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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Cmdr_Crimson1 day ago

V_L_Raptor1 day ago

Remember, folks… The magic of possibility is it’s cheap!

Epcot81Fan1 day ago

The standards just keep getting lower and the sheep keep paying more - it’s sad to witness.

Cmdr_Crimson1 day ago

Now that is "Future of Possibilities!"

Chef idea Mickey`=1 day ago

You would think going from future world to just world this world would help a ton, actually no.!

Tha Realest1 day ago

https://attractionsmagazine.com/epcot-transformation-complete/#

DreamfinderGuy5 days ago

Nah that's not what's happening at all. These fixes are being done just by regular maintenance people.

V_L_Raptor5 days ago

Maybe. Part of me wonders if "lighting fixes" == "turning the damn things on."

ChrisFL5 days ago

What if they hired some new lighting experts and wanted them to fix the new hub lighting BUT they're still in the process of figuring it out (or waiting for parts, etc.), so while they can't yet do that, they're updating all of these old effects in the other attractions? SSE and LWTL are getting lighting fixes right now.

JenniferS12 days ago

The “countries” and “the front half”. It’s worked for our family for 40 years.

Cmdr_Crimson13 days ago

I would take out that Discovery and put Future in front of it...😉

KDM3109113 days ago

That and there is no obvious distinction between the lands. It's just a hot mess. Go back to one name for the front half and one name for World Showcase.

Chef idea Mickey`=14 days ago

It would meant if this was the caption for the entire park as a whole. Or when I see it I see World Showcase. But we all love that name.

Chef idea Mickey`=14 days ago

World Discovery and World Showcase Done!