none.

Enzo's Hideaway

Steps away, the unexpected Enzo’s Hideaway offers a glimpse into another lounge – this one, a secret space that first served as a bootlegger’s hideout. A legendary speakeasy that was discovered by Enzo after he purchased the terminal, this network of tunnels was the center of the Springs’ social life during the “dry years” of prohibition.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">Enzo's Hideaway</span>

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Jon81ukJul 12, 2018

But adding more and more restaurants away from the resorts won't always draw people away. They need to add enough capacity so people staying in a resort can eat in their own resort!

Jon81ukJul 12, 2018

Basically Trade Sam's fits the bill in this case, or the old Adventurers Club or the comedy warehouse. Adults only can still be Disney!!

HoraceHorizonsJul 11, 2018

It kinda bothers me that the word "adult" is used so often as the black to white opposite of the word "family." Im saying - Adult entertainment doesn't have to be R-rated or even anti-G-rated. That's my point. I think it could be of interest to "Adults only" without involving strippers and puking college kids. A Vaudeville show, PBS Experimental, Progressive cartoons, or in this case, a jazzy Speakeasy is the perfect example of that, I think. Im saying that black and white idea between adult entertainment and family entertainment is largely inflated and not always real. I think, in the effort to strike the balance between the two, sometimes Disney loses the very thing that made the concept great to begin with. Side note: I love the old B&W cartoons on the TV's at THE EDISON.

HoraceHorizonsJul 11, 2018

Im not disagreeing with you, per se but I dont think this is 100% accurate. For instance, I dont think transitioning the central concept of Pleasure Island and THE EDISON with Neverland Tunnels, to more of a restaurant style, was part of the plan or had anything to do with capacity and getting families meals. So many of the restaurants within a stones throw are struggling, and constantly tweaking menus, price-points and the like to generate crowds. Even places as popular as The Boathouse are easy reservations to snag. Changing a hip speakeasy into an Italian Restaurant/Speakeasy combo wreaks of exactly what it is IMO - too little commitment/faith in a good, exciting idea.

FullSailDanJul 10, 2018

The 600 restaurants at DS is to build capacity. No, you can’t try them all, not are you meant to. WDW has a problem with resort and park restaurants being at capacity and guests being unable to get breakfast or dinner anywhere (see yacht and beach club) except for a pizza counter or salad bar. The hope is, you’ll go there for dinner and do a little shopping.

surfsupdonJul 06, 2018

Remember BoardWalk Inn has two 21+ places that are fun. I’m hoping with the Skyliner that more Guests from other Resorts can get easy access to the BoardWalk clubs and bars and make them more crowded and fun later into the night. Like I said earlier tho, I much enjoyed The Edison for late night fun.

RSoxNo1Jun 26, 2018

You're thinking of burlesque.

I am TimmyJun 26, 2018

I miss the comedy you could take your kids to at Pleasure Island - my boys LOVED it. It didn't get raunchy until late, they always kept it PG early when kids would be there. My boys miss the Adventurer's Club, as do we all. And Improv and popcorn just go together. What family doesn't love to laugh?

martymcflyy85Jun 26, 2018

You make a valid point. Thanks for making it in a nice way. :)

MisterPenguinJun 26, 2018

If it wasn't for all the adults-without-children-in-tow going to WDW, the park would only be open when schools weren't in session. Adult-only guests keep WDW alive.

trainplane3Jun 26, 2018

You do realize Pleasure Island was a thing that was mainly for the 21+ crowd? I don't think it's much to ask at all to have a single place to hang out that isn't for the kids. And even then, it doesn't go "club-ish" till 10pm unless that changed.