2 EPCOT Snack Spots Will REOPEN Next Week

Next week is a SUPER important week in Disney World. Do you know why?

EPCOT

It’s because the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival begins on Thursday, July 27th! On that same day, two EPCOT snack spots that have been closed for a couple of weeks now are expected to reopen, likely with some festival-inspired eats. However, there are other restaurants, attractions, and water parks that are currently CLOSED and will remain closed throughout the week. Let’s take a look at all the scheduled closures for the week of July 23rd through the 29th.

EPCOT Closures & Reopenings

Refreshment Port

Refreshment Port is closed right now, but it’s scheduled to reopen on July 27th, when the Food & Wine Festival begins.

Refreshment Port is closed

When it reopens, it’ll serve a couple of festival-exclusive snacks, including the Braised Beef Poutine that we loved last year!

The festival menu recently CHANGED at this snack spot — get the details here.

Refreshment Station

And there’s another “refreshing” restaurant that’s currently closed: Refreshment Station. This spot is also scheduled to reopen on July 27th.

Refreshment Station is empty

We don’t know for sure that Refreshment Station will have any festival-exclusive menu items because it’s not listed on Disney’s website as being one of the spots included in the festival. However, since it closed for a couple of weeks and is reopening on the festival’s first day, we’re hoping to see a few new additions. We’ll be sure to let you know if we do!

Click here to see all of the food booths and menus for the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival.

Tokyo Dining

In the Japan Pavilion in EPCOT, Tokyo Dining is currently undergoing a major refurbishment, and will not reopen until summer 2023.

We saw a new Shiki-Sai sign outside!

However, a brand new restaurant is coming to EPCOT this summer: Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya will be a table-service restaurant featuring a “festive dining experience in a sharable Izakaya-style.”

©Disney

The restaurant will be located in the Japan Pavilion, on the second floor (above the Mitsukoshi Department Store), and will offer “stunning views of EPCOT, the World Showcase Lagoon, and, of course, fireworks.” That location sure sounds a LOT like the current location of Tokyo Dining — and according to signs that have gone up at this spot, we think we may be right that the new restaurant is replacing the old one.

Click here to learn more about the NEW restaurant coming to EPCOT.

Traveler’s Cafe

Traveler’s Cafe is the old Starbucks location, which closed when Connections Cafe opened in World Celebration. Lately, we’ve spotted some changes to this spot (including a new paint job), so we’re wondering if that could mean it will reopen soon!

Traveler’s Cafe

If it does reopen, will this spot have an all-new menu? There probably won’t be two Starbucks locations in EPCOT, so we’re expecting something different. We’ll keep you updated!

How To Get a RARE EPCOT Souvenir Without a Park Ticket

Magic Kingdom Closures

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Splash Mountain closed on January 23rd for a long refurbishment. The ride is being re-themed to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, with a Princess and the Frog theme.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

The new ride will reopen sometime in late 2024. We’ll be watching for more updates on the reopening timeline. The tree at the top of this ride has been removed as Disney continues construction, and several new rock structures have been built at the bottom of the drop. There’s a new water tower as well, which says “Tiana’s Foods” on the front and “Never, ever lose sight of what’s really important” on the back. It’s topped with Tiana’s crown, which has two stars on it to represent Ray and Evangeline.

We noticed that part of the ride track has recently been covered up as well.

At the moat

If you miss Splash Mountain or want to celebrate the new ride, you should check out our DFB t-shirts! We have a Splash Mountain Farwell Tour shirt…

DFB Exclusive!

…and a Tiana tee as well!

Check out our new Tiana-inspired merch!

You can shop both tees (and lots of other Disney merch) at our online store.

Click here to shop our DFB merchandise store.

Barrel Bridge on Tom Sawyer Island

Over on Tom Sawyer Island, the Barrel Bridge is currently missing.

It’s GONE

A Cast Member told us that it has been removed for maintenance, and they didn’t know when it might return. The rest of the island is still open to explore, though!

These are the Magic Kingdom restaurants we do NOT recommend.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Closures

Voyage of the Little Mermaid

This Little Mermaid-themed stage show has been closed in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for a long time now.

Voyage of the Little Mermaid

Disney hasn’t announced when or if the Voyage of the Little Mermaid will reopen.

Extended Evening Hours are RETURNING to Hollywood Studios!

Disney World Hotel Closures

Trail’s End Restaurant at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

Trail’s End Restaurant at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground closed in mid-April and is currently undergoing a MAJOR refurbishment.

Lots of signs around the area

It will reopen this summer as “a marketplace concept with expanded quick service options.” The table service option will no longer be offered. There may be some noise coming from this construction zone on your visit, so keep that in mind if you’re looking to book here. For a different option with similar vibes (but a pricier tag) check out the Wilderness Lodge.