Walt Disney World has an important 50th Anniversary coming up in 2021 and the following year in 2022 will mark Epcot's 40th. From attractions to nighttime shows to restaurants, Disney looks to be celebrating these 2 milestones by opening up a bunch of new stuff.
But just what all can you expect to see in the upcoming years? We've got it all broken down in our list of Epcot updates. We've even added in a few rumors we hope just might be true.
Take a look...
Epcot - New Neighborhoods
One of the surprise announcements coming out of the D23 Expo in 2019 was the big reveal that Epcot would be re-imagined into 4 distinct neighborhoods (instead of the current 2):
- World Showcase
- World Discovery (formerly part of Future World)
- World Celebration (formerly part of Future World)
- World Nature (formerly part of Future World)
When finished, this will be one of the most extensive transformations of any Disney park.
Epcot - World Showcase
According to Disney, the World Showcase will continue to be "a celebration of culture, cuisine, architecture and traditions – infused with new magic."
And, this area will be seeing a LOT of new updates in the upcoming years, as you can see from the map below:
Mary Poppins area
Attraction type: interactive experience
Location: United Kingdom pavilion
Estimated completion date: TBD
Announced at the D23 Expo in August 2019, Cherry Tree Lane will be joining the United Kingdom pavilion.
Guests will be able to "step in time down Cherry Tree Lane past Admiral Boom’s house, then enter Number 17, home of the Banks family, where your adventure will begin."
HarmonioUS
Final showing of Illuminations: September 30, 2019
A new nighttime spectacular, HarmonioUS, will be coming to the park in 2020.
This new show will celebrate how Disney music inspires people around the world and will include large-scale floats, LED panels, fountains, lights, fireworks, and lasers.
Disney has said this new show, when it debuts will be on a massive scale "like we've never done." Sounds amazing!
DuckTales World Showcase Adventure
New interactive experience
Location: World Showcase
Estimated completion date: 2020 (exact date unknown)
The current Agent P's World Showcase Adventure will be replaced by a new DuckTales themed adventure.
According to Disney, "DuckTales World Showcase Adventure invites guests to join Scrooge McDuck, Donald, nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie, Launchpad and Webby in search of priceless treasure."
The current Agent P adventure takes guests around World Showcase in an interactive scavenger hunt game to crack clues in order to defeat Dr. Doofenshmirtz. It is expected that the Agent P aspect of the game will be re-themed to Ducktales.
Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue
New restaurant
Location: American Adventure pavilion in the World Showcase
Estimated completion date: December 2019 (exact date unknown)
More dining updates coming to Epcot! A new quick-service restaurant will soon be taking the place of Liberty Inn which closed on July 8th.
According to Disney, the "new location will be a modern barbecue smokehouse, with all the accompanying sights, sounds, smells and flavors you love – including a large smoker preparing fine food every day right on the pavilion’s promenade. There will also be a redesigned patio for you to enjoy, so get ready to grab a brew, some barbecue, and relax inside Epcot."
Read more on the Disney Parks Blog.
La Crêperie de Paris
New restaurant
Location: France pavilion in the World Showcase
Estimated completion date: Summer 2020
Opening near the coming "Remy's Ratatouille Adventure" will be an authentic crêperie featuring cuisine from chef Jérôme Bocuse who is already behind Chefs de France and Monsieur Paul in the Epcot France pavilion. The new restaurant will feature savory and sweet crepes and have both a quick-service and table service dining option available.
Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
Attraction type: show
Location: France pavilion
Estimated completion date: January 17, 2020
Building on the popularity of the Frozen Sing-Along in Hollywood Studios, Epcot will soon be getting its own Beauty and the Beast version.
Disney has confirmed that this show will not replace the popular Impressions de France, but rather rotate showings with it.
Read more on the Disney Parks Blog.
Remy's Ratatouille Adventure
Attraction type: 4-D ride similar to the Ratatouille: The Adventure ride at Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris
Location: France pavilion in the World Showcase
Estimated completion date: Summer 2020
This attraction is inspired by the one at Disneyland Paris. Check out the video to see what to expect when it opens at Epcot.
Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360
Attraction type: show
Location: Canada pavilion
Estimated completion date: January 17, 2020
Announced at Destination D in November 2018, Canada will be getting an updated 360-degree film. The new film will be called Canada Far and Wide and will premier in January 2020.
Read more about these updates in the Disney Parks Blog.
Wondrous China
Attraction type: show
Location: China pavilion
Estimated completion date: January 17, 2020
Announced at Destination D in November 2018, China will also be getting an updated 360-degree film. The new film will be called Wondrous China and will premier in January 2020.
Read more about these updates in the Disney Parks Blog.
World Celebration
This new neighborhood will offer "experiences that connect us to one another in the world."
World Celebration pavilion
New pavilion
Location: World Celebration (formerly part of Future World)
Estimated completion date: TBD
A new pavilion in the coming World Celebration area of Epcot will house the park's festivals as their home base.
According to Disney, the three story structure will provide "a stunning view of World Showcase and an ideal spot to witness the park’s nighttime spectacular."
Read more on the Disney Parks Blog
Spaceship Earth
Refurbishment/enhancement
Location: World Celebration (formerly part of Future World)
Estimated completion date: TBD
The icon of Epcot will be getting some enhancements and upgrades in the upcoming years.
Disney says "New narration and an entirely new musical score will focus on the moments and ideas that define our story. You will follow a magical “story light” that brings the entire experience to life in dynamic ways, giving each scene energy and beauty that ties the entire journey together."
New park entrance
Most people that visit Epcot may not know that the space between the entrance and Spaceship Earth used to look a lot different than it does now. Originally that space was a lot less "concrete" and a lot more "green".
That's why the announcement that the main entrance into Epcot would be getting a makeover reminiscent of the original design was so exciting to hear.
As you can see in the concept art above, the new entrance will have a lot more green spaces, winding pathways, and even a re-imagined fountain. And, while not identical to the original entrance it definitely has the same feeling.
No date has been given for this update but most people speculate that the project should be completed by Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary in 2021.
Read more on the Disney Parks Blog.
Park entrance closures, refurbishments, and new locations
As you can imagine, a construction project this large in scale will include a lot of closures and refurbishments. Here's what we know so far:
- Leave a Legacy - the photos have been removed from their current location and will eventually be relocated to an area just outside the park's gateway.
- Fountain of Nations - closed September 8, 2019
- Electric Umbrella - closing early 2020 (no exact date known)
- Camera Center - closed in Fall 2019 and this storefront has become the new spot for Pin Central and the Camera Center now that it has re-opened.
- Innoventions East (including Colortopia & Nanooze Break) - closed September 8, 2019
- Character Spot - Closed on September 8 and characters have been relocated to the following locations (be sure to check times and locations in the My Disney Experience app):
- Mickey Mouse - Imagination! Pavilion near the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival queue
- Goofy - near Spaceship Earth
- Minnie Mouse - Wold Showcase Gazebo
- Daisy Duck - Future World East near the temporary Mouse Gears location
- Joy -Imagination! Pavilion near ImageWorks (note: Sadness is no longer meeting with Joy)
- Baymax - no longer meeting
- Pin Central - Moved from previous location to the former Camera Center location and is now open
- Fountain View Starbucks - closed on September 8, 2019. A temporary location called Traveler's Cafe opened near Refreshment Port in World Showcase, but no information on a permanent location has been announced.
- Club Cool - closed September 8, 2019 and will reopen in the future at a new location
- Mouse Gear - currently undergoing a refurbishment with a temporary location open in Future World East.
- Art of Disney - moved from Future World to the Heritage Manor location in The American Adventure
World Nature
Disney describes this new neighborhood as "dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe and balance of the natural world."
This section includes The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilions.
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
Attraction type: interactive experiences
Location: World Nature (formerly part of Future World)
Estimated completion date: TBD
According to Disney, this "first ever experience based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios hit film, 'Moana', will let guests interact with magical, living water in a beautiful and inspiring setting.
Read more on the Disney Parks Blog.
Awesome Planet film
New show
Location: World Nature (formerly part of Future World)
Estimated completion date: January 17, 2020
Billed by Disney as an "on-screen exploration of the realm we call home", a new film focusing on the world around us will be coming to the Land Pavilion in the former Circle of Life theater.
While not many more details have been released, it is nice to see something new coming to the Circle of Life theater.
World Discovery
Disney says this neighborhood is where "stories about science, technology and intergalactic adventure come to life."
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Attraction type: roller coaster
Location: World Discovery(formerly part of Future World)
Estimated completion date: the general thought is it will be completed by Spring of 2021
Way back in July of 2017, Disney made the announcement at the D23 Expo that Epcot would be receiving a new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction.
Rumors had long been swirling that Hollywood Studios would be the home of the new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction with Tower of Terror getting a makeover much like the one at Disney's California Adventure.
So, as you can imagine, there was quite a bit of surprise when Epcot was announced as the location instead.
Epcot's new Guardian of the Galaxy themed attraction will be located at the old Ellen's Energy Adventure location.
The general thought is that the old building will hold the queue while the attraction itself will be housed in a new building, which is currently under construction.
At D23 expo in August of 2019, Disney revealed that the name of the new coaster would be Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and would feature a first-ever reverse launch.
Space 220
New restaurant
Location: World Discovery (formerly part of Future World)
Estimated completion date: February 2020
Another July 2017 D23 Expo announcement was for a new space-themed restaurant.
According to Disney, Space 220 will be "an out-of-this-world culinary experience with the celestial panorama of a space station, including daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles up".
This restaurant will be located next to Mission: SPACE and will be heavily themed to appear as if guests are dining among the stars.
If you are familiar with the layout of Epcot, a new restaurant on that side of Future World is a welcome addition indeed!
This new Table Service option will be ran by the Patina Restaurant Group and will have a menu that features "internationally-inspired cuisine, more than 1,000 bottles of the world’s finest wines and a wide selection of craft beer."
Read more on the Disney Parks Blog
PLAY! Pavilion
Attraction type: interactive experiences
Location: World Discovery (formerly part of Future World)
Estimated completion date: 2021 (exact date TBD)
Rumors of something coming to the former Wonders of Life pavilion have been swirling for several months and now we know what Disney has planned.
Billed as "unlike anything you've ever seen" at Epcot, the former Wonders of Life pavilion will be transformed into what Disney is calling a "play pavilion" that will be devoted to immersive fun.
Featuring an "innovative city", this pavilion will host "interactive experiences, Disney characters, hands-on-activities, and engaging entertainment."
Included here will be the chance to help out the legendary fashion icon Edna Mode as well as the chance to make a splash by competing in a water balloon fight with Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Webby.
Read more on the Disney Parks Blog.
Recently Opened
Takumi-Tei (Opened July 5, 2019)
New Restaurant
Location: Japan pavilion in the World Showcase
Good news for all Epcot fans! A new Signature Restaurant is now open.
Disney is calling this a new "signature dining experience" which means it will fall into the same category of the priciest Disney restaurants. One cool thing to note is that this new dining location is being operated by the same people that operate the stores, kiosks, and restaurants in the Japan pavilion: Mitsukoshi USA.
The name Takumi-Tei means "house of the artisan" and the design elements used in this new restaurant will "celebrate the relationship between Japanese craftsmanship and the natural world."
While exact details on the menu haven't been released, Disney has said that it will highlight "wagyu beef in a sublime setting" and for guests wishing to indulge, a multi-course tasting menu (complete with tea service) will be available.
Read more on the Disney Parks Blog.
Disney Skyliner (Opened September 29, 2019)
Location: The Epcot station will be located at the International Gateway. Other stations will be located at Hollywood Studios, Art of Animation/Pop Century, and Caribbean Beach.
Estimated completion date: September 29, 2019
While not an attraction or restaurant, the announcement of the Disney Skyliner at D23 was very well received by nearly all Disney fans.
This new mode of transportation will allow guests to easily move between 4 resorts: Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, and Disney's Riviera Resort and 2 parks : Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience (Opened October 1, 2019)
Attraction type: Display/experience
Location: World Discovery (formerly part of Future World)
Estimated completion date: October 1, 2019
With so many changes to Epcot happening in the next few years, Disney is providing guests with an opportunity to preview what is coming.
Located in the Odyssey Events Pavilion (which is frequently used as the Festival Center during many of the Epcot festivals), a new "Experience Center" will provide Epcot visitors with a chance to see and explore (through interactive exhibits) the future of Epcot.
Look for the new Experience Center to be open sometime in mid to late 2019.
Read more on the Disney Parks Blog
Epcot Forever (interim nighttime show beginning October 1, 2019)
But, before this new show begins Epcot will host a limited-engagement nighttime show (which is similar to how Disney rolled out Rivers of Light with the Jungle Book show running with a limited engagement before Rivers of Light began).
This new show debuts in the fall of 2019 and will be called "Epcot Forever". Music for the show will feature all of your favorite Epcot tunes and will include something new to nighttime shows at Disney world: special effect kites!
In a recent post on blooloop.com it was revealed that the kites will be kept afloat in the air by 8 Jet Skis (each with a driver and kite handler on-board).
The music for Epcot Forever will feature some classic Epcot tunes including rumors of the classic "One Little Spark" from Journey into Imagination. Check out this video preview of what to expect with the new
Epcot Rumors
New Epcot resort hotel (rumor)
This rumor has been floating around since the D23 Expo in July 2017 and has been picking up steam again recently as permits have been filed that may indicate the preliminary work to begin prepping for infrastructure construction will be starting soon.
Most people are guessing that if this new resort happens, it will be situated towards the front of the park, possibly even near the monorail station.
New World Showcase pavilion (rumor)
Every year, rumors float around that a new pavilion will be coming to the World Showcase.
The most commonly mentioned idea is that of a Brazil pavilion but alas, Disney has never confirmed or released anything that would indicate that such a pavilion is in the works.
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Lots of changes coming to Epcot in the next few years! Which of the Epcot updates are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments.
11 Comments
With all the changes to EPCOT, the Skyliner dropping at International Gateway, and the ongoing construction at the front of the park, do you expect the World Showcase to open at regular park opening, instead of the 11am opening time?
Hello
Is it true that the Gondolas are going to be dropping off at the Int. Gateway in EPCOT.
Thanks
Dude why does everything have to be commercially based? Let’s make it something to do with a movie or a character. Is everyone so mesmerized by media that there really is no imagination and everything has to be about merchandising? not everyone gives a shit about Star Wars!
Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. I have spent more time at WDW than I can count, practically every summer since I was born in 1979, and EPCOT center has been neglected for the past 25 years. It is a shell of what is supposed to be and represent. If Walt Disney were to come back and look at EPCOT he would probably say Thats it? That’s all you’ve done? Build a new EPCOT with vision and promise for the future, inspire hope through technology and real imagination. Take the current EPCOT ball and turn it into the Death Star, make the whole park Star Wars themed with different worlds from the movies. Take the test track ride and turn it into an X-Wing ride. But I won’t imagine they will ?. It takes guts to build something truly amazing. The kind of guts Walt Disney had.
Isn’t something happening with Spaceship Earth?
I believe just renovation. They’re keeping the original ideas and concepts but adding a new scene towards the end and updating the narration. I also believe they will be updating the animatronics, but these are just rumored. Disney has not released any official updates on the future of Spaceship Earth.
I’m excited about the Guardians Of The Galaxy ride as I am a huge Marvel fan although I think it would have been better at Hollywood Studios being that it is a film based ride.
I am looking forward to the Space Restaurant and the Skyliner Ride.
Wish the Ratatouille ride used animatronics instead of (yet another) 3D movie.
I am not a huge fan of Illuminations, so I will be excited to see a new show there. Also, since we always stay at POP, I’m super excited for the Skyliner to be completed.
Epcot opened in October 1982. Doesn’t that make the 40th anniversary in 2022, not 2021?
Yes! I got so fixated on opening dates for things that I mixed the anniversary date up but it is fixed now. Thank you!