Howdy! Today was a chaotic morning in EPCOT with a lot going on; Test Track 3.0 opened to guests, the Seas Diver Lock-Out Chamber Demonstration started presentations again, and there was even a new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind collection. Oh, and of course, this all happens on Pin Tuesday.
Good Morning from EPCOT
Good morning from EPCOT. Today I have early entry to see if there is any new merchandise for Test Track 3.0. Before I even got past Spaceship Earth, I found a new map featuring the recently-renovated Test Track.
Test Track 3.0 Now Open to All Guests!
Even with early entry this morning, the Test Track queue was growing quickly. The shop was open, but unfortunately, the Test Track 3.0-specific merchandise is delayed in shipping. Womp womp. The good news is that the merchandise does exist somewhere. As always, be sure to stay tuned to our website for when that merchandise does become available.
Treasures of Xandar
As a consolation for the lack of Test Track 3.0 merchandise, Treasures of Xandar released a new collection celebrating the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. For a full breakdown, be sure to visit our website. I kinda like the seventies vibe of this new collection.
Happy Pin Tuesday
Happy Pin Tuesday from EPCOT! Even at exactly park open, the line is absurdly long. By the time I got to the front, I was the last to be able to purchase the newest Dining with Disney pin celebrating the Regal Eagle.
The limited edition pin game at Disney has taken a turn, and not in a great way. You see, the Disney Store gets first dibs, and they have to fulfill their orders, then the rest of the pins are divvied up between the four parks and Disney Springs. This is causing sellouts in less than 30 minutes, which is before the park is usually open to non-resort guests. It’s wild.
Luckily, we had another reporter at Disney Springs this morning, which is where the majority of the pins are sent, and they were able to get a full set of what was released today.
Not even six months ago, Pin Tuesdays were rather quiet and chill, but not so much these days. Please enjoy the calm moment with the small bunny keeping me entertained in the queue.
Divers Back in the Lock-Out Chamber!
In The Seas this morning at 10:30 a.m., the very first return showing of the Diver Lock-Out Chamber Demonstration began. They are only doing two performances per day for now. The morning presentation is at 10:30 a.m. and another showing is at 4 p.m.
If you have never seen this demonstration, you should make it a priority to visit one of those times. You rarely get to see a diver in a lock-out chamber like this. If you aren’t able to make it in person, you can visit our website to see the demonstration.
Germany Pavilion’s Tiny Village Update
The tiny village in the Germany Pavilion seems to be fairly quiet this morning. I did notice our tiny friend holding strong at her tower (top center). I noticed that Grandma has returned inside the house and is not watching the gentlemen out front for now (the bottom left). Our supervisor is still standing by, watching rather than jumping in to help the team (center bottom).
The most interesting aspect of this update is the number of tiny villagers who are now watching us, the guests with binoculars. It was a real inception moment.
Italy Pavilion Still Stinky
There isn’t any update on the growing algae in the Italy pavilion. Since the Flower and Garden Festival ended, this space where a gondola normally fits has been left to the elements, and boy, have they taken advantage. It almost looks like grass you could walk across. At least the garbage from last week has been removed.
The Italy tower still has a small wall surrounding the base. I wonder what the hold-up is. Let me know if you have any theories in the comments below.
More Walls in the Japan Pavilion
The Japan Pavilion has expanded its walls since our previous visit. Now all the small carts and kiosks are blocked. I wonder what we might see in this location, or if this is just an effort to make a larger walkway. As always, stay tuned to our website for any updates.
The Morocco Pavilion Dock Refurbishments Made
Good News! The Morocco Pavilion’s dock is in the process of being refurbished. The dock is no longer dipping into the lagoon. The “no see green” box has been removed from the far left side of the dock, as well as some other boxes on both sides.
Whether we like it or not, I do think the Friendship Boat will be back to operating between Morocco and Canada in a few weeks, if not sooner. Nonetheless, there is some lingering damage that needs to be addressed before the dock is reopened to guests.
France Pavilion Bikes Remain Missing and Broken
The France Pavilion still has not brought back Alfredo Linguini’s bike. Collette’s bike was fine, but there is that hole in her tire again. This is just “bad show,” as Disney would call it. That just means that it isn’t looking how it was intended, nor is it at an appropriate level for Disney standards. It just feels like it would be an easier fix.
World Traveler Window Appreciation
I don’t have much to say. These window displays aren’t new, but they always make me smile, and I felt the need to show you. Each country is represented by a character with a few extra props and fun costumes, representing each country in the World Showcase. It also reminds me of the fun designs of the nineties Disney Stores.
Mini-Mixits Mystery Pin Box Drama
During the chaos of Pin Tuesday, I overheard a few folks disappointed that the Mini Mixits Mystery Pin Box was sold out, but I found the boxes at a few different kiosks around the World Showcase.
Canada Pavilion Waterfalls Still Dry
Disappointing news: the Canada Pavilion waterfall is still not on. Hopefully, Disney will have this effect fixed soon. I think it made for some stunning pictures, and misting in this heat is always a good thing.
Rainy Exit Out of EPCOT
On my way out of EPCOT, the sky decided to open. Please enjoy the calm before the storm. Also, keep an eye out at the end of the video when the lightning hits. Wild how quickly things can turn in Florida.
I hope you enjoyed our busy morning in EPCOT. I had a lot of fun at the end of the day. It was chaotic, but in retrospect, how cool is it to have so much going on in EPCOT?
I most enjoyed seeing the demonstration at The Seas. I am a certified diver and have dived in the tanks in EPCOT as part of Disney’s Dive Quest program.
Let me know in the comments below if you have or would dive at Walt Disney World.
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