Photos: Explore EPCOT’s new Walt Disney statue and gardens

Most construction walls have come down, and the new Walt Disney statue and World Celebration gardens are now open in EPCOT. To some, the new space may seem underwhelming – after all, it took Disney five years to build a garden.

When the construction walls went up in September 2019, there was no indication it would take five years to complete, including the COVID-19 shutdown and slowdown. But the area is now open with a new statue, walking paths, seating areas and tables.

But why so long? There was a lot more than just putting in new concrete and grass. A brief conversation this morning with a Disney leader helped shed some light on the actual construction work that had to be done. So, let’s stroll around the area and talk about the work that took place.

Many people might not realize that the grade at the front area of EPCOT has changed. It was built up where the Walt The Dreamer Disney statue is now located so as you are move to the central garden you are looking up a hill. Tons of dirt needed to be brought in to create the slope.

When you think about Walt The Dreamer, it represents a “time in his life when he’s reflecting back on all his accomplishments and what they mean to the world,” Kartika Rodriguez, Vice President EPCOT

“EPCOT has the honor to have him present in the later state of his years, kind of reflecting on that
and looking out on EPCOT, which he did not have the opportunity to fully see,” Rodriguez said.

On either side of the statue on the bench are the plaques honoring Walt with his quote about how EPCOT will “always be in a state of becoming.

The lines to take a photo with the statue are going to be long and bushes you see behind the bench below hide the lines where dozens of people are waiting to get in front with a photo of Walt.

Now, let’s continue down into the gardens.

Here you get a view looking up at the statue and get the idea that the area was built up.

In the center of it all is a central garden. “This milestone”, Rodriguez said, “is huge for EPCOT because this really opens up the center of the park.

What’s important about this is that it “shows our guests and invites them in and allows them the opportunity to connect together with their friends and families and loved ones. This is kind of the heart of EPCOT.”

Facing the statue from the central garden are four distinct seatng areas. Let’s take a look The first on the top left corner has a rustic feel and only has seating along the sides of the walls on benches. This looks to be a good place for character meet and greets or performances and this morning Daisy Duck was hanging out taking photos with guests.

This area appears to be the outlier of the general look. The weathered look in this area just makes it seem a little out of place.

To the lower left quadrant, across from where construction is continuing for the new Communicore Hall and stage area is a nice place to sit down, relax and eat. This area with tables and benches and bar seating around the trees reminds one of a large backyard. I’m just waiting for the grill to fire up.

Moving to the lower right corner of the area, we come to another location that might make a good place for a meet and greet. Again the only seating is along the pathway on benches. The ground looks as if at night it will glow like the bioluminescence that can be seen in the Pandora area of Animal Kingdom. (We’ll be coming back tonight to take a look.)

The upper right area is across from Starbucks and the Connections Cafe. The area has a little more than a half-dozen tables and a number of adirondack chairs to sit in and relax.

The one bonus you will find at all of the seating areas is multiple charging stations.