Because the daybreak of recorded historical past, the EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant has been the best choice for redeeming Eating Plan snack credit at Walt Disney World. Properly, possibly not that far again…however not less than for the final 18 years, after we first began utilizing the DDP.
So let’s journey again in time collectively. I’ll present you the way our ancestors navigated the Walt Disney World we all know right now, after which it will likely be your flip to eat all over the world of discovery.
Right here on this hostile world (Orlando in late summer time) is the place our story begins. We aren’t-so-alone, struggling to outlive till we be taught to speak with each other redeem snack credit on the Disney Eating Plan. Now we will hunt as a group and survive take pleasure in scrumptious dishes and maximize our value-for-money on the Disney Eating Plan collectively.
The wheels are falling off this Spaceship Earth parody (one thing which may quickly be mentioned for the journey autos themselves if a refurbishment doesn’t occur quickly!), so let’s reduce to the chase. For so long as I can keep in mind, which isn’t fairly because the daybreak of recorded historical past, there was dear lobster on the EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant. These dishes had been at all times among the many finest makes use of of Disney Eating Plan snack credit.
I keep in mind one yr when Sarah and I virtually lived on the Hops & Barley sales space, having a half-dozen orders of Linda Bean’s Excellent Maine Lobster Roll and the Griddled Lobster Tail (together with the enduring Pumpkin Mousse–however we at all times paid out of pocket for that). If I recall appropriately, that Lobster Roll was the primary dish ever at Meals & Wine to interrupt the $10 barrier.
Then got here the phased reopening and a few wonderful additions, such because the Lobster Touchdown sales space a couple of years again. We didn’t take pleasure in that Lobster Tail fairly as typically, what with its $14 price ticket and all. However the Lobster Chowder and Lobster Dip (particularly the latter) had been incredible and extra budget-friendly.
Nonetheless, the Lobster Touchdown sales space was one and performed, and hasn’t been seen for the final two years. One concept for that is that lobster costs have skyrocketed since. If a Lobster Tail was $14 in 2021, it stands to purpose that it might be practically $20 on the 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant given actual world and Walt Disney World inflation since.
The opposite is Disney’s company partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, which now charges American Lobster with its “Keep away from” standing, advising that you just “take a cross on this red-rated seafood for now as a result of it poses a excessive danger to the setting.” (Learn in regards to the rationale for this score right here for those who so need.)
Regardless of the purpose, and my guess is that it’s a little bit of each, with the score serving as a handy excuse within the face of upper prices, the actual fact is that we’ve seen lobster disappear from quite a lot of menus round Walt Disney World within the final couple of years (RIP Lobster Thermidor Burger). This additionally explains why Lobster Touchdown vanished so rapidly and different cubicles haven’t performed lobster.
Properly, it seems our lengthy nationwide lobster nightmare is over, because the seafood is again on the Coastal Eats sales space through the 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant. Right here’s a take a look at the menu:
- Roasted Heat Water Lobster Tail with garlic butter
- Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with cocktail sauce
- Wildly Brut Cuvée
- Boyd & Blair Pomegranate Codder
- CORKCICLE Stemless Flute
Now for our opinions of the meals gadgets on the Coastal Eats World Market through the 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant…
Roasted Heat Water Lobster Tail ($13) – Regardless of what number of EPCOT festivals I do, the sticker shock by no means absolutely wears off. Within the case of this lobster tail, it in all probability ought to. That is $1 much less costly than the final time lobster tail was served in 2021, and if the DTB Archives are any indication, that is really a bigger portion.
After all, portion sizes on the 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant will be luck of the draw. Whereas I used to be ready on the window, I noticed a pair lobster tails in entrance of mine that had been smaller, so it seems that I gained the “Lobster Lottery.” Typically talking, seafood can also be luck of the draw at EPCOT festivals. As you may in all probability think about, ‘quick meals’ seafood is a chance–and it relies upon upon whether or not you get one thing freshly-prepared or one which’s been slow-cooking beneath a warmth lamp.
My lobster tail was excellent in each conceivable method. There was a beneficiant quantity of meat, which was flavorful and tender. The butter and lemon introduced out the pure taste of the seafood much more, enhancing what was already there slightly than masking subpar seafood or making rubbery meat manageable.
With that mentioned, that is heat water lobster—thus explaining each the bigger portion and decrease pricing. Mainelanders, Maineganders, or the less-cool however technically-correct Mainers may scoff at something however chilly water lobster, however I’ve zero complaints in regards to the taste or high quality right here…and respect that it wasn’t $20.
This lobster tail was incredible–one of many highlights of the 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant for me. It’s an absolute no-brainer use of a Disney Eating Plan snack credit score. Truthfully, I’m tempted to order this once more even paying out of pocket, as $13 appeared completely truthful for what I acquired. My solely hesitation being that final half (“what I acquired”) as that is probably not what I get subsequent time. In that regard, it’s just like the Filet Mignon on the Canada World Market–value rolling the cube on the DDP, however riskier when paying out of pocket.
Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail ($13) – That is new to Coastal Eats, however the Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail dish has been floating across the EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant for some time. I’m really form of dissatisfied to see it land right here, because it replaces two wonderful and extra ingenious entrees–together with the Oysters Rockefeller—that had been amongst my favorites.
As at all times, the Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail is a stable choice. The shrimp are sizable and attractive, with the correct amount of chill (that means they’re neither nonetheless frozen within the middle nor room temperature), which makes for a refreshing dish on scorching days. My downside with that is that the cocktail sauce could be very delicate, which makes the entire thing forgettable. (After dwelling in Indianapolis for some time, I can’t do any shrimp cocktail that isn’t within the fashion of St. Elmo Steakhouse.)
Once more, that is an objectively incredible use of a Disney Eating Plan snack credit score. In case you have extras to burn and are a fan of shrimp cocktails, by all means, go for it. That is completely tremendous–and has each the next ground and decrease ceiling than the Lobster Tail. Nonetheless, we will’t actively advocate it to anybody paying out of pocket. ”High-quality” isn’t adequate for one thing you could possibly simply replicate at house for lots lower than $13.
General, Coastal Eats is a good sales space on the 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant for anybody with a surplus of Disney Eating Plan snack credit to make use of. You’ll get roughly double what’s in any other case thought-about good value-for-money out of them, which is much better than some other World Market.
With that mentioned, our robust recommendation to anybody–and this contains these on the Disney Eating Plan–is sticking to the Lobster Tail. Get a number of if “needed.” Although it’s in all probability the upper danger dish, it’s additionally the upper reward one. The Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail is okay, however there’s nothing that really makes it “value” $13. Against this, the Lobster Tail will be method higher than you’d anticipate from a theme park meals sales space, whereas additionally providing robust bang-for-buck (or credit score). It earns our excessive suggestion in consequence.
Try our EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant Sales space Menus publish if you wish to see and browse extra about each menu this yr. You’ll additionally wish to learn our full 2024 EPCOT Worldwide Meals & Wine Pageant Information earlier than you go to get an concept of what to do, technique for the pageant (sure, you will want a method), and way more!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study inns on our Walt Disney World Lodges Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot you could know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the Coastal Eats market? Have you ever tried the Lobster Tail or Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail? Did you may have as a lot success with the Lobster Tail, or was your danger not met with the identical reward? Questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
