Epcot Dining

New Restaurant open in Italy. Tutto Italia ("Everything Italy") is open in the Italy pavilion at Epcot, a creation of the California-based Patina Restaurant Group.

The Epcot restaurant is the newest flagship in Patina's portfolio of nearly 30 restaurants across the U.S. and its first in Florida. Showcasing cuisine from different regions of Italy, the newly outfitted restaurant features a menu with freshly made breads and pastries, handmade mozzarella and an array of Italian wines. Plans are to expand the restaurant by late 2008.

Japan, China and Mexico pavilions are all updating their dining experience.  Japan's Tempura Kiku and Matsu No Ma Lounge have been replaced with a new spot, Tokyo Dining, showcasing traditional cuisine and ingredients of Japan with an emphasis on sushi and innovative presentation. The popular Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki Dining Room is renamed Teppan Edo, but the concept remains.

In China, a new Joy of Tea outdoor cart features hot and cold teas, frozen green tea concoctions and alcoholic choices such as plum wine and wine green tea slush. The pavilion's Lotus Blossom Café has been renovated and features a new menu that includes Beijing barbecue chicken, sesame chicken salad and rou jia mo, a popular Chinese sandwich made with sliced beef stuffed in toasted wheat-flour flatbread. Nine Dragons table-service restaurant will close in early 2008 for renovations that include an exhibition kitchen that will feature five cooking stations where guests can interact with chefs from China. Scheduled opening is fall 2008.

In Mexico, a 50- to 60-seat tequila bar replaces a retail shop in the pavilion's spacious indoor courtyard in summer 2008. And the pavilion's waterfront Cantina de San Angel is expanding with more seating with optimal views of World Showcase, and will offer a new menu by summer 2008.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Two new themed restaurants, the Yak & Yeti are now open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Inspired by the western Himalayan foothills in India and Nepal, this Asian-fusion establishment offers table-service dining and a full-service bar, as well as quick-service food and beer-garden options, and retail offerings from Pan-Asia ranging from silk purses, incense and saris to fine teapots. It seats 250 inside for table-service dining and 350 in a quick-service courtyard.

More dining changes at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Tusker House Restaurant in Disney's Animal Kingdom is reopened as a buffet restaurant that includes a character breakfast, Donald's Safari Breakfast. Hours are 8-10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. until the park closes. The restaurant features both indoor and outdoor seating.

Walt Disney World Swan

Il Mulino. New York City's Il Mulino is the newest dining experience at the Walt Disney World Swan.It features family-style dining with fish, chicken, fresh pastas and meats, with seasonal ingredients inspired by Italy's Abruzzi region, and a wine list with more than 250 selections. With 220 seats, Il Mulino has intimate dining rooms that are available for special occasions or smaller group events.  Open seven days a week for dinner.

Downtown Disney

Dine face to face with a dinosaur at T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure, A Place to Eat, Shop, Explore and Discover, which combines table-service dining and retail in an interactive prehistoric environment built around water, fire and ice. Coming in late 2008.

Kids Menus get a Makeover

Kids' menus at Disney slowly have been evolving, but recent changes make healthier choices the standard instead of the "alternate." Carrot sticks in place of French fries and 1 percent milk or bottled water instead of soda, for instance. Guests must request fries and sodas.

The new menu has been in testing for most of 2007, and during the test phase, about 80 percent of parents chose the healthier option in the quick-service restaurants in the parks.