Illuminations Might Be Leaving, But Here Are 8 Things Coming To Epcot Instead | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Illuminations Might Be Leaving, But Here Are 8 Things Coming To Epcot Instead

And hold on to your hats, cause there's a lot going on!

37
Illuminations Might Be Leaving, But Here Are 8 Things Coming To Epcot Instead

In This Article:

The D23 2019 Expo held a lot of news from the Walt Disney Company, as it does every year. But this year's expo especially revealed a lot of news for the upcoming changes coming to Walt Disney World's Epcot.

Since it's opening in 1982, Epcot has strived to live up to its acronym of the Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow. However, is blatant 1980s design has only served to date the futuristic park making it seem like an episode of "Startrek" rather than a travel into the future. In an attempt to revamp the struggling park-- which is seemly dead in between World Showcase festivals— Disney Imagineers are working to completely remodel the park to make it more timeless.

1.  Nighttime spectacular.

DisneyParks Blog

As we all know, "Illuminations: Reflections of Earth," Epcot's nighttime fireworks show, is coming to an end on September 30th, 2019. But in its place is a new nighttime spectacular (which Disney claims will be the largest nighttime spectacular ever created for a Disney park), "HarmonioUS," will pave the way for all the new revisions coming to Epcot throughout 2020 and the coming years. ("Epcot Forever" will have it's temporary run from October 1st through the end of the year.)

2.  Neighborhoods.

DisneyParks Blog

The first of these changes, is the introduction of the "neighborhoods" of Epcot. Instead of Future World and the World Showcase we know now, new area names will be taking its place; including World Discovery, World Celebration, and World Nature that ties in with the World Showcase— which will be keeping its original name.

3.  World Showcase updates.

DisneyParks Blog

In the World Showcase, the United Kingdom pavilion will welcome the first ever attraction inspired by "Mary Poppins" with an addition of Cherry Tree Lane and the Banks family's home. The France pavilion will welcome the much-anticipated attraction, "Remy's Ratatouille Adventure," where guests will shrink to the size of Remy and wonder about Gusteau's restaurant. France will also welcome a new restaurant, La Crêperie de Paris, which will offer both table service and quick service options from a menu created by celebrity chef Jérôme Bocuse. The classic "Impressions de France" film will be joined by the new "Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along," debuting in January 2020— which was directed by Don Hahn, producer of both the animated and live-action versions of the film.

4.  World Celebration.

DisneyParks Blog

In World Celebration, Spaceship Earth will get a remodel with new narration and an entirely new musical score. A new pavilion in the neighborhood will act as a home base for Epcot's signature festivals. This three-level structure will have one of "the most remarkable architectural designs at any Disney park," featuring a plaza level, a middle expo level, and a park that sits in the sky on the top level, providing an elevated view of the entire park. World Celebration will also feature a new statue celebrating Walt Disney, plus a new enchanted forest featuring a "wishing tree" and a story fountain celebrating the music of Disney.

5.  Breezeway.

DisneyParks Blog

Epcot's entrance breezeway will also be transformed, pushing the Leave-a-Legacy plates outside the park and replacing it with a reimagined fountain and new pathways that will pay homage to the origins of Epcot.

6.  World Nature.

DisneyParks Blog

World Nature will house favorites including The Land and The Seas with Nemo and Friends. A new Moana-themed attraction, "Journey of Water", will allow guest to meet and play with magical, living water while simultaneously sharing the importance of the natural water cycle. The Land will also roll out a new film, "Awesome Planet," to replace "Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable" which closed in February 2018.

7.  World Discovery.

DisneyParks Blog

World Discovery will be home to favorites like Test Track, Mission: SPACE, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind— which will be the first "other-world" showcase pavilion at Epcot. This new pavilion will include the "Galaxarium," which will be a planetarium-like exhibition that explores the similarities of Earth's galaxy and Xandar. The roller coaster attraction will feature the first-ever storytelling coaster for the Walt Disney Company that rotates 360 degrees and includes the first reverse launch!

A new restaurant, Space 220, will make it's new home near Mission: SPACE. The eatery will be a culinary experience featuring a panorama of space including daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles up.

8.  Epcot Experience.

DisneyParks Blog

Starting October 1st, 2019, you'll be able to see these plans in person at the Epcot Experience in the Odyssey Events pavilion. Walt Disney Imagineering will present an interactive exhibits that will showcase the park's future throughout its period of transformation.



So although our beloved "Illuminations" is leaving, there's a TON of exciting things coming to Epcot in it's place! And it's a makeover our dear Epcot deserves.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
ross geller
YouTube

As college students, we are all familiar with the horror show that is course registration week. Whether you are an incoming freshman or selecting classes for your last semester, I am certain that you can relate to how traumatic this can be.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

Bonus points if it is more than two.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

12 Things I Learned my Freshmen Year of College

When your capability of "adulting" is put to the test

4643
friends

Whether you're commuting or dorming, your first year of college is a huge adjustment. The transition from living with parents to being on my own was an experience I couldn't have even imagined- both a good and a bad thing. Here's a personal archive of a few of the things I learned after going away for the first time.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Economic Benefits of Higher Wages

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

303288
Illistrated image of people crowded with banners to support a cause
StableDiffusion

Raising the minimum wage to a livable wage would not only benefit workers and their families, it would also have positive impacts on the economy and society. Studies have shown that by increasing the minimum wage, poverty and inequality can be reduced by enabling workers to meet their basic needs and reducing income disparities.

I come from a low-income family. A family, like many others in the United States, which has lived paycheck to paycheck. My family and other families in my community have been trying to make ends meet by living on the minimum wage. We are proof that it doesn't work.

Keep Reading...Show less
blank paper
Allena Tapia

As an English Major in college, I have a lot of writing and especially creative writing pieces that I work on throughout the semester and sometimes, I'll find it hard to get the motivation to type a few pages and the thought process that goes behind it. These are eleven thoughts that I have as a writer while writing my stories.

Keep Reading...Show less
April Ludgate

Every college student knows and understands the struggle of forcing themselves to continue to care about school. Between the piles of homework, the hours of studying and the painfully long lectures, the desire to dropout is something that is constantly weighing on each and every one of us, but the glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel helps to keep us motivated. While we are somehow managing to stay enrolled and (semi) alert, that does not mean that our inner-demons aren't telling us otherwise, and who is better to explain inner-demons than the beloved April Ludgate herself? Because of her dark-spirit and lack of filter, April has successfully been able to describe the emotional roller-coaster that is college on at least 13 different occasions and here they are.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments