Everything Coming to EPCOT in the Near Future
Disney never rests on its laurels. Every park remains in a healthy state of flux as executives debate the next place to plus something.
The mandate to improve the parks came straight from Walt Disney, and it drives the company’s philosophy even now.
Whenever a theme park gains a reputation for lagging behind, park officials prioritize adding new amenities to make it more desirable.
We just watched Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom level up from 2017-2020. And the next project centers on EPCOT.
Here’s everything you can look forward to appearing soon at EPCOT!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
I shouldn’t need to tell you about this one since it’s earned so much attention.
Imagineers are currently working on the world’s first storytelling roller coaster.
Think about a combined roller coaster and dark ride, and you’ll get the right idea.
Disney wants to tell an authentic story set in the Guardians of the Galaxy universe. To do it properly, the coaster cart must pull people’s focus.
Otherwise, riders will glance at various places all at once. You can’t tell a story when nobody’s looking in the right place.
So, Imagineers have designed a novel spinning coaster that guarantees people follow the story from start to finish.
Budget rumors about this roller coaster suggest that Disney has spared no expense in creating a state-of-the-art ride experience.
This one will immediately become the best roller coaster in Orlando when it debuts.
Harmonious
Remember Disney nighttime presentations? I know that it’s been a while, but 2020 cannot last forever.
One day soon, everyone will be vaccinated, and the pandemic will end. When it does, social distancing will become a thing of the past.
At that time, theme parks will glow from the light of fireworks. When that happens, EPCOT will switch to its third show since 2019.
You may remember that Disney recently ended IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. Afterward, EPCOT Forever replaced it as a temporary presentation.
At some point over the next 12-18 months, a more lasting exhibition will debut.
Harmonious represents the next great EPCOT fireworks show. People have anticipated it for more than a year, and its release shouldn’t be that far away.
Journey of Water
Quick! What’s the most memorable part of Moana?
Okay, your answer could go many different ways here. Still, I’d expect you to mention the magical water as unforgettable.
In the movie, the seas beckon Moana to explore, and the water caresses her like its own child.
These magical moments leap off the screen and at least partially explain why Moana has become one of the most popular Disney animated movies in decades.
Well, Imagineers have shown a fair amount of daring at EPCOT. They intend to recreate this living water premise on an exploration trail.
Guests will ostensibly interact with the water, and it’ll respond in kind. Yes, that sounds impossible, but that’s the favorite description to all Imagineers.
They seek out challenges that will dazzle guests and leave them wondering how Disney pulled off the trick.
Recent rumors indicate that the Journey of Water path may fall victim to cutbacks. We’ll still get it, but it won’t be as detailed as previously shown.
MickeyBlog’s keeping an eye on this story and will update you as we learn more.
If the water feature delivers on its promise, it’ll become a highlight of any EPCOT visit.
The PLAY! Pavilion
For years, the Wonders of Life pavilion sat unoccupied. It fell into a state of disrepair while Disney officials decided what to do with the space.
Then, Disney suddenly announced that it would re-theme the pavilion in a new and exciting fashion.
The PLAY! pavilion will create a digital city thriving thanks to its many Disney character guests.
Executives have promised an interactive experience, unlike any other in the world.
However, like the Journey of Water feature, recent rumors suggest that the PLAY! pavilion may suffer a bit due to Disney’s current financial straits.
Disney recently revealed a digital monorail attraction, though. So, those rumors may be cynical and inaccurate. Here’s hoping!
If the PLAY! pavilion works as promised, it’ll provide a sense of escapism like we’ve never seen at EPCOT.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Two of the amenities coming soon to EPCOT should have already arrived.
Disney had scheduled both for 2019/2020 before the pandemic nuked those plans.
For example, the Ratatouille attraction should have debuted during the summer of 2020.
This variant of the existing Disneyland Paris attraction had staked a claim as the most anticipated new attraction at Walt Disney World this year.
Instead, we’re left waiting for a confirmed date for its introduction in 2021.
Thankfully, recent signs indicate that we’re not that far away from riding Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. It’s been a long time coming.
Space 220
For far too long now, Space 220 has resided in theme park purgatory. In a better world, the restaurant would have opened at least a year ago.
Instead, we’re still left waiting for an out-of-this-world dining experience.
You see, that’s the core concept behind Space 220. When you eat here, you travel off-world, leaving Earth’s atmosphere.
Your table resides in outer space, but your view still shows the planet. It’s just that you’re looking down on Earth from orbit.
Imagineers have constructed wall-to-wall digital displays that will include an International Space Station kind of perspective.
You’re looking down at Earth. It’s a money concept, and I cannot wait to eat here.
Spaceship Earth Reboot
Since the inception of EPCOT in 1982, Spaceship Earth generally has told the same story.
You board a time travel cart and watch the history of humanity unfold. Each set piece displays a vital amount in the history of civilization.
Over the years, Disney has improved its audio-animatronics and enhanced each part of the ride.
So, many people expressed surprise at the announcement that Imagineers would re-theme Spaceship Earth.
Now, don’t freak out. There are only so many changes Disney can make in this unique ride building. Most of the modifications will be story-driven.
A new “story light” will relay the historical events from a new perspective. For the first time ever, they’ll tie together more cohesively.
Like several other EPCOT projects, this one has been thrown in flux due to the pandemic. Park officials insist that this reboot will still occur, though.
Updated Themed Lands
Those of us who have discussed EPCOT for years will soon face a unique problem. Future World as we know it will disappear.
In its place, Imagineers will construct and re-theme sections into three distinct areas.
EPCOT currently features two themed lands, the World Showcase and Future World. One day soon, that number will double to four.
The World Showcase will remain as is, but Future World will turn into World Celebration, World Discovery, and World Nature.
You already know each of the sections, but they’ll possess new rides and a modest amount of re-theming.
For example, World Discovery consists of Mission: SPACE and Test Track. However, it will introduce Space 220 and Cosmic Rewind over the next two years.
You can guess that World Nature will highlight The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends as its pavilions. The Moana water feature will be here, too.
As for World Celebration, it’ll include Spaceship Earth at a minimum. Another pavilion may or may not join it.
Disney had announced a multi-level festival celebration pavilion. Alas, the pandemic may have forced the delay/cancellation of this project.
The Xandar Pavilion
The Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster understandably receives the lion’s share of the attention, but the project consists of much more.
Disney isn’t just building a new ride. Imagineers have constructed and will theme an entirely new pavilion, one that’s out of this world.
For the first time ever, EPCOT will host a fictional pavilion, one that’s not based on a real country.
Instead, the Xandar pavilion will bring into reality a fictional planet from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Comic book fans know Xandar as the home planet of the Nova Corps, which hints that this pavilion will serve a purpose in the MCU as well.
Disney hasn’t shared many details about the first “Other-World” pavilion. Still, this project is among the most exciting coming to EPCOT.
Then again, they all are. EPCOT’s already my favorite park, and it’ll only get better over the next few years.
Feature Image Rights: MagicalNewsLIVE