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!
Myself and my family ate there recently and were very disappointed. The food was quite poor, particularly the calamari, which was overcooked, dry and very chewy. I’ve had better at Ponderosa! The main courses were better but could have done with being hotter and the deserts were pretty standard in their quality. The theming of the restaurant and the elevator experience are pretty cool but beyond that it’s quite a let down for what it costs and disappointingly, we would not recommend it to anyone.
What is the trick to getting reservation. Up at the crack of dawn 60 days before our trip….no available reservations. Another Disney Disappointment!
Can you tell me how many days in advance I can make a reservation?
When you have a reservation shortly after park opening, you will be allowed in early enough to get there! We had an early breakfast reservation at Be Our Guest once and I was really confused about this. I’m not a fast walker and sometimes use a scooter. I was going to send the boyfriend running ahead but it wasn’t necessary; they let us in at MK when we said we had reservations!
That said, while the menu looks fairly enticing for Space220 I think the prices are ridiculously high! I would be willing to bet when the newness wears off a bit it won’t get the attendance they are looking for.
Supposedly a massive crush of people this morning running to Space 220 at rope drop to get onto the waiting list. Reservations gone through November 19th already.
I don’t understand my daughter went through he$$ to get these tickets. All she could get was lunch which was for 11:40 but the park doesn’t open till 11…..so how are they supposed to get there get in and get all the way to this location I just think it sounds very mismanaged.
I don’t understand my daughter went through he$$ to get these tickets. All she could get was lunch which was four 1140 but the park doesn’t open till 11 so how are they supposed to get there get in and get all the way to this location I just think it sounds very mismanaged.
Yep. I was on at 5:40 am and got a lunch reservation. When I went back and checked at 6am, everything appeared to be gone already.
I was on at 5:35 am and reservations were already available. I was able to score a dinner October 19. By 5:45, they appeared to be completely gone. Disney should probably open ADR’s at a set time, all the time. I’m grateful that I got one but I feel bad for anyone that waited until the advertised time of 6:00 am to try, not realizing reservations had been open for nearly half an hour already.
Scored lunch on October 15th. All reservation times on that date were gone shortly after 6am today, which was the first day the reservation system went live. This is going to be one of the toughest reservations to get I believe.
Any idea if we can “share” a meal? That’s what we usually do when eating out.
Hi Tom,
We will be in the parks the week of 10/17. While I’d love to experience this, well over $200 for the wife and I by the time drinks, tax and gratuity are included is a bit steep. I’d be perfectly fine sitting at the lounge and getting a couple of $15 drinks just to experience the space (no pun intended). Any insight on how the process for the lounge works? Is it walk-up only? Can I make an ADR and then just request the lounge when we arrive? I haven’t been able to find any official info on this. Thanks.
September 20 is our Epcot day. How will the walk up work? Theoretically you could have 500 people show up at 11 am and the que would be closed for a few hours with people milling about waiting. How has Disney done this in the past? Thanks.
Your guess is as good as mine. I’m thinking–and dreading–a really long line.
In the past, the restaurants that have started with walk-up seating haven’t been this popular so it has been a non-issue.
I have a question concerning ADR for space 220:
When are the reservations opening? At midnight or more like 5-7 am?
I’m planning to either stay up until midnight to reserve or wake up early (but would prefer not doing both haha)
Thanks
I’m also wondering what time reservations will be available on Sept 20? What hour of the day are they usually loaded and available to book?
I’m going to be a naysayer. Buffalo cauliflower seems fairly commonplace on many Disney menus recently. And sorry, not sorry, my pockets aren’t deep enough to be ok with spending $55 for a lunch burger. Nor am I willing to pay for one domestic beer at a cost that’s the same as a 12-pack at my local store. But the biggest gouging for me is the $29 kids pricing for spaghetti, chicken nuggets, and mac and cheese. I cannot believe that a dining “experience” justifies these costs. And while I understand Disney’s shift to fixed prices with respect to safety measures and lack of staff, it’s aggravating to compare costs with the offerings. i feel it’s very obvious that Disney is shifting its Coronavirus losses onto its visitors.