Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous in Seuss Landing has officially reopened with a new menu, a new setup, and a new look at Universal Islands of Adventure.
Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous
Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous is a casual dining venue in Seuss Landing. It’s the only venue in the land with indoor seating. The restaurant is designed to look like a large circus tent and can be found between One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and the High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride.
Two elephants on pedestals hold the curtains open with their trunks. The restaurant also has a new menu, and an A-frame board is available outside to view before you enter.
The restaurant is themed after “If I Ran the Circus” by Dr. Seuss (a penname for the author Theodore Geisel). The book was originally published in 1956. The story follows the imagination of the young Morris McGurk as he dreams up a circus behind Mr. Sneelock’s Store. A similar story, “If I Ran the Zoo” (1950), inspired the nearby play area.
The circus has a brand new centerpiece featuring several elephants balancing on a ball. Text from the book encircles the main dining area.
More of the circus acts can be seen around the room. Acrobats perform stunts from a spinning ceiling contraption.
The train car booths are still here, but have been painted in lighter pastels.
Booth/table combination seating can be found around the center ring, where guests can see Rolf the Walrus performing his balancing act.
There are two new bays of Coca-Cola Freestyle Machines, one on each side of the restaurant. One area has three machines beside a clown statue and “If I Ran the Circus” title art.
There are trash cans between each machine.
The other bay has two Coca-Cola Freestyle Machines.
The major change is the elimination of the cafeteria-style service. Similar to Minion Cafe at Universal Studios Florida, Circus McGurkus is now primarily mobile order. There is a counter with traditional registers, but you no longer go through the line to pick up food. Instead, it will be delivered to your table.
A new seating area is located along the back wall of the restaurant with crescent booth seating. This area used to be home to a beverage counter and Coca-Cola Freestyle station. Art from the book is on the wall behind the new booths.
The tables all have stickers for mobile ordering. The stickers have QR codes and table numbers so you can ensure your food gets delivered right to you.
Several new statues have been added, including the elephant centerpiece. One of the elephants is cradling a flower in its trunk, reminiscent of “Horton Hears a Who.”
The most unique feature of Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous is that the High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride actually passes through the building. The track is around the top of the restaurant.
Other new statues can be found along the wall of the new booth seating, featuring acrobats and other characters from the book.
In the middle is Morris McGurk on a striped pedestal, explaining his grand plans for his circus.
To the right of McGurk is Mr. Sneelock, diving into a fish bowl. It and its occupant resemble The Fish from “The Cat in the Hat.”
Stay tuned for our full menu review of Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous.
What do you think of the new look and setup? Let us know in the comments.
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