PHOTOS - A look at ground clearing and demolition in Epcot's central area

Oct 08, 2019 in "EPCOT"

Epcot central area construction - October 2019
Posted: Tuesday October 8, 2019 12:18pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The center of Epcot is full of construction walls, who's appearance has been improved with the new Epcot logo, attraction icon and colors.

At the park's main entrance area, ground clearing continues and early preparation for the new landscaping are underway.

Near to Spaceship Earth and Epcot's Guest Relations, ground clearing is taking place with the removal of trees.

Fountain of Nations, Starbucks, Club Cool and Character Spot are behind walls and demolition equipment is on site.

Between Innoventions West and the Living Seas, ground clearing is underway.

Click the gallery for more pictures of the early site preparations for the redevelopment of Epcot's Future World.

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Epcot81Fan6 hours ago

Episode 1: Planters for Fountains Episode 2: Connections and Creations: The Death of Theming Episode 3: Wonders of Life: An Abandoned Wonder Episode 4: Imagination Pavilion: The Monument to our Creative Failures

aladdin20077 hours ago

As well as the new series How Disney Built America, tonight on History .

flyerjab10 hours ago

Just spent the day in Epcot. I do really like the garden area and the Moana inspired walk through. The fact that there is no fountain here though is unfortunate. It totally stinks of Chapek and Jeff Vahle. A fountain and/or running water of some kind would have greatly elevated this area. I always think back to Pandora and the omni-present sound of water. It wouldn’t even have to be over the top.

Cmdr_Crimson12 hours ago

Sure it will be the following day...

DCBaker12 hours ago

As a reminder, EPCOT Becoming: Inside the Transformation airs tomorrow night at 10pm ET on National Geographic. A streaming date on Disney+ has not yet been announced. A 15 second trailer is available at this link: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/shows/epcot-becoming-inside-the-transformation/video/most-recent/vdka36519989

DCBaker1 day ago

Photo of a new wayfinding sign recently installed near the Rose Walk area. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53682849145_70edfb365e_o.jpg

Ayla1 day ago

There is nothing calming or restful about flashing, bright LED lights. These aren't supposed to look like the front of a Vegas hotel. I also hope they wouldn't bring on an epileptic seizure for my sister.

Epcot82Guy2 days ago

I will say, it creates a nice dynamic nature. But, it does highlight the lights not working more than you would think. And, for most months out of the year, you get 1-2 - maybe 3 - hours of that at most. So, there is a glaring issue for the rest of the day where it feels a little plasticy and cheaper than it should.

Epcot82Guy2 days ago

Having seen it in person this week, I'm torn... PROS: -The environment is very nice at night. -The lighting package here looks cool. -The music and general vibe works well (though it can get repetitive), especially its tie in to Luminous. -The garden aspects add a sense of depth. The former design felt "larger". This feels more "dense". I think both are great approaches, and the new approach feels more modern. -The interaction between Creations/Connections and the center is great. I hope they can create something similar with CommuniCore Hall. (TBD) CONS: -The area has a very different vibe in the day vs. night. During the day, it does feel a bit lacking. The kinetic energy is not there during the day. -They actually have a perfect place for a fountain in the southern planter. That area is basically dead. They could easily put in a jumping or creative fountain in the middle of the giant fountain and solve a number of problems. -The lighting being out is more noticeable than I hoped. They really need to work on maintenance here. -People gather in the center near the Figment topiary. Nowhere else... -CommuniCore hall looks quite cheap in materials, especially when compared with the other buildings. I know it's modern materials, but it is a noticeably a box clad in flat panels. Again, the lighting is a nice touch, and the mural is not bad. But, it feels much more like the TTC than anything substantial in a Disney theme park (let alone a new build). Kinda like Luminous, it feels like a really good idea given a much reduced budget. The west side of World Celebration also feels very disjointed/sparse from the east side, which is an issue. -I still hate the "missing" quarter of the central circle behind JOW. (However, doing some sort of modern archway walk way a la Rainbow Tunnel or Lights of Winter would do wonders.) TLDR - Cool idea with some cool night effects. The general vibe. Execution is uncertain and feels a bit disjointed. And, it feels noticeably budget cut, even not knowing anything more substantial planned.

HauntedPirate2 days ago

LED lighting does not provide “kinetic energy”. IMHO.

MisterPenguin2 days ago

The only panels that light are the ones that are flat (they don't pop outward into two new triangles) and the ones with a border. Flat panels with no border aren't LEDs (it seems) and the ones that pop out don't light up, tho, they seem they do when they reflect the panels that do light up.

radiorae2 days ago

I’m sure they are! They likely turned them all off until they can get them working again together instead of having random ones out. I’d guess they’d want it back up and running by the time Communicore Hall opens, but only time will tell!

Disstevefan12 days ago

I hope part of the testing includes power washing ;)

Disstevefan12 days ago

Did TWDC buy a LED lighting company? The interns in charge of the lighting design in all parks in WDW LOVE to use A LOT of different color lights. As the interns say, "Fountains are so 1982...."