Disney World Revamps Classic Location Into New Space After Four-Year Closure

Disney has transformed a space often forgotten by guests visiting the Florida theme parks.

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Guests hoping to take a break from the brutal Florida heat this week are invited to enjoy a new indoor seating area in Restaurant Marrakesh at EPCOT. This area was once home to a unique dining experience but closed in 2020 and has remained partially abandoned ever since.

Now, as the summer comes to a close, Disney has unveiled a new way to enjoy this space, allowing guests to kick back, relax, and enjoy the new amenities offered inside Restaurant Marrakesh.

Restaurant Marrakesh at EPCOT

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Restaurant Marrakesh closed during the original Coronavirus outbreak in 2020, a global pandemic that affected the entirety of the Walt Disney World Resort. Rides, attractions, shows, and other experiences were all halted at one point or another, slowly returning as the world approached a new normal.

Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts closed, though Florida’s Disney theme parks reopened relatively quickly compared to California’s.

However, not everything survived the pandemic, with several areas of the Walt Disney World Resort being abandoned or lost in the shuffle. This is especially true at EPCOT, which faced a variety of problems and challenges directly due to COVID-19.

Several new rides and attractions were planned for EPCOT as part of the park’s massive transformation, a project that was announced prior to COVID-19. This project included a Mary Poppins-themed ride as well as a massive upgrade to EPCOT’s premier dark ride, Spaceship Earth.

Most of these projects were either shelved or canceled entirely, with Restaurant Marrakesh, a unique eatery at EPCOT, also left in limbo. Marrakesh closed in 2020 and has yet to reopen, with Disney opting to transform the old restaurant into a new lounge space.

Restaurant Marrakesh became an Annual Passholder lounge earlier this summer, with Disney now opening the space to all guests. In addition, the location also acts as a Kidcot Fun Stop, as shown in a post from Twitter/X user adventuresofmoey.

Kidcot Fun Stop brought into Restaurant Marrakesh in Morocco. @adventuresofmoey

Kidcot Fun Stop brought into Restaurant Marrakesh in Morocco.

@adventuresofmoey @waltdisneyworld @disneyparks #waltdisneyworld #disney #disneyworld #disneyparks #epcotcenter #epcot🌐 #epcot #worldshowcase #epcotdisney #disneyig #disneyinsta #disney… https://t.co/8kG970F9y0 pic.twitter.com/9qTxCfdjIl

— Chip and Company (@chipandcompany) July 27, 2024

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When open, Restaurant Marrakesh offered various Moroccan dishes like lamb and shish kebab, as well as live entertainment in the form of belly dancers.

This is not the final form of Restaurant Marrakesh, with the former eatery likely to be used during EPCOT’s upcoming 2024 Food & Wine Festival. The popular event begins August 29 and lasts until November 23, 2024.

Restaurant Marrakesh is located in EPCOT’s Morroco Pavilion, which is one small slice of World Showcase, an area that invites guests to discover and explore over 11 different countries. From France to China, guests can travel the globe without ever hopping on a plane or boat, enjoying a variety of authentic delicacies, shows, attractions, and experiences.

What’s your favorite country to visit at EPCOT?