Category: Construction

This week, I have EPCOT News!  There are lots of changes coming to Epcot over the next three years.  Some things you may have already heard about, some things you may have heard rumored before, and some things are brand new updates.  Read on for all the latest Epcot News updates!

Former Wonders of Life Pavilion FINALLY Gets a New Lease on Life

Disney has announced that the domed pavilion that was once the Wonders of Life Pavilion, and that has served as the Festival Pavilion a few times for various festivals, is finally getting re-purposed.  This new plan sounds tailor made for Epcot’s original theming and vision.  Remember the original name?  EPCOT: Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

The as-yet untitled pavilion will be a “play” pavilion.  It will house an innovative  city that will feature interactive experiences and hands on activities.  Disney promises the new space will be “devoted to playful fun” and will include favorite Disney characters and lots of entertainment.

I’m fascinated by the city under the dome idea.  It sounds like Imagineering is trying to capture at least a little of the spirit of Walt Disney’s original vision for a “prototype community”.  It should be fun to see what they come up with!  Disney also promises the newly redesigned pavilion will open in time for the 50th Anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World Resort in 2021.

Entering Epcot: Revamped & Redesigned

This bit of Epcot News has been a long time coming.  Epcot’s entrance area, between the gates and Spaceship Earth is going to be revamped and redesigned.  Basically, they’re moving the giant monolithic creepy “Leave a Legacy” stones from this area to an area outside the main entrance.  They will be adding a fountain, more green space and pathways.  But the main idea?  To make the main gateway to the park look a little less like a graveyard.

I’m sure “graveyard” was not the intent when the original designers came up with the Leave a Legacy* stone idea.  However, the end result (as professed by thousands of Epcot guests over the years) is, at best, cold and industrial, and, at worst, creepy and gravestone-like.  Neither image is the first impression Disney wanted to leave with their guests as they enter the park, so changes are being made.  Here’s an artist’s drawing of the new entrance way:

*For those of you that have pictures on the giant Leave a Legacy stones, please do not interpret this change, or my celebration of it, as a negative commentary on your pictures or your investment.  I think it’s a lovely idea, and I think having a piece of your family forever a part of Disney history is a beautiful thing.  I desperately want a brick on the Magic Kingdom walkway, so I totally understand!  I’m just not a fan of this particular presentation.  I don’t think the way they set it up is visually as attractive as it could be. I also think because they didn’t sell as many as they expected and there are so many empty spaces, it just feels a bit cold.  This is my opinion, your mileage may vary.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with the Leave a Legacy stones, here are a couple of pictures.  (Both Photos Courtesy of Disney):

The giant stones will still be a part of the Epcot landscape.  The stones just won’t be located inside the main entrance as the first thing visitors see.  So many guests just don’t understand what they are, or why they are there.  I think moving them to a garden in a different part of Epcot, or creating a special area for them outside of the entrance with a plaque that explains what they are a little better would do them more justice.

Epcot News Update: Guardians of the Galaxy Themed Roller Coaster in Future World

At this point, the Guardians of the Galaxy themed roller coaster coming to Future World in 2021 is old news for many.  Already under construction for more than a year, the new roller coaster will be one of the world’s longest enclosed roller coasters when it’s complete.  According to Disney, this attraction will also be ready in time for the 50th Anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World Resort.  But since not everyone keeps up with Disney news, I thought I would give you all an update on this “coming soon” attraction.  (Soon being relative in the land of Disney construction projects!)

What we know so far:

• The queue for the attraction will be in the former Universe of Energy building.  Ellen and the Dinosaurs have been moved into storage somewhere backstage.  Fans of the Science-themed attraction have hopes that someday, we may see them pop up in another attraction somewhere.  You never know!  (However, it’s more likely they will pop up in John Stamos’ living room, or that of another Disneyphile!)
• The attraction will be completed sometime in 2021.
• The roller-coaster will be one of the longest enclosed roller coasters in the world when it’s finished.
• The show building that will house the new coaster will be so big, we are told that FOUR Spaceship Earths could fit inside it! (Now THAT’s a BIG Building!).
• This is not going to be a “typical roller coaster.  Imagineers have promised that there is a heavy storytelling element to this attraction.
• The coaster will feature an innovative ride system, with unique ride vehicles that will be capable of moving in different ways and directions to focus the riders’ attention to the story happening around them.

Epcot: France Gets TWO New Attractions

Announced in 2017, two new attractions coming to France are finally starting to look like they are within reach.

First: Coming “soon” to the same theatre where the long running film Impressions de France plays multiple times each day will be a new “sing a long” version of Beauty and the Beast.  This new film is not replacing Impressions de France; it is playing in the same theatre, but the two films will play at different times.  Most likely to draw new audiences to France, and to perhaps encourage them to then stay and watch Impressions de France, I think this is a great way to capitalize on the popularity of Beauty and the Beast, while still preserving the integrity of the France pavilion.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

A new dark ride, themed to the popular Pixar film, Ratatouille, is set to open in Epcot’s France pavilion in Spring 2020.  This ride, rumored to be an English language version of the very popular L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy at Disneyland Paris, is a trackless adventure where the riders are shrunk down to the size of Remy and his Rat friends, and embark on a crazy chase through the kitchen.

We don’t have much concrete information on this attraction yet.  BUT, I’ve heard the original is a favorite at Disneyland Paris.  Therefore, I’ve decided to be optimistic that we will be happy with this new addition.  As we’ve discussed, Disney crowds get larger every year, so the more attractions we have that can absorb crowds, the better, right?

I think that adding a few dark rides in World Showcase is a good direction for Epcot to go.  As long as they (Disney) choose rides that stay at least loosely connected to the country’s theming. (And no, I don’t think Frozen is a good fit in Norway!  Arendelle isn’t a REAL place!!!  That attraction should be in Hollywood Studios!  But I digress….).

Ratatouille is a fun Pixar movie set in Paris, and the city is definitely a character in the film.  Putting this attraction in France at least makes SOME sense.  (And yes, I recognize I’m reaching a bit…).   The purpose of World Showcase is to educate and excite people about countries around the world they may never have visited.  Rides were never necessarily part of that vision.  Films, shops, shows, restaurants, streetmosphere players…of course.  But actual rides?  Not necessarily.

However, as Walt Disney World crowds swell, and repeat visitors increase year over year, I understand the need for change.  I’m not always great with change, but I do accept the necessity.  Adding themed attractions to World Showcase is a change that makes sense to me.  Certainly Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure might make more sense at Hollywood Studios as it is a movie-themed attraction (LIKE FROZEN).  However, it also makes sense in France, as this particular film takes place in France, and it definitely focuses on France and Paris in particular, during many moments of the movie.

More World Showcase Updates

China is getting its own Circle-Vision 360 degree cultural movie experience.  I don’t have a date yet, but it’s coming.  Canada’s Circle-Vision movie is getting updated, and we’ll soon be seeing the updated version when we visit Canada in World Showcase.

Japan is getting a new signature restaurant.  Actually, this was announced early last year, but recently it appears that construction finally began. We don’t know much about it, other than it’s “inspired by the natural beauty of Japan”.  Given that construction has begun, I’m hopeful we will see this open sometime this fall.

Odyssey Pavilion Re-purposed

The Odyssey Pavilion is that odd building that has been mostly closed for the last 20 years or so.  It lives on the World Showcase Lagoon between Mexico and Test Track.  This Pavilion originally opened in 1982 and started its life as a restaurant.  It is a REALLY big space, and I can’t even remember the last time it was actually opened for regular use.

It’s most often used for special events.  Presentations, conference events, sometimes festival events, Odyssey has served many purposes over the years.  It’s even been used as a backup venue for outdoor wedding receptions in the event of bad weather.

However, last year, it got a remodel and opened again over New Year’s to offer an additional quick service food station for crowd flow.  It was also used during the International Festival of the Arts to host several events.

Disney tells us that later this year, the Odyssey, or at least a portion of it, will be reclassified as The Experience Center.  The Experience Center will feature interactive exhibits of upcoming park projects.  The goal is to to help park guests visualize (and get excited about!) all the different park transformation projects happening over the next few years, leading up to the 50th Anniversary.

Space Themed Restaurant Coming to Epcot…Eventually?

Announced early last year, the building is finally in place in Epcot for the space themed restaurant coming at some point in the future.  Well, it is Future World, so I guess that’s par for the course.

The restaurant is going to be located between Mission Space and Test Track. It looks like it will be pretty big, based on the size of the building.  Of course, these show buildings can be misleading.  It IS expected to have some special effects.

In my opinion, this will be a very welcome addition to Future World.  Currently, the only table service restaurant in Future World is Coral Reef.  For a long time, I’ve thought more table service options were needed.  I believe that going space themed, and setting it in Future World makes sense.  The location is perfect, especially with the Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster under construction in that same area.

The restaurant will be owned and operated by the Patina Group; they already operate a number of successful and popular restaurants at Disney Springs, Downtown Disney and Epcot.  Patina restaurants include Via Napoli, Tutto Italia Ristorante, Morimoto Asia, Enzo’s Hideaway and many more–not to mention many restaurants in New York, New Jersey, California and JAPAN!!

Good-Bye Illuminations: Reflections of Earth

We’ve discussed before on this blog that Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, the spectacular long running nighttime show at Epcot is coming to a close later this year.  While we haven’t been given an exact “end” date for Illuminations, expectations are that it will end sometime in the summer or early fall.

Imagineers are of course working on the replacement nighttime extravaganza.  I’m sure this will be bigger and include more technology and special effects than ever before.  Disney tells us that construction is already underway in the World Showcase Lagoon for the new show.  The new show will include custom designed LED panels, pyrotechnics, “massive” floating set pieces, moving fountains, lasers, and an amazing soundtrack, no doubt.  The new show will not make it’s debut until sometime next year, however.

Between the sun setting on Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, and the sun rising on the 2020 new nighttime extravaganza, there will be a limited time nighttime experience presented at Epcot, called Epcot Forever.  I have a feeling this one is guaranteed to tear at your heartstrings if you are a longtime Epcot visitor.  It promises to feature a soundtrack of favorite Epcot songs, and will include lighting, lasers, fireworks, music and special effects.  I’m really hoping to make it down there to check this one out later this year. I suspect it is going to really be something special.

Believe it or not, they still have MORE to come!!

As you can tell by the length of this post, there are a LOT of updates coming to Epcot over the next one to three years.  What is even more mind boggling is that most of these are considered Phase 1 updates.  Phase 1 updates will be in place by the 50th Anniversary Walt Disney World Celebration.  However, there are LOTS more updates planned for Phase 2, although much of that is still early planning stages.  Everything is subject to change as the world around us changes.  Suffice it to say that Disney is investing a LOT of money into Epcot, now and well into the future.  I’m loving all these Epcot News updates, and can’t wait to see what the future holds.

One word of advice…if you love Spaceship Earth, you may want to try and ride it a lot over the next year or so.  I suspect it’s going to come up on the refurbishment list fairly soon.  Once it goes down, it will be down for YEARS.  Two years at least, possibly more.

What Epcot News update are you MOST excited about?  What are you LEAST excited about?  Does anything have you worried?  Please comment below, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke