Why We're Worried About 2 NEW Disney World Restaurants

There are some new restaurants coming to Disney World, but you’d think by now we’d have more info about them… right?

In two of the brand-new lands that we’re getting at Disney World—Monsters, Inc. Land at Hollywood Studios and Villains Land at Magic Kingdom, Disney has confirmed there will be dining in both of these areas, but here’s the thing: They haven’t actually told us what those restaurants will be. And while we’re usually all about trusting the process, we’re starting to get a little nervous over here.

Where’s Harryhausen’s?!

Let’s start with Monsters, Inc. Land. One of the first things we noticed when Disney dropped the concept art was what looked a lot like Harryhausen’s—the sushi restaurant from the original Monsters, Inc. movie.

It’s iconic and it’s been a fan-favorite wish list item for years. Naturally, we got excited. But here’s the catch: Disney hasn’t officially said anything about it. Not one word. Not one sentence confirming that Harryhausen’s is actually happening.

That’s weird, right? Because the concept art made it pretty obvious. And if they were going to lean into a dining experience themed around one of the most recognizable moments in the Monsters, Inc. universe, why wouldn’t they confirm it by now? It would hype people up even more. So either they’re keeping it under wraps for some big reveal… or it’s not happening. And if it’s not happening, then what is?

And look, we get that things change. Concept art isn’t always final. But the longer we go without a name or details, the more it feels like maybe Harryhausen’s isn’t coming after all—and that would be a huge missed opportunity.

Villains Land = ???

Then there’s the mysterious case of Villains Land. When Disney announced the expansion plans for Magic Kingdom, one of the biggest mic-drop moments was the inclusion of a Villains-themed area. All of us fans have been asking for this for decades, and Disney actually said there would be new dining here too.

Cool. We’re listening. But again—what dining? There’s no concept art with any hint of what kind of restaurant might be coming. No teaser names. No theming clues. Just… a vague statement that “dining” is coming. That’s it.

We don’t know if we’re getting a big table service spot, a themed quick service window, or maybe even a villain-themed lounge (which could honestly be kind of epic). There’s so much creative potential here—a Queen of Hearts tea party, a Maleficent fire-grilled BBQ pit, Hades’ Underworld Lounge with spicy cocktails—the ideas practically write themselves. But right now, there’s zero indication of what’s on the table (literally).

Why We’re Kinda Anxious About It

We love food at Disney World. For some people it’s all about the rides, but for us, the snacks, meals, and immersive dining experiences are half the fun. So when we hear “new land” and “new dining,” our expectations go way up, and when Disney keeps that part vague or silent, it leaves a lot of room for disappointment.

We’re Hoping for a Big Reveal

To be clear, we’re not writing this off yet. Disney has a habit of playing things close to the vest and then dropping major announcements out of nowhere. For all we know, there’s a fully fleshed-out Harryhausen’s menu sitting in a vault somewhere waiting for its big debut.

And Villains Land could be holding back a jaw-dropping restaurant reveal that’ll have us booking park reservations the minute it opens. But until then, we’re watching closely and crossing our fingers.

So, stay tuned—we’ll be the first to let you know if (and when) Disney finally spills the beans.

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you! They’ll keep an eye on all of the best deals so you don’t have to.

As always, be sure to keep following AllEars for more Disney news.