The Florida Blue Medicare Lounge has once again taken over Restaurant Marrakesh in the Morocco Pavilion at EPCOT, giving guests a place to take in some A/C and enjoy complimentary offerings.
Florida Blue Medicare Lounge Now Open in Morocco Pavilion
The Florida Blue Medicare Lounge is located inside the former Restaurant Marrakesh of the Morocco Pavilion.
You do not need to be a Florida Blue member to gain entry, simply search “Florida Blue” in the My Disney Experience app, tap the link at the bottom of the page, fill out the form, and you’ll receive your guest pass. The guest pass is valid from September 1 through November 18, 2023.
Inside, guests can enjoy complimentary offerings such as mosaic art, free beverages, and henna — organized as “Sculpt,” “Sip,” and “Swirl.”
For “Sculpt,” guests can make a one-of-a-kind mosaic tile to take home.
On their display card, it says that the process of making art “encourages the release of endorphins — feel-good chemicals that can improve mood and even reduce pain.”
For “Sip,” guests can enjoy complimentary beverages like Moroccan mint tea and blended juices to stay hydrated in the Florida heat.
“Swirl” offers complimentary henna tattoos for all lounge guests, as an activity to promote self care.
The interior is still decorated as Restaurant Marrakesh, but there are Florida Blue Medicare Lounge banners throughout the space.
The Florida Blue Medicare Lounge is open daily from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Will you be stopping by the lounge to take a break during your next EPCOT day? Let us know in the comments.
Morocco Pavilion Takeover
Back in 2020, Disney took over ownership of the Morocco Pavilion following a legal dispute with the pavilion’s operators, who ran the food and merchandise outlets including Restaurant Marrakesh.
In April of the same year, Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant, LLC. filed for a PPP loan of $1-2 million in order to retain 260 jobs through the funds acquired. In September, Walt Disney World filed a UCC Financing Statement, or a type of lien with the state, claiming collateral against “All goods, inventory, the Furnishings, and all other items of personal property belonging to Debtor which are or may be put into the Facilities and all proceeds of the foregoing.” With Walt Disney World poised to take over the pavilion in case of a default or bankruptcy, things seemed to be going downhill internally.
Finally, the company took operation of the pavilion entirely, which until then was one of the few independently operated World Showcase pavilions. The Moroccan Embassy and Morocco Tourism Board have continued their involvement with the pavilion as cultural consultants.
Restaurant Marrakesh has been closed ever since, likely related to both the COVID-19 pandemic and Disney’s takeover. We last saw inside the restaurant when it was used as a seating area in the summer of 2021. Disney filed a permit for construction work at the restaurant in January 2022. It is now being utilized as the Florida Blue Medicare Lounge.
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