News Big changes coming to EPCOT's Future World?

[Rich Brownn]

I think it's interesting to look at Disney's choices of pavement in the parks over the years. In the early days, the ground seemed pretty utilitarian (the anecdote of guests' heels sinking into the fresh pavement on Disneyland's opening day). Then there's the rumor that Kodak recommended red pavement for MK and Epcot because it made photos pop with color.

Later, Disney went in on theming the ground guests walked on. See the sewage canal backstory of Liberty Square, the bricks of Main Street, the cobblestones in pavilions around World Showcase, or the Dinosaur prints at AK.

Then for a while, Disney seemed to smooth all uneven surfaces over for accessibility and guest safety. I'm not sure how many ankles were twisted or how many trip-and-fall lawsuits may have been brought against the Mouse, but they sort of went back to utilitarian pavements that only hinted at theming.

The recently-completed repaving on MK's Center Street is real brick, but on a smooth concrete foundation. I'm hopeful at Epcot, Disney continues to build on themed guest walkways like the LED lights and Animal Kingdom's glowing patterns.

Red was chosen because juxtaposed next to green it makes green look greener - as in a greener lawn

 

[IMDREW]

Is there a chance they'll remove the Test Track canopy with this new iteration?

 

[Earlie the Pearlie]

Is there a chance they'll remove the Test Track canopy with this new iteration?

Unfortunately, probably not. You can see the TT3 thread for a longer explanation, but the TLDR is that there isn’t really enough indoor queue space to not use the outdoor extended area, which is better off in the shade. I wish it would go, though.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

The latest aerials appear to confirm no water feature of any kind at the central planter or the old FON/Epcot logo pavement area. Most here expected as much, but it's depressing the area will be without any sort of calming water features.

The central hub project continues to feels like a monkey paw wish.

There is one spot left, that round platform where the Epcot logo used to be in the concrete is still incomplete, on the concept layout it just shows a shiny gold circle with dots in the middle. Now that the layout has changed they could have easily kept the Fountain of Nations. Nice to see them redo it.

 

[castlecake2.0]

Not sure where to put this but looks like today The Land is either washing their windows and/or painting them.

 

[Horizonsfan]

There is one spot left, that round platform where the Epcot logo used to be in the concrete is still incomplete, on the concept layout it just shows a shiny gold circle with dots in the middle. Now that the layout has changed they could have easily kept the Fountain of Nations. Nice to see them redo it.

The concrete has already been poured and there’s no stubs for plumbing. It’s not happening unless they tear out that foundation slab.

 

[TDLFan]

Hearing the World Celebration walls may come down for the start of Festival of the Holidays/Thanksgiving crowds and in preparation for Luminous premiere. A birdie says the time between Thanksgiving and the shows premier is the target date. Bus drivers have been known to be wrong though.

 

[tparris]

Hearing the World Celebration walls may come down for the start of Festival of the Holidays/Thanksgiving crowds and in preparation for Luminous premiere. A birdie says the time between Thanksgiving and the shows premier is the target date. Bus drivers have been known to be wrong though.

Honestly I’m struggling to see how they can possibly finish CommuniCore Hall by the end of this year, let alone beginning of December. The rest of world celebration, sure, but that building really doesn’t look close to being ready yet at the pace they’re going at.

 

[TDLFan]

Honestly I’m struggling to see how they can possibly finish CommuniCore Hall by the end of this year, let alone beginning of December. The rest of world celebration, sure, but that building really doesn’t look close to being ready yet at the pace they’re going at.

Yes, I'm assuming it's just the walkways they want open. That hall looks to have months of work left.

 

[tparris]

Yes, I'm assuming it's just the walkways they want open. That hall looks to have months of work left.

That’s very annoying that we’re presumably looking at another few months at least of walls around CommuniCore Hall which will take away from the atmosphere of the walkways. Especially when the way they’ve been wording things leads one to believe most of if not all of the walls will be gone by the end of this year…

 

[James Alucobond]

I’m of two minds on Communicore Hall. On one hand, it looks like it’s lagging significantly. On the other, they’ve literally done months of work prepping the entire surface for installation of the exterior panels, so it feels like that should happen quickly whenever they do it.

 

[Bocabear]

But in a lot of the pictures I have seen, the exterior surface is ready for the panels but it doesn't look like anything is happening on the interior...which also takes a good deal of time...
I am happy they are getting something done... but everyone was initially saying November for the 100th a few months back....Which is next week...

 

[James Alucobond]

But in a lot of the pictures I have seen, the exterior surface is ready for the panels but it doesn't look like anything is happening on the interior...which also takes a good deal of time...
I am happy they are getting something done... but everyone was initially saying November for the 100th a few months back....Which is next week...

We really have no idea what the state of the interior is. Also, it’s just exhibit space and meet and greets, so I won’t exactly be shedding tears if the doors stay locked for a bit. If the plaza stays blocked off, I’ll be more annoyed.

 

[Earlie the Pearlie]

We really have no idea what the state of the interior is. Also, it’s just exhibit space and meet and greets, so I won’t exactly be shedding tears if the doors stay locked for a bit. If the plaza stays blocked off, I’ll be more annoyed.

According to the concept art, they simply need to paint the building black, add a statue of Figment (just take it from the ride, we’ll never notice!!! ) and a couple of games themed to relevant IP (I believe there are also some games up for grabs in the Imagination building), and add a cardboard flat and some stanchions for Mickey to meet at!!! It’ll take them all of two years, but it should be enough to hold us over until they redo it in a few decades (unless/until it gets budget-cut)

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

The concrete has already been poured and there’s no stubs for plumbing. It’s not happening unless they tear out that foundation slab.

That’s why the center planter confused the hell out of me, it sits on top of steel framing with drainage openings in the slab. I couldn’t tell the depth and thought maybe it all went thru the side on this other slab, hope they do some shows outside of luminous with those fountains. Id rather hang out in the world showcase now any way.

 

[Bocabear]

We really have no idea what the state of the interior is. Also, it’s just exhibit space and meet and greets, so I won’t exactly be shedding tears if the doors stay locked for a bit. If the plaza stays blocked off, I’ll be more annoyed.

Exactly...we really don't know... I am sure the spaces have electrical and plumbing, restrooms and running water, so there will be a lot of finish work, and 30 days ago there were no windows or doors yet... Maybe they have crews in there banging it out super fast... That certainly isn't happening at the Cake Bake Shop...lol

 

[James Alucobond]

That certainly isn't happening at the Cake Bake Shop...lol

Disney is not handling that construction, so the comparison is pointless.

 

[Rich Brownn]

We really have no idea what the state of the interior is. Also, it’s just exhibit space and meet and greets, so I won’t exactly be shedding tears if the doors stay locked for a bit. If the plaza stays blocked off, I’ll be more annoyed.

A week before Oct 1, 1982 the post show at World of Motion was mostly empty, with construction walls everywhere. 7 days later it was finished.

 

[Bocabear]

When you have a set-in-stone deadline and it has to be done, they can always bring on more people and knock out things faster... these projects feel like they have been dragging on forever though...

Disney is not handling that construction, so the comparison is pointless.

I was speaking of construction at WDW... I don't care who is building it...Construction walls and unfinished work...visible to the public...dragging on... Most guests don't know or care who is doing the buildout, they only know that the space is shuttered and under construction for years, and in the guest eye, it is Disney.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Current walkway configuration. Yellow is the line for Moana M&G. Stay left for walkthru, or a line to get into JoW.

Green is a secret shortcut thru Project Tomorrow.