The Epcot Transformation is one of the BIGGEST park makeovers we’ve ever seen — and it’s just getting started!
While we’ve been keeping you in the loop with all the new restaurants and attractions as their construction sites progress, now it seems Epcot’s evolution is REALLY kicking into high gear! And even if you normally consider yourself to be a pro at navigating Epcot, it can be really tricky given how unfamiliar it’s lookin’ and feelin’ these days!
Never needed a map to get around Epcot before? You might want to grab one THIS time to help you traverse the endless sea of construction walls we’re about to show you! It shows the new pathways and can help guide you to your destination!
And while the World Showcase isn’t greatly impacted at the moment (other than the France pavilion’s construction as Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure takes shape for its summer 2020 opening), Future World and Epcot’s main entrance are virtually unrecognizable in their current state.
See the current state of Epcot’s France pavilion and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure HERE!
Entrance
As you can see, now that the Leave A Legacy monoliths have been removed and a significant portion of the turnstiles are now blocked off, you have to go to the extreme left turnstiles of the front gate to enter.
Future World East
To access Mission: SPACE, (and subsequently the new Space 220 Restaraunt when it opens!), Test Track, the temporary Mouse Gear location, playground area, The Epcot Experience and onward to the World Showcase, you’ll want to head left. The signage is color-coded, and you’ll be directed towards Future World East’s attractions with reds, pinks, and purples.
The Epcot Experience is where you’ll get to see Epcot’s big plans for the future along with Eats at Epcot Experience — a new quick-service restaurant!
Read our FULL REVIEW of The Eats at Epcot Experience HERE!
Keep in mind you’ll still be able to access the World Showcase from both Future World West and Future World East for the time being! And ALL of the attractions are still open, they’re just a little more difficult to access.
The walkway to Epcot’s Future World East runs alongside Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind which is taking over the Universe of Energy’s former show building which you’ll see on the left.
We’re so pumped to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind when it opens 2021, but for now, we’ll just have to wait and watch as its construction progresses!
See the latest construction happening at Epcot’s new Guardians of the Galaxy coaster here!
It’s also important to note the restrooms near Guest Relations as you head to the Guardians of the Galaxy path are now closed due to construction.
From Mouse Gear to the playground, you’ll walk through this LOOOOOONG, seemingly-endless corridor of construction walls! This path leads you to Future World West!
Future World West
If you hang a right at Spaceship Earth, you’ll end up over by The Seas pavilion. This is how to get you’ll get over to The Land and Imagination pavilions as well, before continuing on towards the World Showcase. All of the Future World West signage and walls are designated with blues and greens.
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Future World East and West Breezeways
Remember the breezeways that formerly brought you to Future World West and Future World East? Well, BOTH breezeways are now blocked off and traffic is being rerouted through these temporary pathways because the area behind Spaceship Earth is completely inaccessible.
Spaceship Earth and “No Man’s Land”
Spaceship Earth remains accessible (for now), but beyond that point is No Man’s Land.
Read more about Spaceship Earth’s refurbishment coming soon HERE!
When you exit from riding Spaceship Earth, you’ll still leave through the same door, but you’ll have to go to your left now that the area behind it is walled off.
And whereas before you could walk around to the back of Spaceship Earth to get to Pin Traders, Electric Umbrella, Fountain View Starbucks, Club Cool, and the original Mouse Gear location, well, such is no longer the case!
Even though we witnessed the destruction of some of these classic Epcot pitstops a few months ago, now that Electric Umbrella is closed forever and Pin Traders is shuttered, access to the area behind Spaceship Earth is entirely closed off.
Construction walls wrap around this whole area of the park, and we have a feeling it could be quite a while before we see this part of the park again! Even when we do, we’re expecting it to look VERY different! This area behind Spaceship Earth will evolve into Dreamer’s Point, — and we can’t wait to see it!
Find out more details about Dreamer’s Point here!
Here’s a peek at the former Mouse Gear! But do not fear, there is a temporary Mouse Gear location set-up in Epcot.
Now that Pin Central is officially closed (as of this weekend!) it’s also walled off and obscured from view.
Meanwhile, Electric Umbrella has finally folded up and is also hidden behind walls. We don’t know exactly what will fill Electric Umbrella’s former space, but stay tuned for future updates!
Read about the Electric Umbrella Closure here!
Just what exactly is going on behind these construction walls that warrants such a large chunk of the park being closed off to guests? In addition to Dreamer’s Point, Future World will grow into three new neighborhoods — World Discovery, World Nature, and World Celebration! We’re talkin’ a MAJOR transformation of epic Epcot proportions!
Read more about the new neighborhoods coming to Epcot HERE!
Guest Services
Still feeling a little turned around? Guest Relations is located next to Spaceship Earth with Cast Members happy to point you in the right direction!
Pathway Between Future World and the World Showcase
Thankfully Epcot’s Festival of the Arts has helped make some of these construction walls less of an eyesore. They’re playing host to the festival’s interactive murals, like this one you’ll find directly behind No Man’s Land facing Spaceship Earth. We wonder if there will be some way to pretty up these rather sad-looking walls when Epcot’s other festivals begin — like Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival which kicks off next month!
And you’ll find festival merch booths throughout the area immediately surrounding the Paint-By-Number mural which also leads over to the temporary Starbucks location and eventually the World Showcase! Remember, no matter which way you head, left or right, you’ll end up here at some point! 😉
Exit
To leave Epcot, there’s now a temporary exit location set-up on the far right from the park’s main turnstiles.
Yikes! That was a lot of walls, but we hope this gives you some idea of how you’ll be getting around at Epcot — at least, for now! And of course, we’ll keep you updated as Epcot continues to re-shape and restructure its many paths to accessing its various classic and coming soon attractions!
Want MORE Details About EPCOT’s MASSIVE Transformation?
NEW Festival Areas, Gardens, a Meet-and-Greet Area, and More Are Coming to EPCOT
Learn All About Journey of Water -- Inspired by Moana
Has the Mary Poppins Project at Disney World Been Canceled?
What’s Been CUT From the EPCOT Transformation?
SNEAK PEEK at the NEW Fireworks Show Coming to EPCOT
Click HERE for All the News and Details about EPCOT’s Transformation!
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Are you excited to see the finished Epcot Transformation? Let us know in the comments below!
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You got East and West backwards. Future World East is Mission:Space and Test Track. Future World West is The Seas, The Land, and Imagination
Dude, thanks.
Two points: The Land and Living Seas are West according to a roadmap — looking North, you see Future World ABOVE World Showcase, so technically, Mexico and Mission Space are East on a compass.
Anyway, I’ll be at EPCOT the Monday after Easter and are plans are to spend 99% of our day in World Showcase so I would only wish I could enter from the Skyliner (we’re staying off-site). Since we have all day, we’re also planning on taking an afternoon break by riding the Skyliner to Caribbean Resort/Riviera Resort and back to EPCOT just to ride the Skyliner.
if taking the Gondola’s where do they drop you off at Epcot?
Kate, Skyliner has a station at International Gateway — the “back” entrance near World Showcase’s France.
Steve, you’re correct about Future World West. We fixed up that mix up yesterday. Thanks!
Steve, if you want to ride the gondola and are offsite, could you park at Hollywood studios and take the sky liner/gondola to Caribbean Resort and then Riviera and the to Epcot; entering at the International Gateway between France and UK?
A lot of change for sure, maybe too much for the Epcot loyalists… some are calling it Bob Eiger’s folly taking it from the visionary land of the future it once was to an also ran land of high prices and dark thrill rides. Long regarded as the stepping stone for guests migrating from the Magic Kingdom who are aging, I am in great fear of Epcot loosing its audience. I know I am finding it more difficult to experience Galaxy, Mission and Test Track.
You can’t get near Frozen, I don’t understand why there is such a wait but I have not been able to endure the line. Mexico is a poor substitute for a Small World, and what is left. If you chance out the circle vision movies, that would be good and bad, and there is France and the American Adventure. A once perceived ever changing Worlds Fair is loosing its Worlds Fair flare…