Several sections of the light-up pavement in EPCOT have now been screwed down to avoid them lifting up from the ground, making them a potential tripping hazard.
Light Up Pavement ‘Fixed’ with Screws
We previously reported that several sections of the light-up pavement of World Celebration in EPCOT were surrounded by stanchions. The stanchions, which blocked a large portion of this central area, were necessary due to the light strips lifting up from their spots and becoming uneven with the rest of the pavement, making them a major tripping hazard. Now, Disney has created a “fix,” and the stations have been removed.
This particular section of World Celebration is no stranger to malfunctions. Just a day after this garden area opened in December of 2023, the lighting elements stopped working. We continued to notice broken lighting effects into the summer of 2024. In mid-November, the pavement lights were completely turned off for a short period.
Although repaired and operational as of this past December, several pieces of the in-ground lighting recently began lifting up from their spots. The tip where each light strip met the next would raise from the rest of the ground, just enough to catch an unsuspecting shoe and throw a guest off balance.
Disney has now screwed in those sections to avoid the potential tripping hazard. The screws appear to be standard hardware that have been poked through the top of each light strip. Some of the strips have only one screw on the end, while others have multiple. While a few of the screws were still tinted silver, it does appear Disney painted them white to have them blend in just slightly with the rest of the fixture.
There are also sections where yellow grout has been added to fill in some of the gaps around the edges of the lights, though the yellow color is easy to spot against the white light and gray pavement.
It does appear that this work was perhaps done in some haste to create a safer environment for guests, as some of the screws have more paint than others. Not all of the screws are embedded at the same angle, either. There are also still large gaps and breaks in the caulking around the lighting.
Disney may not be finished with the repairs yet, as some of the gaps with minimal lifting have not been screwed down at the time of reporting. If the fix is temporary, these gaps may remain as long as they do not create a walking hazard.
Not all of the white colors are a perfect match, although it is hard to tell from photos. This particular cross-section has been screwed down on each end of the “X,” so the entire section may need to eventually be replaced.
The lighting in this area creates a version of the EPCOT logo around the central planter of World Celebration Gardens. The lights are meant to sync with the various Spaceship Earth shows. World Celebration Gardens and Dreamers Point opened in EPCOT on December 5, 2023, although we got an early look. The gardens are meant to “connect back to the areas surrounding them, drawing on the architectural legacy of EPCOT, modern lighting elements and a variety of natural textures.”
What do you think of Disney’s hopefully temporary lighting solution? Let us know in the comments.
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