New temporary signage for the film “Awesome Planet” has been installed outside the old Harvest Theater in The Land pavilion at EPCOT ahead of the show’s big debut this upcoming January.
The upcoming film was recently featured in the new EPCOT park map, so it seems they’re looking to drive anticipation and excitement for the addition coming to the pavilion’s Harvest Theater. Currently, signage showing the film’s logo has been pinned just outside the theater entrance. The logo is covered with the words “Coming Soon”, as the film will debut with the 2020 Festival of the Arts alongside a slew of other new films, such as a Beauty and The Beast Sing-Along in the France Pavilion and a refreshed Circle-Vision film in the Canada Pavilion.
The Harvest Theater previously housed the Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable film, which closed in February 2018 after a 22-year run. It was most recently used as the location for The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar during the 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. With the festival now over, it seems they are gearing up full steam ahead for the opening of this new experience. Recent permits were filed for the location to add “AV and Control installation and termination” in preparation for the project.
As for the illuminated sign that showed up here back in April, it appears that it has since been removed, with just the clip that held the sign off to the side. The illuminated sign was still there throughout the Food & Wine Festival, so it must be getting switched out.
“Awesome Planet” will be an on-screen exploration of the realm we call home, showcasing the spectacular beauty, diversity, and dynamic story of Earth with all the grandeur guests have come to expect. With spectacular nature photography, immersive in-theater effects, and space sequences created by none other than Industrial Light & Magic (which provided the cinematic foundation for the Star Wars franchise), “Awesome Planet” will stir EPCOT guests and deliver an environmental message that will resonate far beyond its final scenes.
Hopefully that isn’t the final sign. Spared no expense on it.
I am hoping they are taking this time to renovate the theater itself. I was in there not long before Circle of Life came to a close and what stood out to me what how worn out looking the theater was. Sure, it had that look of any movie theater from any mall built in the 1980s, but it was more than that. Everything looked worn out and dusty.
While I love the carpet wall art in the lobby, it too is overdue for an update.
I am glad they are finally putting this space to use after a long time down!