Walt Disney World is making another change to its entertainment lineup, and longtime EPCOT fans may not be happy about what’s coming.
While Disney continues introducing new attractions and experiences throughout its Florida theme parks, some of its older offerings are becoming increasingly difficult to enjoy.
For guests who appreciate EPCOT’s history, these adjustments can be especially disappointing.
Now, a new operating schedule suggests that another classic attraction will become much harder to experience beginning January 1, 2027.
The change removes a popular viewing opportunity, leaving visitors with a much smaller window to enjoy an attraction that has entertained guests for more than four decades.
Disney World Reduces Hours for Classic EPCOT Attraction
Beginning January 1, 2027, EPCOT’s Impressions de France is scheduled to lose its evening showtimes, leaving guests with just 30 minutes each morning to experience the classic film.
Located inside the France pavilion in World Showcase, Impressions de France has entertained visitors since EPCOT opened on October 1, 1982.
The attraction takes guests on a scenic journey through France, showcasing beautiful landscapes, historic landmarks, and memorable locations accompanied by orchestral music.
Unlike EPCOT’s newer attractions, Impressions de France offers a relaxing experience celebrating French culture, something that fits perfectly with World Showcase’s original purpose.
Currently, guests can watch the film during two separate periods each day.
Impressions de France operates from 9:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. before returning in the evening from 7:00 p.m. until 8:45 p.m.
That schedule provides flexibility, particularly for visitors who prefer spending their mornings enjoying EPCOT’s rides before exploring World Showcase later.
However, according to the operating hours currently displayed in the My Disney Experience app, the evening presentations will be eliminated beginning January 1.
Instead, Impressions de France will operate exclusively between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on most scheduled dates.
Another Disney Attraction Takes Priority
Since January 2020, Impressions de France has shared its theater with Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along.
The newer experience revisits familiar moments from Disney’s animated classic Beauty and the Beast (1991), offering a different style of entertainment.
When the sing-along debuted, Disney adjusted the theater’s schedule to accommodate both presentations.
The original film received morning and evening showtimes, while Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along occupied the theater throughout most of the day.
However, the newly listed 2027 schedule changes that arrangement.
Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along is expected to continue operating from 10:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. on most dates.
Meanwhile, Impressions de France will only be available during its brief morning window.
Interestingly, Disney has not scheduled the sing-along to replace the eliminated evening presentations.
Instead, the theater currently has no film showtimes listed after 6:30 p.m. on the affected January dates.
That raises questions about whether Disney intends to reduce the theater’s overall operating hours or whether additional changes could still be announced.
Disney Has Made This Change Before
For longtime EPCOT visitors, the latest adjustment might sound familiar.
That’s because Disney World previously made a nearly identical change in March 2023.
At that time, Impressions de France lost its evening presentations, leaving the attraction available only between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.
Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along received additional operating hours, effectively taking over the theater for the remainder of the day.
However, that reduced schedule didn’t last long.
Just three days later, Disney restored the evening showtimes for Impressions de France, allowing guests to experience the classic film again after 7:00 p.m.
That arrangement continued until the theater temporarily closed for refurbishment in February 2026.
When the location reopened in May, both films returned with their familiar schedules.
Now, less than a year after that reopening, Disney appears ready to make another substantial adjustment.
However, because the theater would otherwise sit unused in the evening, it’s possible the missing showtimes reflect an incomplete schedule rather than a permanent decision.
Some January Dates Will Have No Showtimes
The situation becomes even more complicated for guests visiting EPCOT during certain dates in early January.
Disney has scheduled later opening times for January 7, January 9, and January 10, 2027.
On those dates, EPCOT is scheduled to open at 10:00 a.m. rather than its usual 9:00 a.m. opening time.
Because Impressions de France is currently scheduled to operate only between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., the attraction has no showtimes listed on those three days.
That means visitors planning an EPCOT day on January 7, 9, or 10 may not have an opportunity to experience the classic film at all.
Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, meanwhile, is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. on those dates.
Of course, Disney could update those listings before January arrives.
Still, the current schedule presents a potential disappointment for visitors who specifically enjoy EPCOT’s older attractions.
What This Means for EPCOT Guests in 2027
For anyone planning to visit EPCOT in early 2027, checking attraction schedules will become even more important.
Impressions de France lasts approximately 18 minutes, but its newly listed operating window is only 30 minutes.
That doesn’t leave much flexibility for visitors who arrive late or spend their first hour exploring other areas of the park.
Guests hoping to catch the film may need to prioritize the France pavilion immediately after entering EPCOT.
Visitors entering through International Gateway may have an easier time reaching the pavilion, although they should still verify the day’s schedule.
For those visiting before the end of 2026, however, the existing evening schedule remains available.
The My Disney Experience app currently lists Impressions de France from 7:00 p.m. until 8:45 p.m. through December 31, including New Year’s Eve.
Importantly, Disney has not announced that Impressions de France is permanently closing or being removed from the France pavilion.
And considering Disney reversed a similar scheduling decision in 2023, there’s still a possibility that evening presentations could return.
Currently, the reported 2027 operating calendar only extends through January 12, leaving the remainder of the year’s schedule uncertain.
Until Disney provides additional information, visitors should continue checking the My Disney Experience app for updates.
For now, beginning January 1, 2027, EPCOT guests hoping to experience Impressions de France may have to make the classic attraction one of their very first stops of the day.
