Howdy! Today was a rather dreary day in Walt Disney World. However, there were tons of new finds and fun to be had at EPCOT today. I started the morning with Pin Tuesday, as I do every Tuesday, and finished the day with snacks and fun. Could you ask for a better Tuesday?
Good Morning from EPCOT
Good morning from an already overcast day in EPCOT. I won’t complain about the shade too much, but it sure does make me a little sleepy. When I arrived at the touchpoints in EPCOT, I noticed that the Cast Members had completed the installation of the new gates on each side of the entrance. Each side now has four double gates. The center, which is most often used, still does not have any poles or a suggestion that these gates could be installed there.
As always, stay tuned to our website for more details to come.
Happy Pin Tuesday!
Happy Pin Tuesday for all you Pin Traders and Pin Collectors. This week, there were three pin drops. Let me know which one you like the most in the comments below. My favorite is the Autumn Stitch pin, since the pin Stitch literally can roll around in the leaves.
- Autumn Stitch Pin
- Limited Release
- $19.99
- Rosh Hashanah Chip & Dale Pin
- Limited Edition of 2500
- $22.99
- Haunted Mansion Attraction Map Puzzles Mystery Pin Box
- Limited Edition of 475 EACH
- Full Collection Includes 12 Puzzle Pins
- 1 Chaser Pin Limited Edition of 300
- 1 Pin Per Box
- $19.99
Sunshine Seasons Upgrades with New Signs
When I finally escaped from Pin Tuesday, I ran over to Sunshine Seasons in the Land pavilion for a quick bite. I noticed when I arrived that there were new Order and Pick-Up window signs at each area. I love that they have made it so clear for guests who don’t live here. I think I’m still in the minority with that. This certainly makes it a lot clearer and less chaotic at busy times.
The Seas with Nemo and Friends is Disappointing Lately
The Seas with Nemo & Friends entrance has been struggling for a while now. I honestly have lost track of the last time I saw the splashing water feature; it has to have been over a year now. Lately, I have noticed the seagulls starting to struggle more and more. If you watch the clip above, you’ll notice that they don’t move their beaks with the sound effects, which sorta messes with the illusion. For now, at least their wings and heads still move.
The Actual Seas is NOT Disappointing
Inside the aquarium is way more impressive than the ride anyway. I was excited to catch a few of the manatees eating breakfast. I was confused by the diver with the flashlight in the main tank. I wonder what they were up to in there.
Do you have a favorite underwater creature? Let me know in the comments below. I have so many, but the cuttlefish has been the most consistent.
NEW Pegasus Baby Plush – $39.99
Okay, I know that price tag made me want to choke, but he is adorable. If I had an excuse at all to take him home, I would, but alas. I found baby Pegasus in Gateway Gifts, right in the entrance of EPCOT under Spaceship Earth.
I love this movie. I wish these characters had more of a lasting presence in the parks.
NEW Adult Soarin’ Shirt – $34.99
Slightly cheaper than Baby Pegasus, and wearable. If they had made the Eiffel Tower bend, I would have been about it, but they missed the mark on this design for me. It’s an obvious reference to Soarin’ Around the World, which is known for the bendy version of the iconic French tower. It’s a fine shirt, though.
The Odyssey Carpet – GO AWAY – IT SMELLS LIKE FEET
Bear with me here, the Odyssey smells. It has a smelly stench that pinches your nose hairs with its stank. It’s bad. I could never really figure out why, then I finally figured it out. IT’S THE CARPET! WHO DECIDED WE COULD LEAVE CARPET IN HERE THIS LONG?!?!? GET IT OUT! I can’t even imagine the disgusting stains and bacteria growing below the surface to get that foot aroma in a place that should smell more like chicken.
GET THE CARPET OUT OF THE ODYSSEY ASAP!!!! EW. Okay, sorry, I am a drama queen, but still gross.
Fresh Concrete in the Mexico Pavilion
It’s good to see the concrete theming is continuing through the rest of the Mexico pavilion. The concrete is cut and prepped for even more work to come.
Food and Wine Glassware and Food Reviews
In the Germany pavilion, I got to review two new treats from Karamell-Kuche. Be sure to visit our website for my full review. Spoiler: I loved the cupcake. That’s all you’re getting out of me, though!
I also found the new EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival 2025 glassware set by Arribas. I usually prefer this version over the ones Disney releases.
Restaurant Marakesh Sign Lettering REMOVED
In the Morocco pavilion, the Restaurant Marakesh lettering has finally been removed from the front sign. The painting on the wall remains the same for now, but it seems Disney has finally decided to move on. Restaurant Marakesh never reopened after the parks shut down during the global pandemic in 2020. Since then it’s primarily been used as a flex lounge space during different events.
Skittles POP’d Freeze Dried Candy!
In World Traveler, I found two new Skittles snacks, but freeze-dried! I love that these are being offered in a prepackaged form. Previously, you could get freeze-dried Skittles from the Confectionery in Magic Kingdom.
Hidden Mickey Moment
If you have never noticed before, or maybe you just needed a reminder, there is a hidden Mickey on the totem pole in the Canada pavilion. See if you are able to spot it on your next trip to the World Showcase. There are a lot of hidden Mickeys in the World Showcase.
Film Crew Takeover
Throughout the day, I kept running into film crews around the park. In the morning, in Celebration Garden, there was a crew gathering nice shots of Remy and his Hide-and-Squeak Map. The other two crews were filming actors, likely getting commercial shots. Let me know if you have ever seen a film crew at Walt Disney World in the comments below.
I hope you enjoyed our day in EPCOT. Other than getting to eat some fun desserts, I most enjoyed finding the Restaurant Marakesh sign missing. I am curious if any new lettering replaces what was removed.
Let me know in the comments below if you had a favorite find or moment from today’s adventures. You can also let me know if there are any things you would like to see in the next photo report.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.