Refreshment Station is a Coca-Cola-sponsored beverage kiosk located in EPCOT’s World Discovery neighborhood, near Test Track. The establishment specializes in frozen soft drinks and flavored slushies, offering visitors a place to purchase refreshments and relax beneath a covered seating area equipped with cooling fans.
The location was originally known as Cool Wash, a Test Track-inspired refreshment area incorporating automotive imagery, misting effects, and a distinctive display of a vehicle associated with the attraction.
During its earlier years, Cool Wash operated intermittently as a beverage stand and shaded rest area. In 2019, the establishment introduced customizable layered slushies, allowing guests to combine different Coca-Cola and Fanta flavors with candy toppings.
Following an extended closure and refurbishment, Disney renamed the location Refreshment Station in October 2022. The remodeled kiosk began welcoming guests in May 2023, introducing a simplified menu and updated architectural details reflecting EPCOT’s transformation from Future World into four distinct neighborhoods.
Although Refreshment Station is a relatively small food-service location, its history reflects several important changes in EPCOT’s development, including the evolution of Test Track, the expansion of Coca-Cola-sponsored beverage offerings, and the park’s increasing emphasis on specialty snacks during seasonal festivals.
Origins and the Test Track Area
The history of Refreshment Station is closely connected to Test Track, one of EPCOT’s major thrill attractions.
Test Track originally opened to the public on March 17, 1999, following an extended development period.
The attraction replaced World of Motion, the original transportation pavilion sponsored by General Motors.
World of Motion had opened with EPCOT Center on October 1, 1982, and presented the history of transportation through elaborate Audio-Animatronics scenes.
When Disney developed Test Track, the company replaced the original attraction’s historical presentation with an experience simulating automotive testing.
Guests boarded specially designed vehicles and traveled through a series of testing environments before accelerating around an outdoor track.
The surrounding pavilion adopted the appearance of an automotive testing facility.
Test Track’s original design incorporated industrial architectural details, crash-test imagery, automotive components, and references to General Motors’ vehicle-development operations.
The outdoor area near the attraction became a natural location for a small automotive-themed refreshment stand.
Cool Wash complemented the Test Track environment by incorporating the visual language of a car wash and vehicle-testing facility.
Its exact original opening date has not been independently established, but historical photographs confirm that the location existed before its 2019 transformation into a specialty slushie destination.
The Original Cool Wash
Cool Wash was designed as a place where visitors could escape the Central Florida heat.
Its name referred to an automobile wash, establishing an obvious connection with the nearby Test Track attraction.
The original environment incorporated automotive imagery and cooling effects.
Guests could pass through misting areas intended to resemble the spray encountered inside a car wash.
A Test Track-style ride vehicle was displayed as part of the setting.
The vehicle’s appearance changed over time as the attraction itself underwent renovations.
Early versions reflected the original General Motors Test Track design, while later versions incorporated styling associated with the Chevrolet-sponsored attraction.
The area also provided shade and places for guests to rest.
These features made Cool Wash more than a conventional beverage counter.
It functioned as a small environmental experience that extended Test Track’s automotive theme beyond the attraction building.
During some operating periods, beverages were available for purchase.
At other times, the location functioned primarily as a shaded rest area.
The inconsistent operating schedule became one of Cool Wash’s defining characteristics.
Changes Following Test Track’s 2012 Renovation
Test Track underwent a major renovation in 2012.
The original automotive testing facility theme was replaced by a more futuristic experience emphasizing vehicle design, digital engineering, and advanced automotive technology.
Chevrolet became the attraction’s featured brand.
The ride’s interior incorporated neon lighting, digital projections, and virtual vehicle-design experiences.
Cool Wash remained outside the attraction, although its automotive decorations were adjusted to complement the updated Test Track environment.
The surrounding area continued to provide refreshments and shaded seating.
Over time, however, Cool Wash’s identity became less closely connected to a simulated car wash.
The location increasingly functioned as a flexible refreshment stand that Disney could open during busy periods or seasonal events.
This change anticipated its eventual transformation into Refreshment Station.
The 2019 Customizable Slushie Concept
One of the most significant developments in Cool Wash’s history occurred during the 2019 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.
Disney introduced a create-your-own layered slushie concept.
Guests could select from several frozen Coca-Cola and Fanta flavors, combine different varieties, and add candy toppings.
The original flavor selection included Coca-Cola, Fanta Cherry, Fanta Orange, Fanta Banana, Fanta Watermelon, and Fanta Blue Raspberry.
The topping choices included candy pebbles, boba pearls, spice drops, and popping candy.
Guests completed an order card identifying their preferred combinations.
Cast Members then prepared the drink according to the guest’s selections.
The original price was approximately $6.
The concept was notable because it turned an ordinary frozen beverage into a customizable snack experience.
Rather than simply ordering a predetermined flavor, visitors could experiment with different combinations and colors.
The drinks were served in distinctive cups that emphasized the layered appearance.
This approach made Cool Wash particularly attractive to families and younger visitors.
Alcoholic Slushies
Cool Wash also introduced alcoholic variations of its frozen beverages during the 2019 festival.
One offering combined Coca-Cola Orange Vanilla with St. Petersburg Gin.
The drink was priced at $13.
Other festival menus subsequently featured Frozen Coca-Cola with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and Frozen Coca-Cola with spiced rum.
During the 2020 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, the whiskey variation was priced at $12, while the spiced rum version was priced at $11.
These beverages allowed the kiosk to participate in EPCOT’s increasingly extensive festival drinking program.
The addition of alcoholic frozen drinks also broadened the location’s appeal beyond families seeking nonalcoholic refreshments.
However, the beverage lineup changed between festival seasons, and individual alcoholic selections should not be treated as permanent menu offerings.
Cool Wash During the 2020 Festival Season
During the 2020 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, Cool Wash returned with customizable frozen beverages.
The documented slushie flavors included Coca-Cola, Fanta Wild Cherry, and Fanta Blue Raspberry.
Candy toppings included Pop Rocks, Nerds, gumdrops, Swedish Fish, and fruit-slice gummies.
Guests could combine toppings with their preferred frozen beverage.
The assortment continued the customization concept introduced in 2019.
However, the availability of individual flavors and toppings varied.
Contemporary reports indicated that some frozen beverage flavors were not operating when reviewers visited.
These inconsistencies were typical of the kiosk’s seasonal operations.
The location remained a supplemental refreshment stand rather than an everyday dining destination.
Operations During the COVID-19 Period
EPCOT temporarily closed in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The park reopened in July 2020 with modified operations.
Cool Wash resumed service during selected festival periods.
A February 2021 report documented the kiosk operating during the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts.
At that time, guests could purchase customizable slushies using flavors such as Fanta Blueberry, Fanta Wild Cherry, and Coca-Cola.
Candy toppings included popping candy, spice drops, gummy fish, and candy pebbles.
Alcoholic variations were also available.
The documented prices were $6 for a regular slushie, $12 for a version containing Jack Daniel’s, and $11 for a version containing Sailor Jerry Rum.
However, the kiosk continued operating inconsistently.
Long periods passed when the beverage counter remained closed, even though portions of the seating area could still be used.
The intermittent operation reinforced Cool Wash’s identity as a seasonal or event-related concession location.
Closure and Construction in 2022
By August 2022, Cool Wash had closed for an extended period.
Disney began removing decorative elements and preparing the location for refurbishment.
In September, the original Cool Wash signage was removed.
Construction activity included demolition and removal of portions of the kiosk’s interior.
The area was surrounded by construction landscaping and protective barriers.
On October 20, 2022, visitors discovered a new sign identifying the location as Refreshment Station.
The sign incorporated a red background and rounded lettering consistent with EPCOT’s World Discovery neighborhood.
Decorative symbols depicting a bottle and beverage cup appeared beneath the name.
The new identity was considerably more generic than Cool Wash.
Rather than referencing the automotive theme of Test Track, Refreshment Station described the location’s practical function as a place to obtain beverages.
However, the renaming did not immediately lead to a reopening.
The new sign was subsequently removed, and construction continued into 2023.
The World Discovery Redesign
The Refreshment Station renovation occurred during EPCOT’s extensive transformation from Future World and World Showcase into four neighborhoods.
The neighborhoods were World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature, and World Showcase.
The area surrounding Test Track became part of World Discovery.
This neighborhood emphasized exploration, technology, science, and the possibilities of the future.
The transformation introduced updated signage, landscaping, pathways, and architectural features throughout the former Future World East area.
Refreshment Station adopted the red accent colors associated with World Discovery.
Its new signage used the simplified visual style introduced elsewhere in the neighborhood.
The redesigned kiosk retained its function as a frozen beverage location but no longer relied as heavily on automotive-themed decoration.
This reflected the broader changes to EPCOT’s visual identity.
The location became less of an extension of Test Track’s specific storyline and more of a general refreshment facility within World Discovery.
Reopening in May 2023
Construction continued through the spring of 2023.
On May 12, visitors observed that the Refreshment Station sign had returned to the kiosk.
Additional work included updated tables, benches, and other guest facilities.
On May 26, 2023, the location began welcoming guests during a soft opening.
Contemporary reporting indicated that the official opening was expected on May 28.
The reopened Refreshment Station featured a red, black, white, and silver color scheme.
Permanent outdoor tables and benches were installed beneath the shaded structure.
Cooling fans continued providing relief from the Florida heat.
The simplified menu initially offered two frozen beverages.
The first was Frozen Coca-Cola, priced at $5.25.
The second was Fanta Banana, a frozen banana-flavored Fanta beverage topped with caramel and blueberries.
The Fanta Banana drink was priced at $6.
The reopening marked the completion of the transition from Cool Wash to Refreshment Station.
The Fanta Banana Slushie
The Fanta Banana beverage was one of the most unusual offerings introduced with the refurbished Refreshment Station.
The drink combined a bright yellow banana-flavored frozen soda with caramel sauce and blueberries.
Its ingredients created an unconventional flavor combination compared with standard Coca-Cola or fruit-flavored slushies.
Contemporary reviews noted its pronounced artificial banana flavor.
Some visitors enjoyed the novelty, while others found the combination unusually sweet.
The beverage was also visually distinctive, with the yellow frozen drink contrasting with the caramel and blueberries.
Although the drink attracted attention during the opening period, it was not necessarily intended to remain a permanent signature offering.
The kiosk’s menu subsequently evolved.
Later Frozen Beverage Menu
By 2026, Refreshment Station continued concentrating on frozen Coca-Cola beverages.
Disney’s published menu identified Frozen Coca-Cola and other assorted frozen beverages.
Regular frozen drinks were priced at $6.25.
Guests could also purchase versions topped with assorted candies for $7.
The menu therefore retained an element of the customization concept originally developed at Cool Wash.
However, the contemporary menu was simpler than the extensive 2019 flavor-and-topping system.
Instead of offering numerous combinations through a dedicated order form, the kiosk presented conventional frozen beverage selections with optional candy additions.
Refreshment Station remained classified as a quick-service snack kiosk.
Its menu did not emphasize substantial meals such as sandwiches, burgers, or salads.
The location’s primary function continued to be beverage service.
Coca-Cola Sponsorship
Refreshment Station is officially presented as Refreshment Station Hosted by Coca-Cola.
The sponsorship reflects the long-standing relationship between Disney and Coca-Cola.
Coca-Cola beverages have been served throughout Walt Disney World since the resort opened in 1971.
The company has also sponsored several distinctive EPCOT beverage experiences.
Club Cool, located in World Celebration, allows guests to sample Coca-Cola products from different countries.
Refreshment Station serves a different purpose.
Rather than concentrating on complimentary beverage samples, it offers frozen Coca-Cola and Fanta drinks for purchase.
The two locations nevertheless demonstrate how Coca-Cola products have been incorporated into EPCOT’s broader food-and-beverage program.
Refreshment Station’s frozen soda menu also provides a convenient alternative to conventional bottled soft drinks and fountain beverages.
The 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays
Refreshment Station was included in the announced food and beverage lineup for the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
On November 12, 2026, Disney released the festival’s official Foodie Guide, identifying two new Frozen Crafted Sodas scheduled to debut at the kiosk.
The first will combine Frozen Coca-Cola with cookie butter syrup and French vanilla sweet cream.
The second will feature Frozen Fanta Orange with cranberry and cinnamon syrup, also topped with French vanilla sweet cream.
Both drinks are described as new for the 2026 festival.
The festival is scheduled to begin November 27, 2026.
These beverages represent a continuation of the kiosk’s evolving approach to frozen soda.
Rather than simply offering a flavored slushie, Disney is introducing additional syrups and cream toppings that create a more elaborate dessert-style beverage.
The seasonal menu also demonstrates that Refreshment Station continues participating in EPCOT’s festival program.
This is an important connection to its history as Cool Wash, which introduced customized slushies during the 2019 Food & Wine Festival.
Seating and Guest Experience
Refreshment Station is designed primarily for short visits.
Guests order directly from the service counter.
Advance dining reservations are not accepted.
The location does not have a conventional indoor dining room.
Instead, it provides covered outdoor seating with permanent tables and benches.
Cooling fans help make the area more comfortable during hot weather.
The shaded seating is particularly useful for visitors exploring World Discovery or preparing to experience Test Track.
Because the location operates seasonally or intermittently, guests should not assume that it will be open every day.
Disney’s operating schedules may change according to attendance, staffing, and festival activities.
Published hours in November 2026 included service from noon until 6:00 p.m., although other dining guides listed longer potential operating windows.
The location is inside EPCOT, so valid theme park admission is required.
Disney’s official restaurant page states that Dining Plan meals are not accepted, although some individual items may qualify for snack credits under applicable plan rules.
Relationship to Nearby Food and Beverage Locations
Refreshment Station is located in an area containing several other EPCOT dining establishments.
Connections Eatery and Connections Café are located near the front of World Discovery.
The complex provides a much larger selection of meals, snacks, specialty coffee, and beverages.
Space 220 Restaurant and Space 220 Lounge offer an immersive dining experience near Mission: SPACE.
Several seasonal festival kiosks also operate throughout World Discovery.
These temporary locations frequently introduce specialty foods and beverages associated with EPCOT’s annual festivals.
Refreshment Station has a more focused role.
It serves as a convenient place to purchase a frozen drink without committing to a complete meal.
Its proximity to Test Track gives it a consistent connection to one of EPCOT’s most popular thrill attractions.