The Solo Scale:

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One of Epcot’s most interesting restaurants is the galactic-themed restaurant that is Space 220. Originally slated to open in 2020 (but we know a lot about how that went), it eventually opened in September 2021 with two types of dining. One is a lounge that has light bites and drinks. The other is the full menu for lunch and dinner set at prix fixe.

When you’re making reservations, one of these is much harder to come by than the other — the lounge being the difficult ticket. That could be because the prix fixe is a lot of food, especially in a park like Epcot that has so many other food options (especially during a festival).

Still, it’s worth attempting for reservations. I was able to get a lounge reservation for lunch. On a later trip, I used MouseDining to alert me about open spots and received a flurry of reservation options the day before.

There’s also the option to do walk-up reservations. When I was checking in, there were groups waiting, but they had some decent luck. Given how empty the restaurant was, I took that to mean that anyone could have managed to get a spot in the lounge or at the bar.

I’ve yet to do the full dining experience, but it’s on my bucket list. For this review, I’ll focus on the lounge. When I arrived, I checked in just outside the Space 220 sign. It’s near Mission Space, so you can ride it before. However, if you plan to ride the Orange side, try and do that before you eat or not at all just to be safe.

I was taken down a walkway behind the ride and brought to the “stellarvator” with a boarding pass. The ride will show you ascending “220 feet” above Earth. It’s a pretty neat trick to ascend into space above Epcot. If heights are a problem for you, close your eyes and in no time at all, the ride is over. I did have to hand my boarding pass back, but by then, the atmosphere was a great replacement.

I was seated in the lounge area, which was a slightly elevated area near the bar. It was a slower time of year, so there weren’t many people around me and the full dining area was very empty (it was lunch, of course).

The Food

I ordered a Gamma Burst from the cocktail menu, and along with it, chicken & waffles. Space 220 is operated by a third-party company, which can go both ways. Sometimes you’ll get a situation like Yak & Yeti or Via Napoli where you’ll get super delicious food. Sometimes you get a Rainforest Café – which is still a fun experience, but also one you can do in plenty of other places around the country.

The lunch that I had was fantastic with a normal portion size (not too big or small). Epcot almost always has a festival going on that’s worth leaving space for, so that’s a huge plus. The chicken was savory and covered in some of the syrup that went with the waffle, which wasn’t soggy upon service, even with syrup and a coleslaw. The food was great, but the Gamma Burst drink was even better. Because of the popping pearls, I could enjoy the drink over a longer period of time.

The service was great. That fantastic drink I had actually came via waiter recommendation. Plus, when I was done, I didn’t have to wait very long to settle up.

During my “rotation”, multiple items floated by in space in the windows in my view, from space stations to astro-pups and astronauts. It’s not exactly dinner and a show, but it was still something to keep me occupied. That’s extra helpful as a solo traveller just enjoying the ambiance around me instead of scrolling through my phone.

I’d definitely recommend trying this place at least once. If price or food quantities are concerns, go for the lounge. If you really like it, then you can blast off and return for one of the prix fixe options!

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Ready to take off and want to learn more? Visit the Space 220 website to see the latest menu and decide if a visit is right for you.

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