Forget about Space Mountain. If I am going to wait in line at Walt Disney World it’s going to be for a table that I can sit at and chow down on some serious grub. While I have (once) mustered enough courage to board Space Mountain, I willingly admit that when it comes to thrill rides, I am a big wimp. That’s why I love Epcot’s World Showcase. The focus there is less on the thrills and chills and more on… grills and all the tasty treats that are created on them.
If you haven’t been to Epcot in a while you should know that numerous culinary changes are under way there (the first major changes in nearly a decade). If you have never been to Epcot, you should know that the Walt Disney World theme park features more than a dozen full-service restaurants where the food doesn’t come cheap (the average check runs $30 to $50 a person). The changes include the addition of three new restaurants, the expansion and renovation of others, and an overhaul of current menus to reflect healthier dishes.
NEW RESTAURANTS
In Epcot’s Japan look for two new restaurants: Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining, which will specialize in teppanyaki cooking and sushi, respectively. The new restaurants are replacing the Teppanyaki Dining Rooms and Matsu No Ma Lounge, which are closed. The Yakitori House will continue as it is.
In Epcot’s Italy, L`Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante, will soon become Tutto Italia. And according to its new owner, it will feature more interactive dining (see: tableside cooking).
EXPANSIONS AND RENOVATIONS
In Epcot’s Mexico, the San Angel Inn Restaurante was recently expanded and given a new menu. And soon, the owners of the outdoor restaurant, Cantina de San Angel say they will be adding more waterfront seating so diners can take advantage of the view of Epcot’s nighttime Illuminations show on the lagoon.
Nine Dragons Restaurant in the China pavilion will close in January to undergo major renovations. The newly revamped restaurant will feature an open kitchen where cooks will put on a show for diners to watch while they wait for their meals.
MENU CHANGES
Look for dishes at all of Epcot’s eateries (from high-end restaurants such as the Canada pavilion’s Le Cellier Steakhouse to the more moderate places, such as the China pavilion’s Lotus Blossom Café) to offer dishes with fewer transfats and smaller portions with lower fat content. Also, throughout the park, you will be able to find more fruits and vegetables.
F.Y.I.–Epcot attracts 10 million visitors a year (that’s about 25,000 a day) so don’t wait until you are starving to pick out a place to eat.
Michele blogs full time in Travel and Pop Culture. You can read her blogs here.
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