Space 220 Is Open! Here's What We Know.
On September 20th, Space 220, the highly anticipated space-themed restaurant opened at EPCOT, drawing huge crowds. Originally slated to open in 2020, the pandemic had other ideas. There were even concerns that the restaurant group, Patina, would be unable to open it at all. But it's actually here! And in this post, we will share what you need to know, fun facts, a glimpse at the menu, and how it went over.
What You Need to Know About Space 220
Space 220 is located in Futureworld at EPCOT and is opening as a Signature dining experience. What that means is it is among the highest class (and therefore most expensive) dining experiences at Walt Disney World. For those with a Disney Dining Plan using credits, this will take 2 Table Service credits.
The restaurant is themed as an experience that takes place in space. Guests will "travel to the restaurant" using a space elevator. Once in the dining room, guests will dine with panoramic views of the Earth "220 miles below" and space, including occasional space happenings, like spacewalking astronauts.
Dining opened on September 20th and for the first week is walk up only. It became possible to book Advanced dining reservations the same day for dates of September 27th and after, and given the popularity of opening day, we would strongly advise securing an ADR for dining dates September 27th and after if at all interested in dining there.
Fun Facts
The restaurant is both an experience and dining all in one. Of course you get a meal, but there is a lot of "show" involved in this meal. Upon check in, guests will receive a "boarding pass" for the space elevator. This functions as a ride. We consider this akin to the elevator that takes you "leagues below the ocean" at the Living Seas pavilion. This elevator will take you into space. You will be able to watch as you blast off from the Space pavilion at EPCOT all the way into low Earth orbit. From here, you will walk through space station style corridors until you are in a dining room with two terraces, both with panoramic views of space. Initial reviews state either terrace is fine. Closer to the "window", you will be more immersed in space, but further away in the upper terrace, you will enjoy a more panoramic view.
The "220" in Space 220 comes from how many miles above the Earth the restaurant is supposed to be.
Please note: Nobody actually goes into space in this experience, but you had better bet the Cast Members will assure you that your trip to space will be safe and absent of any motion sickness.
The Menu
The menu was released shortly before opening. The restaurant serves both lunch and dinner and both are three course prix fixe meals. This means for one price, you select any one appetizer, one entree, and one dessert. However, alcoholic beverages are extra, as are add-ons which we'll cover in just a minute.
Lunch is $55 per person and includes one appetizer (called a Lift Off Appetizer) and one entree (called a Star Course Entree). Dinner is $79 per person and includes a Lift Off Appetizer, a Star Course Entree, and a Supernova Sweet (dessert). Kids can eat at both lunch and dinner for $29. At each meal, guests can also order Satellite Sides (additional side dishes) for an additional cost. At lunch, guests can also order dessert (which is not included in the prix fixe cost) for additional cost. And of course, cocktails are an additional cost.
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Lunch
Lift-Off choices
Big Bang Burrata
Starry Calamari
Blue Moon Cauliflower
Neptune Tartare
Centauri Caesar Salad
Space Greens
Galaxy Grain Salad
Star Course
Seared Tuna
Bluehouse Salmon
Centauri Burger
Flat Iron Steak
Roasted Free-range Chicken
Baked Maccheroni
Terra-Bolognese
Space Station Special (only available at lunch)
You can add the Galactic Lobster Globe for $18.
Satellite Sides (also an additional price)
Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
Fried Potato Wedges
Brussels Sprouts
Broccolini
Dinner
Lift-Offs
Big Bang Burrata
Blue Moon Cauliflower
Centauri Ceasar Salad
Galaxy Grain Salad
Starry Calamari
Neptune Tartare
Space Greens
Star Course Entrees
Slow Rotation Short ribs
Roasted Free-range Chicken
Terra-Bolognese
Florida Red Snapper
X2 Duck
Bluehouse Salmon
8oz filet mignon (to which shrimp or half lobster can be added for an additional charge)
Super Nova Sweets
Carrot Cake
Chocolate Cheesecake
Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake
Gelato and Sorbet
Lemon Mousse
Space Station supplementals are also available for an additional price on top of the prix fixe price and take the place of your entree. Those are 1.5 lbs baked whole lobster stuffed with jumbo crab for $20, or 24 oz Bone in Ribeye with a coffee rub for $18 (on top of the price you already pay for the meal).
Satellite sides for dinner
Roasted fingerling potatoes
Brussels sprouts
Fried potato wedges
Broccolini
Image copyright: Disneyparksblog
Reviews of the food is very good, but the cocktails seem like the fun part of the meal.
Cocktails include:
Celestial Cosmopolitan
Stargarita
The Nebula
Planetary Punch
Jupiter Fizz
Red Star
The Big Tang (tang tasting orange liquid and a wedge of astronaut ice cream as a nod to astronauts)
Atmospritz (which is served over cotton candy)
How It Went Over
On opening day, Space 220 had walk up wait times of up to FIVE HOURS. Because of these long wait times, Disney altered original plans for walk up only and allowed a same day reservation system using the virtual queue technology used previously for Rise of the Resistance. Until September 26th, diners can walk to the front desk and ask for a time for a future seating. If available, they would be given a time and be notified when it came up via the app. Guests could then go about their day.
Reviews we've seen so far rave about the cauliflower appetizer, steaks, and snapper. For dinner, the duck and filet mignon are stars of the show. And of course, everyone seems to love the space themed cocktails. The price seems to be worth it for most diners, because you get an experience along with the meal, however a fair point has been made that if you really want seafood, coral reef is a better place to go, and if you really want steaks, Le Cellier reigns as king.
Would WE go? You betcha! We are huge fans of all things space. We can barely handle our excitement that there is a drink on the menu based on the flavor of tang that is served with space ice cream. WE WANT THIS DRINK SO BAD. That, some food everyone seems to agree is tasty if not the very best at EPCOT, and an immersive experience that is also an attraction make this restaurant sure to be a winner.
Would YOU go? Tell us over on our Facebook page where you can follow us to be the first to know when new weekly blogs are available. Until next time...
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