Epcot Update

Lots of things going on at Epcot in what is one of the largest park renovations for any Disney park. From new construction to new colors to new restrooms to new Food & Wine Festival selections we cover it all in this very busy update. We’ll look at the new Living Seas segments on the new Disney+ docuseries. We’ll talk about the potential opening dates of HarmoniUS, Space 220 and Ratatouille. All this and so much more on this Epcot Update for October 5th, 2020.

You can find our podcast here on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, MyTuner, and ListenNotes. Key notes, photos and links are below, but you’ll find most of my commentary on the podcast.

Future World

Note the color palette rainbow pattern on the ticket booths. Very subtle, but very nice.

These signs indicate which entrances are open, which are serving as exits, and which are closed. The “Y” frame supports are very cool.

We’ve shown the acrylic statues being re-introduced to the front of the park before. This photo show little change, which suggests that things may be held off until they want to really do a big unveiling.

That big unveiling would be perfect with a launch of Ratatouille, HarmoniUS, and Space 220. Alas, no word on the opening of any of these or of a press event, which should have been announced by now if it were happening this Fall.

Been to the Living Seas recently? If not, you can catch it on Disney+.

Darby, a stingray at The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot, has delivered a little pup. It’s all part of The Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Disney+. She’s wasn’t the only one pregnant, Amanda, her handler is also pregnant. With populations dying, Disney has successfully facilitated the birth of 10 pups so far. The pup, a boy, is number 11 and has been named Hilo.

The Eight-part docuseries is narrated by Josh Gad, who voiced Olaf in “Frozen” and “Frozen II.” We were the first to announce this show back in December, when production companies were filming prior to the pandemic.

Emphasizing all of the things there are to see at The Seas with Nemo and Friends is a “Fin-Tastic” Scavenger Hunt. Be sure to pick one up as a keepsake.

Looking over into construction, we see signs of little activity in and around the Festival Pavilion location. Even old sidewalks and landscaping haven’t been removed.

Meanwhile, new progress has been made in removing the old facade on the Northern end of Innoventions West. If there was a place to put a Starbucks, this should be the corner. But others sources are saying that it’s going in the same space where Electric Umbrella, and will be part of that complex where larger food & beverage options will remain. That would only make sense of the one by World Showcase remains.

Universe of Energy now becoming Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has new show elements going in up front, plus solar panels on the roof. But little seems to be going on in the interior.

The Play Pavilion seems almost completely re-roofed. A construction fence remains in front of the area leading to Space 220.

Flavors from Fire Hosted by the NFL on ESPN offers some interesting choices:

Corned Beef Corner Route: Smoked corned beef with crispy potatoes, cheese curds, pickled onions and beer-cheese fondue. Way too much sodium, even if you’re a cheese head living in Green Bay territory. I give it one star.

The S’Mores Whoopie Pie-lon (get it?): Smoked chocolate cake, graham cracker, marshmallow, chocolate ganache and candied bacon. I had no idea until I read the title later that the topping was candied bacon. All in all this would have been a fantastic dish except for the choice of smoked chocolate cake. Is that to give you the charred sensation you get when you burn your marshmallows? It’s strange. Two stars.

The Donut Box offered apple fritter donut holes with salted maple drizzle. Whoah. Served warm this was over the top amazing. And filling! You need to share, and that’s coming from a big guy like me. If served warm, I would definitely give this three stars. Will try the sprinkle burst donut holes with purple drizzle next time–after a few workouts.

In this same area, a remodel job has been done on the restrooms. These are little elements that have eventually paved the way for what will be World Discovery. Much of the changes for this area come inside of Space 220, the Power of Play pavilion and Guardians of the Galaxy.

If you haven’t seen the original Epcot Experience presentation, do take it in. It will remind you of all the possibilities that could be coming to Epcot some day.

World Showcase

Let’s make the jump in figure 8 style over to World Showplace. Inside this pavilion a complete shopping area for Food & Wine merchandise has been set up.

Lots of great Food & Wine merchandise with a bit of Figment.

How about some food?

The charcuterie and cheese plate features Burton’s Maplewood Farm Applejack Brandy Barrel Aged Maple Syrup. I give it two stars out of three.

The Frozen Apple Pie (non-alcoholic) was my favorite at last year’s event. This year it seems to be a smaller sample.

I should also mention that all of the Mac & Cheese products that have been offered at World Showplace went from a solid bowl to a scoop on a plate. Very disappointing. The one with lobster had only one piece in it. We’re lowering our score on this to two stars. Never promise and deliver on one thing, and then cut back.

Construction is happening between Italy and American Adventure.

Spain pavilion is connected to Italy.

At Spain we get another charcuterie board. One was enough.

At Switzerland we have more cheese dishes, this time with baguettes instead of crackers. Again, I’m not there.

Work is being done in the lagoon for HarmoniUS. The crane in the background is also supporting that effort.

Jammitors is performing along with Mariachi Cobre at the American Gardens stage.

More dining spaces seem to have been added along World Showcase.

The image I enjoyed as sunset faded into evening at World Showcase. Beautiful days are here as the heat of the summer gives into cooler temperatures.

There’s Much More!

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