FREE Refreshment Lounge at EPCOT
The free refreshment lounge is back for the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival! This “secret” spot is a great guest hideaway for escaping the heat and crowds at Walt Disney World, relaxing and recharging with free food & drinks and air-conditioning. This post takes a look inside and how to access the temporary venue in World Showcase. (Updated September 3, 2023.)
This marks the third consecutive year that there’s been a free lounge in EPCOT during the Food & Wine Festival. During the first year, it was truly a hidden gem. Even after writing a post to hype it up, we seldom saw more than a dozen people in the entire space. That was despite the lounge very much “hiding” in plain sight, right next to the Frozen Ever After queue.
Last year, the lounge had to relocate from Norway, as its former home in the medieval castle was being reclaimed by Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. It moved to a true secret spot, hidden gem, hole in the wall, under-the-radar escape, etc–literally in the most tucked away location in all of World Showcase at EPCOT.
In so doing, the Florida Blue Lounge–now located in the Restaurant Marrakesh–became much more popular. We’d expect that to be true once again during the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. Word has definitely gotten out since that first year, and it also probably helps that Walt Disney World is much busier than it was back in Fall 2021 (literally the slowest stretch of the last 3 years due to the Delta variant and reinstated face mask rules).
If you’re unfamiliar with the location of the Florida Blue Lounge, it’s deep in the Morocco pavilion down a dead-end corridor–this area is only home to Restaurant Marrakesh. Pre-closure, Restaurant Marrakesh was not particularly popular. This was likely in part due to its more exotic cuisine, but location played a bigger role. Due to that, there was routinely a Cast Member in the front courtyard of Morocco beaconing guests back, showing menus and touting the (underrated) restaurant.
When EPCOT reopened, Restaurant Marrakesh remained closed. This was hardly surprising–it previously ranked up there with Planet Hollywood as being among the easiest ADRs at Walt Disney World. (Unlike Planet Hollywood, Restaurant Marrakesh served edible food–a key distinction.)
Even after the third party operating participant exited the Morocco pavilion and turned over operations to Disney, the restaurant remained closed. Again, unsurprising. There’s definitely enough demand to justify opening Restaurant Marrakesh at this point, but there are still staffing shortages…especially for face characters. But the future of Restaurant Agrabah is a different story for a different day!
With that said, let’s take a look around the Florida Blue Lounge.
The Morocco pavilion was based on designs found in the cities of Casablanca, Rabat, Fez, and Marrakesh. (We’ll bet you can’t guess which city inspired this particular restaurant.) Like many Moroccan cities, the pavilion is divided into new and old cities, demarcated by the Bab Bou Jeloud (“Blue”) Gate.
Restaurant Marrakesh lies beyond the Blue Gate, and largely maintains its opening day appearance with ornate design and stunning details. Morocco is a country of “timeless wonders” with ancient mosques, synagogues, souks, churches, and kasbahs where the art and architecture have been designed and refined over centuries.
This is evident inside Restaurant Marrakesh/Florida Blue Lounge. The setting is truly transportive, feeling worlds away from a contemporary theme park in Florida. From tile work to the tea dispensers to the ceilings and (especially) the light fixtures, Restaurant Marrakesh is an opulent exemplar of old world Morocco–and old school Imagineering aesthetic sensibilities.
Unfortunately, you don’t get the full experience from visiting the Florida Blue Lounge. During an actual meal at Restaurant Marrakesh, you’d enjoy music from a two-piece combo performing traditional songs and a belly dancer showing off her talents and beckoning kids to join her on the dance floor.
Then there’s the cuisine. Restaurant Marrakesh served up a variety of complex but approachable dishes, with a wide variety of spices and herbs producing authentic Moroccan dishes with nuance, but not necessarily intense flavor or spice. To the contrary, one of my favorite dishes here was the roasted lamb shank, which was fall off the bone tender. Even Signature Restaurants couldn’t compete with this.
Oh, and Restaurant Marrakesh was significantly cheaper than other restaurants. Due to its lack of popularity, the location frequently offered lunch specials or large samplers that were a bargain by Walt Disney World standards.
Now let’s cover the highlights of the free Florida Blue Lounge in the Morocco pavilion.
For the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, the lounge should have stations with self-service tap water, Moroccan mint tea, and cold brew coffee, as well as Pure Green and AHA bottled beverages upon request. Sadly, there was no snack cart on any of our visits to the lounge last year, so we’re guessing that’s a thing of the past. (The previous year, they have pre-packaged treats!)
On a positive note, there were added activities last year: Henna tattoos in the early afternoon, followed by live watercolor postcard painting in the late afternoon. These free activities were fun…but we would preferred the yogurt and carrots. The lounge literally just opened for 2023, so it remains to be seen what’s offered this year–we’ll have another update soon!
This year, the Florida Blue Lounge is now open for the 2023 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. It’ll be open through November 18, 2023 from 12 pm until 6 pm daily.
Eligibility is always a tricky topic when it comes to the Florida Blue Lounge. Officially, according to both Walt Disney World and the insurance company, this lounge is open to “Florida Blue Members and their Guests.” Does that mean you have to be accompanied by a Florida Blue Member, or are guests permitted on their own? Nobody really knows.Â
In previous years, anyone has been admitted to the Florida Blue Lounge who registers for the Guest Pass. You can do that at this link. As you can see from the screenshot above, nowhere does it ask you to enter info about your health insurance company.
Below is the Guest Pass itself, which also says nothing about being required to show your Florida Blue insurance card or anything aside from the Guest Pass. Again, you can obtain that without being a Florida Blue Member.
Over the course of the last 2 years, we have visited the Florida Blue Lounge at least a dozen times. Not once have we had to show anything other than the Guest Pass, which is consistent with what the Guest Pass itself says.
However, we’ve had several commenters in both of the last two years who were denied access to the Florida Blue Lounge. I guess we’ve been very luck–or some readers have been very unlucky (or maybe a bit of both).
Point being, this is a YMMV thing if you’re not a Florida Blue Member, and dependent upon whoever is standing guard at the lounge entrance. Hopefully Walt Disney World and/or Florida Blue get on the same page this year, and it’s clear whether access is for those with Florida Blue insurance or guests as well. I don’t know how this remains so ambiguous after three years, but it is what it is.
Suffice to say, don’t book a trip to Walt Disney World solely because you want to get some free cold brew. The lounge might change policies, deny you entry, etc.
In addition to the refreshments and activities, Florida Blue Lounge guests also enjoyed VIP seating for Eat to the Beat Concert Series last year. No word yet on whether that’s returning for the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival.
As covered in our Guide to the Eat to the Beat Concert Series, buying the dining package for reserved seating is not really necessary–these concerts are not nearly as popular as Candlelight Processional. With that said, it will get you a better view closer to the stage. So that’s a plus.
Ultimately, we’re looking forward to taking advantage of the Florida Blue Lounge at Walt Disney World yet again…assuming we don’t get shut out by having different health insurance…and wanted to give you an early heads up about its return.
Beyond the free refreshments and activities, what we really love about the Florida Blue Lounge is the setting. It’s an exemplar of old school EPCOT Center and Imagineering at the height of its game–a criminally underrated World Showcase restaurant that even many diehard Walt Disney World fans have never seen. It really is a great spot to rest, recharge, and relax. Plus, it’s not every day that you get something truly free at Walt Disney World!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Did you take advantage of the Florida Blue Lounge in EPCOT last year? Have any issues gaining entrance into the location with the Guest Pass? Will you be visiting this free temporary refreshment spot on an upcoming visit to Walt Disney World in 2023? Excited about the opportunity to experience the design and details of Restaurant Marrakesh? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
It sounds like you need to be a Florida resident to enter this lounge? Having Florida health insurance is a requirement?
I just returned from a Mother/Daughter trip to WDW and we visited the Lounge several times during our week long visit. It was a great escape from the heat in the middle of the day. Plus the Spa Water was amazing! We were telling everyone we met in line about it and they were all excited to hear about it! Thank you Tom for providing such helpful information to everything about the Parks!!
I enjoyed the lounge in Norway a few times and loved it.
I’ve never been to Marrakech but sure hope to when they reopen.
Tom, I always have some giggles when reading your posts, thank you!
We visited it last time at Epcot & throughly enjoyed it. We’re going back next week & hope to use it again. Please keep us posted.
Thanks
We miss Marrakesh terribly! It was always a family favorite.
Restaurant Marrakesh was our favorite in EPCOT, and we felt we were enjoying a hidden gem. It’s so sad that its more exotic menu—we agree with Tom about the lamb entree—is gone. The hosts and servers were delighted that we were willing to try their recommendations, and we left with promises to return, eating there on at least 12 occasions. How sad that all we have are great memories!
It was a great restaurant. Exotic food and reasonable prices, and a belly dancer! For those of you who have never dated a belly dancer…you’ve missed out… Great decor, food and entertainment. Sad to hear it’s done and done. Spice Road Table is great too.
Will have to check it out. Be at WDW in 15 days, leading some friends around for their first trip!
I too am a fan of Restaurant Marrakesh! I had one of the best desserts in all of Walt Disney World here years ago.
As long as there’s not specific markings on the signage (Is that last year’s sign?), there’s probably going to be different guidelines to who can get in at a specific time. I’ve got to imagine the “bouncers” are told to be more finicky as Epcot is more crowded/the lounge hits capacity (nights and weekends). I know I had to wait to get into the AP/DVC (can’t remember which, sorry) lounge at the Imagination pavilion on a Food & Wine Saturday.
Even if you just get a glass of wine and whatever the blandest thing on the menu is when it opens again, the theming in Restaurant Marrakesh is not to be missed. (If I’m going to be optimistc about Monsieur Paul, I might as well spread the wealth…)
I went to this lounge last October with a screenshot of the pass on my phone. We were a family of 9 and this was an awesome way to relax, get some AC and a snack during a really hot day. I was so thankful that you gave out this hidden gem before ,my trip.
Restaurant Marrakesh was our favorite in-park place to eat. I really hope it re-opens with a similar menu and ambiance.
I don’t have Florida Blue insurance (I don’t even live in the state), but visited the lounge a few times during our trip last October. Guest Pass on my phone screen worked easy twice, but not the third time. It took talking to a couple of Cast Members and explaining what the Guest Pass was, but it eventually worked.
Looking forward to trying again and hope the policy is better communicated this year.
Hi. How did you get the Florida Blue Guest Pass?
My first encounter with Middle Eastern food was at this restaurant way back in the 80’s. My love of hummus stems from that trip. My husband and I loved it.
so disappointed Marrakesh closed…a favorite & menu phenomenal…request to reopen soon – the Best!
I went to this lounge last October…I signed up for it on their website and they scanned the UPC code I received after registering. I had to answer a couple more questions before they led me in. It was just me and one family in there. It was such a great place to cool down and relax. I stayed in there for 30 min. I had multiple cups of fruit water and I got a can of seltzer to take with me. A lady came to my table with a cart and I was able to pick 2 items…I got baby bel cheese and hummus with crackers. Glad they are doing it again this year
Visited Disney last Nov.and attempted to visit the lounge and were told it was not for everyone. Only people belonging to Advent Health Group which sponsored the lounge were allowed to use it. Very disappointing experience after reading on these blogs that it was a nice place to go and relax and cool down for a while. People operating the lounge were not very friendly or helpful. If this the same as last year, no sense in telling people to visit. I can see why it was so empty last year.
This appears to be correct. Another blogger reported that only Florida Blue members were allowed in last year: https://blogmickey.com/2021/09/what-is-the-epcot-florida-blue-lounge-and-how-you-can-get-in/
Weird. I visited last November and was definitely allowed in and am definitely not a member of Advent Health. I did have to go to the Advent Health site and fill out a form to be able to enter.
Marrakesh Restaurant was always a delicious meal with great service, including fun entertainment. Every trip warranted at least one meal at Marrakesh!
Dying for Restaurant Marrakech to come back!! Morocco, in general, was a must-do for us until the dreaded changes in recent years. Can’t wait to *hopefully* get into the Florida Blue Lounge in September!!
Yes would love to see this restaurant come back. Always went at least once per WDW trip. In it ‘s early days I remember going for lunch and only 6 tables with people while I was their. But ever since they had a cast member out pushing it always saw a nice crowd at dinner. Never found the food to be to exotic or too hot spicy. Love the spices they use as very tasty but not a hot spice which I wouldn’t care for.
Will there be Florida Blue Medicare Lounge Bellydancers?
I’m only saying that half facetiously. The lounge sounds intriguing, just wish the Marrakesh Restaurant experience didn’t go. We loved the feasts, the tea, the service and entertainment.