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Why We Prefer EPCOT’s Space 220 Lounge Over the Restaurant

Space 220 Lounge
Image Credit: DisneyDining (left) / Disney (right)

Calling all Disney foodies! EPCOT’s new space-themed restaurant, Space 220, recently opened advanced dining reservations for the lounge portion of the popular Disney Park restaurant. We were able to secure a reservation and are sharing our experience below!

Space 220 Restaurant sign

Lounge Reservations

When Walt Disney World Resort announced Space 220 Lounge reservations were opening, we immediately jumped online and snagged a reservation. The full restaurant portion has been advanced dining only, but the lounge was the one way to dine at the restaurant without a highly-coveted reservation.

Space 220 Lounge would cause a lengthy line outside of the restaurant as Guests tried for a lounge table/bar stool, as the popularity of the new restaurant that opened in September 2021 has made it nearly impossible to get a reservation. Now, with the lounge in reservation mode, we noticed there was no line to get in as now the restaurant is full-on reservations.

Space 220 Hostess stand
Space 220 Hostess Stand Prior to Lift Off

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Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t walk up and ask the Space 220 Cast Member if there is any availability for the day, but we will say if you didn’t get an advanced dining reservation for the restaurant/lounge 60-days in advance, your chances are extremely slim at walking in.

Lift Off

We have dined at Space 220 for a preview meal when the restaurant first opened, so we were extra curious about what may be different when dining with lounge reservations.

Space 220 Elevator Boarding Pass
Space Elevator Boarding Pass

Upon entering the hostess handed us a boarding pass as we boarded the elevator to the Centauri Space Station! Goodbye EPCOT… the launch to space was fun as the floor slightly rumbles and screen simulations feel like you are lifting off. No worries as the simulation is extremely tame and a rather pleasant journey. Here’s a video of the elevator as we lifted off:

Welcome to Space

The planning and attempts at snagging a dining reservation for Space 220 are worth it for the atmosphere alone. The elevator touch to arrive is impressive, but the “views” (truly massive screens) look so realistic. It feels like you’ve arrived in space!

Space 220 screens
Space 220 Views

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We were seated in the lounge portion of the restaurant which is a rather large portion of the restaurant near the bar and scanned the QR code on the table for the Patina Restaurant Group menu. We quickly learned, not only did the lounge menu show but so did the full restaurant menu.

Our server informed us that the lounge seating is extra unique. Not only can Guests choose from the standard full restaurant menu, but they can also just order from the more simple lounge menu. Honestly, lounge dining offered much more flexibility for meal selections than standard restaurant dining.

Drinks!

Jupiter Fizz, Red Star, Celestial Cosmopolitan
Pictured: Jupiter Fizz (left) / Red Star (middle) / Celestial Cosmopolitan (right)

Let’s talk drinks, shall we? With the lounge mindset, we knew we wanted to try several of Space 220’s incredible list of specialty cocktails (AKA “Atmospheric Spirits”). We ended up trying six of the eight drinks listed on the beverage menu including:

  • Celestial Cosmopolitan (Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Cointreau, Cranberry-Hibiscus Juice, Moon Dust)
  • Jupiter Fizz (Hendrick’s Gin, Aperol, Grapefruit, Mango)
  • Stargarita (Herradura Plata, Cointreau, House Made Agave Sour, B’lure)
  • The Big Tang (Avion Silver, Grand Marnier, Tang-Infused Agave Nectar, Grapefruit, Strawberry, Served with Astronaut Ice Cream)
  • Red Star (Jameson, Dragon Fruit, Fresh Lemon, Onyx)
  • Atmospritz (New Amsterdam, Aperol, Blood Orange, Orange Juice, Prosecco, Cotton Candy Cloud)
Stargarita, The Big Tang, Atmospritz
Pictured: Stargarita (left) / The Big Tang (middle) / Atmospritz (right)

We did not try The Nebula (Maker’s Mark, Pineapple, Honey, Passion Fruit, Angostura Bitters, Moon Dust) or the Planetary Punch (Bacardi Silver, Malibu, Blue Curacao, Guava, Coconut) but will do so next time around.

There are also plenty of beer and wine selections. Not an alcohol drinker? No worries! Space 220 offers several “Zero Proof Sippers” for Guests to enjoy. We’d recommend the Moon Rocks!

The drinks were well made and unique in flavors. We must say that they didn’t seem all too strong at first, but be aware that some of them pack a punch once they get into your system! Our favorites were the Stargarita and the Red Star.

Time to Eat

The flexibility to choose between the lounge menu and the regular lunch menu with lounge reservations was fantastic! We love the a la carte feel as well as the prix fixe option so went ahead and tried both.

The lounge offered a list of “Flight Bites” which could be ordered a la carte. Flight Bites included options such as Astro Deviled Eggs, Starry Calamari, Blue Moon Cauliflower, Chicken on Waffles, Short Rib Sliders, and New England Lobster Roll.

Space 220 Blue Moon Cauliflower
Blue Moon Cauliflower

We tried the Blue Moon Cauliflower pictured above which is Tempura Fried Cauliflower, Housemade Hot Sauce, and Blue Cheese Dust. We must say it was absolutely DELICIOUS! Our favorite bite during the meal.

Space 220 Short Rib Sliders
Short Rib Sliders

The Short Rib Sliders pictured above were also tasty and very filling for lounge food. The basket of fries was huge! The sliders had white cheddar cheese, sriracha aioli, lettuce, tomato, butter pickles. SO good!

Space 220 Roasted Free-range Chicken
Roasted Free-range Chicken

We also ordered off the regular Space 220 lunch menu which is $55 for adult lunch pricing and included one Lift-Off (Appetizer) and one Star Course (Entrée).

Our Lift-Off was the Blue Moon Cauliflower with our entree being the Roasted Free-range Chicken (Chicken Roulade, Mashed Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Garlic Thyme Ju) pictured above. The chicken was perfectly cooked.

Lounge vs. Restaurant

Overall, we must say we prefer dining at Space 220 Lounge. Honestly, it’s really the same experience as the restaurant reservations but you are given so much more flexibility when it comes to menu choices. We were sat at a table, but keep in mind, you may be sitting at the bar.

Keep in mind both Space 220 Restaurant and Space 220 Lounge require advanced dining reservations which open 60 days in advance or ten days before depending on your Disney Resort check-in date. Be ready to snag your reservations as they go VERY fast!

Have you tried Space 220 yet? Let us know about your experience in the comments!

About Jamie Sylvester

I'm a Disney nerd! A kid at heart who loves the magic and memories of Walt Disney World. I follow all things Disney and enjoy the vacations, day trips, weekend getaways, and geek out over the planning of such events. My goal is to experience as many Disney desserts and cocktails as possible! Married to another Disney nerd and blessed with a daughter and son, we thoroughly enjoy the magic at Disney and are here to help others experience the magic as well.