Disney News

Tag: Epcot

  • BREAKING: Electric Umbrella Restaurant Closing This Winter at Epcot

    BREAKING: Electric Umbrella Restaurant Closing This Winter at Epcot

    As part of the exciting transformation of Epcot, Disney has confirmed that Electric Umbrella Restaurant is scheduled to close this winter.

    The popular quick service restaurant is located next to Innovations East in Future World and serves classic fare like burgers, chicken breast nuggets, desserts and soft drinks.

    Right now you can dine outdoors under the cool shade of a canopy—or enjoy indoor seating amid colorful ambiance, but whether the quick service restaurant is being reimagined during the transformation or relocated elsewhere is still not clear.

    According to Disney, “New dining options will be available in the future, featuring a variety of food and beverage selections.”

    Though the exact date of the closure is yet to be officially announced, the last day that operating hours are listed is Saturday, November 23, 2019.

    Additional information about Epcot’s future will be announced during the upcoming D23 Expo in Anaheim, California.

  • Mouse Gear Closing This Winter at Epcot for Park Transformation

    Mouse Gear Closing This Winter at Epcot for Park Transformation

    As we previously reported, a multi-year transformation of Epcot is underway and Disney has confirmed that Mouse Gear Souvenir Shop is on the list of closures coming to the park this fall and winter.

    According to Disney’s website, “As part of the ongoing transformation of Epcot, Mouse Gear will move to a temporary home this winter while its current location is reimagined.”

    Mouse Gear, located in Future World, is currently Epcot’s go to shopping destination for “gifts with real character,” including souvenirs, apparel, plush toys, candy and pins.

    More details on Future World closings and the plans for Epcot’s transformation will be revealed at D23 Expo 2019 next month in Anaheim.

  • BREAKING: Epcot Character Spot and More Set to Close this Fall

    BREAKING: Epcot Character Spot and More Set to Close this Fall

    As we previously reported, a multi-year transformation of Epcot is underway and today, Disney announced that Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot and other locations will temporarily close as part of the massive multi-year overhaul.

    On September 8, 2019, refurbishment will begin on the core of Future World, including the area between Spaceship Earth and World Showcase Promenade. While this work is underway, offerings at and around the Fountain of Nations will be temporarily relocated or closed. 

    New Locations for Character Experiences – Coming Soon
    Take a look below to find out where you can meet some of your favorite Disney Characters during the refurbishment period.

    • Minnie Mouse will move into the World Showcase Gazebo.
    • Daisy Duck will move to The American Adventure.
    • While new locations are being developed for Mickey Mouse and Goofy, they will temporarily appear in Innoventions West.
    • In the near future, Mickey Mouse will move to an all-new location in the Imagination! Pavilion. 
    • Goofy will venture out into the park—and soon will find a new home.
    • Joy will move soon too—to a joyous new home.
    • And a silly old bear will return to the United Kingdom pavilion—welcome back Winnie the Pooh, who will greet Guests at Christopher Robin’s bedroom beginning in September 2019!

    Other locations closing as to make way for the transformation include: Club Cool, Fountain View Starbucks, Colortopia, and Camera Center.

  • Liberty Inn Closing at Disney World to be Replaced By BBQ And Craft Beer Restuarant

    Liberty Inn Closing at Disney World to be Replaced By BBQ And Craft Beer Restuarant

    Disney has announced that next month it is closing the Liberty Inn restaurant at Epcot’s America pavilion.

    Liberty Inn is a staple of the American Adventure pavilion in the theme park’s World Showcase, but it will be replaced with a new eatery that serves barbecue and craft beers.

    Prepare your taste buds for something special, because a new fast-casual barbecue restaurant featuring craft brews on tap will debut at The American Adventure pavilion in Epcot later this year.

    Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue will take the place of Liberty Inn, which will close July 8 to make way for this mouth-watering experience in World Showcase.

    The new location will be a modern barbecue smokehouse, with all the accompanying sights, sounds, smells and flavors you love – including a large smoker preparing fine food every day right on the pavilion’s promenade. There will also be a redesigned patio for you to enjoy, so get ready to grab a brew, some barbecue, and relax inside Epcot.

    Many more details to come, so keep checking Disney Dorks for updates on what is sure to be a new favorite spot to find some tasty and tangy bites at Epcot!

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live!’ Returns to Epcot

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live!’ Returns to Epcot

    Your favorite Guardians and alien band are back!  Friday, Star-Lord and Gamora from “Guardians of the Galaxy” started taking guests on a musical journey through the cosmos with the return of “Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live!” at Epcot.

    From now until August 18, you can catch “Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live!”  five times a day at the America Gardens Theatre at Epcot and see Star-Lord and Gamora in person as a 7-piece alien band brings timeless classics from the 70s and 80 to life.  Baby Groot even makes an appearance!

    While an alien band from Xandar plays favorite hits from Awesome Mix Volumes 1 & 2, you and your family can sing, dance and celebrate with a few out-of-this-world eats and sips created just for this intergalactic concert.

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  • Disney Confirms The Seas and The Land Pavilions Will Not Be Removed at Epcot

    Disney Confirms The Seas and The Land Pavilions Will Not Be Removed at Epcot

    With the massive overhaul going on at Epcot, recent online reports have have raised questions about the future of The Seas and The Land pavilions, but Disney has confirmed that these park staples are not going anywhere.

    Rumors have been circulating about the possiblity of Epcot demolishing both The Seas and The Land pavilions, but this week, Disney confirmed those rumors are indeed false.

    As you can see below in an offical response from Disney on Twitter, there are no plans to remove them and they stated, “The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends are planned to be with us into the future.”

    There is indeed a massive transformation taking place at Epcot for the park’s 50th anniversary however, which includes a newly redesigned park entrance, a new Guardians of the Galaxy Roller Coaster, a Space-Themed Restaurant, the new Play Pavilion and much more.

    The D23 Expo 2019 in Anaheim is just under three months away and Disney will be unveiling more of their transformative plans for Epcot, so stay tuned to Disney Dorks for the latest news and updates.

  • Preview of Epcot Updates Coming to D23 Expo 2019

    Preview of Epcot Updates Coming to D23 Expo 2019

    The D23 Expo 2019 in Anaheim is just under three months away and Disney plans on unveiling more of their massive transformative plans for Epcot at the event. To whet your appetite, here are three things to look forward to.

    • The park’s core reimagined: You’ve already heard about the transformation taking place just inside the park’s entrance, where they will be enhancing the area with lush green spaces and classic touches. At the Expo, Disney will share more about what’s coming to the core of the park on the opposite side of Spaceship Earth. New areas will be flanking the iconic attraction and you can look forward to details on those.
    • A new – but classic – look to match Epcot offerings: Longtime fans of Epcot are familiar with the pavilion icons, like the ones you see here for Imagination!, The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends. With new experiences like the previously announced play-themed pavilion joining these Epcot staples will be new icons to match.
    • More about what makes Epcot, Epcot – Epcot is special for a lot of reasons – as one of Walt’s final projects, as an exclusive part of the Walt Disney World Resort, and as home to millions of memories from generations of guests. As Disney charges ahead with the park’s evolution, the architects of Epcot’s future are working to preserve all the elements that make this park so special while also evolving it to be more Disney, more family, more relevant and more timeless. At the Expo, you’ll hear more about experiences that are uniquely Epcot – for example, the updated films coming to Future World and World Showcase, as well as new dining experiences being added to the menu of ‘the foodie park.’

    Well, there you go – three things to tide you over in the three months leading up to the D23 Expo. Let us know what you think about the changes in the comments. And be sure to keep it locked here on Disney Dorks where we’ll have all the news from the Expo.

  • BREAKING: Space-Themed Restaurant Coming to Epcot Will Open Later This Year

    BREAKING: Space-Themed Restaurant Coming to Epcot Will Open Later This Year

    As we previously reported, a one-of-a-kind, space-themed restaurant is currently planned for Epcot that’ll offer guests amazing meals and a spectacular view – from high above Earth and today, Disney announced that this new restaurant will be open for business by the end of 2019.

    The restaurant was initially announced in summer 2017 and once completed, the restaurant will invite guests to travel to space for an amazing dining experience in the stars. Menu details are few, but we know they have developed a menu that features internationally-inspired cuisine, more than 1,000 bottles of the world’s finest wines and a wide selection of craft beer.

    The new restaurant will be operated by the Patina Restaurant Group, led by Nick Valenti, which operates several other restaurants around Walt Disney World Resort, including Tutto Italia and Via Napoli at Epcot and Morimoto Asia and Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante at Disney Springs.

    But Epcot guests don’t have to wait until the restaurant opens to enjoy a thrilling adventure in space. In summer 2017, the park’s Mission: SPACE attraction launched new experiences: the enhanced Orange Mission offers a truly intense experience that lets guests feel the force of an actual space launch en route to Mars; while the all-new, family-friendly Green Mission takes guests on an exciting orbit around Earth.

    The price point for the new restaurant is still a mystery and there has been no announcement about its name.

  • VIDEO: U.S. Navy Blue Angels Perform Flyovers at Epcot

    VIDEO: U.S. Navy Blue Angels Perform Flyovers at Epcot

    Yesterday, guests visiting Epcot cheered as the U.S. Navy Blue Angels performed several magical passes above the iconic Spaceship Earth attraction in honor of Military Appreciation Month.

    The Blue Angels executed two flyovers at 500 feet, roaring by at speeds of more than 250 mph.  During one of the passes, the pilots performed a perfect “Delta Break” maneuver above the Spaceship Earth.  

    Many guests at Epcot, which included visiting U.S.military personnel, veterans and their families, said it was a special experience watching some of the world’s best pilots in action during their Disney vacation. Take a look at the amazing video below:

    “I did two tours in Vietnam and I was on the USS Somers and to see them go right over Spaceship Earth and on the second pass, when they split up – it was awesome,” Epcot guest and Navy veteran James Fredricks said. “I can’t help myself from getting emotional about it.”

    Supporting the U.S. Armed Forces and celebrating their service has long been a Disney tradition. After the celebration at Epcot, the Blue Angels travel south – to the Fort Lauderdale Air Show in Florida.

  • Disney Reveals Test Footage of New Nighttime Spectacular Replacing Illuminations at Epcot

    Disney Reveals Test Footage of New Nighttime Spectacular Replacing Illuminations at Epcot

    As we previously reported, Disney is ending the nearly 20 year run of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth as Epcot’s nighttime spectacular and they have now released test footage of some of the new technology that will be featured in the shows replacement as well as premiere dates.

    We will bid a fond farewell to “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” at Epcot on September 30, 2019 and the new show “Epcot Forever” will debut in it’s place the following night on October 1, 2019. The all-new, limited-time spectacle of fireworks, music, lighting, lasers and choreographed, special effects kites.

    The show will take us on a journey through the past, present and future of Epcot. Featuring a stirring collection of songs that paint a colorful picture of the park, this nighttime extravaganza will offer both a trip down memory lane and a look towards the future and all the magical possibilities still to come. Take as look at the video below:

    Disney Parks Live Entertainment is busy getting “Epcot Forever” ready for its opening day. Show Director Alan Bruun recently shared some details about the concept behind the show and the team’s collaboration with noted conductor and composer Don Harper, who is producing new arrangements of classic Epcot tunes to weave into the soundtrack of “Epcot Forever.”

    “Epcot Forever” will continue into 2020, when the next epic nighttime extravaganza makes its debut.