EPCOT Why no New Updates to EPCOT?

[NickPalermo824]

Recently disney has started there 10 years of updates and changes like Piston Peak replacing the Rivers of America and Monstropolius replacing Grand Ave (formerly Muppets Courtyard). Weirdly enough EPCOT has not received any piece of news for ANY updates which is weird for numerous of reasons like where will that 8 Billion dollar investment going to go. It can't just go to the other three theme parks, can it?



Weirdly enough though, Spaceship Earth is closing for its first Multi-Month Refurbishment since 2007/2008. This can't just be a general maintenance reference as Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid has went down a quick reference for general maintenance. From what I have been heard from both online and even some people very close to Disney Parks this referbisment COULD include:

• OLED Screen replacing the old screens on the Ride Vehicles
• Enhanced Effects
• Lightning Upgrades
• Other Minor Updates
• General Maintenance

According to cast members will be an eight week refurbishment and nothing major will happen, but people close to me are saying something will happen during the refurbishment process. We shall find out soon.

 

[HMF]

Recently disney has started there 10 years of updates and changes like Piston Peak replacing the Rivers of America and Monstropolius replacing Grand Ave (formerly Muppets Courtyard). Weirdly enough EPCOT has not received any piece of news for ANY updates which is weird for numerous of reasons like where will that 8 Billion dollar investment going to go. It can't just go to the other three theme parks, can it?



Weirdly enough though, Spaceship Earth is closing for its first Multi-Month Refurbishment since 2007/2008. This can't just be a general maintenance reference as Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid has went down a quick reference for general maintenance. From what I have been heard from both online and even some people very close to Disney Parks this referbisment COULD include:

• OLED Screen replacing the old screens on the Ride Vehicles
• Enhanced Effects
• Lightning Upgrades
• Other Minor Updates
• General Maintenance

According to cast members will be an eight week refurbishment and nothing major will happen, but people close to me are saying something will happen during the refurbishment process. We shall find out soon.

It is very unlikely that this is the refurbishment that will bring us Version 5. I would just expect general maintenance also I thought the screens were going too. Then again that was the plan for the thankfully unrealized Chapek plans that were killed by Covid.

 

[NickPalermo824]

It is very unlikely that this is the refurbishment that will bring us Version 5. I would just expect general maintenance also I thought the screens were going too. Then again that was the plan for the thankfully unrealized Chapek plans that were killed by Covid.

I was not expecting a version five but was expecting updates but according to cast members that’s not gonna happen

 

[BrianLo]

Refurbishment “flips” are only really announced through 2026. Along the lines of the stuff they reaffirmed at the press conference last week. With the exception of Indy and Monsters show that are both part of larger projects.

With that in mind, the aspirational full new builds are not happening for Epcot this decade. But we never expected that anyways. 2028/2029 Epcot related refurb/overlay projects would not be typically announced yet.

I would expect D23 2026 is when they would be targeted.

 

[michmousefan]

I think they first need to solve the dilemma of the "screws in plastic courtyard" and its associated lighting problems first before announcing any new major projects.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Recently disney has started there 10 years of updates and changes like Piston Peak replacing the Rivers of America and Monstropolius replacing Grand Ave (formerly Muppets Courtyard). Weirdly enough EPCOT has not received any piece of news for ANY updates which is weird for numerous of reasons like where will that 8 Billion dollar investment going to go. It can't just go to the other three theme parks, can it?



Weirdly enough though, Spaceship Earth is closing for its first Multi-Month Refurbishment since 2007/2008. This can't just be a general maintenance reference as Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid has went down a quick reference for general maintenance. From what I have been heard from both online and even some people very close to Disney Parks this referbisment COULD include:

• OLED Screen replacing the old screens on the Ride Vehicles
• Enhanced Effects
• Lightning Upgrades
• Other Minor Updates
• General Maintenance

According to cast members will be an eight week refurbishment and nothing major will happen, but people close to me are saying something will happen during the refurbishment process. We shall find out soon.

We've really only gotten major news for the first half of the 10 years for work that has the $ allocated for, so more can definitely still be coming.

I know on the Disney Dish they were speculating part of this closure could be for Imagineers to have some downtime to go through the ride and really see what work is needed for a larger project / and to work on prep for that larger update, etc

 

[Gusey]

Also, Epcot has had the most recent round of additions (Ratatouille, Space 220, Guardians, Moana and World Celebration/CommuniCore Hall area). Since 2021, Epcot has seen all the new major additions barring Tron and Tiana's at Magic Kingdom. Hollywood Studios last new major addition was Mickey and Minnie's in 2020 (5 years ago) so they're getting lots of little additions in 2026 (Magic of Disney Animation, Rock 'n' Rollercoaster w/ Muppets and Millennium Falcon with Mando), leading up to the opening of Monstropolis. Similarly, Animal Kingdom's last major addition was Pandora in 2017 (8 years ago) and other than Zootopia this year, no major additions planned until 2027 (10 years after Pandora). It's ok for Epcot to have a bit of a break from major additions, instead little refurbs and updates like Test Track this year, until something for the 2nd half of the new decade of additions can open (2030-2034)

 

[bmr1591]

Also, with EPCOT's 50th not too far away, I'm certain they'll want to have a lot planned for it. We'll certainly get things like SSE done before then, but the 50th seems like a prime time to redo Figment, add another country to world showcase, fill out some attractions across world showcase etc. I don't see anything major for EPCOT until then.

 

[bunns]

The day when we sadly loose Dick Van , people will remember they got him on stage under impression they would build a Mary Poppins ride which in Disney money would cost next to nothing but make a great difference and be a nice addition to the park. They should do this now !