The never-ending construction throughout the front half of EPCOT continues. All of Innoventions West has been demolished, and walls are finally going up around the new MouseGear and Electric Umbrella replacements.
The entry courtyard was recently completed and new background music was introduced, but much of the rest of the soon to be renamed ‘Future World’ areas are still lined with work walls. Check out the photo report, as well as the video below, for an update on various ongoing construction projects around the park.
Before we even enter the park, some new signage has appeared since our last visit. New signs are being made with EPCOT’s new retro-style font, like this directional signage near the parking lots.
However, not all of the signs have been updated. New EPCOT logos have been added to all of the ticket booths, but this one sign is still sporting the 1990’s style logo.
Off to the sides of the entry area, before the security booths, guests can find their photos on the new location for the Leave-A-Legacy displays. These colorful walls have replaced the stones that were removed from inside the park.
Inside the park, the new entry courtyard features planters and an updated fountain that are much more reminiscent of the park’s early days before the Millennium Celebration. You can get a better look at the area, as well as a small sample of the courtyard’s music loop in our update video.
Going further into the park, just beyond the exit for Spaceship Earth you can get a view of work going on at the former quick service location, Electric Umbrella. A new quick service location is expected to replace it.
On the other side of Spaceship Earth’s exit, all of the central buildings have been completely removed. Gone is the Art of Disney store, Character Spot, Starbucks, and Club Cool. In fact, you can now see clear through from Spaceship Earth to Imagination.
Signs pointing towards the center of Future World have been covered up, as there are no more Innoventions, and you cannot get to World Showcase this way. The only way to get from the front of the park to World Showcase at this time is by walking through either Future World West or East.
Aerial view of a completely leveled Innoventions West, Photo: @bioreconstruct
From the other side of the walled-off center of the park we can see some work happening to enclose the former MouseGear gift shop.
The back entrance to the former MouseGear location near Test Track is boarded up.
Work is starting on the breezeway between former MouseGear and Electric Umbrella, as a lot of scaffolding has been put up in this area.
Nearby, work is continuing on the exterior of the former Universe of Energy pavilion, home to the entrance and queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
At the EPCOT Experience I noticed the World Celebration Festival Center is still front and center in much of the concept art. This multi-use structure was planned to be build in part of the newly flattened area in the center of the park, but has been rumored to have been cut in recent months. It’s possible it may have just been delayed until further notice though.
The other half of the flattened area will be utilized by the Moana: Journey of Water walking trail, which is reportedly still planned to be built.
Before we close out this update, let’s check in on the progress of adding barges to World Showcase Lagoon. These will be utilized in EPCOT’s new nighttime spectacular, Hormonious, which is expected to start later this year.
As you can see in the photo above, it appears that the barges are not centered with the main walkway leading from the center of the front of the park. The photo below shows it more aligned with the very right side of the walkway coming from the middle of Future World.
To get the photo below, lined up with American Adventure, you actually have to stand between the gift shop and Friendship Boats dock that’s close to Canada.
And this final photo below is lunch with a view of the barges, taken from the edge of Canada near the Northern Bloom outdoor kitchen from the Taste of EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival.
That’s all for now, but be sure to check out the video for more looks around the park, including more of the finished entry courtyard area.
The next attraction set to open at EPCOT will be Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, opening October 1st of this year. Read more about that in our recent story here.
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