Our latest photo report brings us to Epcot where a ton of new park-exclusive merchandise can be found. It is also a time of great change for the park, with Innoventions closing, construction in Mexico, and other projects around the park starting to take shape. Let’s take a look:
Muppet Mobile Labs
Muppet Mobile Labs is now wrapping up its one month stint at Epcot. It is likely to move to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but there has been no official word as of yet.
New Merchandise
Due to theft, limited edition pins are now being enclosed in glass cases at all store locations. This was unnecessary for the first 17 years of the hobby.
A ton of changes happened in MouseGear, with all of the merchandise being reorganized again. There is also a slew of new items for sale.
A variety of Tsum Tsum clothing is now available.
A new line of Epcot merchandise focusing on vintage logos and World Showcase was recently released. There is quite the variety of items available.
My personal favorite is this sweatshirt which features the original World Showcase logo icon with each country’s flag.
There is now a coaster to match the cup and plate featuring Spaceship Earth.
A new plush Figment hat for sale.
New shortbread cookies for sale, not sure why these are a thing but they are in most major stores now.
The Star Wars section has moved down to the other end of the store.
Moana merchandise was recently released at the parks.
The Maps of the Disney Parks book is available in MouseGear.
The LEGO Cinderella Castle is back in stock now.
The Canada pavilion recently started selling merchandise for the Le Cellier restaurant downstairs. You can see photos of the entire line in a separate post from a few weeks ago.
The Margaritas Strike Back
A new Margarita stand and a food stand are supposedly being constructed on the opposite side of the Mexico pavilion.
Walls are up on both sides leading us to believe it could be two stands.
VISA Character Meet and Greet
The new Disney VISA Cardmember Exclusive meet and greet recently opened at the Imagination pavilion. It is open daily from 1 PM until 7 (yeah, seven) PM.
Innoventions
Colortopia remains the last functioning piece of Innoventions.
Both sides, east and west, are now boarded up.
Goodbye Epcot, see ya’ real soon!
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Why are Shortbread cookies a thing? They are popular in Hawaii. I went to Aulani back in May and they are sold everywhere especially chocolate covered. The Moana movie will soon open and its featured in that location, Samoa or Fiji. I hazard to guess they are related and this is the second animated movie property (after Stitch) to feature Hawaii related icons. I do recommend you give them a taste. Quite good, although there are many other brands that are cheaper.
At this pace, they’ll soon be no free lakefront view for Illuminations
Exactly! {mwahahaha}
Any word on the future of innoventions? After Avatar comes out in Animal Kingdom and Star Wars/Toy Story land in DHS, future world has got to be next….right?
Tom, This is a question about an Epcot Resort, or actually 2. We were at the Dolphin for their Food & Wine Classic last week. Couldn’t help notice the gating going on around the quiet pools of the Yacht and Beach Clubs. Why, and why now?? My first thought is to keep non -resort specific guests out, which is why they fenced in Storm-A-Long Bay in the first place, but figured I’d ask. Thx….
Not Tom but my 2 cents. They’ve been putting those gates for 2 reasons and they both boil down to the simple concept of population control and Disney’s knee jerk reactions to accidents. The first one is the one you just pondered upon and the second one is to deny after hours entrance to the pools to try to curb accidental drownings like the one that happened a year ago at one of AoA pools. AoA was the first resort to have those gates installed.
I really don’t know how those small gates will help on the latter since it will only avoid really small children to go in afterhours because almost anyone can jump that fence, but the accident did happen to a 3 year old.
Disney Pete, that all makes sense. Almost seemed like they were putting a double row of fence along the Yacht Club walkway too. Speaking of,.. that walkway, and the entire “boardwalk” along YC property was dark. Pole lights were out. This around 645am last week. Couple of runners almost ran into us. Lights on, along SAB and BC. Mentioned it to front desk at YC. Even had photos. They keep asking if it was BC!!! My wife even chimed in. Said Yacht Club, not Beach Club. Walked by 3 days in a row. Nothing changed. 8(
Frank
um, the “hobby” you speak of is FAR older than 17 years.