As we’ve alluded to in past posts, Innoventions West at Epcot is set to be bulldozed per Project Gamma plans, and it appears the project is moving along rather quickly.
Cast Members were told today that the Epcot Character Spot, Club Cool, Art of Disney, Colortopia, and Nanooze Break in Innoventions will be closing on September 8th, 2019. Disney has stated that the final date of operation for these attractions is September 7th. Construction walls are expected to go up around those locations at that time. All of the Innoventions West structures are slated for demolition.
Fountain View Starbucks is set to close late Fall, with new, stand-alone structures to be built for a future replacement Starbucks and various character meet and greets. If you’re looking to get your Starbucks fix in the meantime, a temporary location will reportedly be available at The Odyssey, where you’ll also be able to find the classic Imageworks Rainbow Tunnel. This particular meet and greet facility should be a new home for Mickey and the gang, while Big Hero 6 and Inside Out characters will go elsewhere (supposedly the Play Pavilion in 2021).
The Camera Center is scheduled to close this fall to become a new home for Pin Central.
Meanwhile, Disney is stating that Club Cool is in their “future plans” for the park, but that haven’t elaborated on exactly what that means. Our guess is that it is moving elsewhere. Only time will tell.
As we’ve detailed in prior posts, Innoventions East is set to be only partially removed, leaving Electric Umbrella and (a remodeled) MouseGear remaining. A rumored new path to the left of Electric Umbrella will lead guests to the Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster and the Play Pavilion more quickly from the park entrance when both open in 2021.
This is all part of the ongoing reimagining of Epcot and specifically “Project Gamma”, which includes a new entranceway layout with a fountain, greenscapes, and benches, and the yet-to-be-announced 2.5 year refurbishment of Spaceship Earth. It is expected to be completed in 2022 in time for Epcot’s 40th anniversary.
I really hope they’ll bring back Club Cool. My wife and I always looked forward to a refreshing break with free pop from around the world. Even in the off-season there were a lot of people in Club Cool. WE LOVE IT! Please don’t destroy it!
I’m surprised the Camera Center is closing, but I see that the Epcot site has been updated to say, “As part of the exciting transformation of Epcot, the Camera Center is scheduled to close this fall to become a new home for Pin Central.” It also says that Heritage Manor will house the Art of Disney (assuming then that it’s closing as well), Electric Umbrella is closing this winter, etc.
Thank goodness there will be a beer garden, every experimental prototype community of tomorrow needs that. /s
Man, the family and I are going in January. Have planned it for almost a year now. I’m still psyched, but I’m a bit worried that the two days we have planned for Epcot will be nearly empty by that point at this rate. Oh well, it should still be fun.
I assumed a reason they were closing Club Cool was because it was something you got for “free”– and we certainly can’t have that at Disney anymore! I’m too cynical to believe that IF they bring Club Cool back that it’ll still be with the free tastings, nevermind the cost of park admission.
What are my kids supposed to do at the beer garden?