Disney Provides Major Update on EPCOT’s Transformation

Walt Disney World Guests have been waiting a long time for Disney’s overhaul of EPCOT.

The iconic theme park is currently undergoing a massive transformation that has introduced the development of four new “neighborhoods.” While World Showcase will keep its name, the former Future World is being split into World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery. Despite several construction walls and alternate walkways still present, the four “World” neighbors seem to be well underway.

Now, Disney has provided an updated look at EPCOT’s refurbishment, and with some noticeable modifications.

There are so many changes and grand post-pandemic returns coming to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. From the new TRON Lightcycle Run and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure to the return of the Festival of Fantasy Parade and Fantasmic!, there’s a lot for Guests to look forward to on their next Disney vacation.

And while much of the focus right now at EPCOT is on World Discovery and the grand opening of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at the Wonders of Xandar pavilion – launching Memorial Day weekend – Disney has now revealed a better understanding of what EPCOT’s new cohesive neighborhoods will look like.

At a press event on Thursday, May 5, the Walt Disney World Resort shared brand new artist renderings of new spaces coming to EPCOT’s World Celebration including CommuniCore Hall, CommuniCore Plaza, EPCOT gardens, and more. Twitter user Ashley Carter shared the new artwork from Disney for EPCOT theme park’s ongoing transformation:

Disney has released new artwork for EPCOT’s transformation, including the festival stage area, Journey of Water (the Moana-inspired attraction), CommuniCore Hall/CommuniCore Plaza, and World Celebration.

Disney has released new artwork for EPCOT's transformation, including the festival stage area, Journey of Water (the Moana-inspired attraction), CommuniCore Hall/CommuniCore Plaza, and World Celebration. pic.twitter.com/Rfd3y8RVRl

— Ashley Carter (@AshleyLCarter1) May 5, 2022

The artwork reveals a beautiful yet modified look at EPCOT’s former Future World, showcasing the Imagineers’ design for World Celebration, World Showcase, World Nature, and World Discovery.

It appears as though the Walt Disney World Resort has scaled back its plans for the Festival Center area, reducing it down to a Festival Stage location, while the highly anticipated Spaceship Earth refurbishment seems to have been shelved. The new Festival Stage will accommodate everything from intimate performances to large-scale concerts extending into the nearby gardens.

This purpose-built, multi-use space will include a demonstration kitchen, a mixology bar, and a space where Disney Park Guests will be able to meet some of their favorite Disney characters!

What the new artwork does show is that the Park’s World Celebration neighborhood will offer a beautiful hub divided into several different gardens, with a central planter based on the five-ring EPCOT logo.

The new CommuniCore Hall, CommuniCore Plaza, and the gardens will evolve with the different seasons, providing an ever-changing experience for Disney Park Guests.

The popular Walt Disney Animation Studios movie Moana (2016) is, of course, also getting its own Walt Disney World attraction, with Walt Disney World Resort Imagineers working to construct the intriguing “Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana” area.

Disney also provided an updated look at Journey of Water. The Moana-themed attraction will be a lush exploration trail inviting EPCOT Guests to meet and play with magical living water.

It is a shame we are still waiting for news on the update to Spaceship Earth, but the new EPCOT experience looks magical. Along with Cosmic Rewind, the new Club Cool, and Dreamers Point, the new Disney Park experience will certainly make EPCOT a top destination for visitors to Lake Buena Vista.

We can’t wait for this EPCOT transformation to be finally finished – particularly to avoid the long detours around the Disney World theme park currently!