While Phase 1 of Epcot’s drastic reimagining is well underway, grander changes are being envisioned for the park’s future after a new entrance, Project Gamma, the Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, the Play Pavilion, and the new nighttime spectaculars are all completed. The future may not include two of the staple pavilions of Future World if all goes according to plan…
As part of Phase 2 of the park’s overhaul, Disney would demolish both The Seas and The Land pavilions in favor of new offerings. This would not be a reutilization of the existing pavilions, rather, both would be completely bulldozed.
According to internal documents, both pavilions would be closed forever sometime between 2024 and 2026. What exactly will replace them in Future World is unknown at this time. All that we know is that the removal of both is already tentatively scheduled.
The Land pavilion is currently home to Living with the Land and Soarin’, with a new film called Awesome Planet debuting inside in January 2020. Soarin’ would most likely receive its own dedicated entrance and remain after the rest of the pavilion is torn down.
The Seas with Nemo and Friends houses a dark ride featuring the Pixar characters, Turtle Talk with Crush, and a number of sea life exhibits (including the beloved dolphins and manatees). These offerings would all likely go away at that point.
While plans can change (especially with many years left before Phase 2 begins), this is a disheartening bit of information about two beloved pavilions at Walt Disney World’s Epcot.
WHOA. I seriously, seriously hope not. That makes me sick to my stomach. Surely not.
I sincerely hope this rumor is false. What will they do with all the sea life?! Unless they move them to Animal Kingdom, this would be terribly upsetting if it’s true.
They could very well demolish Dinoland USA and build an aquarium there instead. It would tie in with “Finding Nemo” musical being in close proximity.
Would like to see Australia replace Dinoland USA. Could (should) very easily be able to plug in a Great Barrier Reef/Ocean exhibit and relocate some of the sea life from Epcot – an expensive and highly regulated process, I’m sure. Nemo, as you said, fits perfectly in this new land.
What to do with Dinosaur, you say? IF Indiana Jones makes his way to the Australian continent in the upcoming movie…there you go.
It’s not going to close.
that would be one thing that would become very costly and very time-consuming would be to figure out who’s getting what animals and where they’re going and how they’re getting there.
SeaWorld? Not that far away.
The Land is one of my favorites, its a must go for dinner, and the Living Seas was ruined, when they put finding nemo in there
I agree completely. Living with the Land, as a farm boy, was transformative for me. The greenhouse and alternative growing techniques blew me away. They still capture my imagination now, especially since I have inherited the farm. Future World, back before liberal SJW’s hated any company that turned a profit, was hopping. So many sponsors in electronics and robotics. Now it is no longer beneficial for companies to showcase their technologies on the Disney stage in Epcot when it has been made evident that the finicky American public is out to eat the rich. When I was a kid though, the realization that Disney was showcasing developing technologies in every field, including my family’s own, was all part of what make Disney so magical. Now lemon sucking basement dwellers with useless degrees who cannot positively affect their own financial circumstances poo poo on the big companies. Nobody likes an ingrate. They are making a great move with the new Space Themed restaurant ( appropriate for a place called Future World in a park that references Walt’s vision of an Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow) , but somehow, due to an apparent lack of imagination, Future World is getting saddled with a Guardians of The Galaxy roller coaster. It is a freakin Movie ride that should be at Hollywood Studios. The reason the movie ride is going there is two fold, and the indicators that Future World will soon stop being called as such, one being the indicated hate for big companies who could sponsor exhibits, and two, because Disney is eating up all the entertainment companies, the only big company Disney can put in there is itself. Outside of World Showcase, Epcot is just going to be the place where Disney will stick its overflow interms of attractions.
Wow. While some good observations, maybe take a chill pill before sitting down at the keyboard.
Hal, I don’t do social media anymore. Guess I was “pent up”. As a new DVC member, who now, after rebuilding my credit and financial circumstances thet resulted from the economic turndown, have been able to finally get back to see the Mouse. My kids just aren’t impressed with Future World like I was as a child. Our first trip back was just before Siemens left. That was the writing on the wall for me.
Why? Is it because he called out Liberal socialists?
That is a great observation, Frozen was the first step in Norway, EPCOT was always about learning and innovating, the Living seas was all about just that, the seas, i agree, GOTG belongs in Hollywood studios as does Tron, in fact Tron could fit into EPCOT but just barely
Very well said, I agree 100% !
Socialist Democrat here who’s loved Living With the Land since I was a child. What’s happening in Disney World isn’t about politics. It’s about a company trying to monetize their current intellectual products while forgetting how special some of its original offerings are. Soarin was a great example of modernizing a pavilion while preserving the core mission of educating people with Living With the Land.
I ride that thing multiple times every trip. I’ve taken the behind the seeds tour. I’ve got a ridiculous collection of plants from “Mickey’s Garden”. And I’m currently designing an outdoor fish garden for our vegetable garden to interact with. It’s inspired me since childhood and continues to do so as an adult with my own kids.
I believe these pavilions are important not just to the history of Epcot, but to future generations of visitors both liberal and conservative.
They are just hellbent on ruining EPCOT. It was the best theme park in the world in the early-mid 90s and they’re dismantling it piece by piece.
The original EPCOT model kind of fell apart when the Internet came out. Why would GE or Exxon give millions to a dark ride when they can PR out the Internet where basically everyone will see.
Not to mention, consumers are much less receptive to corporate preaching on a ride nowadays, big companies have a much worse reputation now than when EPCOT first opened.
Sure it’s sad, but nothing is “ruining” EPCOT except progress.
EPCOT doesn’t need corporate sponsorship to have rides like Horizons. The rest of Disney’s dark rides don’t have corporate sponsorship, and they make plenty of money on their own.
I don’t know if it is still the case, but in the not-too-distant past Rockin’ Roller Coaster was “presented by Hanes”, so it happens.
Also, I would actually be okay with them demolishing the Land and the Seas if they planned to replace them with newer versions of the same idea. That seems incredibly unlikely, though, since they’re already putting in IP rides in Future World (Guardians of the Galaxy should not be there — especially since there’s a good chance it’ll be totally irrelevant in a decade or so, unlike the Disney animated classics). I’m fine with EPCOT changes, I would just like them to stay true to the vision of scientific progress. Instead they’re turning Future World into a themeless, generic blob. Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, and the Seas aquarium are the only remaining pieces of Future World’s original vision, and the things that have replaced the original attractions are almost uniformly less interesting.
At least the World Showcase is still phenomenal, even with the IP creep.
I didn’t realize disney is in dire straits to need corporate sponsorships silly me. “It’s a small world, presented by the NFL.”
You DO realize that It’s a Small World had a corporate sponsor when it first opened, right? The UNESCO Pavilion at the world’s fair was sponsored by Pepsi. Pepsi contributed to the funding of the ride.
Too many people like it. Whenever that happens, Iger destroys it. Remember Pleasure Island, with the Comedy Warehouse, Adventurer’s Club, etc? Guests loved it, so Iger destroyed it.
If this is turns out to be an accurate rumor, very very sad news!
I of course understand why the sources/documents must be kept confidential, but I have to say I find this hard to believe. Not because I don’t think they would do it, but because it would dramatically change the park.
The only “themes” left from opening day are transportation (sort of..), communication, imagination, the seas, and the land. You can add space to that if you want to include Mission Space. But, the body, energy, the future, and innovation are all gone. Lose the land and the seas, and you are left with almost nothing. How would they tie Future World together? What would “Future World” even mean?
“Epcot Center is inspired by Walt Disney’s creative genius. Here, human achievements are celebrated through imagination, the wonders of enterprise, and concepts of a future that promises new and exciting benefits for all. May Epcot Center entertain, inform and inspire. And, above all, may it instill a new sense of belief and pride in man’s ability to shape a world that offers hope to people everywhere.”
Without these two pavilions, Future World will lose the last remainder of a tie it has together, and will cease to be the park we know of today. Also, a devastating loss because these two pavilions are some of the only good ones left in Future World. Yes, Test Track might be considered “good” but it is not a true pavilion. The purpose of pavilions was to spend over an hour in them, not just go on one ride and leave. The Land and the Seas offer this, while most other pavilions don’t. (Imageworks and Project Tomorrow do..but not well).
Please no. Please no. PLEASE noooooo MY CHILDHOOD 😭
“My childhood”. Don’t be so dramatic. Yes, it will hurt if this is true, but everything must evolve.
My son will be heartbroken. I think the main issue with both locations is how stuck in the past they are. I think a revamp and remodel is needed, but there is still life there. They just need to be modernized a bit. After all, it is “Future World”.
Exactly. Both pavilions need some major freshening up.
I’d be 100% OK if they got rid of the Seas, but leave The Land alone please. I never see people rush to go on the Finding Nemo ride, but Soarin’ is one of the most popular rides at Epcot. I’m not sure they’d get rid of the Land pavilion, seeing as how they’re installing a new movie for 2020 and that would be a huge waste of money to knowingly have a set date for demolishing before the movie even opens.
Oy … Imagine if people read before posting comments.
The article said they’re keeping Soarin. Please read the article before you complain.
If you read the article it says Soren will stay but the rest of the pavilion will be torn down, which in my opinion is just as bad as tearing the whole thing down “Living with the Land” is one of my favorite things to do in Walt Disney World.
Its just a new movie playing in the same theater. Not a big loss if it doesn’t run long they could just release it on Disney+.
I’d lament the loss of Living with the land, love the scenes at the beginning such a classic epcot boat ride.
Yeah, great, and replace with what, an Aladdin ride?
So disappointed, Horizons, Wonders of Life, Energy, Communicore East and West. Future World once was about visions of the future. It is only a shadow of that now. EPCOT should be know as Intellectual Property Pavilions…
My guess is that the upkeep expense for both is enormous. It makes them an easy target for the wrecking ball.
NONONONONONO if this is true I’m going to be so upset… this is the worst Disney rumor I’ve heard pretty much ever. I can get behind some of the other revamps, but if this happened there’d be nothing left of my favorite park.
Well give them the imagination pavilion. Keep these two!
NO. The Imagination pavilion is MY childhood. It’s one of the few memories I have with my maternal grandmother before she passed away when I was six. It’s where I fell in love with Captain Eo and Figment (and, of course, the great Dreamfinder). I just want the old Imagination ride back (and maybe Captain Eo, too). Also it’s where the DVC member lounge is, which is a great area for me and my mom to get out of the heat and hang out at for a bit (and for me to plan dream vacations).
This just seems a bit off. I can see updating exhibits and such or maybe demolishing to re build if there are structural concerns but there are 2 popular restaurants in those pavilions along with living creatures. Expanding the Land and Seas to create more attractions would be the smart choice so we can curb the crowd control since they won’t build a 5th gate and keep building resorts.
best guess is that this is one of many proposals, but nothing that has been set in stone. I’d wager large refurbs for these pavilions before demo
If anyone that has any say over anything at Disney world sees this PLEASE note that all of these changes you are doing are ruining why so many of us love Disney world! First the Great Movie Ride and now this??
no no no no NO NO
So The Living Seas (The Seas with Nemo) and the Land are being demolished but Journey Into Imagination stays? Really???
Journey was once great, also longer, and had an amazing activity area back in the 80s. I think all 3 are cornerstones, as well as Spaceship Earth. I agree that its current form could go… but there is just so much untapped potential there. Imagination is the spark behind all progress, after all. I generally hate tie-ins, but I honestly wouldn’t have minded a Bing Bong (the imagery friend from Inside-Out) to be the mascot, with a completely redone ride. It honestly makes much more sense than Guardians and even Nemo, to me.
Hopefully they warn the divers before the demo.
We were warned, but only of some major, major refurbs in store;)
I think the issue is the cost of taking these buildings to the next level. While they look great outside, the inside (especially Land) is dated beyond a remodel. I am like a lot of people posting comments. I would miss being inside these attractions. Eating lunch inside at Sunshine Seasons was always great. It always looked over crowded but everyone was in a great mood and people would wave you over to give up their table. Hopefully we’ll always have video (YouTube) and pictures of these places because I think they’re great places and hold great memories. However, I’ve spoken to friends who find them very dated and don’t hold the same fondness for their nostalgia.
Living with the Land is my favorite ride in the park!! I love the nostalgic feel it gives me – the nostalgic feel of the whole pavilion. I’m aware nostalgia means almost nothing to the current Disney Company execs, but holy moly! I thought nostalgia was what kept Disney more popular than universal. The willingness to keep attractions/pavilions/etc., albeit refreshed once in a while. Maybe I’m clueless, but this is just overwhelmingly disappointing if true.
Hopefully they will release the captive dolphins and manatees. Captive sea mammals have been proven to thrive in wild post release.
You do realize the “captive” manatees are actually rescues that they do indeed release when they’ve been rehabilitated…
Wrong! Tell them… tell them Soylent Green is Manatees!
Thank you for being educated & informed;)
The loss of these two pavilions would be a devastating hit to anyone who’s loved Epcot for decades; I’m sure they’re both expensive pavilions to maintain, but they’re the only ‘science’ left at a park all about learning and discovery. Why not focus on the Imagination pavilion, which is clearly in desperate need of attention?
I trust this rumor because most of the time your rumor reporting is solid but respectfully I hope you’re sooooo wrong about this one :-( Epcot has always been my favorite park (even when I was 5) At this point, it’s out of habit to love it. Little by little it’s changing and I think most Epcot die hards like me love the memories of old Epcot vs loving what it is now. If these close, along with the major SSE overhaul, well.. bummer.
EPCOT was built back in the 70’s and it was a view of what the future could be like in 40 or 50 years. Well, that’s been 40 years ago and it should now reflect a view of the future from a 21st century perspective. It is so out of date and in need of a face lift. Although I love The Land and the Living Seas maybe it’s time to see them go in favor of something with a more futuristic vision. I would hope that they would make a new Living Seas exhibit over at Animal Kingdom. It would be appropriate there. I would hate to see the Manatee and other fish wind up somewhere other than WDW. My only hope is that they don’t replace it with some thrill ride. That’s not the purpose of EPCOT. I like the relaxing atmosphere that exists now and to make it anything else would ruin it. I can’t wait to see what the plans might be.
Finally, someone who gets it. I’m gonna miss The Land as much as anyone, but maybe it’s time to look ahead another 40-50 years, as this person said. But with Bob “more Disney” Chapek at the helm, it’s hard to trust them.
“Nothing is permanent but change.” Get over it! Attractions need to be replaced, revised, and added. The hardest areas to keep up-to-date are those that use the nomenclature “Future” or “Tomorrow.” They get outdated quickly. The front of Epcot can be updated while keeping the World Showcase true to its cultural, international roots (even with the Disney tie-ins to its intellectual property and movies). A few more world pavilions will likely pop up in the next several years. There is a “circle of life” – the Skyliner is the old Skyway reborn as a viable transportation system. Wait to see what the plans are for The Land and The Seas before bemoaning their demise! You might actually approve of the changes! Now about those corn dog nuggets at Casey’s Corner in the Magic Kingdom – how dare they change them! :-)
When does the Chiquita contract run out at the Land? If it was a 10-year contract, it’d be up in 2021 or 2022. After budget cuts, I’d bet the main Land building survives, but who knows if they’ll keep the greenhouses.
The Seas is still one of the largest aquariums in the world, right? If they decided to get rid of it, I’d be curious to see how they would get rid of all that salt water. It’s so much salt water that they can’t just drain it into the ground.
Cast members will have a lot of drinking to do.
I think this is a good call. I like the land but it is really not a draw outside of Soarin which as mentioned they can keep open. The Seas has nothing of note there and while we like to pop in caring for ocean creatures is expensive and politically charged so I can see why they would want to do away with it in favour of something more popular and less costly to operate.
Hot take:
Disney seems hell bent on taking 2 themed parks (Hollywood Studios and Epcot) and making them generic parks. From the removal of Horizons until now the losses have been greater than the gains. Tomorrowland Speedway survives, but The Land pavilion does not? How does that make any kind of sense? How are these decisions being made? Who’s in charge? Is there a master plan at all?
It blows my mind that the Speedway is surviving this Tron project. The land that the speedway resides on is probably some of the most valuable land on earth. Disney can do so much better.
This would make a terrible Phase 2. The only thing Phase 2 should involve is burning Figment to the ground.
Then more people need to visit them. Always empty inside. I love both places, but it seems most people don’t.
In my last two visits, there was always at least a half-hour wait for the “boat ride”, a mob at Sunshine Seasons, a line outside Garden Grill, and FP’s still run out for Soarin’ — so no, The Land is not always empty inside. The Seas is still very popular, there’s always a wait for Turtle Talk and Coral Reef is still a favorite. So, again, no.
Ehhh, your comments about the land are accurate but Turtle Talk and Nemo have never in our last 6 trips (past 7 years) had more than a 10 minute “wait” which always just meant you could walk straight onto the ride.
Nemo and crush should go, expand the projection technology into the entire aquarium and expand it OR move it to animal kingdom. The Land though… I’d be heart broken if it was torn down and not replaced with something in the same spirit.
Reading the comments here – and many others on the topic of Epcot dramatically changing – seems to largely say that Epcot USED to be great. I don’t disagree with that. As a teenager visiting in the early 90’s, the appeal of Future World still almost existed as it surely did as it did when I visited as a child in the 80’s.
That said, the idea that Epcot should stay as it is now – or revert back to what it was – seems…well, foolish. I would absolutely love to see new technology, new concepts, new stuff, (dare I say, new and existing IPs) put in there. On top of the imprints of The Land and The Livings Seas? Why not?!?
They’ll have to pry The Land pavilion from my Kung Fu grip! Living with the Land is mine and my Wife’s favorite ride in EPCOT. For the love fo all things Disney, please let this rumor be false.
My entire family was pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed Living with the Land during our last trip. I stuck it on our agenda just because we had never been, and my kids (10 & 12) complained at first, but then really enjoyed it. It would be a huge shame for that to go!
This is just crazy everyone goes to the land pavilion it’s so beautiful even especially the ride living on the land is so cute and peaceful not to mention the land makes really awesome food everyone goes to eat there because it’s so unique and it fits with the theme of Epcot the fact that they’re going to terret down it wouldn’t be Epcot anymore because Epcot theme is future with nature to be eco-friendly
Plus as I said the land restaurant a lot of people go there that pavilion is easy for families who have wheelchair or or don’t like really spicy food or can’t afford to eat at the expense of restaurants to eat together at Disney taking off the land would be awful when I go I go with my mom and my family I have two people who are in scooters and the wind is the only place they can eat because it’s not too spicy and we love eating there together the fact that there’s the tables of the different seasons and when you look up you see that beautiful The roof you also see the balloons are floating then tell the story of the different seasons it’s just so beautiful it goes perfectly with Epcot steam I don’t understand why they would want to terret down when it’s perfect just the way it is I feel like they be making a really big mistake if they take that down just The Land Pavilion
Periods and commas are your friend.
The Seas is already practically ruined with the Finding Nemo property remake, so traditionalists probably have no more tears to shed there. Losing The Land would be a much greater impact. Not smart, IMO.
Epcot boasts the sixth largest aquarium in the world within THE LIVING SEAS. It has hosted numerous marine biologists and others doing real research. The design overall remains futuristic and bold where the overall aesthetic of other attractions have dated somewhat or badly. The Dumbing-Down with cartoon characters is easily reversible. If this really is in the cards, Epcot will lose a huge chunk of its core identity.
Please NOOOOOOOOO! I figured eventually Figment and others would go. but I never dreamed they would remove the seas. So educational!
Why does this site just publish rumors? Are the writers not allowed any media access? If not, why are they writing anything in the first place?
Why can’t we write about rumors? Rumors are interesting…
My family is one of the odd ones that loves the Tiki Room and Carousel of Progress as much as we love Flight of Passage and Test Track. Even my 8-year old, who never saw Kitchen Kabaret, connects with the idea that there is value in attractions that show us a glimpse of what Disney parks have been throughout the decades. We’ll be devastated to see Living With the Land go away. I’d also be sad to see the Land’s beautiful mosaic entrance destroyed. Disney has always been built on a combination of progress and nostalgia. I personally wish there was a little more balance between the two nowadays.
Living with the land is a favorite ride for our family. We don’t go to Disney and not ride that! That and the Seas are the only bit of nature left in that park! Seriously that is a Big mistake.
I sure hope this doesn’t happen, Living with the Land is me and my wife’s favorite ride, we joke that we want to live in the house.
I really hope this is a rumor I love both of those and all the animals! Please please not going to happen.
If they’re really serious about this, why even call it Walt Disney World anymore? Better to build a new one and call the original site douchebagworld.
I hope that this is false those 2 are one of my favorite things about Disney world. On top of that I think with everything they have already taken Disney is changing so much I’m not sure I’d even call it the happiest place on Earth anymore. I always hoped to share with my daughter all the things I loved there but almost half of those things are gone. Taking land and sea may just be what breaks the camel’s back for me.
I first went to Epcot shortly after it opened in 1982. I remember it was freezing the day we went. I have always love the park. Yes, I know time marches on and things need to improve but ask anyone, it’s the nostalgia aspect that is very important to a lot of people who visit Disney. I am sure there is a sizable portion for people who want to take their kids on It’s a small world for example because of their own childhood memories. In my opinion, over the last 4 years of so, I have seen a real change in the way the parks are managed. Yes, there’s still a lot of Disney magic to go around, but Mr. Iger has been more focused on appealing the 1 percent and trying to nudge middle and working class people away from coming in with hiking prices etc. I know Disney is a corporation, but it seems to me they weren’t “so corporate” in years past if you know what I mean.
First time me and the family went on the Land ride our service monkey got loose and did havoc on the Mickey Mouse shaped pumpkins they were growing. Quite a mess. Had to put him down after the well documented Pottstown incident. Don’t really miss him. Come to think of it, this is the first time I though of him in 12 years. Adios old friend. You were a lousy service monkey but you kept the gutters clean.
This is a gut-wrenching rumor. It is a favorite aquarium of mine. I will follow Lou and Lil’ Joe wherever they go. And I couldn’t live without Living with the Land. I would be incredibly disappointed.
Bulldoze Mission: Barf instead and build Horizons 2.0
This news sucks.
What would happen to my favorite restaurant at Epcot, Garden Grill? Would that go somewhere else? I love that restaurant.
No they absolutely canNOT do this. Soarin’ is still one of the most popular attractions in EPCOT and a lot of the “aquarium” stuff in The Seas has to do with animal conservation. Also we got engaged in front of the sign for The Land so that holds such a special place in our hearts!!
Hurray and Hurry Up.
I can’t believe that they are thinking of getting rid of these two pavilions, doesn’t Disney have room for another park?! It seems to me that they are already putting things in Epcot that shouldn’t be there. I haven’t been there in years but I always loved those two pavilions and the Epcot from the old days 😭
At first I thought not a chance. Both exhibits have high costs to operate, and the attractions could be easily put in other locations. With soaring the theaters could probably remain standing and the main building and land farming be bulldozed. There is no science of farming being done. The Seas would be truly sad as it truly gives kids and adults alike a peek into the Oceans.
Stop with the rumors! It’s hurting my feelings! Stop ruining the rides that people liked! I don’t want these two being bulldozed. Please don’t do it! This is not true!
It’s not true.
Maybe they could work on filling the old Wonders of Life pavilion before that
Is
the land
the geodesic syructure?
“No wild animal belongs in captivity” -Max Medici in Dumbo (2019) They need to get rid of captive animals in the park. Sea World is learning their lesson and this would be a smart movie for Disney. These pavilions are outdated and boring. Even as a kid in the 80’s and 90’s they were boring.
I’m torn on this news.
It doesn’t matter what we, die-hard Disney fans think, it’s what Bob Chapek and the bean counters think.
I’m sorry…but this HAS to be “Fake News.”
I mean, it just wouldn’t make any sense. From a money standpoint or a creative standpoint, this does not work.
Epcot has already made enough concessions with certain rides (Guardians coaster), but at least most of the other rides still worked with their theme or different “life studies” (Transportation, Space, the Seas, etc.). Taking down two core branches of that makes Epcot…what? What’s the theme then?? World Showcase and Random IP Land? We already have too much of that at Hollywood Studios…and their theme just barely let’s that idea work. No…just no.
I guess the days of magic is over, Disney World is just another roller coaster park , I’m closer to Holliday World, King’s Island, Ceder Point, anyway I I’ll take my Grandchildren there , cheaper ,We have traveled to Disney quite a few times I always thought it was the most bang for the buck and an advocate for family vacation with class, I’ve been proven wrong it’s turned into another coaster hole it has lost all of its innovation and class . I always heard how much property was held by Disney for expansion to always add to not take away . Ya might mention to the board of directors that your stocks will decline thats because opinions are it will go back to swamp with your Gators and snakes who are your developers ?? Sad but true.
I hope this rumour is false because it sounds awful.
Based on past history I doubt it will happen. Why? Too often we’ve seen grand plans that either get watered down or outright cancelled. The Mickey theater on Main street? Cancelled. When they updated California Adventure a few years back, half that plan got cut.
Also, if they do finish all the work they plan for Epcot, they’ll have spent so much money, they won’t be in a mood to take this on. How long has Odyssey, Wonders of Life and Millenium pavillions sat dark for?
If anything Disney needs to get some money to replace the aging fleet of monorails. First generation were retired after 20 years. Current models are at 20 years and are starting to have issues with reliability. They need to deal with that now and put off Land/Sea work.
What will happen for all the sea life? 😟 I hope they move them to a safe location and aren’t reckless
Can’t say any of this surprises me. Future World is a fragment of what it once was, might as well knock down Imagination while you are at it. Just put in all SCI-FI Ip’s not related to Star Wars.
I feel like they have at least one entire land for that already?
This would be absolutely heartbreaking. I love Living with the Land 💔
The Official Walt Disney World Twitter confirmed that neither of these pavilions are going to be demolished
That was not a confirmation of anything. The future can be 5 minutes from now.
That would be stupid, pretty much the death of Future World.
Tom is typically right, just wait til either expo this year or the next one, it’ll be announced. Something is happening at Epcot, what we loved will be gone, it pretty much already is. Chapek cares zero for what the tiny contingent of fanboys and girls like us cares about. He sees money, and while we’ll be upset, losing us won’t hurt them. It would have been hard to believe 10 years ago, but Epcot’s identity is gone and this is far more believable now then keeping and aging building.
Remember everyone keyword here is “rumor”
This Just In To The Thankfully Wrong Rumors Desk: Walt Disney World has confirmed that rumors posted elsewhere on the internet that Epcot’s Land and Living Seas pavilions would be replaced are NOT correct. While we know there are still big expansions on the way to Epcot, we are thrilled to hear that this one in particular isn’t true.
I truly hope that this in not true. The Land is one of my favorite rides. On a long hot day, what a great ride to chill out on. Plus, every visit to Epcot, we do Soaring first thing in the morning and then we have breakfast at Sunshine Seasons.
What I see when I read these comments is that no one here wants to see your childhood memories going away with the demolitions, but let me say one thing… Epcot was built in the 80’s with the concept of a Future World different than what is the Future for us today, a lot of things has changed, which seems to make this whole concept of “Future” a bit outdated now. Yes, Disney will always be thinking in making more money, but part of their motivation to do these renovations is just because new generations of children have different heroes, inspirations, favorite movies and toys than us. They’re growing up watching Pixar movies, new episodes of Star Wars, Marvel heroes such as Guardians of the Galaxy, so Disney somehow need to adapt their old attractions in order to keep these kids still crazy about visiting their parks. They also love using tablets, playing Minecraft, Fortnite, and all those games now converted to mobile versions. They’re creating a new urgency to a new concept of interaction inside the attractions, and Disney nor Epcot forgot about that, best example is the new Play Pavilion. That being said… Epcot needs it!