Regardless of it being Free Eating season, there really aren’t that many robust Advance Eating Reservations proper now at Walt Disney World. Until your celebration is bigger than 4 individuals, it is best to have a comparatively straightforward time scoring ADRs at most eating places, even traditionally arduous ones like ‘Ohana, California Grill, or just about any character eating meal–even 1900 Park Fare, Topolino’s Terrace, Cinderella’s Royal Desk, and Artist Level.
Actually, there’s same-day availability proper now for many of the aforementioned eating places together with dozens upon dozens of others–and never only for a single time slot at an inconvenient time. Push that out one week, and a household of 4 may have their decide of just about any time and restaurant. For those who search by analysis and do the vary of dates, there’s an abundance of choices.
This really isn’t a brand new growth. As mentioned in our Information to Advance Eating Reservations at Walt Disney World, this pattern began final summer time and surprisingly continued all through the vacation season. We anticipated the dynamic to vary with the return of the Disney Eating Plan. It didn’t. After that, we as soon as once more anticipated issues to vary with the beginning of Free Eating season, because it at all times had prior to now. Up to now, that additionally has not occurred. Nevertheless, there may be one restaurant that has remained steadfastly elusive in the case of ADRs at Walt Disney World.
That’s House 220 at EPCOT.
As mentioned in our checklist of the Hardest Advance Eating Reservations at Walt Disney World, there are literally two completely different ADRs right here: House 220 Restaurant and House 220 Lounge. Each are difficult, however House 220 Restaurant does have availability within the subsequent week for a celebration of 4 (a single time slot) and scattered choices past that.
Against this, House 220 Lounge is sort of unimaginable. It has nothing in any respect for any celebration of any dimension within the subsequent 60 days.
House 220 Lounge has turn out to be a “white whale” Advance Eating Reservation for me.
We did the House 220 Lounge a couple of occasions when it first opened, however have have tried to revisit it a number of occasions since, totally on the lounge aspect. I’ve been capable of be a part of the Stroll-Up Waitlist a few occasions on solo journeys, so slight success there, however so far as ADRs go, we’ve been shut out for over 2 years.
That’s, till 2024, after we lastly had success scoring Advance Eating Reservations for House 220 Lounge.
House 220 Lounge is such a tough ADR for 2 causes–above and past common House 220 Restaurant: tremendous low provide and an a la carte menu that may be cheaper.
There’s a 3rd cause House 220 Lounge is extra fascinating, which is the elevated view that gives a greater view. As we’ve talked about in our different critiques, the perfect seats are not the entrance row–you’re really too near the glass to have a correctly expansive view into area and again at earth. You may solely see a sliver of what’s occurring.
Against this, each desk at House 220 Lounge is farther again and on the elevated second stage. It’s the proper distance to have the entire extremely vast angle view. This may occasionally not make sense for those who haven’t dined at House 220, however consider it like an IMAX theater, and sitting within the entrance row versus center row.
I’d hazard a guess that House 220 Lounge has lower than one-third of the capability of the principle restaurant, and all the tables are for events of two to 4. (Up to now, solo vacationers have been ‘blocked’ from reserving ADRs; that’s not the case at different Walt Disney World eating places, however I’m unsure about House 220 Lounge.)
House 220 Lounge additionally has its personal menu of “Flight Bites” or appetizers that may solely be ordered by visitors with reservations for the lounge. In contrast to the restaurant itself, you aren’t required to order from the dear prix fixe menu–however you’ll be able to if you would like. That means that House 220 Lounge visitors have entry to the total restaurant menu, however not vice-versa–restaurant visitors can’t order from the lounge menu besides along with their prix fixe orders. (I don’t know why anybody would wish to try this–the prix fixe menu provides loads of meals.)
At present, each single one of many “Flight Bites” on the House 220 Lounge menu is underneath $20, versus the prix fixe menu for lunch costing $55 and dinner priced at $79. These will inevitably enhance given the favored of House 220–I’m truthfully shocked the lounge menu is so low cost. With far fewer tables and the prospect to dine in area on a dime, it needs to be apparent why House 220 Lounge’s recognition is greater than sky-high.
Earlier than we cowl extra fundamentals, there are a couple of caveats to supply about House 220 Lounge which will or might not apply to your meal–as we’ve discovered issues to be hit and miss.
The primary is that on a few events, I’ve been instructed the walk-up availability was bar seating solely. This isn’t splendid, because the bar faces away from the glass looking into area and over earth. There’s a mirror so you’ll be able to nonetheless look out into area, it’s only a mirrored view. Personally, I’m not eager on this angle, so you should definitely verify what’s obtainable.
Second, generally there’s Stroll-Up Waitlist availability within the My Disney Expertise app and generally you should actually stroll as much as the kiosk (tucked away by Mission House). In my expertise, it’s principally the latter. The perfect occasions for this are proper when the restaurant first opens or in direction of the top of the night. I’d personally intention for earlier.
In terms of Advance Eating Reservations, we’ve struck out repeatedly at and past the 60 day mark. Totally anecdotal, but it surely appears such as you want the total 60+10 window as a way to rating this elusive ADR this far out.
Our success with House 220 Lounge ADRs has come solely final minute. We booked as soon as the night time earlier than at 11 pm and one other time roughly 3 hours earlier than our seating. In “stalking” ADRs on the My Disney Expertise app, this looks as if the very best technique.
I’ve seen choices pop-up between 7 am and 9 am, after which at random all through the day. These seem like cancellations, that means that solely a single slot is showing–you’re taking no matter you may get. For those who see one thing, ebook instantly–don’t hesitate to ask your pals or household. I’ve had House 220 Lounge ADRs booked out from underneath me as a result of I paused for a second to ask Sarah what she thought.
Once more, all of that is solely anecdotal and reflective of our private experiences–your mileage might range.
For those who’re in search of data on the theme and ambiance of House 220 Lounge, take a look at our Pictures & Video: Inside House 220 Restaurant at Epcot. That tour provides an exhaustive go searching. Summarizing the storytelling, the premise of House 220 is that you simply’re eating inside an area station with a celestial panorama of the celebrities and Earth 220 miles (therefore the title) beneath.
Likewise, for those who’re extra all for the principle restaurant, see our House 220 Restaurant Lunch Evaluation and House 220 Dinner Evaluation for extra complete ideas on every. Since House 220 is among the many hottest Advance Eating Reservations at Walt Disney World, chances are you’ll not have a lot of a selection between lunch and dinner. (This overview may also supply our up to date ideas on menu high quality that apply to the prix fixe menus.)
Persevering with with the fundamentals, Disney Trip Membership Members obtain a 15% low cost and Annual Passholders get 10% off at House 220 Lounge. Identical to the principle restaurant, House 220 Lounge doesn’t settle for the Disney Eating Plan. That makes its stratospheric recognition all of the extra stunning. (Frankly, I don’t foresee House 220 altering course and accepting the DDP till this dies down. So undoubtedly not in 2025…perhaps 2026?)
With all of that out of the best way, let’s flip to the meals within the House 220 Lounge!
Let’s begin with considered one of my private favorites at House 220, the Starry Calamari: Fried Calamari, Italian Cherry Peppers, Spicy Marinara, Roasted Pepper Citrus Aioli.
Anytime we overview calamari, I at all times preface it with there’s no such factor as unhealthy calamari–solely various levels of fine. I’m a sucker for the stuff, and it is best to know that I’m grading on one thing of a curve.
We’ve had the Starry Calamari a couple of occasions now, because it’s served on the lunch, dinner, and lounge menus. It has been constant from meal to meal.
To that time, the Starry Calamari at House 220 Lounge (or Restaurant) is unbelievable. The breading is gentle however provides a pleasant texture and batter-y goodness to the flavour. The meat is tender and flavorful–a winner throughout.
My solely grievance after having the calamari twice now could be that it has been just a little heavy-handed with the salt. This could possibly be a “me downside,” as I seldom use salt, but it surely’s one thing that caught out to me. Not sufficient to dissuade me from ordering this unbelievable calamari once more, however sufficient to advantage mentioning.
The Roasted Pepper Citrus Aioli is addictively good; the marinara is sort of primary (and in no way spicy).
We’ve additionally ordered the Quick Rib Sliders with White Cheddar Cheese, Purple Pepper Citrus Aioli, Lettuce, Tomato, Butter Pickles. These are one of many few “Flight Bites” unique to the House 220 Lounge menu. There’s additionally deviled eggs, rooster wings, and pork stomach.
The Quick Rib Sliders are fairly good, with beneficiant helpings of brief piled that tastes unbelievable, particularly with the cheese and extra of that addictively-good citrus aioli. The standard of the meat right here is sufficiently good, and these two brief rib sliders work out to about the identical dimension as one normal burger.
These sliders remind me a little bit of the sliders at Crew’s Cup Lounge, besides inferior in each method. That’s to not say these are unhealthy–they’re really fairly good–however you’ll be able to simply see the standard distinction within the buns, meat, and toppings.
In order a lot as I loved these, I used to be additionally left considering, “dang, I want we went to Crew’s Cup and had these as an alternative.” After all, that’s outdoors the park and doesn’t supply a view into outer area, so not precisely apples to apples. With that stated, this is without doubt one of the gadgets we might suggest ordering on the House 220 Lounge.
Talking of meat, there’s additionally the Gemini Burger: Signature Beef Mix, White Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, Shredded Lettuce, Tomatoes, Roasted Pepper Citrus Aioli, French Fries.
The following couple of dishes aren’t listed particularly on the House 220 Lounge menu, however as famous above, you’re capable of order from both the lounge or the common menu within the lounge (once more, this doesn’t work in reverse).
This might additionally change at any time, so don’t financial institution on having this feature for those who’re planning far upfront. (I’m at all times hesitant to incorporate ‘secret menus’ or choices like this because the restaurant isn’t formally committing to it and will deny the choice at any level.)
The Gemini Burger is tasty. As you’ll be able to see, it’s a fairly unassuming burger, with common toppings plus that addictive aioli, and accompanied by French Fries. However the burger is thick, juicy, and extremely tender. The beneficiant serving to of white cheddar cheese and citrus (however not overly so) aioli brings all of it collectively.
With that stated, this jogged my memory of an inferior model of the burgers at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. All of these are very related at a foundational stage, however then construct on that with distinctive and attention-grabbing toppings. After all, that’s at a wholly completely different park–and the Gemini Burger might be the very best burger in EPCOT, so there’s that.
Persevering with with the meats is the Steak & Frites: New York Strip Steak, Roasted Garlic Butter, Haricot Vert, French Fries.
That is the dish that basically received me considering of counterparts to the dishes served at House 220. It was like a stroll down reminiscence lane, reminding me of a bygone period when nearly each Walt Disney World restaurant menu had a New York Strip Steak. As these have been at all times the very best use of Disney Eating Plan credit–and I used to be huge on hacking that–I ordered quite a bit of those steaks. And this was strikingly just like these.
Admittedly, I’m huge on Walt Disney World nostalgia so I quite loved this blast from the previous! The steak was principally tender and attractive, and a large portion. I’m additionally a giant sucker for roasted garlic butter, and had sufficient right here for the steak and to make roasted garlic butter fries (the fries are in any other case quite pedestrian–this helped quite a bit).
However it is a overview and I must be goal. And objectively talking, this New York Strip Steak had all the similar faults as its old-fashioned counterparts. The lower was not notably prime quality, with quite a lot of fats and gristle. There’s additionally a cause why it’s completely slathered in butter, and that’s to masks the standard and add taste. It additionally had a beneficiant serving to of salt. Identical to the Le Cellier of a decade in the past, earlier than it went Signature.
Ordering from the a la carte House 220 Lounge menu, I used to be pretty happy with the Steak & Frites. Most likely not one thing I’d get once more and even suggest, but it surely was advantageous. Nevertheless, if I ordered this as a part of the pricier prix fixe menu, I possible would’ve been a bit dissatisfied.
On the different finish of the spectrum (meat vs. vegetation) is without doubt one of the finest “Flight Bites” at House 220 Lounge: the Blue Moon Cauliflower, consisting of Tempura Fried Cauliflower, Housemade Sizzling Sauce, and Blue Cheese Mud.
The 2 of us have very completely different opinions of cauliflower. Considered one of us hates it, discovering it to be cursed delicacies. The opposite loves it, incorporating it into nearly each dish, even ones the place it clearly doesn’t belong. I most likely ought to cease there earlier than I get myself into bother. The purpose is that I’m not a fan of cauliflower and I actually wouldn’t threat my repute on faint reward of the villainous vegetable.
With that in thoughts, the Blue Moon Cauliflower is the very best appetizer at House 220 Restaurant. The tempura batter offers it a pleasant texture and taste, successfully masking the cauliflower itself, which nonetheless gives a substantive high quality to the appetizer. The new sauce and blue cheese are likewise nice, making this extra like buffalo tempura than cauliflower. I usually discover cauliflower hidden in my meals, however I wouldn’t thoughts if that have been the Blue Moon Cauliflower. It’s method higher than it has any proper to be. I’m not even solely satisfied that is even cauliflower, to be sincere.
Our ultimate “Flight Chunk” is the Massive Bang Burrata.
We’ve now had three iterations of the Massive Bang Burrata, and even because the accompaniments change (and get smaller), the creamy mozzarella stays the star of the present. It’s distinctive, with the garnishments at all times additional enhancing it.
With that stated, this additionally jogs my memory of one other superior tackle this dish–the Burrata Salad at Bar Riva in Disney’s Riviera Resort. By comparability to that distinctive dish, this take is barely okay.
What most struck me about our current meals at House 220 Lounge is these unfavorable comparisons to different eating places at Walt Disney World. Most often, these are to different bars/lounges or mid-tier eating places. House 220 isn’t unhealthy; it’s simply primary and boring. Not that something we ordered ought to’ve been creative or thrilling, but it surely was all simply so extraordinary. There have been no little touches or thoughtfulness within the preparation of the dishes. It was like a series–advantageous however forgettable.
That is notable because it stands in sharp distinction to our unique experiences at House 220 Restaurant, after we felt that it was nearer to the caliber of Signature Eating places than different highly-themed eating experiences. At the moment, we stated it was nicely beneath resort Signature Restaurant high quality, however arguably on par with Cinderella’s Royal Desk, Le Cellier, and Hollywood Brown Derby.
That’s not the case. This appeared evident during the last couple of years with House 220 menu modifications, as even the elements and descriptions recommended substitutions have been made on the idea of reducing prices. It’s now very clear that corners have been lower, with cheaper and decrease high quality dishes being the top end result.
This isn’t to say that House 220 is unhealthy or that you simply shouldn’t dine right here. We’re nonetheless followers of the restaurant and lounge, but it surely’s for the whole bundle of the expertise. House 220 beforehand occupied the uncommon intersection of advantageous eating and themed eating places–it was one thing particular. Now, we most likely wouldn’t return only for the meals–however the identical could possibly be stated of many eating places at Walt Disney World. It’s the theme or ambiance that’s make or break.
Given all of that, House 220 Lounge is the excellent solution to expertise the setting, which stays on the prime of our High 10 Themed Eating places at Walt Disney World. Because the meals is nothing to telephone house about, it thus is smart to spend as little as doable by doing the “Flight Bites” quite than one of many dear prix fixe menus.
As for the meals, House 220 now strikes us as being nearer to on par with Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater or Coral Reef. That sort of is smart, and is what we anticipated within the first place. It’s nonetheless a little bit of a disgrace, as Patina Group is able to a lot extra–as they’ve demonstrated with their new eating places at Downtown Disney or, heck, even the unique menu at House 220!
Truthfully, we’d quite pay greater costs for commensurate high quality. There’s no actual incentive for something to vary so long as ADRs are unimaginable to attain, so except there’s one other new menu, we’ll most likely be happy revisiting Coral Reef (related concept, however underneath the ocean), Le Cellier, or one of many close by lounges we praised. Till that or Megatron takes an curiosity in outer area, we’re in no rush to return. That’s us, although, as Annual Passholders who’ve now dined right here 5 occasions. Walt Disney World first-timers ought to nonetheless do House 220, and they need to most likely dine within the lounge to get the very best expertise whereas paying the bottom value or at the least having essentially the most flexibility.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever dined at House 220 Lounge (or the restaurant) at EPCOT? How was your expertise? What’d you consider the delicacies high quality? For those who’ve eaten right here not too long ago (inside the final 12 months or so) what did you consider the standard versus the fee? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
