Space 220 Restaurant at Epcot: Opening Date, ADRs, Full Menus & Pricing
Space 220 Restaurant is one of the biggest new additions to Walt Disney World, coming in Fall 2021 at Epcot’s Mission Space pavilion. This covers everything you need to know: opening date, full menus for lunch & dinner, prices, concept art, when Advance Dining Reservations will be available, and more info. (Updated September 14, 2021.)
Let’s start with the Space 220 Restaurant’s opening date, as this has become a common reader questions for the last couple of years. Originally, Walt Disney World announced that Space 220 would open by the holiday season two years ago. Once it became obvious that construction was far behind schedule, Disney quietly reworded the opening timeframe to “this winter.” That was all pre-closure.
Finally, Walt Disney World has announced that Space 220 opens at Epcot on September 20, 2021! This is actually a couple weeks ahead of our predicted date, but we’re happy to be wrong about this one. Advance Dining Reservation details have also now been released, along with full menus for adults and kids at lunch and dinner, plus the lounge. All of that is covered below…
Space 220 Restaurant is run by Patina Group, and is not owned or operated by Walt Disney World. However, Patina Group is a longtime Disney partner. The company operates many other restaurants at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, including in Epcot and Disney Springs.
While construction delays were an ongoing and persistent issue with Space 220 prior to the parks closing, work long ago resumed and is believed to be finished. The entrance and marquee have both been installed, and are simply covered up with temporary wood boxes (see below photo).
Physical work is no longer the main barrier to Space 220 Restaurant’s blast off. Moreover, physical distancing is no longer a hurdle, either. Walt Disney World has gradually relaxed physical distancing throughout the parks, including at some restaurants where there’s sufficient staffing to accommodate more filled tables.
At this point, there should be no further delays. Space 220 has hired its crew, training is underway, and the culinary team is ready. In fact, we now have full lunch and dinner menus for Space 220 Restaurant. Let’s take a look!
Pricing will be $55 for the 2-course lunch prix fixe menu and $79 for the 3-course dinner menu for adults.
Kids will cost $29 at either lunch or dinner.
With the purchase of any zero proof (non-alcoholic) cocktail or children’s meal, guests will receive a pack of Space 220 Collectible Trading Cards. Designed exclusively for and only distributed at Space 220 Restaurant, these limited-edition packs of cards feature original artwork and trivia facts about space exploration, food in space, and the sky-high innovations at Space 220 Restaurant.
Here are some Space 220 stock food photos that were released along with the menus:
Space 220 will be available for walk-ins from September 20 to September 26, 2021. No Advance Dining Reservations will be available for those dates.
Advance Dining Reservations will be available——and strongly recommended——for seatings beginning September 27, 2021. ADRs for that date and thereafter can be booked starting September 20, 2021.
Next, we have some new concept art for Space 220 Restaurant’s elevators. This is not how they’ll actually look (you’re not actually going into outer space–it’s a simulation), so perhaps “story art” is the better term.
Either way, here’s how Imagineering has envisioned the Space 220 elevators.
Now, for some more details about the Space 220 Restaurant. Here’s the on-theme pitch: “Mission Control invites you to join the crew at Space 220 for an expedition like no other. The planets have aligned for you to be a part of the latest cutting-edge and out-of-this-world restaurant.”
“Help ensure a smooth departure as guests blast off to enter the International Space Station suspended 220 miles above the Earth’s surface and assist in delivering an unmatched intergalactic dining experience. With stellar views and gourmet menu offerings, Space 220 is truly ‘The Height of Dining.'”
The actual description of the dining experience sounds equally immersive. To begin the voyage at Space 220 Restaurant, guests will board a special space elevator that will ascend to the stars.
Here’s a video of that special space elevator in action:
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Along the way, viewports will give you an aerial view of Epcot as you travel high above the planet. Upon your arrival, guests will enjoy a celestial panorama from the space station, with the ability to peer out and enjoy amazing daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles up.
If the concept art is accurate, Space 220 will have tiered seating, making it like Coral Reef, but in outer space. Rather than windows into an aquarium, there will be screens and projection technology simulating outer space. (Sorry to ruin the “magic,” but it’s not actually 220 miles up. The actual building is like 3 stories high and doesn’t have windows.)
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I think this looks absolutely awesome. Coral Reef: Space Edition feels like a very apt way to put it. My expectation is that this will be even more immersive, with a themed experience and storytelling from start to finish. (Hopefully with better food!)
To me, Space 220 Restaurant also seems like an appetizer for what Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will attempt to deliver, but in a more bite-sized form that’s more accessible—from both a practical and price perspective. Not everyone is going to have the time or inclination to do the live action role playing thing for two days, but two hours is a totally different story!
Space 220 will serve breakfast (this was originally announced, but has since been removed from official updates) lunch and dinner–which is good news because being open for most of the day should help meet demand. At Space 220 Restaurant, guests will dine from a menu featuring modern American cuisine, more than 1,000 bottles of the world’s finest wines, and a wide selection of craft beer.
The Space 220 restaurant menu will feature stellar dishes and gourmet recipes, with a two-course prix fixe menu for lunch, and a three-course prix fixe menu for dinner. Rounding out the meal will be unique beverages, from fine wine to atmospheric cocktails and more. The upscale, contemporary fare will bring new meaning to “the height of dining.”
While Walt Disney World has not officially announced as much, we expect that Space 220 Restaurant will participate in the Disney Dining Plan (once that returns). Currently, the restaurant’s webpage states “Dining Plans Not Accepted.” This is simply boilerplate/placeholder language that, as we’ve previously noted, is often not accurate.
Our expectation is that it’ll begin as a one-credit table service restaurant for lunch and 2-credit Signature Dining experience for dinner. While the menu may not seem Signature, popularity is a huge key to what’s “worth” two credits. We’ve seen both Be Our Guest Restaurant and Le Cellier both make that jump. Over time, the same could happen with lunch here.
In terms of its location within Epcot, Space 220 Restaurant is an extension of the Mission: Space pavilion, tucked away between that and Test Track on a backstage plot of land. Conceptually and story-wise, the restaurant is supposed to look similar to Seattle’s Space Needle, but at a much higher elevation.
In reality, Space 220 Restaurant is a nondescript green show-building (above) that’s tucked away mostly from guest view. It’s only visible while riding Test Track or in that area–but not from Mission: Space.
Those dining at the restaurant will enter through the reworked extended queue of Mission: Space. Some modifications have been observed in this area for the last couple of months, and we’d expect signage to soon be installed off to the side of Mission: Space.
Again, this is reminiscent of Coral Reef, which has its entrance tucked away off to the side of the Seas pavilion. The difference here is that Space 220 Restaurant is in a newly-constructed, windowless building and not part of the existing Mission: Space building.
Overall, we’re really excited for Space 220 Restaurant. Well-designed, immersive environments is what differentiates Walt Disney World dining from its real world counterparts, and this could instantly be one of WDW’s best themed restaurants. We’re hopeful that this lives up to the concept art and backstory to deliver a guest experience that suspends disbelief.
On top of that, the food at Space 220 Restaurant could actually be good thanks to the partnership with Patina Group. While we love Walt Disney World’s themed restaurants, many of those venues coast on the setting and deliver subpar meals. There’s a solid chance the setting and menu will both be well-executed at Space 220, making this a rare Walt Disney World restaurant that excels at both. Our fingers are crossed!
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Your Thoughts
Are you excited for the Space 220 Restaurant at Epcot? Does the concept of Coral Reef…but in outer space…appeal to you, or will you wait and see how the menu looks? Are you exciting for Space 220 Restaurant finally opening on September 20, 2021? Do you agree or disagree with our thoughts? 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!
@Rwethereyet3
I’m with you!
Starting adult pricing at 10 is and has always been about greed. Same with those dessert parties. 10 year-old kids are charged the same price for an unlimited alcohol package as someone 21+
My wife and I also love going to just the bar for appetizers and drinks. We often go to one for dinner and stop again for a late desert and drinks at another.
Would be nice if that was possible at Space 220
Disappointed that Disney seems to have dropped their commitment to no sugar-added desserts. Otherwise, this might be worth a one-time go.
I know to an extent 1 credit v. 2 credit is based on popularity, but given the pricing, I have to imagine this will be a 2 credit restaurant once the DDP is back (at least for dinner). At 1 credit it would be quite a bargain.
$29 for a kid isn’t bad. Depends on what kind of kid, but still…
Needs more vegetarian and vegan options! I was really hoping for a nice multinational fusion cuisine, too.
Tom, great update, I appreciate how timely you always are! Do you know how to access the lounge side? Will it be walk-up only after September 26th, or will you be able to make ADR’s for the lounge side?
A bar was in the concept art, but this is really the first Patina Group has said anything about the lounge. I’m guessing it’ll be walk-up, but am trying to confirm with their rep.
I can’t do it. I can’t watch my Disney “adults” order $55 cheeseburgers and then not eat them and ask for a Mickey pretzel as we exit the restaurant. I guess we are priced out of this one until the kids go to college.
I agree with Erza. “nothing about Space 220 says “2-credit Signature Dining experience””, apart from the $79 price, the “Space Station Specials”, and the wine menu?
Also I don’t think you have paid anywhere near enough attention to the inclusion of STP (Sticky Toffee Pudding) 😉 I understand from a previous article that this is not well known in the US / outside the UK, which perhaps explains why they have included the word “cake” in the title. It is a magnificent addition to the menu and I hope you or Sarah choose it as your dessert when you eat there so we can read about it!
There’s no way this will be only one credit on the dining plan. It’s an 80 dollar per person prix fixe restaurant. It’s got to be 2 credits. If it’s only one, it would clearly be the best use of a dining credit on property, and the most sought after reservation there. Even at 2 credits, it’s not a bad deal considering the price.
No Astronaut (freeze-dried) ice cream?
What a missed opportunity!
🙂
Hi Tom,
We’re visiting in May 2022. If the popularity of this restaurant skyrockets and it turns into a 2 credit on the dining plan, how long do you think it could take for that conversion to happen? Do you think that we’d be ok and still be on the 1 credit plan by the end of May (assuming DDP resumes, which should be the case as per your other posts)?
How long did it take for Be our Guest to change to a 2 credits restaurant?
What time will reservations open up on Sept 20? 6am or 7am? I need a reservation for Oct 1 so I will need to get in there first thing on the 20th!
Thanks!
Any thoughts on when California Grill will be open for ADR?
We’re going in November and hope we can get reservations!! Thanks for all this info!!
Do you know if you can order off the Lounge menu if you get an ADR or do you have to do the prix fixe menu? I wonder if the Lounge is only walk-up list?
So I’ve never done a restaurant opening before…. If I’m in epcot on 9/20, can I walk up and get on the dinner list at opening or is it literally walk up and wait for a table right then?
Do you know if you are able to simply go and enjoy a cocktail? Do you have to sit for a meal? Thank you!
@Mike: Here’s a thought how they could work on a screen without ruining the magic. Cover it up and post a notice that a small meteor create a chip in the window which is being repaired. Its covered with an “air tight seal” as a protection in case something goes wrong and they start venting atmosphere. Or its covered and sealed so that they can remove the window and replace and seal it before removing the inner seal. Could be totally believable.
-John
We will be there September 27 for our Remy ride and we would love to add this to our itinerary! Do you know what time they usually begin taking reservations each day? 7:00am?