IMPORTANT CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: AUGUST 2020:
The longer-term effects that Coronavirus has brought on many industries worldwide are now beginning to be quantified. Many of the experiences described in this article have been under review by Disney who used an earnings call to investors in late July that many have either been postponed or cancelled altogether as Disney looks to bring capital expenditure down until travel patterns can return to pre-COVID levels which may not be until 2023 or beyond.
“As with most businesses during this period, we are further evaluating long-term project plans. The decision was made to postpone development of [the] ‘Mary Poppins’-inspired attraction and Spaceship Earth at this time.”
Official Disney statement regarding the effects of Coronavirus.
Tron looks to be far enough along that work is still continuing at a slower pace. The re-imagining for Spaceship Earth has been postponed indefinitely as has the Mary Poppins attraction for the UK Pavilion. Ratatouille, Space 220 and Guardians Of The Galaxy are still going ahead but opening may be pushed back several months.
Original Article
Are you planning a Disney World holiday a couple of years from now? 2021 will be a special time to visit Disney World as it will be celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary. No anniversary goes by without some new announcements. Disney used this year’s D23 Expo to announce EPCOT’s reimagining in far more detail. Before we get to the nitty-gritty on EPCOT, here is a very quick rundown of what else you will be able to experience over the coming couple of years at Disney World.
Blast Off On A New Adventure At Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios has been almost completely reinvented with the recent additions of Toy Story Land And Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. So popular was Galaxy’s Edge, the park had to be opened at 5 am after people kept flocking to the park overnight, eager to be first in line. At 6 am, the park’s scheduled opening time, the queue for the signature Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction was already nearly 5 hours long!
A companion to Galaxy’s Edge, fans of Star wars can literally live out their dream in a 2-day adventure by staying in the boutique Galaxy Starcruiser Hotel set to open in the near future. It won’t be cheap but it will almost certainly be the most immersive experiences ever seen in a theme park.
GALACTIC STARCRUISER STAY: OPENING TBA
Incoming Import At The Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom is currently a hub of construction for the previously announced clone of the uber-popular “Tron Light Cycle Run” roller coaster from Hong Kong. The track is in place and the building is quickly going up around it before theming can begin.
TRON LIGHTCYCLE RUN: OPENING IN 2021
As well as headline attractions and park reinventions, a lot of work has been ongoing in the infrastructure around the resort so it is better equipped to handle an influx of visitors eager to celebrate Disney World’s 50th anniversary. Roads have been getting added and widened. The new Disney Skyliner cable car system is almost ready to welcome its first guests. Reflections, A Disney Lakeside Lodge will be a unique new hotel and Vacation Club resort that will be inspired by the wonder of nature and the artistry of Disney.
DISNEY SKYLINER: OPENING 29th SEPT 2019
REFLECTIONS RESORT: OPENING IN 2022
EPCOT Then & Now
For years EPCOT has been a marmite park to Disney fans. People either love it or hate it. With these new additions open in 2021, EPCOT will have been almost completely reinvented. Disney hopes to make EPCOT more timeless, relevant, family orientated and, well, more Disney.
The front entrance, a notorious bottleneck, is already in the process of getting replaced and the area around Spaceship Earth is being opened up for better guest flow.
Dreamers Point at the entrance, as this area will be known, will feature a new interactive fountain, lush gardens and a Wishing Tree. A brand new statue will honour the original dreamer, Walt Disney.
As we have already covered in our “Is EPCOT Finally Finding Its Feet?” piece, Spaceship Earth itself will be closing for 2 and a half years to receive a huge upgrade. When the dust has settled, EPCOT will be unified as the pavilions of Future World will be unified into “neighbourhoods”. World Nature and World Discovery will branch off either side of World Celebration. These 3 new areas join World Showcase to create one harmonious park.
World Celebration
The backbone of what is now the entrance and Innoventions East and West in Future World will become World Celebration. Spaceship Earth will remain as the parks centrepiece icon as it has done since the park opened. It will be joined by a brand new 3 level pavilion that will be the centre of EPCOT’s celebrations. The forward-thinking pavilion will provide commanding views over World Showcase.
Spaceship Earth has always told the story of human communication. The unique ride system will remain but is in dire need of refurbishment. New scenes will reflect stories of human experience. A new guide with new narration will help tell stories that bring us all together.
As well as replacing the ageing track and most scenes and possibly extending the rides length, the entrance and exit may be relocated. The lengthy downtime will also be used to overhaul the outside of the iconic building and make the area more appropriate for projection mapping. EPCOT’s signature future fireworks finale, HarmonioUS, is widely rumoured to be using projection mapping on the outside of Spaceship Earth. One thing is certain, the new and improved Spaceship Earth will be closed for the 50th Anniversary celebrations. We won’t able to ride it until EPCOT’s 40th anniversary year.
SPACESHIP EARTH RENOVATION: OPENING LATE 2022
World Discovery
To the left of World Celebration, The former Ellen’s Energy Adventure pavilion is currently being transformed into one of the largest enclosed roller coasters in the world. Guardians Of The Galaxy Cosmic Rewind will feature a thrilling story-oriented family roller coaster with reverse launch track. The family-friendly coaster will have innovative cars that will rotate 360 degrees to focus on the action.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY COSMIC REWIND: OPENING 2021
The Mission: SPACE pavilion will remain but is already receiving an expansion in the shape of a unique dining experience titled Space 220. You will feel like you are dining 220 miles above the Earth in a space station as hi-def screens surround the restaurant offering up panoramic night and daytime views of the Earth far below.
SPACE 220: OPENING LATE 2019
Next door, the giant yellow dome of the former Horizons pavilion will be completely reinvented into the PLAY! Pavilion. Construction is already underway for an ambitious opening schedule. Once complete, step inside to find a bustling metropolis filled with interactive games, experiences and activities that will help connect people as friends and family. You can expect a healthy injection of Disney characters here as well.
PLAY! OPENING 2021
World Nature
To the right of World Celebration, the World Nature neighbourhood will feature a brand new experience inspired by the hit film “Moana”. Journey Of Water, Inspired By “Moana” will let you interact with ‘living water in a beautiful and inspiring setting’.
JOURNEY OF WATER: OPENING TBA
The largest pavilion currently in Future World, The Land, will remain but will receive a brand new film, “Awesome Planet”. The film will showcase the spectacular beauty, diversity and dynamic nature of this awesome planet we call home.
AWESOME PLANET: OPENING JANUARY 2020
World Showcase
New attractions have also been announced for World Showcase. The UK pavilion will finally be receiving its own attraction based on Mary Poppins in a new area that will be called Cherry Tree Lane. China and Canada pavilions will receive much needed new hi-def digital films to their ageing CircleVision 360 shows. “O Canada” will be replaced by a show called “Canada Far And Wide”. China’s new show will be called “Wonderous China”.
MARY POPPINS ATTRACTION: OPENING TBA
CANADA FAR AND WIDE: OPENING JANUARY 2020
WONDEROUS CHINA: OPENING TBA 2020
Construction at the France pavilion has been ongoing for over a year now as Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, a clone of the popular Disneyland Paris attraction, takes shape. A new Beauty And The Beast Sing-Along show will open early next year in the Impressions De France theatre. The show will run concurrently with the “Reflections” show. Complementing these additions is a new restaurant, La Creperie De Paris.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST SINGALONG: OPENING JANUARY 2020
REMY’S RATATOUILLE ADVENTURE: OPENING SUMMER 2020
LA CRÊPERIE DE PARIS: OPENING SUMMER 2020
New Fireworks
EPCOT has been known to have one of the biggest and best nightly fireworks shows. After 20 years, “Illuminations: Reflections Of Earth” will be retired later this month after amazing millions of guests.
“Epcot Forever” will be a temporary replacement until a new nighttime spectacular called “HarmonioUS” makes its debut in 2020. It will celebrate how the music of Disney inspires people all over the world. Like “Illuminations”, “HarmonioUS” will utilise bespoke floating setpieces with custom-built LED panels. Kites, special effects, lasers and huge pyrotechnics will fill the night sky. Dancing fountains and some iconic Disney music will tie it all together.
EPCOT FOREVER: OPENING LATE 2019
HARMONIOUS: OPENING SOMETIME IN 2020
EPCOT Experience Centre
If you are visiting Disney World before all of the planned changes take effect you can view a semi-permanent exhibition in the former Odyssey Restaurant building behind Test Track.
EPCOT EXPERIENCE CENTRE: OPENING LATE 2019
This is a very exciting time for EPCOT and something EPCOT fans have been asking for seemingly forever. Even if you visit during the construction phase of this transformation there is plenty here to keep you occupied for the day.
