Happy Pin Tuesday! Today was a humid busy day at EPCOT. I found some new pins, The Seas is giving out new educational pamphlets, and of course, got a tiny village drama update.

Monorail Silver

Lately, I start my days at EPCOT by riding the monorail to take a peek at the Test Track refurbishment. Today, I got a “private” cabin aboard the Monorail Silver… well, a solo ride to the Transportation and Ticket Center.

Test Track Refurbishment

As I rode by Test Track, I saw that not much has changed since our last reported update. There is still a giant mud hole at the ride’s entrance, but more supplies and equipment have been staged there. Stay tuned to our website for more in-depth updates.

EPCOT Day

There were more people here today than on my visit last week. It’s hard to know why, other than that the weather has been humid while temperatures stayed in the lower 90s and high 80s. For a warm Florida day, it’s manageable, rather than the 98-101-degree days we had in July and August.

Pin Tuesday

HAPPY PIN TUESDAY! There were three limited edition pins released in the parks today. I found these two pins at Pin Traders – Camera Center in EPCOT. I have loved seeing the Bicoastal Adventures collection roll out, the Dumbo pin is my favorite. Let me know which one is your favorite in the comments below.

• Bicoastal Adventures – Dumbo The Flying Elephant
  • Limited Edition of 4000
  • Cost $19.99
• Character Scoops – Chip ‘n’ Dale and Donald Duck
  • Limited Edition of 4000
  • Cost: $19.99
• Alley Bowlers – Vanellope and Ralph
  • Limited Edition of 2000
  • Cost: 19.99

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

This is one of my favorite photo spots in EPCOT. I think it’s fun not only having the icon of the attraction, the Starblaster ship of the Xandarian Nova Corps, front and center but also Spaceship Earth, the icon of EPCOT. I’m not sure Guardians was worth the cost of losing the Universe of Energy with Bill Nye in EPCOT, but the ride is cool.

Moana Meet & Greet Queue

Today I noticed that Moana’s queue had moved toward the gray gate rather than down the path from the entrance of the park. Cast Members used to set up stanchions splitting the walkway in half, creating a tight path for the guests passing in opposite directions. I think this is a positive change for guest flow and prevents confusion.

The Seas – Seafood Watch Pamphlet

I can’t get into to many details about The Seas, as they have recently rehomed some of our friends and I am too upset. Today, they did have a Seafood Watch pamphlet from Monterey Bay Aquarium. The inside tells you which seafood options are best for the environment and which to avoid. The back offers some more information and a QR code to their website for even more information.

Side Note: If you haven’t discovered the Monterey Bay Aquarium Live Cams, I cannot recommend them enough — it’s the perfect fix if you can’t run out to your nearest aquarium. It’s also very relaxing. My favorites to just have on are the jellyfish, the sea otters, and the sharks.

DVC Lounge in ImageWorks

I have been told yet again that the Disney Vacation Club EPCOT Lounge at ImageWorks is still closed as we all patiently wait… Stay tuned to our website for when the lounge does reopen. Hopefully it will reopen before the Spaceship Earth lounge debuts for regular guests, well, those lucky enough to get a reservation.

Pooh Lug Bags Restocked

In the United Kingdom Pavilion, I saw that in The Toy Soldier shop, near the back of the pavilion, they have restocked the small Pooh Lug bags and Lug backpacks. I love these smaller Lug bags for my quick trips to the park, and yes, I do already own a Pooh Lug.

Alice Meet & Greet

It was early enough in the day that Alice was still meeting in the tea garden. There was once a tree here that kept her shaded, but it was removed. Now she moves closer to the lagoon in the afternoon, similar to Belle in France, to keep cool during her greetings.

Crêpes à Emporter Menu

Silly reporter moment… There is nothing new on the menu at Crêpes à Emporter, but the menu itself has been changed. There is no protective glass or plastic on the already plastic menu inside the box. However, after years of the elements and people physically touching the menu, it starts to wear down.

It was nice to see that they noticed this small detail and had the menu reprinted rather than waiting for something to change before replacing it.

Mitsukoshi Bag

In the Japan pavilion, I noticed that Mitsukoshi is selling their own name-branded reusable bag for $6.50. Might be handy if you’re walking out of there with far too many souvenirs… like me.

Tiny Village Drama Update

In this week’s episode of the Tiny Village Drama in the Germany pavilion, there’s not too much that’s changed. Another human was spotted in the village helping to repair a train track. They were able to have the train running in less than five minutes; if only that were true in real-sized life.

Our tiny friend still patiently waits for aid atop the tower with no railing. There seems to have been a fire at the local pump station — no injuries but a doctor was standing by. At the church, the wait for the bride’s arrival continues…

If you missed my last update, you can catch up with my previous photo report from EPCOT.

Cuckoo Clocks in the Germany Pavilion

Someone has bought all the large cuckoo clocks in the Germany pavilion. Only a few of the smaller ones remain on the far right wall. It makes the space a lot quieter and the empty walls certainly don’t help. I’m excited for whoever bought those authentic clocks but eagerly await a restock. I have an internal debate almost every EPCOT trip about not purchasing the smaller $100 range clocks.

Natti’s Last Day in the International College Program

Natti is a Cast Member in the Germany pavilion, and today was her last day of the International College Program. Everyone was celebrating by wearing a customary “I’m Celebrating” button. If you didn’t know, there are many different kinds of celebratory buttons that are totally free at the parks. There are basic ones that a Cast Member can fill out for you, or more specific ones like Happy Birthday buttons, Anniversary buttons, Just Engaged, etc.

Unfortunately, I do lose my eyes on the Oktoberfest ear heaband Disneyland already has that matches our Oktoberfest collection.

Plastic Covers on Merchandise

I spotted these plastic covers over the shoulders of shirts for sale at the festival kiosk. Maybe it helps buffer the damage from the rain? You don’t get to keep the cover if you buy one of the shirts, though.

Green Tea with Honey from the China Pavilion

I ran out of water and stamina in the China pavilion, so I picked up one of the Green Tea Honey drinks from the stand inside for just under $5. It was pretty good and I would get it again if my boss, Nana, hadn’t already told me that I had to get my pick me ups from the Japan pavilion next time.

Often, when people think of EPCOT, they think of alcohol and drinking around the World Showcase. But each pavilion also features snacks and prepacked drinks that you can try as well, if you’re looking for a sober alternative.

FREE Brew Wing Lab Buttons and Sticker!!!

At the Odyssey pavilion, Cast Members were passing out free buttons and stickers for the Brew-Wing Lab as part of the 2024 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. These were not all that they had to offer, but they only give out certain freebies at certain times, so I’ve been told. Let me know if you are able to collect any for yourself in the comments below!

Side Note: The photo op still is not back, and I’m not sure it will come back…

What was your favorite moment of the day in EPCOT? Do you have a favorite character you meet in EPCOT? Let me know in the comments below.

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The post PHOTO REPORT: EPCOT 9/17/2024 (Pins, The Seas, and Tiny Village Drama Update) appeared first on WDW News Today.