At EPCOT, World Celebration — previously the center of Future World — has been undergoing a years-long transformation. This includes the construction of CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza (replacing the previously planned festival center), new gardens, and Dreamers Point featuring a new Walt Disney statue.
World Celebration
The transformation of World Celebration began with the closure of Innoventions, Electric Umbrella, and MouseGear. The latter became Creations Shop, while Innoventions West and Electric Umbrella became Connections Eatery and Café (Starbucks). Club Cool also moved next to Creations Shop.
The area in front of Connections and Creations has been filled with trees, blocking views of some construction.
We can see more white poles through the trees. The most obvious of these poles are in CommuniCore Plaza, but they will be throughout the gardens, as well.
In the background of these photos, we can also see a new curved wall decorated with circles, near where Dreamers Point will be located.
The Walt the Dreamer statue will be on a set of steps right behind Spaceship Earth. Many Disney Parks around the world feature statues of Walt Disney, but this one will be unique because he’s not accompanied by Mickey Mouse.
More white poles surround the giant EPCOT logo that will be at the center of the park. The center of the logo is marked by two short walls visible to the right in the above photo.
At night, the white poles will be illuminated, as seen in the concept art below.
The giant EPCOT logo will be outlined with light-up pavement, a once classic feature of EPCOT that has been absent for years now.
World Celebration and CommuniCore will be able to house decorations and offerings related to various EPCOT festivals throughout the year. The above two pieces of concept art show how the central courtyard may look during the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
CommuniCore Plaza
CommuniCore Plaza is surrounded by overhangs creating an L-shaped off-shoot of CommuniCore Hall.
Through the plaza construction site, we could see new brown tree-like structures. We saw one of these earlier this month. Though they resemble the brown, curved lampposts we’ve seen in Journey of Water Inspired by “Moana,” they are not part of the walkthrough attraction.
A small concrete structure is partially under one of the plaza overhangs, which are supported by white columns.
The largest white poles are within the L shape of the plaza, sitting on concrete forms.
Some of the plaza has been paved, and other sections of the foundation are covered in rebar.
There are six light-up poles surrounding the plaza.
There was previously a stage used for musical performances in the center of Future World, so the new CommuniCore Plaza Stage will take over that role.
Below is concept art featuring the CommuniCore Plaza Stage with a EPCOT International Festival of the Arts banner.
The building behind the stage is CommuniCore Hall. The spaces are named after the precursor to Innoventions, CommuniCore, which were two opening day pavilions at EPCOT.
CommuniCore Hall
Much of CommuniCore Hall is now covered in yellow paneling.
Scaffolding still covers the wall of the building behind the recently-reopened World Nature restrooms.
Steel grids cover some of the building’s walls. According to concept art, the building will have an exterior resembling Spaceship Earth, with a pattern of triangles.
There are white columns at the future entrances to CommuniCore Hall.
CommuniCore Hall will house the park’s new permanent Mickey & Friends meet-and-greet. The building will also have a demo kitchen, mixology bar, and gallery space.
Above is concept art of the exterior of the Mickey & Friends meet-and-greet. Below is the concept art of the interior gallery space.
World Celebration Concept Art
And here is an overall look at what World Celebration will look like when construction is completed. CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza are scheduled to open this fall, along with Journey of Water Inspired by “Moana.”
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