No matter how many times you visit. No matter how many butterfly wings you paint on walls. No matter how many topiaries you put up, the dominant view at EPCOT remains the construction.
Disney has done a phenomenal job in re-imagining the entrance to the park with the new fountain, flags, gardens and lighting and music, but the blue walls in the front of the park still feel like cattle chutes herding you to the rest of the park.
There hardly any location at the park you can get away from construction, whether in the front, in the rear at the Italy pavilion readying for a new gellato location, or even in the World Showcase Lagoon where you see the barges being worked on for future Harmonious show.
Now, while these views may not be what we hope when visiting the park, we do get the opportunity to see the transformation of EPCOT take place.
For example, we can now see the bare steel bones of what was Innoventions West at one time.
The west side will be home to:
- Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. This new trail will invite guests to meet and play with magical, living water. Just like Moana’s friend the ocean, water will have a personality of its own, helping guests learn how to protect the natural water cycle in a fun and engaging way.
- A Festival area that will be home to ever-changing events “in a unique new environment.”
- Dreamers Point. This area will also feature a new statue honoring Walt Disney. The natural environment will be filled with some Disney magic design elements including a fountain celebrating the power and music of iconic Disney storytelling. Surrounding the garden will be new retail and dining locations and a new statue of Walt Disney.
If you are looking for a better view of the construction behind the walls, walk over to the Imagination! pavilion and head to the top near the fountains. There you will get a much better view of what’s taking place.
On the east side of Future World, the majority of the area is blocked off for the construction of the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. The attraction will feature a roller coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus guests on the action and will include the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster.
And, the Play! pavilion, a digital city bursting with games, activities, and experiences that connect them with friends, family, and beloved Disney characters like never before.
And in the center of the World Showcase Lagoon are the barges that make up Harmonius,” a new nighttime show that will celebrate the way Disney music inspires people the world over. These massive floating set pieces contain custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics and lasers. During the day, it will act as a huge water fountain in the middle of the lagoon.
