Don’t you just LOVE spring at EPCOT?!
Hello, EPCOT Ball!
We do too! There’s SO much to see and do, and of course, there’s so much that’s NEW!
EPCOT Crowd Updates
The end of March is RIGHT in the middle of spring break, so we were expecting HUGE crowds, but we couldn’t help but notice there were VERY FEW people!
NO souls!
There was no line to get inside the Mexico pavilion…
Uhh, where are all the people?!
…and no lines inside either!
The crowds are as low as the lights!
Shortly after noon, Regal Eagle Smokehouse was basically EMPTY!
No wait at Regal Eagle
We did spot some people in the France pavilion, but this was WAY less crowded that we had seen the park in a long time. And this was supposedly on a SOLD OUT day at EPCOT!
Ahh, here the people are!
Crowds at Disney World even at capacity can fluctuate, however. The VERY next day when we went back to EPCOT, we saw more “normal” crowds for this time.
Spring break crowds arrive!
We saw wait times for Spaceship Earth at 45 minutes…
EPCOT entrance crowds!
…Test Track at 75 minutes…
The line goes past the monorail!
…and Soarin’ at 60 minutes!
Just waiting in line…wait, where are we going?
But, still, this is WAY different than we expected from a sold out Disney World!
See more photos of Disney World at “capacity!”
EPCOT Attractions Update
Soarin’
Speaking of Soarin’…this fan-favorite Future World attraction took us to an UNEXPECTED place on a recent visit — BACKSTAGE!
We’re backstage!
That hour-long queue snaked around a little in an outside backstage area near the Imagination Pavilion!
Outside The Land!
There was a full queue with distancing markers, which can help alleviate some of the crowing inside The Land Pavilion!
See the blue tape?
Any time we get to go backstage is a thrill! It’s cool to see these unexpected areas of EPCOT!
See more photos of this unusual Soarin’ queue!
The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure
The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure has had a few additions since it opened earlier this year, like Charlie “Bird” Parker’s saxophone. And now there’s ANOTHER new piece in this exhibit: A clay sculpture of Joe Gardner and Dorothea Williams from the Pixar movie Soul!
These helped the ‘Soul’ animators!
These figurines were used during the making of the movie!
Joe Gardner figurine
And just look at ALL of that detail! So stunning!
Dorothea Williams
You can see this piece of Pixar movie history at The American Adventure pavilion!
EPCOT Merchandise Updates
Mouse Gear
Sure, you can always EAT cookies at EPCOT, but if you want to bring some of that Disney magic home to your own kitchen, you can with these cookie cutters we spotted at Mouse Gear!
Cutie cutters!
We spotted TWO shapes, one is the classic Mickey icon…
Mickey cookie cutter
…and the other is Minnie Mouse’s famous BOW!
Minnie’s BOW is a cookie cutter! How cute!
These cookie cutters are $9.99 each and the silicon is removable, so you can use that to make fun Disney-shaped pancakes or eggs on the griddle!
Mitsukoshi
If you know Mario Kart, then you know how slippery those silly bananas can be! And if you love them or hate them, well, now you can get your own plush Mario Kart banana at Mitsukoshi in the Japan Pavilion!
Banana!
Heck, even if you don’t love Mario Kart, ya gotta admit this guy is ADORABLE!
Festival Market Kiosk
One of the BEST parts of EPCOT are all of the countries in World Showcase, and if you want to show off your love of Mexico, Norway, China, or any of the other countries, you can with the new World Showcase pins! We’d previously spotted these pins at Disney Springs, but now they’ve popped up in their rightful place — EPCOT!
Show off your World Showcase love!
These colorful pins are the PERFECT EPCOT souvenir and are pretty affordable at $9.99 a piece. We found them at the pin Festival Market Kiosk near the Canada pavilion!
See these pins up close here!
Test Track Simporium
Pin trading has changed since Walt Disney World reopened. Pin trading locations (and the time those locations are open!) can change. We noticed that the Test Track Simporium (the Test Track gift shop!) now has pin trading from 2 to 4PM!
Test Track Simporium pin trading
You’ll notice it by the big boards in the gift shop!
EPCOT Character Updates
Anna and Elsa
We saw Anna meeting in a new spot in the Norway Pavilion!
What are you doing way over there, Anna?
She was on the stairs on the side of the pavilion instead of right outside Royal Somerhaus like usual… VERY peculiar!
Anna?!
We’re not sure WHY Anna moved, but hey, we love a good game of hide and seek! And maybe she was playing with Elsa!
Peek-a-boo, Elsa!
We spotted this forest QUEEN in the same spot!
Wave to Elsa!
We’re not sure WHY these Frozen stars moved, but if you don’t see them at first, try and turn a corner!
A Princess Was Harder To Find in Disney World Today!
EPCOT Construction Updates
France Pavilion
There has been a circular construction wall in the France pavilion by the Flower and Garden booth line queue, and it has come down!
No more walls!
You can see the beautiful art display in this pavilion in all its glory yet again!
France Pavilion without walls
There’s still PLENTY of construction in France as EPCOT prepares for the opening of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, however.
Flower and Garden Festival
Ever wonder how all of those flowers around the lake at EPCOT stay so BRIGHT and FRESH all spring long during the Flower and Garden Festival?!
Cast Members hard at work!
Well, we saw a little behind-the-scenes action and spotted some Cast Members watering the flowers!
The flowers are going to be SO happy!
And that’s ALL of the fun, new stuff we’ve seen at EPCOT recently!
What’s New in Animal Kingdom: A LIMITED Beer, Animal Training, and MORE!
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What unexpected things have YOU seen at EPCOT lately? Let us know in the comments!
The post What’s New at EPCOT: A Queue Takes Us BACKSTAGE, Anna and Elsa Are Playing Hide-and-Seek, and MORE! first appeared on the disney food blog.