Epcot’s Spine: From Moana to CommuniCore to Fireworks–What’s Happening?

Last week as part of the press event for Tron, details-sparsely given-were provided on Epcot Celebration and construction at the heart of Epcot that never seems to end. Given an important image made public a few years ago, we seek to explain why this section of Epcot is going to become what it is. It also will help us to understand why the uniquely designed Festival Pavilion never got built and why we ended up with Harmonious–a show that is speculated to be worth over $100 million dollars and what appears to be completely uprooted and tossed out. Or is it? We’ll go over those vague press details in an effort to understand not just what is going to happen, but what is not going to happen and why. Join us for this podcast on what’s happening at Epcot.

PLUS! We have a big announcement today for this podcast and its attending social media.

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What Got Delivered, What’s Still Coming & What’s Not

Since 2018 there have been over 30 additions announced (and some just showed up unannounced). Those in bold have been realized. Those in italics are coming this year. Those in plain font have not announced future. Click here to see the original Epcot Experience

1. New Logo
2. Re-designed pre-turnstile entry
3. Re-designed entry to Epcot with new fountain & anthem by Pinar Topeka
4. New Spaceship Earth Lighting Package
5. New Spaceship Earth show experience
6. Remodeled entry gift shop as a new Pin Central store
7. Remodeled Guest Relations
8. Three lands replacing Future World: World Discovery, World Nature & World Celebration
9. Replacement for Electric Umbrella: Connections
10. Starbucks Replacement
11. New Club Cool
12. Replacement for MouseGears: Creations
13. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
14. Space 220
15. Play Pavilion
16. Odyssey Makeover
17. Dreamer’s Point & New Walt Disney Statue
18. Interactive Wishing Tree
19. Story Fountain
20. Moana: Journey of Water
21. Awesome Planet
22. New Character Experiences
23. Canada Far & Wide
24. Beauty & The Beast Sing-Along
25. Wondrous China
26. Regal Eagle Smokehouse
27. Gelateria Toscano
28. Takumi Tei
29. Remy’s Ratatouille
30. Crêperie
31. Mary Poppins Attraction
32. New Three Tiered Festival Pavilion Turned CommuniCore
33. New Fountain Show & Center Sculpture
34. New Fireworks: Harmonious and Replacement

• 22 Additions Have Been Added Including 6 New Attractions, & 8 F&B Offerings
• 5 Are Still Coming
• 4 Have No Announced Future

What Happened Since 2018

• Grand Design
• Pandemic
• Leadership Change
• Budget Cuts

Here is what the current construction shows at Epcot.

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