Any News or Rumors about Odyssey Center at Epcot?

[Werner Weiss]

I found an announcement about the 2002 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival at http://www.themeparks.com/wdw/press/food01.htm

It appears that none of the events will use the Odyssey Center at Epcot. In contrast, in 1999 and 2000, the Odyssey Center was home to the festival's Culinary Demonstrations, Grand Tastings, and Winemaker Dinners. In 2001, it was only home to the Grand Tastings and Winemaker Dinners. But for 2002, it appears that all events have been moved to other venues.

Last year, in answer to a question about why the Culinary Demonstrations had been moved to an inferior facility, an Events CM told me that the ceiling was falling down at the Odyssey Center, and that it was "dangerous." Is that really true? (My wife and I discussed that the Odyssey Center must only have been dangerous during the day, because they were still using the Odyssey Center at night.)

<IMG SRC="http://www.yesterland.com/images-sidetrips/wineodyssey.jpeg" HEIGHT=200 WIDTH=524 HSPACE=0 VSPACE=6 ALT="Photo of Odyssey Center" BORDER=0>

Is the Odyssey no longer used for anything? Not even for meetings and events? Are there other plans for this prime location? Does anyone know the story?

 

[Dumbo]

Werner,

Looks like another candidate for Yesterland.


Dumbo

 

[Cris]

I really don;t think it would cost that much to rehab it. They could make it back with convention revenue.

 

[WDWHound]

In December of 2000 we took the Hidden Treasures tour of Epcot. I asked our guide why the Odyssey had been shut down. She told me that it was not shut down, but that it was used for private events, school groups and special events like the wine festival. Of course, this was a year and a half ago, so things have changed.

She said the reason it was no longer a restaurant open to the general public was that guests found the location inconvenient. This surprised me, I think it has one of the best locations in the park. I wish they would reopen it, The food there was never all that great, but I liked the place.

 

[DVC-Landbaron]

She told me that it was not shut down, but that it was used for private events, school groups and special events

Same as I was told at guest services when I brought it up. And she mentioned conventions.

Also, she said that it was the inconvenience that led to the shut down.

And I agree. The food wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either. However, the pies they served were GREAT. Too bad they didn't relocate them!!

 

[Safari Steve]

The building is still used for First Aid, Baby Care Center, and the Cast dining area, "Discovery Diner". Those parts of the building seem to be in very good condition.

 

[Bob O]

I thought the food wasnt bad and my kids always liked the show that Mickey and gang would put on while we ate and then would pose for pictures afterwards. We always went there and enjoyed it!!

 

[Dznefreek]

How I miss the days when you could eat there and the Characters came out on stage sang a bit, and then did a meet and greet!

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

What a waste of space! Something should be done with this prime location other than to have restrooms/baby care there!

 

[Aracuan]

As of last December, the rest of the structure was still in use... We had to go to the baby canter around dusk, and the main entrance was ajar, with a cast member carrying a clipboard with a list attached. When we came out of the baby center it was already night, and we saw many dressed up persons coming in and out of the Odyssey and staying around, chatting and taking pictures... some were carrying wine glasses. It really looked like a wedding reception.

 

[Safari Steve]

S.T.A.G.E, the CM theatre club is performing a play @ Oddyssey Center in the near future. I would guess that your tour guide was slightly mis-informed on that one topic (I'm sure she was great, as all of our tour guides are, but nobody's perfect).

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by Safari Steve
S.T.A.G.E, the CM theatre club is performing a play @ Oddyssey Center in the near future.

I'm glad to hear that the Odyssey isn't a dangerous, condemned building, where pieces of the ceiling rain down on anyone who would dare enter.

But that raises the question of why the Epcot Food & Wine Festival isn't using the Odyssey for any demonstrations or event dinners this year? And why did the Events CM last year tell me that the ceiling was falling down and that at the Odyssey is dangerous?

 

[kjohn20043]

Disney is using the worldshow case tent (The old millenium village) this year for F &W.
It is larger and can accomodate more chefs and more people. Apparently these functions sell out early and they get a lot f requests for more tickets to be sold.

kjohn20043

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by kjohn20043
Disney is using the worldshow case tent (The old millenium village) this year for F &W.

That's now called the World Showplace.

If the link at the top of this thread is accurate, the only Food & Wine Festival event in the World Showplace will be "Party for the Senses, a hip, hot celebration of the senses featuring more than 30 wines with flavorful foods every Saturday, 6-9 p.m., for $65," which seems to be a new name for the old Grand Tastings, which had been held Saturday evenings in the Odyssey.

The other F&W Festival events have been scattered to other locations -- with the former Winemaker Dinners at the Odyssey now replaced by the "Signature Dinner Series, with five courses and wine pairings from up to three selected wineries, Sundays, 6-9 p.m., starting at $100 to be held at a different venue each week including California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort, Jiko-The Cooking Place at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, C¡tricos at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Bistro de Paris at the Epcot France pavilion."

 

[mikek]

since those last venues are outside of epcot, maybe its some kind of marketing decision to spread the "epcot F & W festival" into the WDW F& W festival?

Were there other things too? - my mom always loves the wine and cheese stands in world showcase but that's about all we ever bothered with ourselves.

Just a guess.

 

[mep319]

There is a rumor that new character dining maybe available there soon. Maybe they have been getting it ready for that. It would be great if they re-opened it!

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by mikek
Were there other things too? - my mom always loves the wine and cheese stands in world showcase but that's about all we ever bothered with ourselves.

For a report on my experience last year, see http://www.yesterland.com/wine.html

As I wrote in that article, "Unfortunately, many guests seem to think the International Marketplaces are the Food & Wine Festival. That's a shame. There's really much more."

Originally posted by mep319
There is a rumor that new character dining maybe available there soon. Maybe they have been getting it ready for that. It would be great if they re-opened it!

That's a positive thought! When I saw that the Food & Wine Festival was no longer using the Odyssey Center, I never considered the possibility that the Odyssey might be put back into service as a regular restaurant. In light of closed attractions, restaurants, and lodging, I guess I just assumed that Disney was locking doors on the restaurant part of the Odyssey, no longer even using it for meetings and special events.

I hope mep319 is right.

 

[KCritter]

It sounds like the rumor of a new character meal for Epcot is coming true. There is a major discussion of it on the Restaurant board. Royal Family Bkfst Discussion It supposedly starts on July 28th, but details are not yet available on location. The Odyssey makes the most sense to me. Unless they open up someplace in World Showcase, there's really no place else large enough for another character breakfast.

 

[jwfla422]

That's EXACTLY what I was thinking, would make a lot of sense...we'll soon see

 

[HorizonsFan]

S.T.A.G.E, the CM theatre club is performing a play @ Oddyssey Center in the near future.

Thanks Steve! We saw a rehearsal of what looked like a Greek play in June. I wondered who they were...