Former Imagineer Jim Shull Shares Image of Original EPCOT Reimagining Project

Shannen Ace

Former Imagineer Jim Shull Shares Image of Original EPCOT Reimagining Project

Former Imagineer Jim Shull shared an image on Twitter of the original plan for the EPCOT overhaul including the now-canceled festival center.

jim shull epcot 2022 plan

At the top of the image is Spaceship Earth, with Connections and Creations Shop in the white buildings to the lower right. The colorful space of the image is the area currently under construction. The gray oval-shaped building with yellow pathways around it is the canceled festival center. Above that is Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana.” This rendering matches the original Project Gamma we outlined in 2019, before budget cuts and delays (partially due to COVID-19).

epcot project gamma plans

The biggest change since the original project is the cancellation of the festival center, which has been replaced with plans for CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza. The Mickey and friends character meet-and-greets will be moved inside the hall.

EPCOT Festival Center concept art

The festival center, as seen in original concept art, was to be a unique two-story building with a garden on top and large windows.

EPCOT World Celebration concept art

Shull pointed out all of the green trees in the image he shared to which would provide more shade for guests. The plans also include gardens, which may or may not make it into the completed area.

EPCOT gardens concept art scaled
EPCOT gardens concept art 2 scaled
new EPCOT concept art

Above is more recent concept art, with CommuniCore Hall to the left.

World Celebration, the new name for this area of the park, will also include Dreamer’s Point and a new Walt Disney statue directly behind Spaceship Earth.

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