Walt Disney World’s EPCOT is undergoing a massive transformation, one step at a time. Since the announcement in 2019 that EPCOT would receive a massive reimagining, various attractions, dining, and retail locations have closed and demolished, while new buildings and spaces have been built and eventually opened.
Here we’ve assembled a list of all of the changes that are already open, still underway, postponed, or planned as part of EPCOT’s multi-year transformation.
EPCOT
EPCOT’s New Neighborhoods
Renamed October 1st, 2021
Say “goodbye” to Future World and hello to World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery — three renamed neighborhoods that joined World Showcase!
As part of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration, Spaceship Earth got an updated nighttime look, with TONS of lights that can alternate colors and even help to create special designs.
Creations Shop is a reimagined gift shop — EPCOT’s largest gift shop — in the former location of Mouse Gear (now closed). The shop is creative, of course, with colorful murals of Mickey Mouse on the walls, pops of color throughout, and other fun details.
Creations Shop
This is where you’ll find a lot of new merchandise, including apparel, Minnie ear headbands, designer purses, accessories, and more.
The original Club Cool closed in 2019 when EPCOT began its massive transformation, and it reopened adjacent to Creations Shop in September 2021. This bright and funky space features floor tiles embedded with recycled Coca-Cola bottles, plus lots of glass and natural light!
Club Cool Reopening
Explore Club Cool’s reopening here. And don’t worry — tasting sodas from around the world is still a free experience here!
This new quick-service spot in World Celebration has 2 sections: the cafe and the eatery. The Cafe is actually a new Starbucks location! There’s a tasty liege waffle there if you’re looking for a quick, sweet snack.
Connections Cafe
And the Eatery is a quick-service restaurant with open kitchens and lots of seating. The menu here has classics with a twist — you’ll find burgers inspired by French and Asian cuisine, fried chicken sandwiches, curry pizza, and more.
Connections Eatery
There are some more basic flavors on the menu, but you can also try out the adventurous eats.
Disney had previously announced that some changes would be made to Spaceship Earth. Under these changes, Spaceship Earth would still take us on a trip through time but with new narration, new music, and a new focus on the moments and ideas that define the human story. The attraction would follow a magical “story light” that would bring the attraction to life in new ways and ties each scene to the entire human journey.
The new area is just past Spaceship Earth, where the area splits off before taking you around the construction walls. Now, you’ll be greeted with some new signage pointing you toward the revamped World Celebration area, where the Gardens are located!
When you head into the Gardens, you’ll immediately be greeted with trees, seating, and a serene, relaxing area. Oh, and did we mention that you’ll also get a pretty great view of Spaceship Earth?
Beautiful!
One thing we noticed about the area is that it feels more like a seating area in Central Park or something similar. It’s a GREAT place to unwind while still being in the center of EPCOT.
Tables and chairs
The gardens will have ample seating and shade, inviting guests to “connect with one another and the nature around you.” Each garden will have its own identity and its own character, with the ability to amplify festival programs throughout the year. Plus, there are charging stations throughout the area to recharge your devices.
Charging station!
There’s also PLENTY of seating. It’s like a large-scale relaxation station. The seating design is super modern — fitting in nicely with the theming of EPCOT.
They even got the wood details
At night, these gardens will take on “new life” with controllable lighting that evolves throughout the seasons.
EPCOT at night
Plus, the popular glowing lights in the pavement will be returning to this area.
CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza Festival Area
Expected to Open Early 2024
Back when Disney first announced the planned refurbishments coming to EPCOT, they mentioned that a new festival pavilion would be coming. That later transitioned to a festival “area.” And now it seems we have an updated idea of what this festival area appears to have become — CommuniCore Plaza and CommuniCore Hall.
CommuniCore Plaza will be an outdoor area with the flexibility to host a giant concert stage or an intimate performance that extends into the gardens nearby.
CommuniCore Hall will be an indoor space that’s the first “fully purpose-built structure in festival programming.” It’ll be home to an exhibition and gallery space that can host a wide variety of experiences like food, fine art, and more. Inside, there will be a demonstration kitchen and mixology bar that gives chefs the space to showcase the “global experiment of food.”
Disney has said, “CommuniCore Hall will also be the home of a dynamic exhibition space that will transform with each festival throughout the year, as you can see here in one possibility imagined for EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. Playing with light, shapes and reflections, the architecture of this building was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering to celebrate the legacy of EPCOT and the original CommuniCore buildings.”
Space 220 is a space-themed restaurant in the Mission: SPACE pavilion. When you enter the restaurant, you “travel” to a space station that includes views of Earth from 220 miles up as you enjoy your meal.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened in May 2022. The new attraction is a “storytelling coaster” that has seats that rotate 360 degrees to focus riders’ attention on the story. This new coaster also includes the first reverse launch for a Disney ride.
Innovative roller coaster featuring vehicles that turn to enhance storytelling
PLAY! Pavilion
Opening Unknown
The PLAY! Pavilion was expected to open in time for Disney World’s 50th anniversary on October 1st, 2021, but it has yet to open and a new opening date has yet to be announced. The pavilion is set to be a digital metropolis full of games and experiences that allow guests to interact with Disney characters — both virtually and in real life.
Journey of Water is an exploration trail where you will meet and play with magical, living water.
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
The water will have a life of its own — just like Moana’s friend, the ocean — and you’ll learn about the importance of the natural water cycle.
Water Cycle
Note that you CAN get wet on this attraction, but you don’t have to. So if you don’t want to get wet, follow the Dry Path sign. Note: the dry path bypasses all the interactive elements, so you’ll miss most of the attraction if you take it.
Each interactive area has its own theme, including Rain, Stream, Wetland, Spring, Lake, River, Ocean, Sky, and Land.
Rain!
Watch for hidden characters in the rockwork as well!
Use the Play Disney app on your phone to join the adventure. Turns out we’ve signed up for the “archeological expedition of the century” — recovering treasures from around the world. But things get complicated when a DuckTales nemesis tries to complicate our plans.
Disneyland Paris’ Ratatouille makes a trans-Atlantic trek to open its kitchen doors in the France pavilion in World Showcase! Shrink down to the size of a rat, and get ready for adventure as you race around the kitchen.
A brand new creperie opened in 2021 near Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. La Creperie de Paris features a menu inspired by the Brittany region of France. The new location offers Table Service dining as well as a Quick Service stop for guests craving sweet or savory crepes.
Menus:All-Day Services: Take Out or Walk-up Window
Harmonious
Played between October 1st, 2021 and April 2nd, 2023
Harmonious began blasting off over World Showcase Lagoon on October 1, 2021! This show is Disney’s largest nighttime spectacular ever. The show includes Disney music reinterpreted by artists from around the world to illustrate how music inspires people everywhere.
Disney’s newest fireworks show, Luminous, The Symphony of Us, debuted on December 5th, 2023. The show features fireworks, water fountains, lasers, lighting effects, and classic Disney music. Hey, those are all our favorite things!
Disney also shared more information about the show on the My Disney Experience website. The new description for the show reads:
“Delight in a dramatic show designed to bring us all together. Marvel at a dazzling pageant of fireworks, fountains, music and lights set to an original composition. New music, along with evocative selections from the Disney songbook, come together to remind us that we are more alike than we are different.”
Luminous fireworks
Wondrous China
Opening Unknown
The China pavilion is set to get a new Circle-Vision 360° film called Wondrous China. This will be a similar format to the Canada Far and Wide film, which is located in the Canada pavilion.
