This is just another sign of Disney’s demise. Replacing the best restaurant experience in Epcot with a corporate sponsored “lounge” What a mistake!!!! Truly, with all the negative changes and price increases at WDW, I don’t anticipate ever returning. Sorry Mickey, I’m hanging up my ears.
Unfortunate. The restaurant was a great experience and offered something a little different. Hopefully will return but with the current disappointing direction of Disney, it probably won’t.
I enjoyed visiting the Marrakesh. Everytime I’m at epcot I stop in. But seriously to replace it with an insurance based corporation , is the ceo dealing with dementia? Or is this discrimination against middle east?
One of our favorite restaurants. We went every trip. This is a ridiculous change. Hopefully, it’s a short place holder for a better experience. But, I fear it’s another example of the seemingly downward trajectory under the new corporate management.
No one knows the meaning of words any more. Infamous gangsters Bonnie and Clyde – “criminal, abominable”. Restaurant Marrakech was celebrated, well-known for its authenticity and beauty. Look up words you are unsure of, people !
No one knows the meaning of words any more. Infamous gangsters Bonnie and Clyde – “criminal, abominable”. Restaurant Marrakech was celebrated, well-known for its authenticity and beauty. Look up words you are unsure of, people !
I’m not sure why they used that terminology, but in my experience, this used to be one of my favorite dinning spots in all WDW until my husband and I got the most horrible food poisoning after having dinner there!! We both spent the whole night in our Disney hotel violently vomiting. Like I thought we were going to have to seek medical care. I called The front desk about it in the morning to put in a complaint, and they said they couldn’t do anything because they’re privately run (not by Disney). That’s the day Marrakesh became infamous in my book! I still miss their food sometimes, but it was not worth the gastral pain lol.
Just a “heads up” …. Food poisoning can show up 21 days after you eat something. So anywhere you ate at in the three weeks prior could have been the culprit.
Came here to say this. Infamous means famous for something bad. Like, December 7, 1941 is infamous, the day that shall live in infamy, because of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
I am so disappointed with what Disney is doing to EPCOT. Restaurant Marrakesh was always my favorite World Showcase restaurant. The Morocco Pavilion was the most authentic pavilion in EPCOT. The King of Morocco sent people over to design and build the pavilion, including all the beautiful mosaics in Marrakesh. I hope this change is temporary. It is certainly strange. I hope they don’t decide to put an Aladdin ride in there or something.
I want to know what was going on at this restaurant that made it infamous. A front for a gambling joint, an opium den? We always enjoyed eating there but apparently we missed whatever was contributing to its infamous status.
I can understand needing a place for people to rest especially as this looks like it will focus on senior citizens. But I think they could find a better place at Epcot to include seniors’ needs. Hope the bring the restaurant.
That’s bc the restaurant is rent from someone else and they pay Disney so Morocco was rented from disney from someone I. Morocco that county could not get here for the longest time due to the virus so they closed. They used that building when the other restaurant was at by frozen for a loung that is sponsored by blue cross that is by frozen. Bc it was closed for the longest time but nobody really knew it was open for a lounge area.
It’s coming, corporate sponsored theming! Soon you will have “Southwest’s Soarin’!,” “AAA’s Kilimanjaro Safaris”, “Otis’ Tower of Terror”, etc! WDW will look like a sports venue! I wonder who’ll get the naming rights to Walt Disney World? Maybe it’ll become “Berkshire Hathaway Real Estate’s Walt Disney World”!
Have you EVER been to Epcot (Wrong) Mark? EVERY ride there is sponsored by a corporation and has been from day 1. And guess what? Their logos are prominent at the entrance/exit/sign of every one.
I’m a 30+ year annual passholder, and I never even looked inside this restaurant. Never even remotely interested me or my family. We did eat at the less expensive restaurant occasionally at Morocco & enjoyed that, especially the baklava.
We loved eating here but I won’t be sorry to see it go. My husband and I had different things to eat and I was horribly sick all night – apparent food poisoning. We were staying at a Disney hotel and I let them know I had been sick and where and what I had to eat. They were excellent in making sure I was OK, giving me Fast Passes to replace the ones I’d missed and offering to call a doctor for me. I declined since I was feeling better but appreciated the offer.
After being sick all night, however, I never had any desire to go back to that restaurant. I do think it’s odd that it’s being replaced with something that seems to have nothing to do with the theme of that area. But whatever works.
No offense, But there is a “Welcome to Disney World” intro to practically every article if not every article on this website. After reading one of these intros, it is like reading all of them. I myself just skip the first couple paragraphs and jump to the actual story itself.
Just wondering if anyone knows what “infamous” means. Not the way it was intended here. “infamous” means notoriously evil or bad. I’m pretty sure this restaurant was neither.
For value and the “make believe” cultural experience this restaurant couldn’t be beat. Our family has eaten there half a dozen times. We’ll miss it. Let’s hope this is only temporary until they find someone capable of managing it.
Most of EPCOT’s restaurants are great, but you can find their cuisine in multiple locations in any city. How often do you come across a Moroccan restaurant? Disney, you’re making another mistake.
The author is an idiot. It’s Florida blue cross blue shield insurance corporation. They offer medicare advantage plans which will take Medicare money and offer private insurance coverage it may or may or be better than plain Medicare. But obviously theme park bloggers wouldn’t know the difference.
We love this restaurant and will be sad to see it go! The food was very good and reasonably priced, and the entertainment was always fun. We have fond memories of our dining experiences there and will be sad to see it replaced by something less.
Glad to see Medicare is flush with cash that this government tax paid lounge isn’t a problem. Just tell that to all the people when SS isn’t solvent anymore when they retire.
The Florida Blue Line lounge has been located at Askerhus in Norway for quite some time. One can only wonder of moving it to Morocco means they are getting ready to reopen the Askerhus restaurant with the princesses.
Such a shame that another themed attraction goes the to the wayside. But, it is a corporate sponsor which, for Paycheck, that’s a good thing, even if it is not Disney.
Walt must be so disappointed for he started this for families to have a place of togetherness and fun as beautiful as the parks are they are over priced keeping so many away with just a dream to someday get to go or going broke to make a kids dream come true it’s ridiculous
Comments for Disney Replacing Infamous Restaurant With Medicare-Sponsored Lounge
Abandoned
At least they’re using the space. It seems most of EPCOT is empty rooms unless they have some festival merch to hawk you.
EricJ
When I hear “Lounge” or “Guest rest-stop” (usually at empty Studios or Animal Kingdom spaces), I hear “Placeholder”.
But still….WHAT?? 0_o
I know they’re losing sponsorship, but that’s like putting a Lenscrafters inside of Rick’s Cafe’ American!
Bruce
That is what they should change it to. Casablanca themed
frostysnowman
That’s just sad. And disappointing. At least Spice Road Table still serves food.
Snoozy
This is just another sign of Disney’s demise. Replacing the best restaurant experience in Epcot with a corporate sponsored “lounge” What a mistake!!!! Truly, with all the negative changes and price increases at WDW, I don’t anticipate ever returning. Sorry Mickey, I’m hanging up my ears.
Abzolut
The comments on the Twitter photo indicate that this is something that has happened before (at Akershus) and is just a temporary shift.
Renee
Yes exactly. The person writing this article probably should’ve done some research.
Rt
Unfortunate. The restaurant was a great experience and offered something a little different. Hopefully will return but with the current disappointing direction of Disney, it probably won’t.
Lilac sea
I enjoyed visiting the Marrakesh. Everytime I’m at epcot I stop in. But seriously to replace it with an insurance based corporation , is the ceo dealing with dementia? Or is this discrimination against middle east?
Jon
Morocco is located in Africa… And I’m guessing the country sponsor cut the funding is why the restaurant is no longer operating.
KSE
One of our favorite restaurants. We went every trip. This is a ridiculous change. Hopefully, it’s a short place holder for a better experience. But, I fear it’s another example of the seemingly downward trajectory under the new corporate management.
Robert
I proposed to my wife there. Cool place.
Ediddy
I love this. I’m sorry they’re replacing it for this reason.
BillR
What makes the restaurant “infamous”?
Does the author of the article know the meaning of this word?
Karen
No one knows the meaning of words any more. Infamous gangsters Bonnie and Clyde – “criminal, abominable”. Restaurant Marrakech was celebrated, well-known for its authenticity and beauty. Look up words you are unsure of, people !
Karen
No one knows the meaning of words any more. Infamous gangsters Bonnie and Clyde – “criminal, abominable”. Restaurant Marrakech was celebrated, well-known for its authenticity and beauty. Look up words you are unsure of, people !
Krista
Amen!
Kevin
Well I got horrible food poisoning after eating there and will never go back. So to me it’s infamous.
Dr. No
No.
Veronica
I’m not sure why they used that terminology, but in my experience, this used to be one of my favorite dinning spots in all WDW until my husband and I got the most horrible food poisoning after having dinner there!! We both spent the whole night in our Disney hotel violently vomiting. Like I thought we were going to have to seek medical care. I called The front desk about it in the morning to put in a complaint, and they said they couldn’t do anything because they’re privately run (not by Disney). That’s the day Marrakesh became infamous in my book! I still miss their food sometimes, but it was not worth the gastral pain lol.
Kevin
Glad I’m not the only person that happened too. I do feel horrible for you and your husband though. I completely know how you felt that night.
mike
We also a few years back. Missed out a whole day at about $1,000 a day for the whole trip!
Tlaw
Given all the comments about food poisoning, it make sense to make this a medical outpost (though a bottle of water will still cost you $5).
Dawn
Just a “heads up” …. Food poisoning can show up 21 days after you eat something. So anywhere you ate at in the three weeks prior could have been the culprit.
BK
Came here to say this. Infamous means famous for something bad. Like, December 7, 1941 is infamous, the day that shall live in infamy, because of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Dew
It’s more than famous. It’s in famous.
Paraphrasing an 80s movie.
Marcus
What a terrible idea.
Tara AuBuchon
I am so disappointed with what Disney is doing to EPCOT. Restaurant Marrakesh was always my favorite World Showcase restaurant. The Morocco Pavilion was the most authentic pavilion in EPCOT. The King of Morocco sent people over to design and build the pavilion, including all the beautiful mosaics in Marrakesh. I hope this change is temporary. It is certainly strange. I hope they don’t decide to put an Aladdin ride in there or something.
Krista
I want to know what was going on at this restaurant that made it infamous. A front for a gambling joint, an opium den? We always enjoyed eating there but apparently we missed whatever was contributing to its infamous status.
CML
I can understand needing a place for people to rest especially as this looks like it will focus on senior citizens. But I think they could find a better place at Epcot to include seniors’ needs. Hope the bring the restaurant.
mike
DVC perk/Annual Pass perk/Large Corporate rental fees/ Larger profit in liquor than food! Rest stop=Booze sales lol!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Sue
That’s bc the restaurant is rent from someone else and they pay Disney so Morocco was rented from disney from someone I. Morocco that county could not get here for the longest time due to the virus so they closed. They used that building when the other restaurant was at by frozen for a loung that is sponsored by blue cross that is by frozen. Bc it was closed for the longest time but nobody really knew it was open for a lounge area.
Mark
It’s coming, corporate sponsored theming! Soon you will have “Southwest’s Soarin’!,” “AAA’s Kilimanjaro Safaris”, “Otis’ Tower of Terror”, etc! WDW will look like a sports venue! I wonder who’ll get the naming rights to Walt Disney World? Maybe it’ll become “Berkshire Hathaway Real Estate’s Walt Disney World”!
Mark
You obviously don’t know the the history of Disney. They’ve always had corporate sponsors including Delta, Coke, GM, Kodak.
The Corporate Genie
Mark nailed it. From day 1 at DL it’s always been sponsored by something somewhere.
Kevin
Have you EVER been to Epcot (Wrong) Mark? EVERY ride there is sponsored by a corporation and has been from day 1. And guess what? Their logos are prominent at the entrance/exit/sign of every one.
African Automobile Association
Making the Kilimanjaro Safaris tow truck sponsored by AAA would be awesome.
Cindi Galaxy
I’m a 30+ year annual passholder, and I never even looked inside this restaurant. Never even remotely interested me or my family. We did eat at the less expensive restaurant occasionally at Morocco & enjoyed that, especially the baklava.
Patricia
We loved eating here but I won’t be sorry to see it go. My husband and I had different things to eat and I was horribly sick all night – apparent food poisoning. We were staying at a Disney hotel and I let them know I had been sick and where and what I had to eat. They were excellent in making sure I was OK, giving me Fast Passes to replace the ones I’d missed and offering to call a doctor for me. I declined since I was feeling better but appreciated the offer.
After being sick all night, however, I never had any desire to go back to that restaurant. I do think it’s odd that it’s being replaced with something that seems to have nothing to do with the theme of that area. But whatever works.
Welcome to Disney World Intro
No offense, But there is a “Welcome to Disney World” intro to practically every article if not every article on this website. After reading one of these intros, it is like reading all of them. I myself just skip the first couple paragraphs and jump to the actual story itself.
Shannon
Just wondering if anyone knows what “infamous” means. Not the way it was intended here. “infamous” means notoriously evil or bad. I’m pretty sure this restaurant was neither.
Larry
For value and the “make believe” cultural experience this restaurant couldn’t be beat. Our family has eaten there half a dozen times. We’ll miss it. Let’s hope this is only temporary until they find someone capable of managing it.
Most of EPCOT’s restaurants are great, but you can find their cuisine in multiple locations in any city. How often do you come across a Moroccan restaurant? Disney, you’re making another mistake.
Jackie
Medicare is not a private insurance. It is still a government agency and tax-funded. This is money from the American US taxpayer.
Jon
The author is an idiot. It’s Florida blue cross blue shield insurance corporation. They offer medicare advantage plans which will take Medicare money and offer private insurance coverage it may or may or be better than plain Medicare. But obviously theme park bloggers wouldn’t know the difference.
Tim
Seriously?? How fing stupid. I loved that place
Jeremy
We love this restaurant and will be sad to see it go! The food was very good and reasonably priced, and the entertainment was always fun. We have fond memories of our dining experiences there and will be sad to see it replaced by something less.
River
Glad to see Medicare is flush with cash that this government tax paid lounge isn’t a problem. Just tell that to all the people when SS isn’t solvent anymore when they retire.
Steve
I’m happy to see the supposedly broke medicare has enough money to sponsor parts of Disney. Time for cuts.
Kk
The Florida Blue Line lounge has been located at Askerhus in Norway for quite some time. One can only wonder of moving it to Morocco means they are getting ready to reopen the Askerhus restaurant with the princesses.
CJA
How in the world is this restaurant infamous? It was always a fun time when we went. Am I missing an alternative meaning to the word ‘infamous?’
William
Infamous means evil, notorious, or having bad qualities.
Frank
Infamous is not the same as famous. It implies something nefarious
Mickeymouse3
Such a shame that another themed attraction goes the to the wayside. But, it is a corporate sponsor which, for Paycheck, that’s a good thing, even if it is not Disney.
Cyndie
Walt must be so disappointed for he started this for families to have a place of togetherness and fun as beautiful as the parks are they are over priced keeping so many away with just a dream to someday get to go or going broke to make a kids dream come true it’s ridiculous
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