Creations Shop Construction Makes Progress at Epcot
Construction crews continue progress on the Creations Shop, the new retail store set to replace Mouse Gear at EPCOT this summer. The shop will be the focal merchandise stop in the World Celebration area once renovations are complete.
MickeyBloggers spotted crews around the building working from floor to rooftop on the new concept. The design takes inspiration from the original EPCOT theme park aesthetic.
The work today appears to be structurally-related. Crews mainly worked on the the support beams and upper structures of the building’s roof that feautre prominentaly in the concept art.
The beams are a focal point of the new minimalist appearance of the building, according to Imagineer Zach Riddley (more on this below).
The Creations Shop features a throwback design. The details give a nod to the futuristic designs of the park when it first opened in 1982. Further, the new store will offer a range of unique merchandise making it a must on most shoppers’ itineraries.
Rows of modern glass windows appear to be in place today. This marks a pretty significant milestone in the building’s exterior makeover.
Last week, Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley shared concept designs featuring these windows. He also discussed the importance to maintaining the EPCOT aesthetic to designers of the space.
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“As you can see in some of these original drawings and building sections, the space was always intended to be open and give flexibility to the program featured inside. We are bringing that openness back into our new designs as part of our new EPCOT aesthetic,” said Riddley in the Instagram post.
The Creations Shop and the associated renovations throughout the former Future World are due to finish prior to the Walt Disney World 50th anniversary celebration. The “world’s most “magical celebration” begins October 1st.
Still, imagineers hope for the shop to open by Summer 2021. The progress really is just so exciting!