EPCOT is known for its excellent dining locations, as well as its world-class attractions. You aren’t short on choices regarding dining in the Disney Park. You’ll find an extensive list of Disney restaurants in World Showcase, but there are also restaurants in World Celebration, World Discovery, and World Nature. Spice Road Table, Space 220 Restaurant, Le Cellier, Teppan Edo, and Coral Reef Restaurant are just a few of the EPCOT restaurants.
However, you will pay a price if you only decide to dine in EPCOT. There are excellent restaurants that are just outside of the Disney Park. Here are the restaurants you’ll miss out on if you only choose to dine in EPCOT when visiting the Walt Disney World Resort. You won’t need Walt Disney World tickets to access the following restaurants.
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop
You’ll find an ice cream shop with plenty of character at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. Beaches & Cream Soda Shop is a retro soda fountain shop. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time in this nostalgic restaurant inspired by the Atlantic seashore. If you need a savory dish, the menu features burgers, sandwiches, loaded tater tots, and chilli. Make sure you save room for dessert, though!
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop is best known for its variety of desserts. Choose from brownies, strawberry shortcake, and sundaes. If you’ve heard of the Kitchen Sink, you’ve come to the right place! The Disney specialty consists of a scoop of every flavor of ice cream served in the Disney restaurant, every topping, and finished with a whole can of whipped cream. Will you and your party be able to finish it all?
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop is just a short walk from EPCOT World Showcase. You can use International Gateway, between the United Kingdom Pavilion and France Pavilion, to access it. It’s close enough to take a break from the Disney Park for an hour or two and spend some time indoors, cooling off. While there are excellent ice cream locations in EPCOT, they are quick-service restaurants. Therefore, Beaches & Cream Soda Shop is a wonderful restaurant to consider if you want a full-service restaurant.
Topolino’s Terrace
Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera is one of the most sought-after advance dining reservations in Walt Disney World. The stunning views, incredible food, and unique Disney character interactions are just some of the reasons why Guests love it. While Garden Grill and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall offer Disney character dining in EPCOT theme park, you won’t find Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy together in one place. Instead, it would be best to dine at Topolino’s Terrace to meet Mickey Mouse and friends during the same experience.
Topolino’s Terrace serves breakfast and dinner. Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. through 12:15 p.m. Meanwhile, dinner is served from 5 p.m. through 9:30 p.m. Disney character dining is only available at breakfast. Mickey and Friends join you while you enjoy an a la carte breakfast. You choose two entrees from the menu and your choice of hot or cold beverage to accompany your breakfast. Should you decide to dine at Topolino’s Terrace for dinner, you’ll enjoy a signature dining experience. The menu featured dishes inspired by Italian and French cuisine. After dinner, retire to the outdoor rooftop terrace, where you can enjoy stunning views across the Walt Disney World Resort. You may even see the Disney fireworks over EPCOT and Magic Kingdom Park.
Topolino’s Terrace is a short ride on the Disney Skyliner away from EPCOT World Showcase. Disembark the Disney Skyliner at Disney’s Riviera Resort, and follow the signs to the elevators. An advance dining reservation is highly recommended to secure your dining experience in Topolino’s Terrace. Additionally, Topolino’s Terrace is an excellent choice of restaurant if you plan on using the Disney Dining Plan.
Sebastian’s Bistro
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is home to Sebastian’s Bistro. The Disney restaurant is underrated in the Walt Disney World Resort. While we recommend securing an advanced dining reservation, you will likely find walk-in availability in Sebastian’s Bistro.
Sebastian’s Bistro offers family-style dining with Latin and Caribbean-inspired dishes. Your dining experience is reasonably priced at $35 per adult and $19 per child. You can eat as much as you like, ordering more of the dishes you want as you need them. The Taste of the Caribbean menu includes appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Additional enhancements are also available. Your dining experience will consist of your choice of non-alcoholic beverage. However, specialty cocktails and other drinks are available from an extensive menu.
You must use the Disney Skyliner to access Sebastian’s Bistro from EPCOT. There are two ways that you can get to the Disney restaurant. Both require a walk, so you choose which route to take. You can disembark the Disney Skyliner at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort station. From there, you will walk through the Disney Resort hotel to Old Port Royale, where the Disney restaurant is located. Alternatively, you can disembark the Disney Skyliner at Disney’s Riviera Resort. Then, follow the path through the Disney Resort before continuing to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, passing Martinique on your way.
Trattoria al Forno
Trattoria al Forno is the place to dine if you’d rather visit a Disney restaurant closer to EPCOT. It is an excellent alternative to Via Napoli and Tutto Italia in the Italy Pavilion in World Showcase. Trattoria Al Forno is on the Disney BoardWalk. You can walk from EPCOT International Gateway or use the FriendShip Boats to rest your legs.
Trattoria al Forno’s menu features plenty of Italian favorites. Dinner is served from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Additionally, the Disney restaurant is open for breakfast. It’s a great alternative to Akershus Royal Banquet Hall if you’d rather skip a Disney character dining experience at breakfast. Should you choose to dine at Trattoria al Forno, advance dining reservations are recommended. However, you may find walk-in availability is available should you eat there during your Disney vacation.
In addition to EPCOT, there are many restaurants close to Magic Kingdom Park that you’ll miss out on should you choose to dine only in the Disney Park. Please find out about them here.
