Is Epcot’s Space 220 Actually In Space? No -> BUT You Might Feel Like It Is! (2023 Restaurant Review)
Is Epcot’s Space 220 Lounge Actually In Space?
Wouldn’t it be cool if it was? Hahah – Unfortunately, Space 220 isn’t actually in outer space. The restaurant is an outer-space theme and everything is done up to the last detail to make you feel like you’re dining on a space station orbiting planet earth.
Space 220 is physically located in Epcot theme park Disney World, which is located in Orlando, Florida. BUT The theming is done so well you will actually feel like you’re dining in outer space!
All About Epcot’s Space 220
Epcot’s newest themed restaurant, Space 220, is located in the same complex as the famous ride “Mission: SPACE” that opened all the way back in 2003.
We went on Mission: SPACE before dinner (and I would recommend you do as well because it’s a little bit too bumpy to go on right after eating!) to get into the space-y spirit. I thought the ride holds up as a great counterpart to the restaurant, despite being 20 years older!
Both the ride and the restaurant simulate launching you into orbit, in the Mission: Space version you’re an astronaut training on a mission, and in Space 220 you’re dining on a space shuttle orbiting the globe.
The name Space 220 is from the fact that you’re supposed to be dining 220 miles above planet Earth. The “window” in the dining room is actually a massive screen that showcases the view from your space station, complete with astronauts floating in and out of view.
Space 220 Menu
Space 220 is open for Lunch and Dinner from 11 AM – 9 PM. If you book the restaurant you have the option to choose from a 2-course lunch or 3-course prix fixe dinner for $55 and $79 per person, respectively.
Space 220 is considered a fine-dining restaurant and the menu is pretty high-end. Expect seared salmon, filet mignon, braised short rib, and lobster. All with “space-themed” names like “Galactic Miso Salmon”, “Slow Rotation Zero-G Short Rib”, and “Neptuna Nicoise”.
The courses aren’t just 1st, 2nd, 3rd – instead, they’re also given the space treatment and are instead called “Lift-Offs”, “Star Course”, and “Supernova Sweets”.
Children of 9 years and younger have the option to order off a kids’ menu (for a much cheaper price tag of $29) that features kid favorites like “Spaceghetti”, “Galactic Cupcake”, and “Mission Macaroni”.
Space 220 serves alcoholic drinks and they’re all fun, space-themed, and heavily gimmicked. You can expect all of the signature cocktails to have a fun add-on. For example, some are served in a smokey bell jar, others are poured thematically over cotton candy, and one bubbles up like a potion due to the presence of Pop Rocks.
If you book the lounge instead of the restaurant you have the option to order their signature 3-course prix fixe menu, or from a small-bites menu.
Space 220 Lounge vs Restaurant
Don’t feel like spending $79 per person for a 3-course meal? Neither did we! Especially in Epcot, home of the really really good (and relatively* cheap) food.
After a long day of eating-around-the-World-Showcase, I couldn’t manage another three courses, so we booked Space 220’s new Lounge, which offers a small bites menu as well as the option to get the original prix fixe 3-course meal.
The lounge option is in the same room as the restaurant, you take the same elevator up, and you can still get the 3-course set menu there if you want to.
Lounge reservations are easier to get, and the only real “downside” is you can’t sit right up against the space window, those seats are for the restaurant. Everything else about the experience is pretty much the same!
Visiting the lounge instead of the restaurant takes the prerequisite cost of visiting Space 220 down from around $100 per person (including tax + tip) to around $30 per person, and is what I would recommend.
Is Epcot’s Space 220 Worth It?
A lot of people want to know if Space 220 is worth it for the hefty price tag – and well, I think it is on one condition. If you’re JUST going to the lounge (not the restaurant) I think Space 220 is worth it.
You get the exact same experience at the Space 220 lounge as you do at the restaurant (they’re in the same room), for a fraction of the cost.
Other 3-course Disney prix-fixe dining experiences, like Be Our Guest in the Magic Kingdom, don’t have a lounge option – so you might as well save some money (and valuable park time!) for restaurants that don’t have a quick option.
If I’m being honest, the elevator was the most exciting part of the whole experience – so spending hours at Space 220 for an $80 3-course meal doesn’t necessarily seem worth it to me when there are a ton of great places to eat in Epcot that are much cheaper.
RELATED ARTICLE 🏰 Is Be Our Guest Restaurant In The Magic Kingdom Worth It?
Space 220 Lounge & Restaurant: FAQs
Common questions about Space 220 in Epcot:
Can you eat at Space 220 Lounge?
Yes! You can eat at both Space 220 Lounge and Restaurant. The difference is the lounge offers a small bites menu as well as the traditional prix fixe option.
How hard is it to get into Space 220 Lounge?
You need a reservation (in advance!) for both Space 220 Lounge and Restaurant, but it was easier for us to get a booking at the Lounge. During our 4-day Disney World trip we didn’t see a single reservation for the restaurant open up!
How long does it take to eat at Space 220 Lounge?
The experience of visiting Space 220 Lounge doesn’t have to take more than an hour, since you’re ordering off a small plates and drinks menu. If you’re doing the full 3-course meal from the restaurant, I would budget 2 hours!
Can you get into Space 220 lounge without a reservation?
Nope! Not in 2023 at least. Every day during our 4-day Disney trip (and in the weeks approaching it) Space 220 restaurant was completely booked out.
We lucked out on our second to last day and were able to secure a spot at the lounge when someone canceled through the “Disney My Experience” mobile app.
Is there a dress code for Space 220?
Space 220 is inside Epcot park and even though it’s a relatively high-end dining experience, most people visit park-wear (think shorts, t-shirts, Mickey caps, and sneakers).
The casual atmosphere at Space 220 is also very kid-friendly!
Do they sell alcohol at Space 220?
YES! The bar menu with lots of specialty space-themed cocktails is one of the main draws to Space 220 Lounge & Restaurant.
The cocktails at Space 220 all have a fun draw to them: some will be bubbling like a cauldron, others served in a smokey bell jar, and some are made by pouring liquor over cotton candy.
Be warned though, in typical Disney fashion, the Space 220 signature cocktails are super sweet!
Is the Space 220 Elevator Real or Fake?
Similar to Epcot’s famous “Mission Space” ride next door, Space 220’s elevator to outer space operates via a simulator that makes it look (and feel!) like you’re being launched into orbit.
