A popular EPCOT dining stop is being permanently replaced. Fresh construction activity signals the project is moving quickly…but only when most Walt Disney World Resort guests are asleep.
The End of Refreshment Port
Refreshment Port, the Quick-Service kiosk near the Canada Pavilion known for DOLE Whip and specialty poutine, closed in early March. Construction walls went up around the building shortly after, and Walt Disney World Resort went weeks without offering any explanation. The silence broke in early April with a joint announcement from Disney and Air Canada: the former Refreshment Port footprint is being absorbed into the Canada World Showcase Pavilion and reborn as La Poutinerie, a permanently sponsored dining location.
The concept is framed around “a Canadian classic with a twist”: poutine with a new identity. Since Refreshment Port already served poutine, how exactly the La Poutinerie menu will set itself apart remains to be seen. Concept art released alongside the announcement shows new signage, an updated color scheme, and decorative Canadian geese. Even if the menu stays familiar, the new Quick-Service dining location will debut a noticeably different look from the former snack kiosk.
Construction Accelerates in the EPCOT World Showcase
The latest development from the site suggests the build-out is ramping up. WDWNT reported on April 29 that construction lights have appeared above the plywood barriers surrounding the former Refreshment Port, indicating that crews have begun working through the night to push the project forward. Nighttime construction lighting typically marks a shift into the heavier phases of a build.
Despite the visible activity, Walt Disney World Resort has not announced a grand opening date for La Poutinerie. The operational calendar for the location runs through June 27 with no posted hours on that date, leaving the project timeline without a clear endpoint.
Are you excited about La Poutinerie in the Canada World Showcase Pavilion at EPCOT? Let Disney Dining know in the comments!
