EPCOT Space 220 Restaurant dining experience at Epcot's Future World

[FigmentFan82]

So we did this a few weeks back, had a bit of a later lunch. It's def a neat experience, but both my wife and I felt rather queasy inside. There's a constant droning sound to simulate you're in a space station, but something about that room made us feel not well. The food was very good but far too expensive. I don't think I'd ever go back.

 

[G00fyDad]

So we did this a few weeks back, had a bit of a later lunch. It's def a neat experience, but both my wife and I felt rather queasy inside. There's a constant droning sound to simulate you're in a space station, but something about that room made us feel not well. The food was very good but far too expensive. I don't think I'd ever go back.

Maybe the motion in the "windows"? Do you get the same feeling in Garden Grill?

 

[FigmentFan82]

Maybe the motion in the "windows"? Do you get the same feeling in Garden Grill?

Something about that room put our stomachs off. We both don't mind motion and love rollercoaster etc. Not sure if the low rumbling droning sound was also causing vibrations? Whatever it was we were fine when we got outside. My inlaws who were with us did not encounter any issues. Again, I think the concept is cool and a neat thing to have and it kinda basically is another attraction, but the cost is just way too high. This should in no way be a pre fixe menu

 

[WDWTrojan]

I'm a little perplexed by Disney's reservation system and actual capacity. When going to grab dinner with a friend, we checked the app with virtually no availability at Disney Springs. I then checked OpenTable, and there was significant availability at many of the restaurants showing no or little availability on the Disney app. Obviously, that's DS vs. a Park - but it struck me as odd to be controlling availability that way when it was obviously available on another app.

The restaurants only give a small percentage of their table allotment to MDE. The majority goes to OpenTable. This exists for two reasons, primarily 1) to advertise and draw in locals/those staying off property 2) to prioritize cash paying guests over DDP guests (which doesn't apply at the moment, but non-Disney restaurants much prefer the former).

 

[Epcot82Guy]

The restaurants only give a small percentage of their table allotment to MDE. The majority goes to OpenTable. This exists for two reasons, primarily 1) to advertise and draw in locals/those staying off property 2) to prioritize cash paying guests over DDP guests (which doesn't apply at the moment, but non-Disney restaurants much prefer the former).

Interesting. I follow your logic, but that seems like an odd approach while DDP is suspended. Those restaurants were far from full. And they are literally pushing everyone to Genie/MDE to plan. They should at least include an Open Table link. (And I don't mean to challenge your statement! I can totally see Disney doing just that.)

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

Next weeks availability at Epcot, particularly Friday, is scarce. No Dinner reservations to be had at the moment, and only one rose and crown reservation at 3:00 for lunch haha

I meant more in a general sense; Epcot has dining capacity, not specifically for this upcoming week or any other dates.


I also would not assume limited ADR availability = running at pre-pandemic capacity.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

The restaurants at DS split their reservations between the two services. Far more people use MDE to book and have no idea they are also on OpenTable (and without the $10 cancellation penalty!).

City Works also has their own loyalty program. The one perhaps upside of MDE is that it automatically applies AP discounts to orders.

I'm not sure if it still exists, but Landry's (Rainforest Cafe) also used to have their own rewards program. (I'm not sure if you can reserve tables/order that way, or if it even still exists.)

 

[WDWTrojan]

Interesting. I follow your logic, but that seems like an odd approach while DDP is suspended. Those restaurants were far from full. And they are literally pushing everyone to Genie/MDE to plan. They should at least include an Open Table link. (And I don't mean to challenge your statement! I can totally see Disney doing just that.)

It's that these aren't Disney restaurants, they are all owned/operated by third parties. Also I don't think Boathouse, Morimoto or Homecomin' (which uses MDE more than the others) are hurting for any business. They want to draw in cash spending locals and conventioneers - they hate the DDP, so that is how they've prioritized their business via OpenTable.

For what its worth, pre-COVID, even Disney started putting some of their less popular resort restaurants on OpenTable to draw in the same crowd.

 

[TikibirdLand]

This should have put this on the Starcruiser. It would have been better for the restaurant as a whole. Especially atmospherically.

So, you think it's a good idea to put this restaurant behind the Starcruiser paywall? Maybe I'm misunderstanding your statement...

 

[pdude81]

This should have put this on the Starcruiser. It would have been better for the restaurant as a whole. Especially atmospherically.

They do some of this in every room and in the atrium for views/"fireworks". The dining room only handles half the rooms at a time, so not a ton of people.

 

[ToTBellHop]

So, you think it's a good idea to put this restaurant behind the Starcruiser paywall? Maybe I'm misunderstanding your statement...

I’m happy Space 220 allows us poors who can only afford a stay in the slums at Yacht Club.

 

[TikibirdLand]

I’m happy Space 220 allows us poors who can only afford a stay in the slums at Yacht Club.

Now, wouldn't be cool to do a SHORT dinner theater type experience in Space 220, much like what's going on in the Starcruiser? I think something with less escape room and more drama would be cool. What would that look like? Wish I was that creative. But, something like that may boost ideas of the Starcruiser...

Yeah, just dreamin'

 

[ToTBellHop]

Now, wouldn't be cool to do a SHORT dinner theater type experience in Space 220, much like what's going on in the Starcruiser? I think something with less escape room and more drama would be cool. What would that look like? Wish I was that creative. But, something like that may boost ideas of the Starcruiser...

Yeah, just dreamin'

But Starcruiser is an unqualified triumph for the company. No changes needed, amiright?

 

[G00fyDad]

They should have made the hotel bigger if it couldn't truly look like a Starcruiser.

You're not boarding the starcruiser when you go in the building. You are going into the starport and then you are transported to the starcruiser in space.

 

[pdude81]

Yep, it would have been better as a Star Wars restaurant. As is it looks pretty boring and uneventful.



They should have made the hotel bigger if it couldn't truly look like a Starcruiser.

How many starcruisers have you been in? Space restaurants? How about cruise ships? Stop me when I'm getting close

 

[Bocabear]

It is amazing to me that30 years ago, The Star Trek experience at the Hilton and it's Space Quest Casino managed to feel more exciting, beautiful and transportive than Space 220 and the Starcruiser seem to feel... Seems like the Star Cruiser was just built too small in to common areas to begin with...And I really don't get the added layer of a back story that it is an older ship that was refurbished...Huh? It's all about the scale being off I think....JUst make a beautiful first class ship with amazing luxury amenities and breathtaking common areas... So many choices they made on both of these space themed properties feel baffling to me.

 

[G00fyDad]

LOL, I've been on 2 Disney Cruises thank you very much.

The Starcruiser is just underwhelming. It should have more options beyond the larping experience. Most people don't want to be forced into pressing buttons and pretending all day. It looks exhausting.

Bring the price down to a cruise and give us a week with pools and a theater show. If they want they can say they've landed on another planet that has hot springs and waterfalls.

^^ THIS

 

[TikibirdLand]

It is amazing to me that30 years ago, The Star Trek experience at the Hilton and it's Space Quest Casino managed to feel more exciting, beautiful and transportive than Space 220 and the Starcruiser seem to feel... Seems like the Star Cruiser was just built too small in to common areas to begin with...And I really don't get the added layer of a back story that it is an older ship that was refurbished...Huh? It's all about the scale being off I think....JUst make a beautiful first class ship with amazing luxury amenities and breathtaking common areas... So many choices they made on both of these space themed properties feel baffling to me.
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Slot Machines. yeah, it's missing the slot machines

Seriously, they did a really good job on that project. I would have loved to have

 

[UNCgolf]

The Starcruiser is just underwhelming. It should have more options beyond the larping experience. Most people don't want to be forced into pressing buttons and pretending all day. It looks exhausting.

Bring the price down to a cruise and give us a week with pools and a theater show. If they want they can say they've landed on another planet that has hot springs and waterfalls.

You're asking for them to build something fundamentally different than what they intended to build.

Which is fine, but it doesn't really make sense as an argument. It's like saying this steak is really underwhelming because I wanted cake, except they already told you you were getting steak so you knew that's what you were having. Why complain it isn't cake?

If it was split between the experience they built and some kind of standard cruise, it would make the experience worse for both groups.

 

[Bocabear]

Slot Machines. yeah, it's missing the slot machines

Seriously, they did a really good job on that project. I would have loved to have

It was beautiful....and there were giant windows around the top and the ceiling that had lots of action and movement synced with the other windows... Mostly it was the scale that felt important and monumental....and felt appropriately like a grand space port... It had tons of "Wow" factor ( and slot machines) Something this scale should have been the "atrium" of the Halcyon...or the Mars base at Mission Space...