The biggest theme park story of 2019 is the arrival of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to Disney parks on both coasts. It’s hardly the only change that’s happening though, particularly at Walt Disney World. A park that is getting a lot of attention is Epcot, which has received mostly piecemeal updates lately. Even the biggest recent addition, Frozen Ever After, was a retrofit of Maelstrom’s ride system. We have heard a lot from Disney about the “transformation” of Epcot, and I feel like they’re just getting started. We will likely hear even more at this summer’s D23 Expo.

Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products; has described these changes as a way to make Epcot “more timeless, more relevant, more family and more Disney” while reportedly sticking to its original vision. Setting aside the silliness of this statement, it does show how Disney is trying to broaden the audience for Epcot with more characters and familiar brands. What’s interesting is how they are balancing those needs with choices that fit within Epcot’s theme. While I wouldn’t say the park is sticking with its original concept, there is some positive news within the mix. Those examples give me a bit more hope for Epcot’s future.

These rankings were a challenge to put together because of the various considerations I have as a Disney fan. I appreciate that Disney is making the capital investment to add two E-ticket attractions at opposite ends of the park. Those expansions will have a massive impact on crowd flows and lessen the burden on longtime headliners like Test Track and Soarin’. On the other hand, I wonder about what these additions signify for the park on the whole. Is it just another collection of IPs with a slightly different spin? My hope is that Disney realizes that Epcot should be more than just another place to sell its brands to mass audiences.

Here’s one final note before diving into the list of changes. These choices are based on news that Disney has officially announced. Rumors about Spaceship Earth, a Brazil pavilion, and other big changes aren’t included because they remain in flux. I’ll update this post with more information as news flies in, especially after the D23 Expo. Let’s get to the list!

Photo by Dan Heaton

11. A Beauty and the Beast Singalong Takes Over in France.

While I recognize the need for quality live entertainment options at Epcot, I’m not excited by this show for a single reason. This Beauty and the Beast show will share time with Impressions de France in the same theater. Disney has clarified that the opening day film is not going away, but they could easily change their minds. Don Hahn is creating the new show, which gives me hope it will be impressive. Even so, the danger to one of my favorite Walt Disney World attractions concerns me. Put this show in another location, and I’d be all for it.

10. The Play Pavilion Steps in for Wonders of Life.

It’s great to see Disney finally deciding what to do about the former Wonders of Life pavilion. The massive space had been used as a festival center and will finally become a full-time attraction. I also like the idea of a place with rotating exhibits that provide a variety of offerings. It reminds me of Innoventions’ early days in the ‘90s. On the other hand, the Play Pavilion will focus on characters and doesn’t seem to connect well to Future World. We still only have limited details at this point, so I’ll remain cautiously optimistic until we have a better understanding of what’s inside.

9. The Awesome Planet Film Arrives at The Land Pavilion.

This recent announcement from Disney surprised me, and I mean that in a good way. We rarely see Disney adding new attractions that don’t feature characters, but that appears to be the case here. Awesome Planet will occupy the upstairs theater formerly home to Circle of Life and Symbiosis and will employ in-theater effects to enhance the experience. Industrial Light & Magic will be creating space sequences, so Disney is spending some money on this project. The only reason this isn’t higher is the fact that it’s a minor attraction. We need more changes like this in Walt Disney World, so I’m hopeful it will live up to expectations.

8. An Entirely New Nighttime Spectacular Takes Over in 2020.

It’s difficult to place this one in my list of changes because we know so little about what will actually constitute Epcot’s permanent nighttime show. All indications are that Illuminations’ replacement will ultimately include characters, and that is the reason it doesn’t place higher. Disney’s concept art shows three water screens with images projected on them in the style of World of Color. While it looks epic, that brief glance doesn’t excite me because it connects poorly with Epcot’s predominant theme. I’ll keep my hopes up until we see the final product.

7. A Guardians of the Galaxy Indoor Roller Coaster Blasts into Future World.

In similar fashion to the previous entry, it is tricky to figure out where to rank this news among the changes. I love the idea of a new super headliner in Epcot, particularly in Future World. The massive show building promises an innovative, high-tech attraction that represents WDI at the height of its powers. It’s certain to be a popular roller coaster that draws crowds to the park. On the other hand, I struggle to see how the Guardians of the Galaxy characters fit within Epcot. It doesn’t seem to fit inside Future World, and the show building decimates sight lines throughout the park. I am still curious to ride this attraction and will definitely check it out, but it feels strange at Epcot.

Photo by Erin Heaton

6. Updates to the O Canada! Film Are Coming to the Canada Pavilion.

We know basically nothing about what changes will be coming to O Canada!, so my excitement here is mostly about the choice from Disney. The fact that they recognize the importance of the World Showcase films gives me hope for the entire park. Disney has mentioned that we’ll see “updates” to this movie, so I don’t read it as a complete overhaul. My hope is that these edits will use the full Circle-vision technology, not just front screens like the Martin Short update. It is all speculation at this point, but I cannot wait to see the revised version.

Photo by Dan Heaton

5. A New Circle-Vision Movie Will Replace Reflections of China.

This change was originally announced at the 2017 D23 Expo and was again confirmed along with the Awesome Planet news. What excites me about this change is the use of a new “seamless Circle-Vision” show that we haven’t seen in the past. It is also a brand new film, not just an update of the current attraction. Disney also cites a next-generation digital camera system that will make this film stand out from past examples. It is another connection to what makes Epcot such a unique park.

4. A Space-Themed Restaurant Will Beam into Future World.

I normally wouldn’t include a new restaurant this high on this type of list of changes, but this is no ordinary dining establishment. Located near Mission: Space, this place will also connect thematically to the nearby attraction. The Patina Restaurant Group (Via Napoli, Tutto Italia) will operate this restaurant, and that gives me hope it will be a top-notch location. The draw is the giant view screen and space theming, and there may be a Hydrolaters-like entrance. Everything points to an original experience that should be a tough ADR to grab when it opens.

3. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Cooks Up a New E-Ticket in France.

I’m surprised by my excitement for this attraction to join the slate at the France pavilion. One reason is that it’s an addition to Epcot, not a replacement. Disney is actually increasing the capacity of the park and placing a serious draw into the back of the park. I also believe that Remy fits well in France, so this isn’t a Frozen Ever After situation. It is characters at Epcot, but at least it doesn’t hurt the park’s theme. I visited Disneyland Paris in 2006 before Remy arrived, and I don’t expect to get back there anytime soon. That is why receiving a copy of a past attraction doesn’t bother me. Bringing Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure into Epcot makes sense for many reasons.

2. The Epcot Forever Temporary Nighttime Show Targets the Old-School Fans.

How can I dislike a show that will “special effects kites” and jet skis? I know that Epcot Forever is fan service, but I’m okay with it. The brief video clip from Disney actually references Kitchen Kabaret! I also love that composer Don Harper is involved with arranging the classic tunes. While it is more of a stopgap show while Disney prepares the full Illuminations replacement, it’s still a great way to highlight music that many guests don’t even recognize. Few ideas are more up my alley than Epcot Forever, so I’m totally falling into the trap of wanting to see it multiple times.

1. A Beautiful New Entrance Will Start Guests’ Days Right at Epcot.

We’ve seen at Disney California Adventure how important an entrance can be to help create the right atmosphere at a theme park. The Leave a Legacy tombstones created a weirdly cold and somber experience right from the start in Future World. Replacing them already makes this a great idea, but adding in so much green space pushes it over the top. I know we only have concept art, but anything even close to what we’ve seen will be a huge improvement. A beautiful space at the front of the park can drastically shift the guest experience at Epcot. It also provides a comfortable place for groups to gather and prepare to have a wonderful day at the park.

Photo by Dan Heaton

A Major Transformation

As I mentioned at the start of this post, Disney is giving Epcot serious attention. The question is whether these changes will enhance the park or push it further towards the “Disney Parks” commodity model. I think the answer falls somewhere in the middle. It also depends on guests to appreciate when Disney avoids just taking the obvious branding move. We need to patronize attractions that sidestep that model along with the headliners. The situation doesn’t appear as dire as it did a few years ago, and I hope that more surprises will come in the future.

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Photo by Erin Heaton

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