What's Going on With the EPCOT Festival Pavilion? Here's Everything We Know.

As you walk around EPCOT these days, you’ll notice a LOT of construction going on as part of the EPCOT Transformation.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Construction

Various projects are underway including the construction of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and work on the new nighttime show, Harmonious. But, some projects, like the Mary Poppins attraction and refurbishment of Spaceship Earth have been postponed. Could plans be changing for another part of this transformation — the Festival Pavilion? Here’s what we know.

One part of the EPCOT transformation that was previously announced is the creation of a brand new three-level pavilion or “Festival Center,” which was set to serve as the new “home base” for EPCOT’s various festivals and live events! The building was set to feature a plaza level, a middle expo level, and a park in the sky on the top level! It was once described by Disney as “one of the most remarkable designs at any Disney park.”

World Celebration Concept Art ©Disney

The Festival Center was announced as part of World Celebration — an area that guests would encounter just past Spaceship Earth. Given that the building here was set to be 3-stories high, it would provide some incredible views for new nighttime spectaculars. The concept art shows the building with a very space-age design, with trees and vegetation on the top level. We’d seen models of this new pavilion at the EPCOT Experience (which has now closed permanently)…

EPCOT Experience

…as well as posters of it. We’d also heard that it will be “transformed for the seasons and festivals” with special themed decorations.

World Celebration Poster

In other words, while we haven’t heard a TON of details about this pavilion, we have seen enough to show that it was well into the stages of development.

Description of the Festival Pavilion

But, it seems things may be changing for the future of this pavilion. A press release from Walt Disney World regarding EPCOT’s transformation in 2020 says the following:

World Celebration will offer new experiences that connect guests to one another and the world around them.
Surrounding this enchanted garden will be new retail and dining locations, along with a newly reimagined festival area that will be home to ever-changing events in a unique new environment.

Epcot Concept Art ©Disney

Little had been said regarding the Festival Area since then, until Disney announced the brand new CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza.

CommuniCore Plaza ©Disney

Located in the World Celebration neighborhood, the CommuniCore Hall and Plaza will be a home for the EPCOT festivals. CommuniCore Plaza will have a stage that can host live performances in a large outdoor space. Within the plaza is CommuniCore Hall, which will be a building which will have a demonstration kitchen, a mixology bar, an exhibition and a gallery space.

©Disney

One of the purposes of CommuniCore Hall is to give chefs a way to connect with guests and experiment with food. CommuniCore Hall was designed to be flexible, so it can transform from festival to festival and from event to event. Disney did not share an opening timeline on this new area.

In the meantime, progress continues on the TRON coaster in Magic Kingdom, as well as several other projects all around Disney World. Stay tuned for all the latest!

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