EPCOT Transformation Updates - Spring 2022
EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort has been undergoing a transformation! If you’ve visited EPCOT in the past few years you’ve likely noticed that the front of the park has been in various stages of construction. Through the EPCOT transformation and move to different “neighborhoods” we’ve seen many changes, including the new park additions of Space 220 Restaurant, Creations Shop, Connections Café and Eatery, a renovated Club Cool, and new features in the Spaceship Earth area including new lighting, garden areas, and pylons. Even with all that, there’s much more to come in the next year or so! EPCOT’s 40th Anniversary is coming up this October and we’re also in the middle of Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, bringing lots of new and exciting things to Walt Disney World Resort.
The biggest current announcement is the new ride opening on May 27th - Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in the World Discovery area. For all the details on the new ride, check out this post! In the World Nature area, Journey of Water inspired by Moana will be an outdoor attraction where guests can play and interact with water. Additionally, Disney Parks Blog has released new details and concept art for the central World Celebration area including new gardens, CommuniCore Hall and Plaza, and Dreamers Point.
The World Celebration area of EPCOT makes up the center of the front of the park (the center area of what was “Future World”). The World Celebration area will be divided into four different gardens with their own identities that will change along with the EPCOT festivals throughout the year. There will be a central planter based on the EPCOT logo with five rings. The gardens will feature seating, greenery, and shade at the center of the park with over fifty different types of trees and hundreds of types of plants, flowers, and shrubs. The gardens will also have evolving features including large-scale décor, lighting, topiaries, and more marking the seasons and various festivals at EPCOT.
At night, the gardens will have special immersive light and color features. In addition to these light features, Imagineering will be bringing back the popular fiber optics embedded in the pavement at EPCOT in World Celebration.
At the center of the gardens there will be a new multi-use outdoor event space and facility called CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza. CommuniCore Hall will be a gallery and exhibition space with a demonstration kitchen highlighting live music, art, and food. Next to CommuniCore Hall will be a new meeting location for Mickey & Friends. CommuniCore Plaza will extend out into the gardens and will host musical performances and concerts.
Also in development is Dreamers Point, which will feature a new statue of Walt Disney. Dreamers Point will be right near Spaceship Earth at the entrance of the park and will be elevated, overlooking the gardens, World Celebration Plaza, and World Showcase.
