With the announcement that Dreamers Point featuring the Walt the Dreamer statue will open at EPCOT on December 5, it has been revealed that the Walt the Dreamer statue will be stationed on a bench with a concrete backdrop.
Walt the Dreamer Statue
As you can see in the image above, the view of Spaceship Earth behind Walt will be nearly entirely covered from the vantage point of anyone taking a photo with the statue.
Obviously, concept art is not always going to match the finished product, but what was advertised as a picturesque spot to grab a photo with Walt Disney is now a concrete bench and a mostly-obscured view of Spaceship Earth. The EPCOT reimagining has had a number of cuts and changes through its multi-year process, with this just being the latest change that may not quite be what guests expected.
Walt the Dreamer Statue Concept Art
Early concept art of Dreamers Point revealed a much more lush scene, with greenery and a clearer view of Spaceship Earth. The image also shows Walt sitting on a tiered pedestal rather than a traditional bench.
In a video posted by Disney Parks on Instagram to coincide with the announcement of the official opening of Dreamers Point, Imagineer Daniel Bertin shared:
Our new Walt statue is a beautiful piece that’s been specially designed just for Epcot, so we’re very very excited to bring a new Walt present to the Walt Disney World Resort. This statue is Walt in his later years. You are invited to come be a dreamer, just as Walt was a dreamer and sit down with him and look out at the park that he dreamed of but never saw himself.
Daniel Bertin, Walt Disney Imagineering
This is the first time Walt Disney World has revealed the Walt the Dreamer Statue in its permanent location. The statue was on display for guests to see in person at the 2022 D23 Expo in Anaheim, California. Earlier this year, merchandise tied to the statue was released online and at Creations Shop in EPCOT.
What do you think about the Walt the Dreamer statue in its new home? Do you prefer the look of the original concept art? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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