It seems as though construction never stops at EPCOT, and World Celebration is no exception. Here is the latest:
World Celebration and CommuniCore Hall
Work continues in World Celebration, with Dreamers Point and CommuniCore Hall getting ever closer to completion.
The area behind Spaceship Earth is still closed off. Construction vehicles crowd the space. From this angle, it looks as though a new concrete wall or barrier has been poured.
Back in April, yellow sheathing was added to CommuniCore Hall, covering the metal framing of the building. Scaffolding still stands on the left side of the building as work continues on its exterior.
These white poles in World Celebration will be illuminated at night. In addition to the poles seen here, more will be placed throughout the gardens of this area, as well.
While on our visit to EPCOT, we also noticed that construction walls by CommuniCore Hall were replaced with dark green scrim.
Playground Construction in World Celebration
Construction continues in the former playground area by Starbucks and Journey Into Imagination with Figment.
Construction equipment can be seen in the dirt lot, and small flags have been placed throughout.
We also spotted this cute construction worker Mickey sign on a door exiting the playground construction area.
Boxes Added to Cover Speakers in World Celebration
During our time in EPCOT’s World Celebration, we noticed that some of the ground-level speakers in the landscaping had been covered up with green boxes.
It is unclear if this is to protect the speakers during landscaping or for some other reason.
Small Box Added to Construction Wall in World Celebration
We also saw this small box-like addition to the construction walls in World Celebration.
The box was ‘boxed in,’ if you’ll forgive the pun, on both sides by trash cans.
EPCOT Overhaul Nearing Completion
Across EPCOT, a major overhaul and expansion has been ongoing for several years now, roughly coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World and 40th anniversary of EPCOT itself. This has included a plethora of new experiences, including Connections Café & Eatery, Creations Shop, Club Cool Hosted by Coca-Cola, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Space 220 Restaurant, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, La Crêperie de Paris, Regal Eagle Smokehouse, “Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along,” and “Awesome Planet.”
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is the last major attraction yet to be opened to the public.
The area behind Spaceship Earth (previously utilized for CommuniCore and Innoventions) is the last large park space still closed off, and it is also intended to be the primary themed walking grounds for World Celebration.
The official Disney Parks Blog offers an overview:
World Celebration will offer a beautiful hub divided into several different gardens, with a central planter based on the five-ring EPCOT logo. Filled with ample seating and shade, you’ll be invited to connect with one another and the nature around you in this lush new area. Each of these gardens will have their own identities, and they’ll change along with the festivals throughout the year.
When World Celebration is complete, it will serve as primary hub for the entire park, with new nighttime lights, exhibition spaces, music venues and room for food kiosks intended to expand festival opportunities at EPCOT and promote an ethos of community. This will all be split between CommuniCore Hall, a flexible indoor space, and CommuniCore Plaza — an outdoor event space. A new Mickey & Friends character meet-and-greet is also set to debut.
Amid continuing speculation and various delayed or cancelled projects, CEO Bob Iger has confirmed that, for the time being, these are the final elements of the EPCOT expansion. Any other proposed ideas, from a Mary Poppins attraction to the Play! Pavilion, are now evidently set aside or scrapped entirely.
Are you excited to see all the new additions start to come together at EPCOT? Or are you ready for the construction walls to come down? Let us know in the comments.
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