PHOTOS - Center of Future World now closed and eastern bypass walkway opens

Feb 16, 2020 in "EPCOT"

Future World East bypass walkway
Posted: Sunday February 16, 2020 9:54am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The center of Epcot's Future World is now completely closed off as the final locations in that area close and a new eastern bypass walkway opens to guests.

Guests are being directed to use the newly created walkways on each side of Spaceship earth, with the right hand-side leading to The Seas, The Land and Imagination!, and the left-side walkway between Guest Relations and Gateway Gifts leading to Mission: Space and Mouse Gear.

Along with large signs around Spaceship Earth, Cast members are holding signs and advising people on the best walkway to take.

Heading past Gateway Guests, the new concrete design is in place on the ground - replacing the pink color with a stone concrete.

Guest Relations is as far as you can go before hitting a row of walls.


A sharp left turn takes you towards the Guardians of the Galaxy construction site.


The walkway ultimately puts guests by the new Mouse Gear and into Future World East.

The old breezeway is walled off.

New FastPass+ kiosks have been installed by Test track, and near to Nemo in Future World West.


With the closure of Electric Umbrella, Sunshine Seasons offers burgers, the Epcot Experience now serves chicken nuggets and salads, and the Taste Track kiosk will offer burgers and fries near to Test Track, although this is not yet open but expected soon.

Click the gallery for more pictures of today's Epcot Future World changes.

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

View all comments →

Andrew C15 hours ago

I think it’s weird to put a temporary stage as part of a festival, in the area they just redesigned for festivals. I would have figured their designs would be a bit more seamless and account for these types situations better. If it was their intent to always do a temp stage, I think that’s bad show and bad design for an area that was purpose built.

MisterPenguin15 hours ago

They do have a permanent stage. But also, two temporary acts. I don't understand this criticism at all. I thought more entertainment was what people here wanted.

Andrew C15 hours ago

I thought the whole point of the Epcot overhaul to include a new permanent stage and festival center would change all that. I mean, is it really a stretch to think that was going to be the case?

MisterPenguin15 hours ago

They've been setting up a secondary stage for Joyful for years now. Norway gets a stage for its Christmas storyteller. Extra stages for a festival isn't new. It's not like they should build out a dozen permanent stages all over the place in case they need them.

trainplane316 hours ago

Maybe they're learning how much of a bad idea it was having a stage right against the hub? I know it's temporary but it says something that they're spending the time and money to install a temp stage like 150ft away from the permanent stage.

tparris18 hours ago

For comparison, these are the similarly reflective new panels outside of Communicore Hall

tparris19 hours ago

Looks like @DreamfinderGuy was right- they’re now replacing the opaque panels with new translucent ones, similar to the new ones recently added to the ground lighting outside Communicore Hall. So far, all of the cross sections have the new translucent panels.

Andrew C19 hours ago

Wait, wait wait...so after all that, they did not build enough infrastructure to cover all festivals?

Nunu19 hours ago

Brian20 hours ago

Maybe they can do both Celebracion Encanto and Joyful at the same time. Throw in a Spaceship Earth light show at the same time and 🤌🏻 https://blogmickey.com/2024/11/second-stage-communicore-plaza-epcot/

Cmdr_Crimson1 day ago

Bocabear1 day ago

Dolores!!!!!

HauntedPirate1 day ago

… Mulva? 😝

Jayspency1 day ago

Regarding my actual thoughts on this, I'm glad Soarin got some TLC, but I don't like the new Eiffel tower scene where you just kinda look at it from a distance. There was just a unique feeling you had scaling the tower from the bottom. At least the bendy tower is no more lol.