PHOTOS - Fountain of Nations, Starbucks, Club Cool and the original Character Spot now behind construction walls

Sep 09, 2019 in "EPCOT"

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Fountain of Nations, Character Spot, Starbucks closures

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Posted: Monday September 9, 2019 9:50am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The first round of closures are now in effect at Epcot, the first phase that will see a complete redevelopment of Future World.

Fountain of Nations is now drained and behind construction walls.

Fountain of Nations, Character Spot, Starbucks closures

It isn't clear yet if the fountain will remain, although the new area will feature plenty of water features.

Fountain of Nations, Character Spot, Starbucks closures

Club Cool is now closed behind the walls, but will ultimately be relocated on the other side in what is currently Innoventions East.

Fountain of Nations, Character Spot, Starbucks closures

Character Spot is closed, with a new location setup in another part of Innoventions West.

Fountain of Nations, Character Spot, Starbucks closures

Inside the new Character Spot, guests can continue to meet Minnie Mouse, Goofy and Mickey Mouse in-front of Epcot themed backgrounds.

Fountain of Nations, Character Spot, Starbucks closures

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Bocabear34 minutes ago

I have not seen an office park with a plaza on the scale of the original communicore plaza...with a show fountain... I have seen lots of office parks with ponds, yes... but nothing quite like Communicore Plaza in 1981... to the world at the time it debuted it was not generally thought of as an office park... The current iteration feels like a current day office park or community college campus....right now... at it's debut.... not judging it from 40 years in the future...

Mr. Sullivan8 hours ago

Maybe some people just like stuff, man. I think it’s okay to like stuff. CommuniCore Hall is an absolute joke, most of us can agree on that, but there’s still things to find in enjoyment in with some other additions they gave to the spine.

MisterPenguin9 hours ago

That's exactly what a pixie duster would say.

MisterPenguin9 hours ago

I guess you've never seen office parks with landscaping, complete with ponds and a fountain, then. I have. Lots of them.

trainplane311 hours ago

Pretty sure it's now a National Geographic thing as of like 2 weeks ago.

Sir_Cliff11 hours ago

The things he worked on while he was there are also not exactly the pinnacle of Imagineering. Does Epcot really need more Toy Storyland/Disneyland Paris Avengers Campus/Rock'n'RollerCoaster/Aladdin's Magic Carpets style Imagineering?

Epcot81Fan12 hours ago

The idea that Epcot upon opening was anything less than an awe-inspiring architectural wonder shows the lengths the sad Disney Defenders will go to justify the embarrassing current WDI output. Enjoy your planter.

James Alucobond14 hours ago

I don’t necessarily disagree, but it’s still so weird to me that he posted the original pre-COVID plans some time ago with more effusive praise of the “greening of EPCOT”, which is basically what we got minus the table. Like, agreed that the Festival Center was at least architecturally interesting, but a lot of what he’s criticizing was in the plans he seemed to like.

Bocabear16 hours ago

I don't think it looked like an office park at all...Original EPCOT central core had a show fountain, palm trees and waterways all there between the two arcs of Communicore East and West... It was new and engaging...the architecture was futuristic and exciting....it didn't feel like any office park at the time... No one at the time thought it looked like an office park... You can't quite judge it through 2024 goggles... Difference is now, when the new central core has just opened, we are all calling it an office park... Judging it today by today's standards. And I think if you had been there in 1981, and seen the park through the eyes of someone in that time period, you would agree... it was not boring or usual at all.

ABQ17 hours ago

Was it replaced with something better?

DreamfinderGuy17 hours ago

"This exhibit should go"

Indy_UK17 hours ago

Im sorry but does Jim Shull have a real chip on his shoulder with Disney now he no longer works for them or something?

MisterPenguin17 hours ago

Meanwhile: Original EPCOT hub looked just like an office park and filled with tech that quickly became outdated, and never plentiful enough for the crowds that came thru. Yeah, Communicore Hall is a disgrace -- I'll give him that. But you don't need to be an ex-Imagineer to provide that insight.