Smiley/OCD
Well-Known Member
Settle down, Katiebug!! LolI can't see the castle!
#vacationruined
-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
Then and Now - WDW Comparison Photos
- Thread starter WDWtraveler
- Start date
Forty-eighth set of photo pairs. France Pavilion at Epcot. Remy's Ratatouille Adventure addition.
Then: March 2018. Before the Ratatouille attraction was built, the right side of France was a quiet courtyard that led to a backstage gate.
Now: June 2022. The pathway was enlarged and an entrance to the Ratatouille attraction was added.
Then: March 2018. From across the canal, as viewed from the Epcot resort's International Gateway, the first construction fence appeared and many of the existing trees were removed. This was a backstage area for the France pavilion.
Now: June 2022. From the same viewpoint, portions of the Ratatouille attraction can be seen as well as other new buildings. Most obvious is the addition of the Skyliner tower and transportation system.
Then: March 2018. Before the Ratatouille attraction was built, the right side of France was a quiet courtyard that led to a backstage gate.
Now: June 2022. The pathway was enlarged and an entrance to the Ratatouille attraction was added.
Then: March 2018. From across the canal, as viewed from the Epcot resort's International Gateway, the first construction fence appeared and many of the existing trees were removed. This was a backstage area for the France pavilion.
Now: June 2022. From the same viewpoint, portions of the Ratatouille attraction can be seen as well as other new buildings. Most obvious is the addition of the Skyliner tower and transportation system.
Forty-ninth set of photo pairs. Tron Lightcycle / Run at the Magic Kingdom.
Then: July 2017. View from the PeopleMover looking at Tomorrowland Speedway and the Space Mountain gift shop.
Now: July 2023. The view has changed considerably. The roof of the Tomorrowland Launch Depot (gift shop) seems rather plain now. Note the rectangular speaker box on a pole is still there.
Then: July 2017. Ground level view between the Tomorrowland Speedway and the Space Mountain gift shop. Note the effects that gave the pavement "character."
Now: July 2023. Gone are the benches, planters, and the building buttresses that would impede traffic flow.
Then: July 2017. This view from the PeopleMover is recognizable because of the two light poles that still remain in place. In the below photo, the only features that stand out are the train tracks and the pathway to Fantasyland.
Now: July 2023. The same view as in the above photo shows the same two light poles, but Tron Lightcycle/Run fills the view. The realigned train tracks are hidden inside the tunnel and behind the tall landscaping.
Then: July 2017. As viewed from the PeopleMover, the recognizable feature below is the staircase inside the Tomorrowland Speedway track. The background was a large area of trees with a partially hidden pathway to Fantasyland.
Now: July 2023. The reworked staircase is still in place, but the view is dominated by Tron Lightcycle/Run.
Then: December 2018. Finally, a view from Fantasyland of the pathway along The Barnstormer and train tracks that led to Tomorrowland.
Now: July 2023. The same view of the pathway to Tomorrowland. The train tracks are well hidden by tall landscaping, which also hides the box building of Tron Lightcycle/Run. Note the extended queue line poles for The Barnstormer in the current photo.
Then: July 2017. View from the PeopleMover looking at Tomorrowland Speedway and the Space Mountain gift shop.
Now: July 2023. The view has changed considerably. The roof of the Tomorrowland Launch Depot (gift shop) seems rather plain now. Note the rectangular speaker box on a pole is still there.
Then: July 2017. Ground level view between the Tomorrowland Speedway and the Space Mountain gift shop. Note the effects that gave the pavement "character."
Now: July 2023. Gone are the benches, planters, and the building buttresses that would impede traffic flow.
Then: July 2017. This view from the PeopleMover is recognizable because of the two light poles that still remain in place. In the below photo, the only features that stand out are the train tracks and the pathway to Fantasyland.
Now: July 2023. The same view as in the above photo shows the same two light poles, but Tron Lightcycle/Run fills the view. The realigned train tracks are hidden inside the tunnel and behind the tall landscaping.
Then: July 2017. As viewed from the PeopleMover, the recognizable feature below is the staircase inside the Tomorrowland Speedway track. The background was a large area of trees with a partially hidden pathway to Fantasyland.
Now: July 2023. The reworked staircase is still in place, but the view is dominated by Tron Lightcycle/Run.
Then: December 2018. Finally, a view from Fantasyland of the pathway along The Barnstormer and train tracks that led to Tomorrowland.
Now: July 2023. The same view of the pathway to Tomorrowland. The train tracks are well hidden by tall landscaping, which also hides the box building of Tron Lightcycle/Run. Note the extended queue line poles for The Barnstormer in the current photo.
Robbiem
Well-Known Member
This thread has brought back so many memories of happy family vacations with people no longer here. Thank you to everyone for sharing
I‘ve not been to Florida for 24 years so I’m amazed by so many of the changes like no sparking lights in the Magic Kingdom trees and Dinosaur Gerty being closed (I remember when she had big letters spelling ice cream on her back)
I‘ve not been to Florida for 24 years so I’m amazed by so many of the changes like no sparking lights in the Magic Kingdom trees and Dinosaur Gerty being closed (I remember when she had big letters spelling ice cream on her back)
willtravel
Well-Known Member
@WDWtraveler Sure do miss your postings.
50th set of photo pairs. Epcot main plaza behind Spaceship Earth and Communicore Hall. With the current dense landscaping (trees, etc.) in the plaza, only a few building landmarks were visible to line up these photo pairs.
Then: September 2013. The main plaza behind Spaceship Earth, as seen from the entrance walkway on the right side. Looking towards the large fountain in the center, you can see in the distance the end of the MouseGear gift shop building.
Now: August 2024. The only thing recognizable in the new photo is in the center, the end of the same building that housed MouseGear, which is now the Creations Shop.
Then: August 2019. View from the plaza fountain (silver railing on the left) towards the Starbucks Fountain View coffee shop. To the right of the coffee shop is the green passageway to The Land pavilion.
Now: August 2024. Same general view from the center of the plaza. The opening to the right of the building leads towards The Land pavilion.
Then: August 2019. The end of the West Innovations building housed the original Club Cool. The Fountain View coffee shop is on the right. The silver railing on the left surrounded the central fountain in the plaza.
Now: August 2024. While the West Innovations building is gone, this is the approximate view of where the original Club Cool was, which is now the outdoor stage near Communicore Hall.
Then: August 2019. View from the rear door of MouseGear gift shop looking across the plaza to the end of the West Innovations building. The low circular structure on the right side is the outdoor stage at the back of the central fountain. The landmark for this photo was the Imagination pavilion pyramid to the left of West Innovations.
Now: August 2024. The same view from the rear door of the Creations Shop (same building) looking across the plaza. The Imagination pavilion pyramid building is on the left, but mostly hidden by the newly planted trees.
Then: September 2013. The main plaza behind Spaceship Earth, as seen from the entrance walkway on the right side. Looking towards the large fountain in the center, you can see in the distance the end of the MouseGear gift shop building.
Now: August 2024. The only thing recognizable in the new photo is in the center, the end of the same building that housed MouseGear, which is now the Creations Shop.
Then: August 2019. View from the plaza fountain (silver railing on the left) towards the Starbucks Fountain View coffee shop. To the right of the coffee shop is the green passageway to The Land pavilion.
Now: August 2024. Same general view from the center of the plaza. The opening to the right of the building leads towards The Land pavilion.
Then: August 2019. The end of the West Innovations building housed the original Club Cool. The Fountain View coffee shop is on the right. The silver railing on the left surrounded the central fountain in the plaza.
Now: August 2024. While the West Innovations building is gone, this is the approximate view of where the original Club Cool was, which is now the outdoor stage near Communicore Hall.
Then: August 2019. View from the rear door of MouseGear gift shop looking across the plaza to the end of the West Innovations building. The low circular structure on the right side is the outdoor stage at the back of the central fountain. The landmark for this photo was the Imagination pavilion pyramid to the left of West Innovations.
Now: August 2024. The same view from the rear door of the Creations Shop (same building) looking across the plaza. The Imagination pavilion pyramid building is on the left, but mostly hidden by the newly planted trees.
Last edited:
Tuvalu
Premium Member
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
This looks like they put the flower bed over a parking lot.
Simba's Mom
Well-Known Member
All these photos are fascinating-I wish I had some to show. Last time I was at the Le Halles Bakery in France, I took my tray out to the courtyard area to eat, the open area surrounded by the Doorway to the ice cream shop, the France movie, where there used to be tables and chairs. No tables and chairs there now-just one big open area. I'd like to think that maybe everything had been cleared out to wash the area, and they hadn't put the stuff back yet, but I suspect that's not the case. Too bad-there's little enough seating there as it was.
I too, remember those tables and chairs in the courtyard. Haven't seen them for quite some time, unfortunately. Getting a table at Les Halles is like hitting a jackpot, lol.
51st set of photo pairs. Boardwalk ESPN Club transformed to the Cake Bake Shop.
Then: March 2022. The final facade version for the ESPN Club as seen from the Epcot pathway to the Boardwalk resort. The end of the Boardwalk resort is on the right side of the photo.
Now: March 2025. The Cake Bake Shop as you approach the Boardwalk resort from the Epcot pathway.
Then: March 2022. The entrance to the ESPN Club.
Now: March 2025. The entrance to the Cake Bake Shop Bakery.
Then: March 2022. The entrance to the ESPN octagon dining room was through the entrance under the awning.
Now: March 2025. The Cake Bake restaurant has its own entrance to the octagon dining room.
Then: March 2022. The final facade version for the ESPN Club as seen from the Epcot pathway to the Boardwalk resort. The end of the Boardwalk resort is on the right side of the photo.
Now: March 2025. The Cake Bake Shop as you approach the Boardwalk resort from the Epcot pathway.
Then: March 2022. The entrance to the ESPN Club.
Now: March 2025. The entrance to the Cake Bake Shop Bakery.
Then: March 2022. The entrance to the ESPN octagon dining room was through the entrance under the awning.
Now: March 2025. The Cake Bake restaurant has its own entrance to the octagon dining room.
Attachments
Horizons '83
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Say what you will about the Cake Bake shop prices but aesthetically it’s objectively much better for the area.
willtravel
Well-Known Member
Agree. But I still miss ESPN.
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
Major downgrade, in my opinion.
Those ‘futuristic’ stylized Tomorrowland waterfall spires were beautiful.
Even without the water operating, they should have kept those and not removed them.
Great example of a ‘less is more’ design approach when comparing these three shots.
The first is visually stunning.
Everything has a purpose here.
Second shot the sleek simplicity is replaced by visual clutter.
Third shot is even more cluttered, with a dreary and dark color palette overlay added.
Just miserable…compared to what glorious visuals were once present.
-
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
I really don't mind the general building redesign, but I have always been puzzled as to why the future is depicted as a pile of pointy, jagged rocks. Is it supposed to define another planet besides our own? And why would I be interested in what Tomorrow-land looks like if it isn't Earth.
It's to bad that the design of the original walls of water weren't engineered properly so that they didn't become a problem because that did make it look like the future with no doubts at all. Purple rocks mean nothing to me, in fact, it tends to pull me to the past instead of the future. Maybe someone could help me understand the thinking behind it.