Say bonjour to the new digital marquee gracing the Palais du Cinéma entrance at the France Pavilion in EPCOT! In just over a week, the theater will be opening its doors once again at the start of the Festival of the Arts, inviting world travelers to experience a newly digitized “Impressions de France” film as well as the all-new “Beauty and the Beast” Sing-Along!
We’ve seen lots of work underway in this corridor of the France pavilion. Late last year, the trees lining the central planter and fountain were removed to allow for better guest traffic flow. The facade of the Palais also underwent a brief refresh recently, with new pavement at the entrance as well.
Now, a new digital marquee has been installed right over the main entrance to the theater.
The digital sign is framed in bronze, with intricate fleur-de-lis wrought iron metal work all along the edges. This mirrors the designs of the wrought-iron Juliette balconies that line the top of the Palais du Cinéma.
Beneath the main marquee is a digital wait times window showing “Next Show ___ Minutes.”
It’s a gorgeous sign (just look at the intricate metal work on the bottom), and the digital marquee makes it easy for Cast Members to switch from the logo for “Impressions de France” to the “Beauty and the Beast” Sing-Along with just the flip of a switch.
The new “Beauty and the Beast” Sing-Along is said to have a duration time of 14 minutes, while “Impressions de France” runs for 18 minutes. Both shows will be playing intermittently at the theater, although it is still unknown whether they will play back-to-back or follow a different schedule.
Upon the grand re-opening of the Palais du Cinéma, the pre-show lobby will also debut a new exhibit.
Are you looking forward to seeing the new “Beauty and the Beast” Sing-Along once it debuts during the Festival, or are you eagerly awaiting the return of the classic and eerily beautiful “Impressions de France”? Let us know in the comments.
In the meantime, you can read more about the “Beauty and the Beast” Sing-Along––including its surprising plot twist––in this post here.