This has been the announcement we have all been waiting for from Disney. Future World will now be divided into three separate "neighborhoods." Each neighborhood will be similar to a more traditional "land" environment that is found in most theme parks (i.e.- Adventureland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland, etc.). When completed, the new Epcot will consist of the original World Showcase, but also World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery. According to Disney officials:
These neighborhoods will be filled with new experiences rooted in authenticity and innovation that take you to new destinations, where the real is made fantastic in a celebration of curiosity, hands-on wonder and the magic of possibility.
Here is what you can expect from each neighborhood:
World Discovery
World Discovery will feature "stories about science, technology and intergalactic adventure come to life."
World Discovery will include attractions such as:
Mission: Space
Test Track
NEW: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
NEW: Space 220 restaurant
NEW: PLAY! pavilion
World Celebration
The World Celebration neighborhood "will offer new experiences that connect us to one another and the world around us.
World Celebration will include attractions such as:
NEW: Entrance plaza (cosmetic overhaul)
NEW: Reimagined retro fountain
NEW(ish?): Spaceship Earth (to be completely reimagined)
NEW: Dreamers Point (look-out observation area)
NEW: Festival Pavilion
NEW: Epcot Gardens
NEW: A Wishing Tree
NEW: Walt Disney Statue
MouseGears (reimagined gift shop)
World Nature
The World Nature neighborhood "is dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe and balance of the natural world."
World Nature will include attractions such as:
Soarin' Around the World
The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Living with the Land
NEW: "Awesome Planet" film
NEW: Journey of Water (Moana walking trail)
World Showcase
The World Showcase will continue to exhibit cultures from around the world while bringing the overlying message of peace amongst nations.
World Showcase will include attractions such as:
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
Frozen Ever After
NEW: Wondrous China (China pavilion)
The American Adventure
NEW: Beauty and the Beast Sing-a-long (France pavilion)
NEW: Remy's Ratatouille Adventure (France pavilion)
NEW: La Crêperie de Paris restaurant (France pavilion)
NEW: Mary Poppins attraction (UK pavilion)
NEW: Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360 (Canada pavilion)
NEW: Epcot Forever (temporary fireworks show)
NEW: HarmonioUS (permanent fireworks show)
What was not announced was the highly-rumored Brazil pavilion that was anticipated to be announced at D23. No word on if that project has been scrapped or just holding off on the announcement for a later date. Also not announced was what is to happen to the Imagination pavilion that currently hosts Journey into Imagination with Figment, ImageWorks: The What-if Labs, and Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival. This has been widely-rumored to get reimagined in recent years due to the outdated appeal and technology. No overlay of the Gran Fiesta Tour over to Coco was made either, so the fate of the Mexico pavilion is still currently unknown. With all these question marks still floating in the air, it begs the question: Is there still more changes coming that have not yet been announced???
A new Epcot preview center will open shortly on October 1st, 2019 called Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience and will be located within the Odyssey Events Pavilion. Inside this first-of-its-kind offering within a Disney park, guests will discover engaging and interactive exhibits that allow them to step inside the relentless innovation, energy and excitement and see some never-before-revealed details driving the future of Epcot all throughout this unprecedented period of transformation.
Here's to an exciting future at Epcot!
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