If you haven't heard, Walt Disney World's Epcot is just starting some changes that will evolve into BIG changes that will take place over the next couple years.
The completion of these new attractions and restaurants will be "just in time for Disney World's 50th Anniversary in 2021" (although some of these changes will be completed earlier than that.)
This is not an exhaustive list, but here are some of the main changes and additions coming to Epcot over the next two years:
1. Future World -- which, frankly, doesn't seem very "futuristic" these days, if it ever did -- will be going away, and in its place will be 3 different "neighborhoods":
World Celebration (containing Spaceship Earth, which is scheduled to undergo a huge 2-year rennovation)
World Nature (containing The Land The Living Seas with Nemo & Friends)
World Discovery (containing Test Track and Mission:Space.
(The fourth neighborhood will be the existing World Showcase.)
I don't know about you, but to me, these names are awfully clunky. I heard someone say they should have named them "Nature Showcase" and "Celebration Showcase," etc, and I agree that would have been a better choice.
I heard someone else predict that these neighborhood names will unofficially fade away after several months. Interesting thought. So make a note of that and stay tuned.
2. If you haven't already heard, Illuminations: Reflections of Earth had its last showing on September 30, 2019. It has been temporarily replaced with a new nighttime show called Epcot Forever, which is meant to showcase the history of Epcot. Sounds potentially interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing it during my upcoming trip in 6 weeks.
However, this is just a temporary thing. In 2020, Epcot Forever will be replaced with the permanent (well, as permanent as anything in Disney World can be) nighttime show HarmonioUS, which will be a celebration of Disney music. Hmm ... very different from Illuminations. I imagine there are some people out there who are Not At All Happy about this change.
3. There will be a Ratatouille-themed trackless dark ride in the France pavilion. It will be based on the existing ride in Disneyland Paris and involving "shrinking" guests so they can experience life as a rat in a restaurant (which I think sounds really funny when you describe it that way).
4. The France pavilion will also have a new restaurant, La Creperie de Paris, is due to open in Summer 2020. It will offer both table service and quick service, and will specialize in ... surprise! ... crepes.
Related Article: The Best Options for Breakfast in Epcot
5. Also in the France pavilion -- a Beauty and the Beast sing-a-long, hosted in the same building as the Impressions of France film. (Don't worry, my understanding is that it won't replace the existing film, but rather be in addition to it.)
6. I care nothing (and frankly, know nothing) about Guardians of the Galaxy, but I am very excited to hear about the new Guardians of the Galaxy ride which will be built where the Universe of Energy building was. (Remember that ride with Ellen Degeneres and Bill Nye? Yeah, that building.)
The new ride will feature unique spinning roller coaster cars and will start by launching guest backward." (How exactly does that work? Not at full speed, I hope ... )
7. Anyone else out there old enough to actually remember the original Wonders of Life pavilion, complete with Cranium Command and the motion sickness-inducing Body Wars?
Well, I do!
It was closed in 2007 and became the Festival Center, not serving much purpose other than providing space the various seasonal Epcot festivals.
Now this area will finally be turned into something useful; specifically a "Play Pavilion." (I don't think this is the actual name of it; just how people are referring to it for the moment.
This new pavilion "will be devoted to playful fun and feature an innovative city ... bursting with interactive experiences, your favorite Disney characters, hands-on activities, and engaging entertainment ..."
8. There will be a new restaurant in Future World ... uh, I mean World Discovery ... called Space 220. Disney describes it as "an out-of-this-word culinary experience with the celestial panorama of a space station, including daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles up." This definitely sounds intriguing.
Related Article: Garden Grill Characters, Menu, and Prices
9. There will be a new attraction based on Moana called Journey of Water. If I understand correctly, it isn't exactly a ride, but rather a child-friendly trail that leads down toward The Seas with Nemo and Friends.
10. And some big news that was just recently confirmed: There will be a new Mary Poppins ride!
Unfortunately, we don't know much about this new ride yet. We don't even know for sure that it will be an actual ride, as Disney is calling it an "attraction." Will it be a carousel? A show? Simply a character meet and greet? (Surely not that!)
About the only thing we do know (other than its location in the UK Pavilion) is that guests will travel "down Cherry Tree Lane, past Admiral Boom's house, then enter Number 17, home of the Banks family."
I love the movie Mary Poppins (as well as Saving Mr. Banks), so I hope they do this one justice.
So ...
What do you think of these new changes?
Anything that you're particularly looking forward to? Anything that makes you cringe when you hear it? Let me know if the comments!
Jen Blaske
Comments(0)