We dined 220 miles above Earth at Epcot! Ok not exactly.
This summer (2022) we went to Disney World and Epcot was the first park we visited. During my trip research, I learned about Space 220 Restaurant – a new restaurant at Epcot that was opened in September 2021.
What is Space 220 Restaurant?
Space 220 is an out of this world experience! The restaurant theme is set like a space station suspended in orbit above Mission: SPACE. You’ll get a panoramic view of space while dining in the Centauri Space Station. But first, make sure you have a reservation.
Make A Reservation
To dine at any in-park table-service restaurant at ANY Disney World park, you need a confirmed dining reservation for the total number of Guests—regardless of age, plus a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on that same date for each Guest ages 3 and up. You can book your dining reservation as early as 60 days prior to your arrival on the My Disney Mobile App or Disney World website.
For weeks I kept checking for an opening online but Space 220 was completely booked up. So on the day we went to Epcot, as soon as the receptionist at Space 220’s podium began checking people in who already had reservations- we walked up and asked if she had any cancellations that day for a table. She said YES!!!
So that’s how we got a reservation after not being able to book online weeks prior. You can do this at many of Disney’s table service restaurants – just walk up the day of and ask if there are any openings. Sometimes they will be completely booked and other times they’ll have an opening. You won’t know unless you try, right?
Bar or Table?
Please remember when booking your reservation: Space 220 Lounge is their bar with a bar food menu, you will be seated at the bar, not a table. Also children are not allowed to sit at the bar (because it is a bar.) Space 220 Lounge has a completely different menu than their prix fixe lunch and dinner menus for table seating.
So if you want to go to their bar, you have to specifically get a reservation for Space 220 Lounge. If you’re looking for a sit down meal, you book a table reservation for Space 220 Restaurant (or when doing a walk up reservation like we did, ask for whichever section you want to reserve.)
Prix Fixe Meal
Space 220 serves lunch and dinner at a prix fixe price. For lunch you select a Lift-Off (appetizer) and a Star Course (entree.) Dinner is three courses: an appetizer, entree and dessert. Children’s meals include a Star Course (entree), Supernova Sweets (dessert) and a Celestial Beverage (drink.) For a few dollars more, you can upgrade your kid’s drink to be served in a cool souvenir cup. All kids’ meals include a pack of Space 220 collectible trading cards.
Space Elevator
After check-in, you will be given a Centauri Space Station boarding pass. When your boarding group is called, you will be escorted to the space elevator.
The elevator is a fun experience! It is a simulation of lifting off the ground up to the space station with a viewing monitor below and above you. You can watch the Earth get smaller and smaller below your feet as you ride higher up to the space station located 220 miles above Earth’s surface.
Don’t forget to look above you as you get closer to the station. You can see the space station docking take place above your head.
You will have the same experience (just in reverse) when traveling back down to Earth.
While you’re not really going to be traveling up 220 miles above Earth, the simulation is well done enough to make it seem real!
Celestial Views
Once we arrived, we were greeted by a host who took us our reserved table. We were lucky enough to get a table by the window. I was really excited about that because I hoping for a window seat.
From the windows of the space station, you can see space shuttles, floating astronauts, the stars, and our big beautiful blue planet Earth.
There are some mixed reviews that I’ve heard about the seating. Some say they enjoy sitting in the center of the restaurant because they can get a wider view of the windows without being confined to whatever you can see from a window by the table. In my opinion, I still prefer a celestial view from my table while dining. You can always get up later and take photos from other parts of the restaurant.
Space Food
For our Lift-Offs (appetizers), we ordered Starry Calamari (Tristan had been asking for fried calamari for awhile) and Neptune Tartare for Meshach and I. It was our first time ever eating anything tartare, I’m not going to lie – it was weird but didn’t taste terrible either.
Our Star Course (entrees) were Steak Frites (coffee rubbed flat iron steak and fries with broccolini and chimichurri.) Tristan ordered the Galactic Salmon.
The steak was ok, nothing out of the norm. But probably the best option to choose for an entree since you’re paying a lot of money anyway.
Our server surprised us all with Cosmic Cupcakes (chocolate Devil’s Food Cake topped with frosting) to celebrate Tristan’s 9th birthday. He also had vanilla gelato for his kids’ meal dessert.
Meshach and I received a Cosmic Cupcake for our 10th wedding anniversary. It was a very celebratory trip!
Tip: If you’re celebrating something on your Disney trip (like a birthday, anniversary, first trip to Disney World) you can get a special button from guest services or the front desk at your Disney resort. Wear it on your park days and you will receive some surprises!
Is it Worth It?
Dining anywhere at Disney World in general is going to be crazy expensive and overpriced. You could easily spend $8 just for a specialty coffee drink as an example. For many of the sit down table service restaurants, they are mainly prix fixe menus and average at least $55pp and can go up from there. As I have often heard from seasoned Disney World visitors – you’re paying for the experience more than the food.
I think if you are aware of how much you expect to spend and include it in your trip budget, then the sticker shock of your receipt won’t be as bad, I guess. Still – it’s a lot of money!
And would I go to this restaurant again? Probably would be crazy enough to go at least one more time. It was an unforgettable meal and I don’t regret the memories made there.
Location
Epcot’s Mission: SPACE Pavilion adjacent to the Mission Space ride
What is your most memorable restaurant experience? Comment below and share with your friends!
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