Welcome to our weekly roundup of What’s New at Epcot!
Let’s Go To Epcot!
Of course, Epcot is ALL THE TALK today since the MENUS have been released for the 2019 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! But while the Festival doesn’t kick off until August 29th, there are all sorts of things to explore in the Park right now, so let’s get started!
What’s New in Epcot’s Future World
In food news, we found quite a few changes to Coral Reef Restaurant’s menu! New menu items include a Seared Sea Scallops appetizer, Crispy Fried Shrimp appetizer, Mushroom Lobster-style Salad appetizer (their current seasonal salad), Lobster Seafood Boil, Grilled Vegetable Skewer, Grilled Swordfish, Snow Crab Legs enhancement, Baileys Almond and Jack Daniel’s Mousse dessert, and a Seasonal Cheesecake dessert.
Coral Reef Menu
Items removed from the menu are the Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli appetizer (this was soooo good!), Crispy Rhode Island Calamari appetizer, Whole Lobster, Tempura Fried Cauliflower, Seared Sustainable Salmon Fillet, 10-ounce Grilled Bone-in Pork Chop, Jonah Crab Claw enhancement, Warm Vanilla Custard-filled Strudel dessert, and the Turtle Cheesecake dessert.
In Future World construction news, the Guardians of the Galaxy Coaster continues to progress. The attraction is scheduled to open in 2021, and we sure wish 2021 would get here faster!
Guardians of the Galaxy Coaster Construction
Guardians of the Galaxy Coaster Construction
Construction on the space-themed restaurant also continues to move forward. There’s still lots of scaffolding on the exterior, but there’s no way to know how far along they may be on the interiors. Nevertheless, we are so ready for this exciting restaurant to open later this year!
Space-themed Restaurant Construction
Good (?) news, parents: Future World’s splash pad has reopened! We couldn’t spot a visual change to the splash pad, so we think it was refurbished for mechanical purposes. Either way, we’re sure the kiddos are enjoying it in Orlando’s summer heat! (On a related note, you may want to back a back-up outfit and shoes for Epcot if your kids are splash pad aficionados!)
Future World Splash Pad
What’s New in Epcot’s World Showcase
In World Showcase food news, the Rose and Crown Beer Stand added a Ploughman’s Lunch for $13.75! Overall, we were really pleased with this new menu item and think it’d make a lovely snack or light meal. Click here to read our review!
Ploughman’s Lunch
Note that the Ploughman’s Lunch is not Disney Dining Plan eligible, and the price does not include a beverage.
Ploughman’s Lunch Sign
Meanwhile in construction news, Takumi-Tei continues to progress in the Japan Pavilion. The new signature restaurant will open THIS SUMMER and celebrate the elements of nature.
Takumi-Tei Construction
The menu board is still empty, but hopefully we’ll get to sneak a peek at the menu soon!
Takumi-Tei Construction
Over in the Canada Pavilion, we noticed the addition of more scaffolding on the rock wall near Le Cellier. We assume the scaffolding is there for maintenance purposes, but we’ll keep you posted if we learn anything different!
Canada Pavilion
Construction in the France Pavilion continues to progress as well. We are all (im)patiently awaiting the new Crêperie and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure! I can’t decide what I’m more excited about: delicious crepes or Disney World’s first trackless dark ride. Both are slated to open in time for Disney World’s 50th-anniversary celebration in 2021, so for now we’ll have to keep watching the progress from afar!
France Pavilion Construction
What’s New in Epcot’s Shops and Stores — New Merchandise!
It’s time for one of our favorite things: new merchandise!
In Mouse Gear, we found a trio of Farewell IllumiNations phone cases. The 3-D effect phone case is $34.99, while the Mickey and Figment cases are each $29.99.
Farewell IllumiNations Phone Cases
Farewell IllumiNations Phone Case
Farewell IllumiNations Phone Case
Farewell IllumiNations Phone Case
Also new to us were several Minnie in Paris items in Souvenirs de France! We spotted a Bonjour Paris! shirt ($34.99), a tote bag ($34.99), a smaller bag ($17.99), a hat ($27.99), and a Minnie Bow beret ($26.99)!
Bonjour Paris! Shirt
Minnie in Paris Tote
Minnie in Paris Bag
Minnie in Paris Hat
Minnie in Paris Beret
And now we bid you au revoir from Epcot! Thanks for joining us on our Park walk, and stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more news from the Disney Parks and Resorts.
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How come phone cases are always for Iphones. Don’t us Android users count? And speaking as a Brit that is not a ploughman’s lunch.
Glad to see the shrimp n grits retained at the Coral Reef, best thing going…but for my father who loves to eat here they sure took away the majority of fish options with only 1 left, and this is a seafood location!
Are we going to get a review of the new Coral Reef menu soon?
Amanda, I’ll check with AJ!