As we look towards the future of Epcot, we wanted to create a single space for you to be able to reference for the Space 220 Restaurant. On this page you’ll find facts, descriptions, and photos of not only what the experience will look like, but also a current look at the progress made from on-the-ground reporting from Epcot.
- Concept Art
- Opening Date
- Current Progress and Latest News
- Attraction Poster
- Location
- Model
- The Bigger Picture
The Space 220 Restaurant promises “The Height of Dining” as guests “float” 220 miles above the surface of the Earth in orbit aboard the International Space Station.
Space 220 Now Open
Space 220 opened on September 20, 2021. We have a full review of the dining experience and menu! Space 220 was originally supposed to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but when it opened it only served lunch and dinner.
Space 220 Restaurant Concept Art
There have been a couple of pieces of concept art put out for the Space 220 Restaurant. The first, and perhaps most popular, is of the dining space. This piece of concept art shows a couple of interesting things, including tiered dining (like Coral Reef), and an out-of-this-world window into space. This window will be comprised of screens, or perhaps projections, that will simulate the vastness of space as guests orbit above the Earth. The idea of this restaurant plays nicely with the very close neighbor in Mission: SPACE.
Another piece of concept art released at the 2019 D23 Expo shows what will likely be the “arrival experience” to the restaurant. In the art below, it looks like guests will enter a chamber of sorts that could act as a space elevator that will take them from Mission: SPACE in Epcot all the way up to the International Space Station. We’ll see more on this space elevator in a bit, but this concept art is exciting when considering that this could be an entire dining experience, complete with a storyline and coherent theme instead of just another restaurant.
Building a bit on the idea of a space elevator, we can see the Space 220 Restaurant and space elevator included in the Epcot overhaul concept art. Not only does the “wire” seem to be reaching towards the sky, we can make out what looks like the elevator chamber traveling up to the International Space Station.
Opening Date
Disney originally announced that Space 220 Restaurant will open in “winter 2019”. The COVID-19 pandemic forced Disney to miss this timeline by nearly two years.
Space 220 Restaurant will open on September 20, 2021.
Current Progress and Latest News
June 7, 2021 – Patina Restaurant Group is now hiring for many positions in the Space 220 Restaurant.
November 18, 2020 – We got our first look at the Space 220 Restaurant signage before Disney covered it back up for the next few months.
November 16, 2020 – Disney shared a look inside the Space 220 Restaurant ahead of an anticipated opening in 2021.
August 10, 2020 – After pausing construction for the COVID-19 pandemic, construction resumed shortly after EPCOT reopened.
As we get closer (hopefully) to an opening date, we’ve been paying closer attention to the work taking place both at the restaurant site and near Mission: SPACE. In early November 2019, we posted a look at what will very likely be a main entrance to the restaurant in a part of the extended queue for Mission: SPACE that is seldom used.
It’s worth noting that it’s not all smooth sailing for the Space 220 Restaurant, as it was just announced that the dining location is looking for a new Executive Chef after the now former Executive Chef left the location. Space 220 Restaurant is operated by the Patina Group chain of restaurants, one of Disney’s go-to third party operations. Patina has a deep history not only with Epcot, but also Disney Springs with multiple restaurants under their umbrella on Disney property. It’s a bit odd that the Executive Chef has left seemingly weeks before the official opening of the location. Patina has posted a job opening on their website seeking a new Executive Chef. It’ll be interesting to see how the menu shapes up when we have our first meal at the Space 220 Restaurant given the change at the top.
Restaurant Poster
At The Epcot Experience, the Space 220 Restaurant actually has its own “attraction poster” on display. While it’s probably reading too much into the situation to say that the existence of an attraction poster means that Disney and Patina will treat the restaurant experience as an attraction, we hope that they go all-in with the theming and dining experience.
As we can see in the poster, both the space elevator chamber and International Space Station are featured. We’ll continue to build upon the idea of the space elevator as we take a look at the Space 220 model in a bit.
Space 220 Restaurant Location
As seen in our numerous photo updates of the Space 220 Restaurant, it will sit in a space behind and between Mission: SPACE and Test Track. Given the construction walls that went up in November 2019, it looks like the entrance to the restaurant will be via a seldomly used extended queue for Mission: SPACE.
Space 220 Restaurant Model
As part of the expansive model at The Epcot Experience, a stylized version of the Space 220 Restaurant can be found sitting behind Mission: SPACE. As you can see in the model, the Space 220 Restaurant is represented by a Space Needle looking structure. In reality, it’s simply a building as seen in the construction photo above. The idea that you will enter a chamber to be lifted via a space elevator up to the restaurant is reinforced in the model, with an elevator visible on the model as it approaches the circular restaurant “in orbit”.
The Bigger Picture
As the only dining option in the future World Discovery section of the park, the Space 220 Restaurant has the potential to be one of the most unique and story-driven dining experiences at Epcot and even Walt Disney World. We’ve seen Patina produce some wonderful menus in the past and we’re looking forward to learning more about the menu and take the 220 mile journey up to the Space 220 Restaurant soon!
OK, i love that poster but it does look like a can of Soylent Green.
[…] As Epcot prepares the finishing touches on two new restaurants, we noticed some new walls up near what could very likely be the new Space 220 Restaurant (OVERVIEW). […]
[…] Space 220 Restaurant […]
[…] Space 220 Restaurant […]
[…] Space 220 Restaurant […]