As Hollywood Studios prepares for the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in the fall of 2019, and Epcot enters into multi-year transformation we are seeing quite a lot of construction on our recent visits to the parks.
The first thing we noticed just the other day was some work taking place on the islands in Epcot‘s World Showcase Lagoon.
Epcot is preparing to welcome a new nighttime show next fall as IllumiNations retires. We don’t know if this work is related to preparations for the new show, but no announcements about it have been made.
We also stopped to check out the construction progress on the new Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction coming to the France Pavilion.
Most of the construction cannot be seen in the pavilion, or even in the park. To see this work you must exit/enter the park by International Gateway.
This ride will be opening in 2021.
Also in World Showcase, there’s been the start of construction on the new restaurant coming to the Japan pavilion.
This restaurant will be a signature dining experience inspired by the natural beauty of Japan. The setting will draw from both nature and takumi, which means “artisan” in Japanese. The as-yet unnamed restaurant will be operated by Mitsukoshi USA, which currently operates the merchandise, restaurants (Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining), and kiosks in the Japan Pavilion. No opening date has been announced.
Lastly, Epcot is transforming the former Universe of Energy attraction into a brand new Guardians of the Galaxy ride. This new ride will include one-of a kind ride vehicles. It’s also set to open in 2021.
The Universe of Energy building will be the queue area; the ride will be in a brand-new building, as seen below in late November.
In Hollywood Studios some of the work to move the bus stops to a new location appears to be complete as the construction walls have been removed from the temporary bus station to the entrance of the park. They are still working on a new bus station.
Most importantly, without the walls foot traffic moves a little more freely and is much less congested.
There are now new signs, as well as a fairly large building with restrooms and benches.
A new, permanent bus station is still in progress.
Of course, no visit to Hollywood Studios is complete without checking on the progress of the Skyliner station!
Disney has announced the Skyliner system will open in the fall of 2019.
The Skyliner will connect Hollywood Studios and Epcot to each other as well as to the Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach and the new Riviera Resorts.
Which addition are looking forward to the most in the parks — the Guardians of the Galaxy ride, the Ratatouille ride, the new Japan restaurant? Or Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, or the Skyliner? Let us know in the comments below!
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GotG (everything’s abbreviated right?!) should be an “E” ticket attraction when done – can’t believe not until 2021? I think they built the entire original WDW in the same amount of time. Should b worth the wait though….and one novelty ride on the new gondolas should satisfy my curiosity – I do remember the original ones in MK! New Japan restaurant, Rat ride, ehhh.
Without question, I am most looking forward to Remy’s Adventure! I just wish this ride had been around a couple years ago and placed over in Magic Kingdom (or even The Studios) where it belongs.
But, at this point, what does it even matter? They’re “reimagining” Epcot anyway. My “Aladdin’s” wish would be to wake tomorrow and have Epcot be just as it was in 1989 and also let there be a 5th park to house all these rides that don’t belong in Epcot (Frozen, Guardians of the Galaxy; etc.)
I’m looking forward to the new restaurant in Japan. I loved the movie in France so disappointed that it’s gone. Have no idea who Guardians of the Galaxy are so can’t comment on that, not into Star Wars and not sure how the new Skyliner will be but since Disney started charging for parking we stay off property now. Wish I didn’t have to close 7 ads to get to the end of this article!
Hi Noureen, the movie in France isn’t gone, don’t worry! The new attraction called Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will be housed in its own building, under construction as you can see in our photos. In addition, a “Beauty and the Beast” sing-along is planned for the pavilion, but that’s all in addition to the existing “Impressions de France” film.
We are getting tired of all the construction too. I feel we aren’t getting as much for our money. We can no longer afford to stay on property either. I get better accommodations for a whole lot less off property. Disney isn’t as magical as it used to be. They need to lower their prices and stop charging for parking your car at the resorts.
We are looking forward most to the new restaurant in Japan. Closely followed by the new attractions of Guardians and Ratatouille. Very curious as to how badly the Skyliner will affect our favorite in and out of EPCOT, the international gateway.
And we do NOT need more Star Wars anything. Makes us want to ewok right back out of the park. Enough is enough. We go for less and less time at Star Wars land, I mean DHS, every trip. Just once we’d like to see them there storm troopers marching down the main street and see them keep going right out of the park and not come back.
I think we are most anxious for the bus stations to be settled. In early December, to get the bus back to OKW, we nearly walked all the way to the park entrance. We could not believe that people staying off site as well as non-DVC resorts were much closer. At the end of a long day, the last thing you want is the longest (okay 24 out of 26 slots!) walk of the day to be the one to the bus.