Walt Disney World: Coral Reef Restaurant Gets Official Return Date

Coral Reef Restaurant at EPCOT now has a specific return date following its upcoming closure. The popular dining location inside The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion is currently scheduled to reopen on November 4, 2026.

Coral Reef Restaurant will close as previously announced on September 8, 2026, for planned maintenance and refurbishment work. Disney had previously only stated that the restaurant was expected to reopen “later in 2026.” The Walt Disney World operating calendar has now been updated with a November 4 return date, with dining reservations also becoming available for that date.

When Coral Reef returns, it will continue to operate as a dinner-only restaurant. Current operating information lists dinner service from approximately 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., meaning lunch service will not return with the reopening.

The timing would bring Coral Reef back just ahead of the major holiday season at Walt Disney World. The restaurant is particularly popular for its massive aquarium windows, giving diners views of sharks, sea turtles, rays and other marine life while enjoying their meal.

For guests visiting EPCOT this fall, however, the closure means Coral Reef will remain unavailable for much of the 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. While November 4 is currently listed as the expected reopening date, refurbishment schedules can still change if work takes longer than anticipated.

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