LAKE BUENA VISTA Fla. For the first time in close to a decade, Walt Disney World’s Epcot has revamped its menus in an effort to focus on healthful cooking and interactive dining experiences. A report in the Orlando Sentinel quoted Epcot vice president Jim MacPhee as saying that the park is seeking more "interactive dining" experiences that can provide show-style cooking in the dining room.
The report also said the theme park, located here, has three new restaurants under development while several others are undergoing expansion or renovation. Because of the nature of the park, dining itself is considered part of the overall theme-park experience, and Epcot is attempting to capitalize on the trend of “immersive experiences” at theme parks nationwide. These include such things as show-style cooking in the dining room and interaction with the park’s other attractions.
New restaurants are under way in the Italy and Japan pavilions, with changes at restaurants in the China, United Kingdom and Mexico pavilions, including a tequila bar and outdoor waterfront seating in Mexico so visitors can see the nighttime Illuminations show on the lagoon.
Epcot has about a dozen full-service restaurants with average checks of $20 to $40 per person. The theme park attracts roughly 25,000 people per day, or 10 million a year.
Christopher Muller, director of the Center for Multi-Unit Restaurant Management at the University of Central Florida, said in the report that some people are attracted to Epcot for the meals, and it is one reason the park attracts an older crowd.
The menu changes are in line with the trends in eating patterns overall. These include fewer trans fats, more fruits and vegetables, lower fat content and foods that cater to special dietary considerations.
