Finest Sales space for Disney Eating Plan Snack Credit at 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant

For the reason that 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. Nicely, perhaps not that far again…however at the very least for the final 18 years, once 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 as we speak, 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’re not-so-alone, struggling to outlive till we be taught to speak with each other redeem snack credit on the Disney Eating Plan. Now we are able to hunt as a crew 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 that may quickly be stated for the experience autos themselves if a refurbishment doesn’t occur quickly!), so let’s minimize to the chase. For so long as I can bear in mind, which isn’t fairly for the reason that daybreak of recorded historical past, there was dear lobster on the EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant. These dishes have been all the time among the many greatest makes use of of Disney Eating Plan snack credit.

I bear 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 all the time 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 just a few years again. We didn’t take pleasure in that Lobster Tail fairly as usually, what with its $14 price ticket and all. However the Lobster Chowder and Lobster Dip (particularly the latter) have been improbable and extra budget-friendly.

Nevertheless, the Lobster Touchdown sales space was one and executed, and hasn’t been seen for the final two years. One principle for that is that lobster costs have skyrocketed since. If a Lobster Tail was $14 in 2021, it stands to purpose that it will be almost $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 move on this red-rated seafood for now as a result of it poses a excessive threat to the setting.” (Learn in regards to the rationale for this score right here in case you 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 very 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 shortly and different cubicles haven’t executed lobster.

Nicely, it seems our lengthy nationwide lobster nightmare is over, because the seafood is again on the Coastal Eats sales space throughout the 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant. Right here’s a have a look at the menu:

Now for our evaluations of the meals gadgets on the Coastal Eats World Market throughout the 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant…

Roasted Heat Water Lobster Tail ($13) – Irrespective of what number of EPCOT festivals I do, the sticker shock by no means totally wears off. Within the case of this lobster tail, it most likely 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 truly a bigger portion.

In fact, portion sizes on the 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Pageant may 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 have been smaller, so it seems that I gained the “Lobster Lottery.” Usually talking, seafood can be luck of the draw at EPCOT festivals. As you’ll be able to most likely think about, ‘quick meals’ seafood is of venture–and it relies upon upon whether or not you get one thing freshly-prepared or one which’s been slow-cooking below a warmth lamp.

My lobster tail was excellent in each conceivable approach. 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 relatively than masking subpar seafood or making rubbery meat manageable.

This lobster tail was improbable–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 obtained. My solely hesitation being that final half (“what I obtained”) as that might not be what I get subsequent time. In that regard, it’s much like the Filet Mignon on the Canada World Market–price 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 truly form of disillusioned to see it land right here, because it replaces two wonderful and extra creative entrees–together with the Oysters Rockefeller—that have been amongst my favorites.

As all the time, 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 heart nor room temperature), which makes for a refreshing dish on scorching days. My downside with that is that the cocktail sauce may be very delicate, which makes the entire thing forgettable. (After residing 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 improbable use of a Disney Eating Plan snack credit score. If in case you have extras to burn and are a fan of shrimp cocktails, by all means, go for it. That is completely effective–and has each a better flooring and decrease ceiling than the Lobster Tail. Nevertheless, we are able to’t actively suggest it to anybody paying out of pocket. ”Superb” isn’t ok for one thing you possibly can simply replicate at dwelling for lots lower than $13.

Total, 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 every other World Market.

With that stated, our robust recommendation to anybody–and this consists of these on the Disney Eating Plan–is sticking to the Lobster Tail. Get a number of if “crucial.” Regardless that it’s most likely the upper threat dish, it’s additionally the upper reward one. The Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail is okay, however there’s nothing that really makes it “price” $13. Against this, the Lobster Tail may be approach higher than you’d count on from a theme park meals sales space, whereas additionally providing robust bang-for-buck (or credit score). It earns our excessive advice consequently.

Take a look at 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 thought of what to do, technique for the competition (sure, you will want a technique), and rather more!

Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study inns on our Walt Disney World Inns Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To economize 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 have 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, the perfect place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot you’ll want to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

What do you consider the Coastal Eats market? Have you ever tried the Lobster Tail or Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail? Did you will have as a lot success with the Lobster Tail, or was your threat not met with the identical reward? Questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!