(Article last updated: November 17, 2018)
Epcot has an important 40th birthday coming up in 2022, and it feels like Disney is preparing for that with lots of new stuff. From attractions to restaurants, there are many things already under construction at this popular park.
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...
In this article
New nighttime spectacular (replacing Illuminations: Reflections of Earth)
A new nighttime spectacular 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.
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!
Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
Attraction type: show
Location: France pavilion
Estimated completion date: TBD
Building on the popularity of the Frozen Sing-Along in Hollywood Studios, Epcot will soon be getting its own Beauty and the Beast version.
This new sing-along will share space with Impressions de France inside the France Pavilion, however, no dates have been announced yet.
Updated films for China and Canada pavilions
Announced at Destination D in November 2018, both China and Canada will be getting updated 360-degree films, however, no dates on when they will premier have been released.
Read more about these updates in the Disney Parks Blog.
Guardians of the Galaxy attraction (construction underway)
Attraction type: roller coaster
Location: inside the old Universe of Energy building and a new building being constructed adjacent to it
Estimated completion date: Disney hasn't confirmed anything, but 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.
Updates
November 15, 2018
Ride vehicle concept art
The new attraction has been described as a "storytelling coaster" and therefore will require a new and innovative ride vehicle.
When talking about the new vehicles, Bob Iger said: "On most coasters, the vehicles point straight ahead throughout the ride. But on this attraction, each individual cab will be programmed to direct your eye to the story happening around you."
Concept art for the vehicles is below.
May 17, 2018
Construction photos
Recent photos of the area now show a new construction wall and a crane clearly visible behind the building.
May 4, 2018
Foundation is poured
What do you get when you mix 960 truckloads of concrete, 80.4 miles of rebar, and a lot of human power?
In Disney's case you get the foundation for a massive new building being built to house the Guardians of the Galaxy-themed coaster.
Read more about it in the Disney Parks Blog.
February 11, 2018
New Guardians of the Galaxy attraction confirmed to be a roller coaster
In February at the D23 Expo in Japan, Disney shared more information about this coming attraction, and it was there that it was confirmed that this would in fact be what the fans had been hoping for: a roller coaster.
Billed as a "one-of-a-kind family attraction", Disney says it will be one of the longest enclosed coasters in the world and the new ride system is guaranteed to "wow" guests.
Read more on the Disney Parks blog.
Space-themed restaurant
Location: in an undeveloped swath of land between Test Track and Mission: SPACE
Estimated completion date: Disney hasn't confirmed anything, but the general thought is it will be completed by sometime in 2021
Another July 2017 D23 Expo announcement was of a new space-themed restaurant.
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!
Updates
May 9, 2018
Location revealed
Disney finally revealed the location of this new restaurant, which will be in a newly developed spot located between Mission: SPACE and Test Track.
The restaurant will be operated by the Pantina Restaurant Group, which also operates the popular World Showcase eateries of Tutto Italia and Via Napoli.
Read more on the Disney Parks Blog.
Disney Skyliner (construction underway)
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: Disney hasn't confirmed anything, but the general thought is it will be completed by sometime in 2019 in time for the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
While not an attraction or restaurant, the announcement of the Disney Skyliner at the D23 was very well received by nearly all Disney fans.
This new mode of transportation will allow guests to easily move between 3 popular resorts: Art of Animation, Pop Century, and Caribbean Beach and 2 parks : Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
Updates
May 17, 2018
Towers visible
The towers are now fully visible around the International Gateway.
Remy's Ratatouille Adventure (construction underway)
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: Disney hasn't confirmed anything, but the general thought is it will be completed by spring or summer of 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.
Updates
May 17, 2018
Construction clearly visible
Now clearly visible high above the trees is the top of the new Ratatouille attraction in the France pavilion.
Signature restaurant in Japan
Location: Japan pavilion in the World Showcase
Estimated completion date: TBD
This announcement just kind of appeared recently and took a lot of people by surprise.
This new restaurant will be operated by Mitsukoshi USA who also operates the stores, kiosks, and other restaurants in the Japan pavilion.
Disney is calling this a new "signature dining experience" which means it will fall into the same category of the priciest Disney restaurants. In the announcement, Disney says that the "setting will draw from both nature and takumi, which means “artisan” in Japanese, and the relationship between Japanese craftsmanship and the natural world will be evident throughout the space."
Read more on the Disney Parks Blog.
Epcot updates - maps
We have a couple of maps that show the general areas of the current projects that have been formally announced by Disney. The locations aren't exact, but they should give you a good idea where all the new stuff will be going:
Epcot - Future World construction
Epcot - World Showcase construction
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.
Wonders of Life Pavilion (rumor)
Lots of repainting has been happening and no longer is the Wonders of Life Pavilion being used as a festival center. Previously people thought that the new space-themed restaurant would be housed here but with the announcement of that being located at a currently unused spot we're back to wondering what is next for the Wonders of Life Pavilion.
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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.
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Isn’t something happening with 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!