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EPCOT is currently in the midst of its largest transformation since the Park opened at Walt Disney World in 1982. With last year’s debut of the Park’s newest thrill ride, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and its next attraction under construction, Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, the future has lots of exciting additions for Guests to behold during upcoming Disney vacations.
While new additions are in the works for this Disney World theme park, one EPCOT original attraction that debuted on opening day may be in danger of closing forever.
Credit: Zach Riddley
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When EPCOT opened on October 1, 1982, the Park featured World Showcase and Future World. In recent years, Future World has been split into three distinct neighborhoods, World Celebration, World Discovery, and World Nature, while World Showcase has seen several new additions of its own.
The Park’s original attraction in the Norway pavilion, the Maelstrom, was transformed into Frozen Ever After in 2016. “O’ Canada!” the Canada pavilion’s Circle-Vision film closed in 2019 when it was replaced by Canada: Far and Wide. And in the most popular update to World Showcase in recent years has been the opening of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in 2021, a new version of the original attraction from Disneyland Paris.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is not the only recent change to the France pavilion in World Showcase. La Crêperie de Paris expanded the pavilion’s foodie scene offering another table service restaurant in addition to Chefs de France and Monsieur Paul.
Credit: Disney
Back to the attractions offered in France, however, it seems that Impressions de France, the pavilion’s film attraction, may be in danger of closing permanently. The 200-degree widescreen film showcases such iconic sights as the Loire Valley, Cheverny Forest, Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, Normandy, Bastille Day celebrations, and more.
In 2020, Disney debuted the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along attraction, another film-based attraction that operates out of the Impressions de France theater. As such, showtimes for Impressions de France were limited to allow for both shows to take place multiple times throughout the day.
In a recent update to the attraction lineup on Disney World’s official website and the My Disney Experience app, Impressions de France has been limited to very few showings within about the first half hour of World Showcase’s operating hours daily.
The current hours for Impressions de France are 9:00-9:30 a.m. with the show also open during Early Theme Park entry, 8:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m. The Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along then runs for the rest of the day according to World Showcase’s normal hours.
Credit: Disney
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What does this change mean for the future of Impressions de France?
As of this writing, Disney has not confirmed any additional changes to Chef de France; however, rolling back on operating hours has historically been the beginning of the end for Disney theme park attractions as they prepare to close permanently.
Again, without confirmation from Disney, an eventual permanent closure of Impressions de France is just speculation. But it is worth noting that attractions typically reduce their operating hours or run seasonally (basically close in the off-season) in the years or months leading up to their final runs.
For now, you can always confirm showtimes for Impressions de France in the My Disney Experience app. And as always, check back here on Disney Tips for all the latest Disney news and trip planning advice.
