When Disney World reopened in 2020 after being closed for about four months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, not every offering was fully operational.
Disney World was operating at a limited capacity and had the health and safety of both its guests and Cast Members in mind. While it did make sense to have a phased re-opening, we are going on year four of the resort being open, and there are still parts that have not reopened, including four restaurants.
It is hard to believe that Disney World is still not fully operational, and we wonder when these four restaurants will finally reopen.
Tomorrowland Terrace
Disney World’s castle park, Magic Kingdom, has an abandoned restaurant sitting in plain sight, and odds are you have probably used it as a shortcut to get to and from Tomorrowland.
Tomorrowland Terrace is a quick service location, and even before the pandemic, it was rare to see it open as it was mainly open seasonally during busy periods like spring break. There is tons of seating here, and part of the dining room has a beautiful view of the castle. It is so quiet during the day that our reporters and writers have brought their computers here to work from the parks.
While Tomorrowland Terrace is not operational during the day, it is used at night to host firework dessert parties for Happily Ever After and during Magic Kingdom’s holiday parties, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Restaurant Marrakesh
Restaurant Marrakesh is located in EPCOT’s Morocco Pavilion in the World Showcase. This pavilion has had some troubled history, as it is now owned and operated by Disney rather than the Moroccan government, which once sponsored it.
While Restaurant Marrakesh has not re-opened as a place to dine since the parks closed in 2020, it has been used in the past as the location for Morocco’s Kitcot Fun Spot, Annual Passholder Lounge, and even the Flordia Blue Medicare Lounge during the 2024 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival.
Garden View Tea Room
While 1900 Park Fare finally reopened at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort last year, another restaurant has not opened. The Garden View Tea Room is located in the back of the lobby and has been closed since Disney World closed in 2020.
The location and atmosphere of the Tea Room are charming. While we are not sure when this location will reopen, the good news for the Garden View Tea Room, Restaurant Marrakesh, and Tomorrowland Terrace is that Disney World’s website currently lists them as temporarily closed. So, there is still hope that they could eventually be operational again!
Big River Grille and Brewing Works
In January 2024, the sudden and shocking announcement was made that Big River would be closing on the BoardWalk. It was such a quick turnaround that you would think that Disney already had a replacement in mind. Yet, here we are over a year later with no word on what is set to replace this now permanently closed restaurant.
That is not all that is about to be closed on that side of the BoardWalk as it was announced that the popular spot, Jellyrolls, would be closing on the BoardWalk and “making a move.” No new location has been announced. The final day Jellyrolls will be open on the BoardWalk is April 19th.
We will continue to keep an eye out to see if Disney has any plans for replacements or to reopen these four restaurants. To never miss out on all the latest Disney and theme park news, make sure to continue to follow along with us here at AllEars!
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When I dined at Victoria & Albert’s last May, my waiter told me the Garden View Tearoom will reopen after some planned, extensive renovation. If the renovation is similar to that recently done at V& A, it should be stunning.