EPCOT will officially drop the Future World name from October 1 as the park becomes comprised of four neighborhoods

Sep 27, 2021 in "EPCOT"

Posted: Monday September 27, 2021 1:34pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has announced that the new neighborhoods of EPCOT will officially debut beginning October 1 2021.

Future World will be replaced with World Nature, World Discovery, and World Nature, while World Showcase lives on unchanged.

While we have known about the new names since the EPCOT overhaul was announced in 2019, the exact date of the changeover was unknown until now.

Here is how Disney describes each of the EPCOT neighborhoods.

World Celebration

  • World Celebration offers new experiences that connect guests to one another and the world around them.

  • The EPCOT entrance plaza welcomes guests with open pathways and sweeping green spaces that beautify the entryway. Bridging the past, present and future of EPCOT is a new fountain at the base of Spaceship Earth with three majestic pylons. The entrance plaza also features new lighting and music, as well as flags flanking the fountain featuring six original EPCOT icons.

  • Beginning October 1, 2021, Spaceship Earth transforms at night into a Beacon of Magic with new lights shining across the geodesic sphere’s reflective panels.* These lights connect to one another in a symbol of optimism resembling stars in a nighttime sky.

  • Creations Shop invites guests to explore and celebrate Disney creativity, inspired by Mickey Mouse. The merchandise location features a bold, sleek design for an open, bright, welcoming environment with large glass walls allowing sunlight to pour in. Artistic homages to Mickey are throughout the shop, including large, dynamic murals that tap into the park’s original artistic spirit.

  • Adjacent to Creations Shop is a revitalized Club Cool Hosted by Coca-Cola. Celebrating Coca-Cola in a fresh new way, Club Cool invites guests to explore tasty drinks from around the world, bringing the global experience of Coca-Cola to life through new magic and classic flavor.

  • As guests pass Spaceship Earth, in the future they will discover a breathtaking new view of World Showcase from Dreamers Point. World Celebration will also feature a new statue honoring the legacy of the original dreamer, Walt Disney, plus beautiful natural environments and global design elements filled with Disney magic.

  • Surrounding this enchanted garden will be new merchandise and dining locations, along with a newly reimagined festival area that will be home to ever-changing events in a unique new environment.

World Nature

  • World Nature is dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe and balance of the natural world. It includes The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilions, as well as the forthcoming Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana.

  • The Land pavilion film “Awesome Planet” showcases the beauty, diversity and dynamic story of Earth. The 10-minute show features in-theater effects and an original musical score from Academy Award®-winning composer Steven Price.

  • Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana will be the first Disney Parks experience evoking the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film. This lush exploration trail will invite guests to meet and play with magical, living water. Just like Moana’s friend the ocean, water will have a personality of its own, helping guests learn how to protect the natural water cycle in a fun and engaging way.

World Discovery

  • In World Discovery, stories about science, technology and intergalactic adventure come to life.

  • In an expansion of the Mission: SPACE pavilion, the new Space 220 Restaurant is a culinary experience offering the celestial panorama of a space station, including virtual daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles above the planet’s surface. Guests board a space elevator for a simulated journey to the Centauri Space Station, where they experience the “height of dining.” Once they arrive, guests enjoy meals and drinks while taking in views that are truly out of this world. Space 220 is operated by the Patina Restaurant Group.

  • Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be the first “other-world” showcase pavilion at EPCOT. The family-friendly adventure starts in the Galaxarium, a planetarium-like exhibition that explores the similarities and mysteries of the formation of Earth’s galaxy and Xandar. Guests will learn more about the treasures Xandar has to share – until the moment when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive, and guests go on an intergalactic chase through space and time. The attraction will feature a new innovation from Walt Disney Imagineering – a storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus guests on the action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster.

World Showcase

  • World Showcase continues to be a celebration of culture, cuisine, architecture and traditions – infused with new magic.

  • With a grand opening set for October 1, 2021, an expanded France pavilion features the new Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction, where guests feel as if they shrink to the size of Chef Remy and race through Gusteau’s restaurant. Joining this family-friendly experience October 1 in the France pavilion is a delicious new restaurant, La Crêperie de Paris, offering both table- and quick-service options and a menu from celebrity chef Jérôme Bocuse.

  • Also in the France pavilion, the classic “Impressions de France” film is joined by “Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along,” directed by Don Hahn, producer of both the animated and live-action versions of this tale as old as time.

  • “Harmonious” is one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney theme park. Debuting October 1, 2021, over World Showcase Lagoon, the show celebrates the way Disney music inspires people the world over, carrying them away on a stream of familiar songs reinterpreted by a culturally diverse group of 240 artists from around the globe. “Harmonious” features massive floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, lasers and more.

  • Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue is a fast-casual restaurant at The American Adventure pavilion, serving classic American backyard barbecue and home-style craft brews. The restaurant takes its name from Sam Eagle; the beloved Muppet hosts a centennial cook-off – a salute to all cook-offs … but mostly barbecue.
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THEMEPARKPIONEER15 hours ago

There’s no reason why they shouldn’t, even if they did decide to add it’s fun to be free to Test Track. It all fits, the seas should totally get it, 2 weeks ago the same music was playing all 4 corners of former Future World, if The Land music is back it wouldn’t surprise me to see at the least The Living Seas and Imagination, music that’s all background and relevant to the attraction. If I’m not mistaken I think the Pyramid fountains or maybe even all Fountains over by imagination are or were in sync with the original music loop.

SaucyBoy19 hours ago

Why is anyone surprised? Disney has shown time and time again they have contempt for 1980s Epcot unless they can benefit financially from exploiting its nostalgia.

Skibum197019 hours ago

I was actually going to mention that myself but didn't want to veer too far off topic. I like the old Bass Pro store in Forest Park better but the location off Union-Centre is better. Hopefully, they can finish off the new buildings and maybe I can experience Epcot with any walls for the first time in what seems a decade.

Earlie the Pearlie19 hours ago

https://blogmickey.com/2024/03/disney-deactivates-1982-original-land-pavilion-background-music-days-after-bringing-it-back/ NO! NO, GOD, NO! NO NO NO! PLEASE! (breathes) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Phicinfan21 hours ago

not to drag off topic, - but this happened in Ohio also. The merger with Caballa's tied up some of their planned expansion. They finally built the new site here in Cincinnati - so hope springs eternal for you

Earlie the Pearlie1 day ago

I hope so! And then maybe they could do the same for the Seas, and then maybe they will bring back Fun to Be Free for Test Track 3, and maybe then they could tear the entirety of mission space and build horizons back and play the music from that there, and then I would die of happiness. Seriously though there are four pavilions, three if the land is permanent, where you could add back some original music and make us fans so happy for literally no cost. I really hope they follow through on this. I SWEAR IGER DO THIS AND I WILL NEVER GO TO ANOTHER UNIVERSAL PARK

THEMEPARKPIONEER1 day ago

I wonder if this is here to stay, also I was not cool with them playing the entrance music at the Imagination Pavilion but now I’m wondering if here going to revert to the old music there to.

Vinnie Mac1 day ago

I don't know how but they should mix the old and the new music loop for all of Future World. I love both the old one and the new one so much and it's a shame it seems we can only have one and not the other but a mix of both would be sick

Earlie the Pearlie1 day ago

Love this so much! Hopefully it is still going in August when I’m there; I would love to see (hear) this in person!

aladdin20072 days ago

It still bothers me they added those when tutto italia was refurbished in Italy......here its fine as future world pavilions always had them,,,but Italy just still irks me.

tparris2 days ago

Looks like sliding doors have been installed in the last photo.

DCBaker2 days ago

Photos from today. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53590416982_54eaef72e4_o.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53591733230_7cdf4dcc1c_o.jpg[URL='https://flic.kr/p/2pDHDc3']https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53591733260_8c327f45f9_o.jpg[URL='https://flic.kr/p/2pDGZLF']https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53591607379_32dfa2997f_o.jpg[URL='https://flic.kr/p/2pDGqvS']https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53591495508_3ed0012bbc_o.jpg [URL='https://flic.kr/p/2pDATSG']https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53590416872_7cdbe42e5f_o.jpg

Incomudro2 days ago

This reminds me... I retired 4 years ago this coming May. A couple of years before that they announced the construction of a Bass Pro Shops a few miles from my house. Great! I thought... By the time I retire, that store will be open and it'll be a nice little part time job to keep me busy. (I worked at Herman's World of Sporting Goods in the early 80's.) They still haven't gone vertical on that construction project.

TheElectricUmbrella3 days ago

A welcome surprise indeed: