Iconic restaurant closing at Disney, fans get one last chance | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

Memorial Day Weekend is here, pretty much kicking off summer. Summer means family vacations, and if you’re lucky, that family vacation includes a visit to a theme park.

If you’re really lucky, it means a trip to a Disney park.

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Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California are the two most popular of the company’s 12 worldwide parks — these two locations alone saw around 70 million visits in 2024 — and Disney World is also the most popular travel destination in the U.S., according to a Travel & Leisure survey.

While the rides and the characters are a big draw, so is the food. You’ll find all the typical amusement park fare — corn dogs, funnel cakes, churros, and soft-serve ice cream — but Disney is also known for its more upscale dining, including the beloved Shula’s Steak House.

Disney World is home to several restaurants led by celebrity chefs.

Image source&colon; Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

Shula’s Steak House in Disney World will close soon

Since its opening in 1995, Shula’s Steak House in Orlando has served up classic steakhouse fare. The spot is named for Don Shula, the NFL player and coach who was most well-known for his years with the Miami Dolphins.

Shula died in 2020, and Disney announced in April his namesake restaurant will close in June.

There are Shula’s locations in Arizona, Illinois, and Virginia, all filled with Miami Dolphins memorabilia from the team’s 1972 “Perfect Season,” so-called because it is the only team in NFL history to finish a season undefeated.

The Orlando location is the only one in the chain that’s closing, even though it often won recognition as a “Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence” and earned “Critic’s Choice for Orlando’s Best Restaurant.”

While specific reasons for Shula’s closure haven’t been officially shared, General Manager Sean Verney said Disney is aiming to offer guests heightened dining experiences, according to WDW News Today.

Disney World loves to partner with celebrity chefs

Within Disney World there are 90 full-service restaurants, so there is literally something for everyone, including more than a dozen eateries led by celebrity chefs:

Jaleo by José Andrés serves up Spanish tapas.
Chicken Guy! by Guy Fieri offers fried chicken favorites.
Morimoto Asia, by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, features sushi and Korean cuisine.
Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill offers an eclectic mix from bruschetta to calamari.
eet by Maneet Chauhan is one of the newer spots in Disney World, featuring Indian food by the James Beard Award-winning chef.
Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ is all about Southern-comfort cuisine.

There is even a restaurant at Walt Disney World that earned a Michelin Star: Victoria and Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

When Shula’s Steak House closes, it will be replaced by Bourbon Steak, owned by celebrity chef Michael Mina. He operates nine Bourbon Steak locations across the country, including in foodie cities such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York.

More on travel:

Bourbon Steak will open in midsummer and offer a menu that includes everything from filet mignon and wagyu beef steaks to Maine lobster pot pie and stone crab claws.

For guests who want one more meal at Shula’s, the restaurant is taking reservations through June 14, 2025.