The future is now, and Epcot is ready. Check out all the new rides, attractions, and restaurants coming to the park in the near future.
From “drinking around the world” to the future of innovation, Epcot has been a staple in the Walt Disney Parks. However, it’s about to become so much more.
Walt Disney Imagineers are redefining the future and bringing it to life with all-new attractions, experiences, and restaurants. They’re creating the next phase of Disney innovation and taking us along for the ride.
According to Michael Hudgen, the executive producer for Walt Disney Imagineering, “We really harked back to Walt. He said Epcot would always be in a state of becoming, and this is sort of the next chapter of that state of becoming for us.”
“We are doubling down on the things that we know our guests love about Epcot, the festivals, the showcase, Spaceship Earth itself. And we’re creating more experiences for families, creating more experiences that feel inherently Disney—and we mean characters and, of course, our franchises, but also the emotional connections. The goal is to make Epcot more ‘timeless’ and more ‘relevant’, but also a place for all generations and ages, not just adults.”
So, without further ado, let’s head to the future and see what big changes are in store for Disney’s Epcot.
New Neighborhoods
Courtesy of Disney
Epcot has always been divided into the World Showcase and Future World, but since the future is now, we can expect to see many changes to this structure. While the World Showcase will continue to celebrate the cultures of the world through its country pavilions, Future World will be divided into three different neighborhoods—World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery.
World Celebration will become the center of the new park’s entrance as it leads up to the iconic Epcot ball and Spaceship Earth. This redesigned entrance will feature a new fountain, new pathways, and a lot of new green space. Spaceship Earth will also be renovated to include a new storyline and musical number that will feature important moments in history that define the human experience. Once you exit Spaceship Earth, you’ll enter a brand-new area known as Dreamers Point which will have an entirely new statue dedicated to the best dreamer of them all— Walt Disney. World Celebration will also include a three-level structure that will serve as the home base for Epcot’s festivals and live events. The structure will provide new tiered views of the park, allowing everyone to see the nighttime spectaculars.
World Nature as its name suggests, will be dedicated to teaching and preserving the natural world. The park’s current “The Land” and “The Living Seas” areas will remain in World Nature, including the Nemo & Friends ride and Living with the Land. However, there will be a lot more additions coming to World Nature. You can expect a Moana experience called Journey of Water to arrive to the area, as well as a new film called Awesome Planet, which will debut January 17, 2020.
Lastly, World Discovery will focus on the future of science and technology. This will become the new name for the area that includes Test Track and Mission: SPACE. It will also house some out-of-this-world adventures such as the new Guardian of the Galaxy ride, Cosmic Rewind, a PLAY! Pavilion featuring an interactive digital city, and a new space-themed restaurant called Space 220.
Change does not come without a price though. Due to these new attractions, we can expect the closure of other attractions in the area such as Electric Umbrella, Innoventions East, Colortopia, and Nonooze Break. If these are some of your favorites, be sure to stop by before construction begins.
A New Guardians of the Galaxy Ride
Courtesy of Disney
On Epcot’s newest ride, you can become a Guardian of the Galaxy and join Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot as they explore the home of the Nova Corps, Xandar. The adventure starts in the “Galaxarium,” or a planetarium exhibit exploring the differences between Earth’s galaxy and Xandar. As you learn all about the treasures of the world, you’ll be joined by the Guardians to participate in some cross-cosmos adventures.
The ride, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be housed in the building that was once home to Ellen’s Energy Adventure and is set to open in 2021. It will incorporate some of the newest innovations from the minds of Disney Imagineers to create an attraction that rotates 360 degrees. In fact, it will have the first reverse launch on a Walt Disney World coaster. So, brace yourselves as you start the ride backwards!
Space 220 – A New Restaurant in Mission Space
Courtesy of Disney
At Mission Space’s new restaurant, Space 220, you can have an extraordinary meal with a celestial panoramic view of Earth, 220 miles in space. Once you check in for your reservation, you’ll enter an elevator that will send you sky-high to the space station that will house your dining experience. Along the way, you’ll see views of space as you travel above planet Earth. When you arrive at the top, you’ll be greeted by either day or nighttime views of space and Earth as you munch on modern American cuisine and choose from over 1,000 bottles of the world’s finest wines and craft beer. This new dining experience is expected to land at Epcot in February 2020.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Courtesy of Disney
Oh là là! The France Pavilion is getting an entirely new 4D ride that features Remy from Ratatouille. This ride, which is already available at Disneyland Paris, will shrink riders down to Remy’s size as they explore what it takes to be a rat-chef in the kitchen. On the ride, you will race through Gusteau’s restaurant as you explore adventure, story, and the delicious smells of the kitchen. The ride is expected to open in the summer of 2020, so you’ll be able to meet your new rat friends very soon.
Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along and a Full-Scale Creperie in France
Courtesy of Disney
Epcot has already added new additions to their World Showcase by bringing Arendelle to the Norway pavilion, but now the park is expected to transform more of their showcases. The France Pavillion will add a new Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along show curated by Don Hahn, the producer of both the live-action and animated Beauty and the Beast. The show is expected to start in January 2020 and will have you saying “Bonjour!” to everyone on the street.
France will also get a new restaurant called “La Crêperie de Paris.” This restaurant will be an authentic creperie featuring cuisine from chef Jérôme Bocuse, the mastermind behind “Chefs de France” and “Monsieur Paul.” It will offer both quick-service and table-service dining as you eat delicious savory and sweet crepes.
After the France additions, the Walt Disney Imagineers plan on revamping the United Kingdom pavilion in the same fashion.
Mary Poppins-Themed Area
Courtesy of Disney
Just a spoonful of sugar will help the medicine go down as you explore this new area dedicated to Mary Poppins. Located in the United Kingdom Pavilion, this area will take you back in time as you step down Cherry Tree Lane, pass Admiral Boom’s house, and enter flat 17—the home of the Banks family. Although there isn’t much revealed about the Mary Poppins experience, the Banks home is said to be where the adventure begins.
A New Moana Experience
Courtesy of Disney
Just like Moana, you can have a special connection with the ocean in the new Journey of Water experience. In this immersive trail, water will have a life of its own as you explore a movie-themed setting. You will be able to interact with magical living water and follow the all-powerful goddess, Te Fiti.
Disney hasn’t released a lot of information about the Journey of Water, but we know that it will be an amazing experience based on one of their most popular films.
HarmonioUS—a New Nighttime Spectacular
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IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, Epcot’s iconic nighttime firework spectacular, had its last show on September 30, 2019. This show was replaced by a new limited-run experience called Epcot Forever, which will soon be replaced by the newest and most innovative experience yet: HarmonioUS. This spectacular will feature artists from around the world as they play their own interpretations of Disney’s most famous songs. The music will be accompanied by choreographed fountains, fireworks, lights, pyrotechnics, LED panels, and lasers that will light up the night sky. It is expected to be Disney’s biggest show yet and will debut in 2020.
DuckTales World Showcase Adventure
Courtesy of Disney
While Perry the Platypus once dominated the World Showcase, it seems as though DuckTales is now taking over. The DuckTales World Showcase Adventure will invite guests young and old to join Scrooge McDuck, Donald, Huey, Dewey, Louie, Launchpad, and Webby in an adventure to find priceless treasure. The journey will take travelers on an interactive scavenger hunt around the world showcases as they explore international cultures and traditions.
New Restaurant in the American Pavilion
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The Liberty Inn in the American Pavilion closed on July 8, 2019. Don’t fret, though—the restaurant will be replaced by a quick-serve cantina called “Regal Eagle Smokehouse.” According to Disney, this restaurant will be a modern American smokehouse with the “sights, sounds, smells, and flavors you love.” It will feature a large smoker preparing food every day on the promenade and a redesigned patio for you to enjoy your delicious barbecue.
PLAY! Pavilion
Courtesy of Disney
Expected to be added to World Discovery in 2021, the PLAY! Pavilion will be an area devoted to immersive fun. In this experience, you will enter a digital interactive metropolis that is bustling with both real and virtual games, activities, and attractions. As part of the pavilion, you can help Edna Mode on her quest to rid the world of uninspired style, learn how to draw your favorite Disney characters, partake in a water-balloon fight with Huey, Duey, Louie, and Webby, or help Nick and Judy from Zootopia on their next mission. Rumor suggests that you may also run into Wreck-It-Ralph characters, as well as Joy and Sadness from Inside Out and Baymax from Big Hero 6. This unique experience will open in 2021, just in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary.
New Shows in Canada and China
Courtesy of Disney
On January 17, 2020, the Canada Pavilion is expected to unveil a new 360-degree film called Canada Far and Wide. Replacing the original Martin Short movie, this new film will feature an entirely new story filled with updated music and scenes.
On the same day, China will also debut their 360-degree film called Wondrous China. This show will replace the current Reflections of China video and will let guests wander through China with beautiful images and music.
Are you as excited about these changes as we are? Let us know which one is your favorite!
