Credit: Reinhard Link, FlickrWalt Disney World Resort has filed a new construction permit for a popular snack spot in the EPCOT World Showcase that has been closed since January. Here’s what anyone with an upcoming trip to the Central Florida Disney parks needs to know.
Refurbishment in the EPCOT World Showcase
Refreshment Port, a Quick-Service dining location near the Canada World Showcase Pavilion at EPCOT, closed for refurbishment on January 12. Walt Disney World Resort shared little information about its plans for the kiosk, which serves poutine (including speciality flavors for festival events), select beverages, and soft serve ice cream, including the iconic DOLE Whip.
Last month, Inside the Magic reported that the building was surrounded by beige construction walls, with no reopening date in sight. No changes were visible above the plywood barriers, indicating that much of the maintenance work was taking place inside the building, specifically in the kitchen. Refreshment Port does not have an interior seating area.
On Facebook, WDW News Today shared this photo of the current state of Refreshment Port:
Construction Permit for Refreshment Port
Now, Walt Disney World Resort has filed a new construction permit for Refreshment Port. The Notice of Commencement to “install set elements” at the EPCOT World Showcase building contracts a third-party company, Icarus Exhibits Inc. Walt Disney Imagineering filed the permit on behalf of Walt Disney World Resort, which is big. Typically, Disney’s Facility Management team files permits for small maintenance projects that won’t significantly change the guest experience.
Unlike most construction permits for the Disney parks, this filing has no expiration date, so there is no indication of when the work will be completed. Between the open-ended permit and Imagineering’s involvement, it looks like Refreshment Port might be closed for much longer than fans originally thought.
The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival continues through June 1, 2026. Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t announced any special poutines or other menu items for Refreshment Port for the event, suggesting that the World Showcase dining location may remain closed through that date (and beyond).
Have you noticed any construction walls around Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your experience with Inside the Magic in the comments!