All articles tagged with #epcot
The daily recap highlights new offerings and updates at Disney parks, including new menu items at Hollywood Studios, merchandise like plush toys and ornaments, a reopening date for the Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland, and special events such as the Fourth of July fireworks and Universal Orlando's first July 4th celebration.
Disney announced that the reimagined Test Track at EPCOT will reopen on July 22, 2025, featuring a redesigned ride experience that highlights the history and future of mobility, with updates to ride vehicles, exhibits, and scenery, moving away from Chevrolet branding to a broader General Motors partnership.
The Earth sculpture has been restored and returned to Mission: SPACE at EPCOT after undergoing refurbishment as part of the ongoing updates to the attraction's Planetary Plaza, which also includes tracks from the NASA Perseverance Rover and a refreshed Jupiter. The Mission: SPACE simulator offers two intensities, Green and Orange, providing guests with missions around Earth and to Mars, respectively.
Walt Disney World's new nighttime show at EPCOT, called "Luminous The Symphony of Us," is a tearjerker that aims to evoke emotions from its audience. Unlike other Disney shows, "Luminous" does not use projections but instead personifies water to convey human experiences like love and loss. The show focuses on the human connection and bringing people together, using music, water, light, and fireworks to take guests on an emotional journey. While it may make people cry, the show's creators also remind guests that they are never alone. The show's barges, unlike the ones used in the previous show, are not permanent fixtures and are removed daily.
Disney has released the full menus for the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, featuring over 30 new food and beverage options. The festival will run from November 23 to December 30 and will include the return of the Holiday Cookie Stroll, Holiday Storytellers, and various performances and activities. Guests can enjoy a wide range of dishes from different cuisines and indulge in festive treats and drinks throughout the park.
A TikTok video captures a guest at Disney World's Epcot jumping off a bridge into the park's World Showcase Lagoon before swimming to a nearby gondola to escape the water. The incident, which violated park rules, is one of several instances of guests entering restricted areas at Disney parks. Disney World representatives have not yet commented on the footage.
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, the newest attraction at EPCOT in Walt Disney World, has been added to the My Disney Experience app map just one day before its official opening. The map shows the attraction's location, including Moana's meet and greet area and the walkthrough attraction. Some users have reported seeing the updated map, while others still see representative greenspace.
The Perseverance Rover tracks have been unveiled at Mission: SPACE in EPCOT, showcasing a recreation of the surface of Mars using images captured by the rover. The installation, a collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and NASA, includes a prototype wheel loaned by NASA and 3D printed sample tubes. The display also features a plaque providing information about the rover's mission to collect Mars rock samples and determine if there was ever life on the planet. The previous tracks from the Spirit and Opportunity rovers were removed during a pavement refurbishment in 2023.
Perseverance Rover tracks have made their debut at Mission: SPACE in EPCOT, thanks to a collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and NASA. The tracks were recreated using reference images and a prototype wheel provided by NASA, and they replace the old Spirit and Opportunity tracks that disappeared during a pavement refurbishment.
A new nighttime spectacular called Luminous: The Symphony of Us will debut at EPCOT in Walt Disney World Resort on December 5. The show will feature fireworks, fountains, and Disney music.
EPCOT's Mission: SPACE has unveiled colorful new pavement at its entrance, while the iconic Mars rover tracks have disappeared with an uncertain future. The Martian display at the attraction's entrance is still in disrepair, showing heavy wear and tear. The structure serves as more than decoration, as it hides the entrance area for both the Orange and Green Team experiences. The Mission: SPACE attraction simulates the thrill of space travel using high G-forces, and has undergone changes over the years to accommodate guest comfort.
Walt Disney World Resort is undergoing a transformation with the closure and redevelopment of EPCOT's World Celebration area. The park is divided into three neighborhoods, and the ongoing construction aims to create unique and varied experiences for guests. The new developments include the Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana attraction and the transformation of the area behind Spaceship Earth into CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza, which will serve as the hub for EPCOT festivals. The progress of the construction has been shared through aerial photos, and there is no set end date for the project. Disney World will provide updates on the transformation at the upcoming Destination D23 event.
Guests at Walt Disney World's EPCOT were left trapped in a tight and uncomfortable space in the queue for the park's newest attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. This is not the first time this has happened, with similar issues occurring on other rides at the park. Guests have expressed their frustration and concern for safety.
Walt Disney World sees new merchandise releases, including Arribas Brothers items and "Elemental" merchandise, while a Disney Visa Cardmember greeting with Darth Vader returns to Hollywood Studios. However, the day is marred by the presence of white supremacist groups waving swastika and DeSantis 2024 flags outside the park entrance. Meanwhile, Disneyland Resort introduces new Empire-themed merchandise and ear headbands.
"Harmonious Live!" will be leaving Disney+ on May 26, 2023, along with other titles such as "Turner and Hooch" and "Diary of a Future President." The show, which was a special performance of the former "Harmonious" nighttime spectacular at EPCOT, was the first original theme park content on Disney+ since "The Imagineering Story" in 2019. "Harmonious" itself ended on April 2, 2023, following the conclusion of the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration. The show will now only be viewable on YouTube and other video platforms.