The History of EPCOT’s Defunct Kitchen Kabaret, Food Rocks

Reception

Food Rocks had a mixed bag of reviews.

To start with the positive, Food Rocks was certainly enjoyed by many. It was an Audio-Animatronic show in a Disney park; for that reason, a lot of kids naturally loved it and connected with it. The parodies of pop songs and oldies added an extra layer for parents and adults to enjoy, especially with a healthy serving of puns. The show was energetic and fast-paced, making it a sweet experience for countless guests.

At the same time, the show could easily have come off as cheap and tacky. The animatronics clearly were not the highest quality, especially for Disney. Food Rocks had its redeemable moments, but the show was definitely more about the talent than the plot. It wasn’t always the most subtle with its low-hanging jokes—granted, it probably wasn’t trying to be—but it also had genuinely witty gags.

Perhaps the biggest flaw of Food Rocks was its obvious attempt at being trendy and relevant. The slew of pop music and a concert environment may have been fresh upon opening, but the act got stale over time. Stylistically, Food Rocks had a relatively short shelf life.

Food Rocks Vs. Kitchen Kabaret

Food Rocks was a harsh contrast to its predecessor, Kitchen Kabaret. Kitchen Kabaret seemed more refined than its replacement. Its music and script were tonally more palatable. Kitchen Kabaret let the essence of its message marinate just perfectly.

Food Rocks with its in-your-face, forcibly energetic style in comparison felt like a shoddy overlay like The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management). Going from pleasant to brash was tough to swallow for some.

But just because Kitchen Kabaret was delectable doesn’t mean Food Rocks was regrettable.

In defense of Food Rocks, not everyone got to see Kitchen Kabaret, so not everyone had something to compare it to. All they knew was the zesty show playing in front of them; it was still an entertaining one, despite criticism.

It was a good show on its own. The vocal performances were top-notch from talented musicians. Food Rocks was catchy and cute. It brought joy to many families, but it wouldn’t sail forever.

Soarin’ into the Future

Into the 2000s, Nestlé and Disney were planning a major refurb for The Land Pavilion. Nestlé extended its sponsorship of the pavilion, and The Land was being evaluated for future improvements.

EPCOT had shifted in the years leading up to this time. The park received a new thrill ride, Test Track, in 1999—reaching speeds of 65 mph. A few years later in 2003, Disney added Mission: Space to EPCOT’s growing lineup of thrill rides. Disney was seriously investing to update EPCOT, and they weren’t done yet.

In October 2003, Disney announced the next addition to EPCOT: Soarin’. The innovative simulator was popular over at Disney California Adventure, and executives were keen on introducing it to the East Coast.

“[Soarin’] is highly, highly successful in California. What we want to do is bring that highly successful show here to our guests who come from all over the world, so we think it’s the right concept for now.”

– Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World Resort, 2003

This major announcement meant The Land would see its biggest update since opening: a new ride. Soarin’ would be added to The Land, but, to make room, Disney needed the theater space of Food Rocks.

Construction for Soarin’ began in September 2003. Food Rocks gave its final performances a few months later on Jan. 3, 2004—coincidentally, it closed exactly 10 years to the day when Kitchen Kabaret did.

Soarin’ opened at EPCOT in The Land Pavilion on May 5, 2005. That’s not where the story of Food Rocks ends, though.

Remnants and Memories

Some of the Food Rocks Audio-Animatronics were auctioned off on eBay in the 2000s. The stage itself lasted a bit longer in the park.

Only part of the Food Rocks theater was demolished to make room for Soarin’. The lobbies and theater seating were lost—those were located roughly where the entrance of Soarin’ is today.

The actual stage, however, was a bit off to the side; that space apparently wasn’t needed for the new attraction. The Food Rocks stage was walled off and left somewhat intact, minus the Audio-Animatronics. The battered set was left abandoned off to the side of one of EPCOT’s marquee attractions.

Now, the stage is no more. Years went by, and Disney eventually utilized that space for the women’s restrooms in the 2010s.

With the final in-park remnant now gone, the memories of Kitchen Kabaret and Food Rocks can still be found here and there. Small mementos and nods to the two defunct shows come up every now and then.

In the queue of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Star Lord, played by Chris Pratt, nostalgically references Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit. A small Food Rocks reference is also in Magic Kingdom’s Carousel of Progress.

Disney occasionally sells throwback merchandise to commemorate the shows, and some references have popped up at EPCOT’s festivals.

Kitchen Kabaret and Food Rocks may be no more, but the legacy of those two shows made an impression on so many Disney fans. They were silly Audio-Animatronic shows with singing fruit and catchy music—what’s not to love? The lingering memories have left a great taste, and the melodic Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit still today will leave a smile on anyone’s face.