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

For the reason that daybreak of recorded historical past, the EPCOT Meals & Wine Competition has been the most suitable choice for redeeming Eating Plan snack credit at Walt Disney World. Nicely, 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 ways our ancestors navigated the Walt Disney World we all know in the present day, 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 are able to hunt as a crew and survive get pleasure from 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 mentioned for the trip 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 for the reason that daybreak of recorded historical past, there was expensive lobster on the EPCOT Meals & Wine Competition. These dishes had been all the time among the many greatest 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 Good 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 accurately, 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 number of years again. We didn’t get pleasure from 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 improbable and extra budget-friendly.

Nevertheless, the Lobster Touchdown sales space was one and achieved, 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 could be almost $20 on the 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Competition 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 simply “take a go on this red-rated seafood for now as a result of it poses a excessive threat to the atmosphere.” (Learn concerning the rationale for this ranking 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 ranking serving as a handy excuse within the face of upper prices, the very fact is that we’ve seen lobster disappear from plenty 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 achieved lobster.

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

Now for our evaluations of the meals objects on the Coastal Eats World Market in the course of the 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Competition…

Roasted Heat Water Lobster Tail ($13) – Irrespective 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 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.

After all, portion sizes on the 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Competition 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 be luck of the draw at EPCOT festivals. As you may 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 beneath a warmth lamp.

My lobster tail was excellent in each conceivable manner. 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 somewhat 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 concerning the taste or high quality right here…and recognize that it wasn’t $20.

This lobster tail was improbable–one of many highlights of the 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Competition for me. It’s an absolute no-brainer use of a Disney Eating Plan snack credit score. Actually, I’m tempted to order this once more even paying out of pocket, as $13 appeared completely honest for what I acquired. My solely hesitation being that final half (“what I acquired”) as that will not be 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 Competition for some time. I’m truly type of upset 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 all the time, the Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail is a stable possibility. The shrimp are sizable and engaging, with the correct quantity 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 drawback with that is that the cocktail sauce could be very gentle, 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. When you have extras to burn and are a fan of shrimp cocktails, by all means, go for it. That is completely positive–and has each a better flooring and decrease ceiling than the Lobster Tail. Nevertheless, we are able to’t actively advocate it to anybody paying out of pocket. ”Superb” isn’t adequate for one thing you would simply replicate at dwelling for lots lower than $13.

General, Coastal Eats is a superb sales space on the 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Competition 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 consists of these on the Disney Eating Plan–is sticking to the Lobster Tail. Get a number of if “crucial.” Despite the fact 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 “value” $13. Against this, the Lobster Tail will be manner 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 Competition Sales space Menus put up 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 Competition Information earlier than you go to get an thought 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 Motels Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to begin 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 might have as a lot success with the Lobster Tail, or was your threat not met with the identical reward? Questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!