The transformation of the former Refreshment Port building is entering its final days, and overnight progress in the EPCOT World Showcase this week confirmed that La Poutinerie is almost ready to open.
Signs Go Up Overnight
WDWNT reported that Disney cast members installed the La Poutinerie signs on the roofline overnight, marking one of the most visible milestones yet in the months-long construction project. A message painted above one of the pick-up windows adds a playful finishing touch to the exterior, reading “Ready For Taste Off!”
Rolling planters still ring the building and keep EPCOT guests at a distance, but the structure’s transformation appears largely complete. Menu boards, decorative posters, and other themed elements are already visible above the barricades for guests walking past — a preview of what the full experience will look like when the doors open on July 1.
The signage installation follows several weeks of exterior finishing work, including repainting the roof in gray and hand-laid decorative stonework applied to the chimney.
How the Building Went From Refreshment Port to La Poutinerie
Refreshment Port closed in January 2026 after years of serving DOLE Whip, specialty poutines, and standard Disney Park fare near the World Celebration entrance to the EPCOT World Showcase. For months, Walt Disney World Resort offered no information about what would replace it. The answer arrived in spring, when Disney announced that the building would be absorbed into the Canada World Showcase Pavilion and transformed into La Poutinerie — a new Quick-Service dining location sponsored by Air Canada.
Air Canada has described the concept as “A taste of Canada at EPCOT. La Poutinerie, hosted by Air Canada brings a Canadian classic with a twist.”
La Poutinerie opens on July 1, 2026 — Canada Day — with a menu centered on specialty poutines and Canadian-inspired beverages.
Will you miss Refreshment Port at EPCOT? Let Disney Dining know in the comments!
