A beloved EPCOT World Showcase snack stop has been dark since January, and a newly filed construction permit suggests it could be a while before Walt Disney World Resort guests can order there again.
Refreshment Port Goes Quiet
Refreshment Port, the Quick-Service kiosk tucked near the Canada Pavilion in the EPCOT World Showcase, shut down for refurbishment on January 12. The location is known for its poutine, specialty festival flavors, select beverages, and soft serve, including the must-try DOLE Whip.
Walt Disney World Resort provided little context for the closure at the time, and the surrounding construction walls have offered even fewer clues, with no visible changes above the plywood barriers pointing to interior kitchen work rather than anything cosmetic.
No reopening date has been announced for the Quick-Service dining location.
Walt Disney Imagineering Gets Involved
What started as an ambiguous refurbishment just got more interesting. Walt Disney World Resort has filed a new construction permit for Refreshment Port: a Notice of Commencement to “install set elements” at the World Showcase building, contracting third-party company Icarus Exhibits Inc. to carry out the work.
Crucially, it was Walt Disney Imagineering — not Disney’s Facility Management team — that filed the permit. That distinction matters. Facility Management typically handles routine maintenance with minimal impact on the guest experience. Imagineering’s involvement signals something more substantial is in the works.
The permit also carries no expiration date, offering no timeline whatsoever for when the project will wrap up.
What It Means for Guests
The open-ended permit and Imagineering’s fingerprints on the filing suggest Refreshment Port may be closed far longer than anyone initially assumed. The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival runs through June 1, 2026, and Walt Disney World Resort has made no mention of specialty poutines or other Refreshment Port offerings for the event, hinting that the kiosk may still be behind walls when the festival ends.
What’s your favorite thing to order at Refreshment Port? Let Disney Dining know in the comments!
