The ongoing refurbishment of the Morocco Pavilion at EPCOT seems to be complete, although boom lifts are still parked on site.
Morocco Pavilion Refurbishment
![PHOTOS: Morocco Pavilion Refurbishment Seemingly Complete at EPCOT 1 morocco pavilion construction 4749](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/07/morocco-pavilion-construction-4749.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Morocco Pavilion Refurbishment Seemingly Complete at EPCOT 2 morocco pavilion construction 3139](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/07/morocco-pavilion-construction-3139.jpg)
Back in April, crews started repainting the rooftops around the Morocco Pavilion’s front courtyard.
![PHOTOS: Morocco Pavilion Refurbishment Seemingly Complete at EPCOT 3 morocco pavilion construction 3140](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/07/morocco-pavilion-construction-3140.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Morocco Pavilion Refurbishment Seemingly Complete at EPCOT 4 morocco pavilion construction 4748](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/07/morocco-pavilion-construction-4748.jpg)
The repainted roofs of Tangierine Café and the Gallery of Arts & History don’t quite blend with the walls, but the mismatched look isn’t very noticeable.
![PHOTOS: Morocco Pavilion Refurbishment Seemingly Complete at EPCOT 5 morocco pavilion construction 3142](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/07/morocco-pavilion-construction-3142.jpg)
The Morocco Pavilion restrooms were refurbished back in 2021.
![PHOTOS: Morocco Pavilion Refurbishment Seemingly Complete at EPCOT 6 morocco pavilion construction 4747](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/07/morocco-pavilion-construction-4747.jpg)
Rolling planters are around the lift parked in the courtyard, next to the fountain.
![PHOTOS: Morocco Pavilion Refurbishment Seemingly Complete at EPCOT 7 morocco pavilion construction 4750](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/07/morocco-pavilion-construction-4750.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Morocco Pavilion Refurbishment Seemingly Complete at EPCOT 8 morocco pavilion construction 4752](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/07/morocco-pavilion-construction-4752.jpg)
The boom lift is covered in a green tarp during the day.
![PHOTOS: Morocco Pavilion Refurbishment Seemingly Complete at EPCOT 9 morocco pavilion construction 4753](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/07/morocco-pavilion-construction-4753.jpg)
Since late May, a green scrim box has covered a planter’s corner, presumably while guest-related damage is fixed.
![PHOTOS: Morocco Pavilion Refurbishment Seemingly Complete at EPCOT 10 morocco pavilion construction 4754](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/07/morocco-pavilion-construction-4754.jpg)
At the back of the Morocco Pavilion, more planters block a boom lift that has been parked in front of the Nejjarine fountain replica since March.
![PHOTOS: Morocco Pavilion Refurbishment Seemingly Complete at EPCOT 11 morocco pavilion construction 4755](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/07/morocco-pavilion-construction-4755.jpg)
We haven’t seen any clear construction back here.
![PHOTOS: Morocco Pavilion Refurbishment Seemingly Complete at EPCOT 12 morocco pavilion construction 4757](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/07/morocco-pavilion-construction-4757.jpg)
The fountain is still visible through the planters.
![PHOTOS: Morocco Pavilion Refurbishment Seemingly Complete at EPCOT 13 morocco pavilion construction 4758](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/07/morocco-pavilion-construction-4758.jpg)
The original Nejjarine Fountain is located in Fez, a city in Morocco, as part of the Funduq al-Najjarin, a traditional rest house built in the 18th century as part of the city’s Medina old town. Having been in constant use since its construction, it’s designated as a landmark in Morocco. The Funduq al-Najjarin has since been transformed into the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts, welcoming visitors to Fez and introducing the history of traditional carpentry in Morocco.
![Planters Up Around Nejjarine Fountain Replica in Morocco Pavilion at EPCOT 6 morocco relaxation station 3 2199366 scaled](https://media.wdwnt.com/2021/04/morocco-relaxation-station-3-2199366-scaled.jpg)
This is typically how the fountain appears.
Morocco Pavilion Takeover
Back in 2020, Disney took over ownership of the Morocco Pavilion following a legal dispute with the pavilion’s operators, who ran the food and merchandise outlets including Restaurant Marrakesh.
In April 2020, Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant, LLC. filed for a PPP loan of $1-2 million in order to retain 260 jobs through the funds acquired. In September of that year, Walt Disney World filed a UCC Financing Statement, or a type of lien with the state, claiming collateral against “All goods, inventory, the Furnishings, and all other items of personal property belonging to Debtor which are or may be put into the Facilities and all proceeds of the foregoing.” With Walt Disney World poised to take over the pavilion in case of a default or bankruptcy, things seemed to be going downhill internally.
Finally, the company took operation of the pavilion entirely, which until then was one of the few independently operated World Showcase pavilions. The Moroccan Embassy and Morocco Tourism Board have continued their involvement with the pavilion as cultural consultants.
![PHOTOS: Morocco Pavilion Refurbishment Seemingly Complete at EPCOT 14 restaurant marrakesh seating 4 3640481 scaled 1](https://media.wdwnt.com/2023/07/restaurant-marrakesh-seating-4-3640481-scaled-1.jpg)
Restaurant Marrakesh has been closed ever since, likely related to both the COVID-19 pandemic and Disney’s takeover. We last saw inside the restaurant when it was used as a seating area in the summer of 2021. Disney filed a permit for construction work at the restaurant in January 2022.
Have you visited the Morocco Pavilion lately and noticed some changes? Let us know in the comments.
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I hope the Marrakesh reopens.