Decades after its opening, Walt Disney World’s food scene was best known for its hamburgers, hot dogs, and sometimes chicken nuggets. After all, people came to the parks for the rides, not the food.

However, in the early 2000s, the food scene at Disney World began to evolve. Suddenly the food became as important as the rides, and Disney World realized that there was a lot of money to be made by providing people with good food and, of course, drinks.

No park is a better example of Disney World’s new food scene than EPCOT. World Showcase nations began offering guests authentic cuisine from their countries, or at least as close to it as the American palate could tolerate.

Then came the festivals. EPCOT used its festivals as an opportunity to showcase its food by placing pavilions throughout the World Showcase. Suddenly, eating around the world became almost as popular as drinking around the world.

However, the former future world remained behind. Before Space 220 opened, guests had very few options outside the park.

One of the first restaurants to open at EPCOT was the Coral Reef Restaurant in the Seas Pavilion. It opened just five years after the park opened in 1986.

But as the rest of EPCOT has moved with the times, Coral Reef has become the “least loved” and most “forgotten” restaurant in all of Disney World.

The meal takes place in a dark, outdated and damp room
Does being stuck in 1997 sound exciting? How about the added disappointment of not getting your favorite “tank seat”? Welcome to EPCOT’s Coral Reef Restaurant. It may be the least seen/loved restaurant at Walt Disney World ever. pic.twitter.com/ftoSKtCpoM

— Parkeology (@Parkeology) December 19, 2024

A guest reached out to X and said about Coral Reef Restaurant:

Does dining in a dark, dated, dank space forever stuck in 1997 sound exciting? How about the added disappointment of not getting your favorite “tank” seat? Welcome to EPCOT’s Coral Reef Restaurant. It may be the least seen/loved restaurant at Walt Disney World ever.

Other guests said the limited menu and rare views of the aquarium made this one of the least desirable restaurants on Disney World property.

Coral Reef’s menu only offers six entrees and four entrees, but that’s pretty typical for a Disney World restaurant.

Most guests agreed that with so many choices at EPCOT, it’s easy to miss the Coral Reef Restaurant and given the limited menu, there’s no reason to go back more than once.

With so many great options at EPCOT, it’s time for Disney World to modernize this restaurant. It has great potential and feeding next to huge aquariums, while tempting, doesn’t bring anyone back.

What is the worst restaurant you have ever eaten at at Walt Disney World?