New Details On EPCOT's Historic Transformation At Walt Disney World

Walt Disney once said EPCOT “would always be in a state of becoming” as a place that changes with the times. The Walt Disney World Resort theme park is delivering on that promise in a whole new way as it continues the biggest transformation in its history, bringing the next generation of immersive storytelling to life through a plethora of new attractions and experiences.

First announced back in 2019, Disney said the park would be unified with four neighborhoods that each speak to important aspects of the world and its people: World Showcase, World Celebration, World Nature and World Discover.

World Discovery is now home to the newest attraction: “Guardians of the Galaxy’s Cosmic Rewind” replacing Ellen’s Universe of Energy. The first full-size Starblaster ever built stands outside the new attraction.

The attraction will be the first roller coaster at EPCOT, the first reverse launch for a Disney coaster, and it is the longest fully enclosed coaster in the world — housed in one of the largest show buildings ever constructed for a Disney park. It has been said that four Spaceship Earths (a.k.a. the EPCOT giant golf ball) would fit inside. Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster to open to public on May 27.

This morning, Walt Disney World shared several new renderings with us showing the new experiences and locations coming to EPCOT. The theme park is currently undergoing one of its largest transformations in its history, bringing the next generation of immersive storytelling to life through new attractions and experiences. As you look at the concept renderings, you can see how the transformation of EPCOT will take shape as you walk past Spaceship Earth and begin your journey through the park.

World Celebration will offer a beautiful hub divided into several different gardens, with a central planter based on the five-ring EPCOT logo. Filled with ample seating and shade, you’ll be invited to connect with one another and the nature around you in this lush new area. Each of these gardens will have their own identities, and they’ll change along with the festivals throughout the year.

The area will also be home to Dreamer’s Point, which will be the home of a statue paying tribute to the original dreamer, Walt Disney.

At night, the gardens will take on a whole new life, as you can see in the renderings. They’re designed to be enjoyed in the round, where lighting immerses you in the nighttime experience that will evolve through the seasons.

This all surrounds CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza, a multi-use facility and outdoor event space, respectively, that bring the park’s international festivals to the center of EPCOT. CommuniCore Plaza will have the flexibility to host intimate musical performances that extend out into the nearby gardens, as you can see in the rendering above, as well as large-scale concerts.

CommuniCore Hall will be a flexible exhibition and gallery space, offering a wide variety of experiences that highlight art, live music, food – complete with a demonstration kitchen – and more. In addition, adjacent to CommuniCore Hall will be a new Mickey & Friends location where you can meet some of your favorite Disney characters.

This new facility, which you can see in the upper-right side of this rendering, is inspired by the original EPCOT aesthetic apparent throughout the park’s transformation, including the timeless triangular geometry most prominently featured in Spaceship Earth. Even the CommuniCore name reaches back to the origins of EPCOT while also emphasizing the park’s central idea of community.

We’ll have a lot more to share on the transformation of EPCOT as the center of the park continues to develop, so be sure to follow our social accounts!

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