The former Refreshment Port building in the EPCOT World Showcase is starting to look like something entirely new. With Canada Day just weeks away, the latest restaurant transformation at Walt Disney World Resort is entering its final phase.
The Chimney Gets Its Stone Finish
Last week, WDWNT reported that construction crews have turned their attention to the chimney at La Poutinerie, applying the same hand-laid decorative stonework that was previously installed on the building’s exterior support columns. The treatment gives the chimney a textured, artisanal appearance that ties the structure together visually and reinforces the Canadian-inspired character of the new Quick-Service dining location.
At least one side of the chimney was still awaiting its stonework at the time of the report. The roofline — repainted gray in early June — is also still missing its La Poutinerie signage, leaving a few visible finishing touches between the building’s current state and its July 1 debut. Given the progress made in recent weeks, the remaining work appears well within reach before opening day.
Five Months in the Making
The building, now being revealed piece by piece, began its transformation in January 2026, when Refreshment Port quietly closed for what Walt Disney World Resort described at the time only as a refurbishment. Months passed before the resort confirmed that the familiar Quick-Service location — known for DOLE Whip, seasonal poutines, and standard Disney Park snacks — would not be returning.
In its place, Walt Disney World Resort announced La Poutinerie, a new dining concept developed with Air Canada that will specialize in poutine and other Canadian-inspired food and beverages. The new location will officially become part of the Canada World Showcase Pavilion when it opens, expanding the pavilion’s footprint into the space previously occupied by Refreshment Port.
Walt Disney World Resort confirmed the July 1, 2026, opening date — Canada Day — when it published the full La Poutinerie menu on its official website earlier this month.
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