EPCOT Spaceship Earth refurbishment coming soon?

[flyerjab]

I mean, for all we know they might want a theme park without any construction in 2026, then once Tropical Americas opens in 2027, attention may turn back to Epcot (It'll be 10 years since the Epcot redo was announced in 2027)

I am of the mind that Epcot will be targeted again in a few years. I know that there was a pandemic that occurred around the MK’s 50th, but that celebration was lackluster (and that’s being generous). There is still money to be spent for turbocharging in WDW beyond the current slate of projects. That being said, and knowing how special of a park Epcot is to the fan community, I am still bullish on them targeting a big SSE refurb and an Imagination Pavilion overhaul so that both debut for Epcot’s 50th in 2032.

I also wonder about the central garden/park area of Epcot. Several months back Rohde was spotted walking around that area with some other younger Imagineers (hopefully critiquing the hell out of that redo). Then Bob and Josh were seen very recently walking through that area. I’m so hoping that they all looked at that and thought “this is it? Screwed in light fixtures and no water features?” It’s a pipe dream, but I guarantee Rohde probably left scratching his ear lobe after seeing that. I am so hoping that someone does something to fix that whole area down the road. I mean Josh just walked through Celestial Gardens at Epic. How can you not compare both locations and think “man, we really dropped the ball here.”

 

[Ayla]

I see SE will be closing late August. I will be there a few weeks later. Honestly if I had known so many attractions would be closed during my visit I would not have made my reservation and gone to Universal.

Park reservations can be cancelled.

 

[larryz]

I mean Josh just walked through Celestial Gardens at Epic. How can you not compare both locations and think “man, we really dropped the ball here.”

If I were Josh, I'd be thinking "I wonder if they're hiring upper managment..."

 

[larryz]

Park reservations can be cancelled.

I'm guessing you live close by WDW. For someone who doesn't, a WDW Vacation takes on the scale of Operation Overlord.

 

[Purduevian]

I thought Coco was off the table due to crowding. That pavilion doesn’t have a space for an extended queue and/or lightning lane.

If Disney really wants Coco in the Mexican Pavilion (which I would considering they could share resources with DCA), the smart place to build is behind the Royal Summer Haus and have it disconnected from the pyramid. I think there has to remain that awkward gap for emergency vehicles... but there is space.

 

[Ayla]

I'm guessing you live close by WDW. For someone who doesn't, a WDW Vacation takes on the scale of Operation Overlord.

View attachment 867979

I live in Wisconsin.

If the poster would prefer to go to Universal for the day, cancel the WDW park reservation and go to Universal.

 

[Touchdown]

If Disney really wants Coco in the Mexican Pavilion (which I would considering they could share resources with DCA), the smart place to build is behind the Royal Summer Haus and have it disconnected from the pyramid. I think there has to remain that awkward gap for emergency vehicles... but there is space.

View attachment 867980

The problem is that the resturants back of house is on that side of the Mexican Pavillion that makes routing people there would mean moving that which is very expensive.

 

[KDM31091]

I am of the mind that Epcot will be targeted again in a few years. I know that there was a pandemic that occurred around the MK’s 50th, but that celebration was lackluster (and that’s being generous). There is still money to be spent for turbocharging in WDW beyond the current slate of projects. That being said, and knowing how special of a park Epcot is to the fan community, I am still bullish on them targeting a big SSE refurb and an Imagination Pavilion overhaul so that both debut for Epcot’s 50th in 2032.

I also wonder about the central garden/park area of Epcot. Several months back Rohde was spotted walking around that area with some other younger Imagineers (hopefully critiquing the hell out of that redo). Then Bob and Josh were seen very recently walking through that area. I’m so hoping that they all looked at that and thought “this is it? Screwed in light fixtures and no water features?” It’s a pipe dream, but I guarantee Rohde probably left scratching his ear lobe after seeing that. I am so hoping that someone does something to fix that whole area down the road. I mean Josh just walked through Celestial Gardens at Epic. How can you not compare both locations and think “man, we really dropped the ball here.”

Yeah. The central garden is just not good enough. I don't know if there's anyone who would really defend it. Mistakes happen. Maybe they will go back to the drawing board and fix it at some point. They could have just left the fiber optic lights alone instead of installing barely working plastic nightmares that are roped off a lot of the time which is an eyesore, obviously.

As far as SSE I'm glad it's getting some attention. I kind of want a show update but also kind of not because I don't know if it will necessarily be an improvement with today's Disney. At least the ride will get freshened up. I would like if they updated the "choose your ending" since the tech is much more advanced than it was in 2007, and could have infinitely more possibilities, but I am guessing it gets left alone.

 

[Bocabear]

The problem is that the resturants back of house is on that side of the Mexican Pavillion that makes routing people there would mean moving that which is very expensive.

Since Odyssey will never return as a proper restaurant, they could take that side of the pyramid and expand the show building on that side, and exit the ride into the Pyramid with a bypass to World Showcase. Coco desrves a proper attraction, and the Mexico pavillion is absolutely the perfect place for this IP.

 

[mattpeto]

Since Odyssey will never return as a proper restaurant, they could take that side of the pyramid and expand the show building on that side, and exit the ride into the Pyramid with a bypass to World Showcase. Coco desrves a proper attraction, and the Mexico pavillion is absolutely the perfect place for this IP.

Coco to the West of BTM works too. Jack from DSNY with that proposal.

 

[Bocabear]

Coco to the West of BTM works too. Jack from DSNY with that proposal.

not with CARS coming in, and the location change to the farther north area of the west.... It would be a wonderful thing to culturally connect the Mexican Disney character to the Mexican pavilion...and culturally connect Dia de Muertos with the pavilion... This is actually how you integrate IP correctly into EPCOT....

 

[esskay]

Since Odyssey will never return as a proper restaurant, they could take that side of the pyramid and expand the show building on that side, and exit the ride into the Pyramid with a bypass to World Showcase. Coco desrves a proper attraction, and the Mexico pavillion is absolutely the perfect place for this IP.

Could be wrong but I'm fairly sure they still use part of the Odyssey's kitchens for some of the more minor festival food prep so that'd need a new home too.

Really the answer here is to stop trying to shoehorn it into Mexico as theres just not the space without a much larger rework of that area of the park, which then kind of negates the point of doing it as it turns it from "Just retheme the existing ride" to "build a new pavilion and new buildings elsewhere for backstage stuff".

Don't get me wrong - Mexico absolutely is the best place for it logically and from a guest point of view, it's just a logistical nightmare that doesn't have a simple (or more crucially, cheap) solution.

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

Any idea from your sources how long it will be closed for? I'm heading down there last week of September and am hoping to ride one of my favorite attractions.

No word on length, I'm not sure that they'll know until they're further along. I'd say you have a fighting chance but I am expecting an October reopening personally

 

[tparris]

Is it just me or they either cleaning or completely replacing the panels on the sides of the Project Tomorrow building? Photos were taken today, pay attention to the darker colored panels.

 

[Purduevian]

The problem is that the resturants back of house is on that side of the Mexican Pavillion that makes routing people there would mean moving that which is very expensive.

Are you talking about the BOH in the pyramid? I'm saying leave the access road, leave the pyramid untouched. Just demo the few warehouses behind royal summer house.

Don't touch anything from the red up. Blue is the Queue, Pink the exit, green the ride building.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Could be wrong but I'm fairly sure they still use part of the Odyssey's kitchens for some of the more minor festival food prep so that'd need a new home too.

Really the answer here is to stop trying to shoehorn it into Mexico as theres just not the space without a much larger rework of that area of the park, which then kind of negates the point of doing it as it turns it from "Just retheme the existing ride" to "build a new pavilion and new buildings elsewhere for backstage stuff".

Don't get me wrong - Mexico absolutely is the best place for it logically and from a guest point of view, it's just a logistical nightmare that doesn't have a simple (or more crucially, cheap) solution.

And as much as I love Coco I would much rather a country pavilion that doesn't have a ride get one vs Mexico getting a 2nd

 

[esskay]

And as much as I love Coco I would much rather a country pavilion that doesn't have a ride get one vs Mexico getting a 2nd

Yup fully agree, would rather see something like the previously proposed Poppins ride, or even better something around Germany/Italy as thats the area with no attractions at all, at least over at the UK you've got Remi one side and Far & Wide on the other side.

 

[rd805]

I love EPCOT - probably my second fav WDW park, but it is a good 3-4 updated attractions behind to make it truly special. SSE absolutely needs an overhaul/update. Figment needs a fix, the Magic Eye theatre needs SOMETHING new that is interesting; and the WS needs an add on.

This doesn't even mention Mission Space, or the Nemo attraction which are both very weak as well.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Yup fully agree, would rather see something like the previously proposed Poppins ride, or even better something around Germany/Italy as thats the area with no attractions at all, at least over at the UK you've got Remi one side and Far & Wide on the other side.

Yeah if I had to pick it would likely be the Germany bait ride - likely would have Rapunzel attached but hopefully could include some edutainment on Germany as well

The Mt Fuji coaster would be cool too but not sure they need another coaster/thrill ride vs an everyone/family/kid ride

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

New decent video will be a 5 minute DVC spiel. No getting out of it.