The End of EPCOT? Disney's New Plans Put 42-Year-Old Park in Peril

As a devoted Disney World fan who visits the parks regularly, I have to admit, I left the D23 2024 announcements with a bit of frustration when it came to EPCOT.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled about some of the updates coming to other parks, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that EPCOT is being left behind in the grand scheme of things.

Let’s start with the one significant update EPCOT is getting: the reimagining of Test Track. Now, I’m as nostalgic as the next Disney park fan, and I appreciate the nod to the original World of Motion attraction. The idea of incorporating elements from that beloved ride into a refreshed Test Track sounds promising, especially for those of us who missed the classic EPCOT of the ’80s and ’90s.

However, while I’m excited to see what they come up with, it’s hard not to feel like this is a small consolation prize compared to what other parks are getting.

Take Magic Kingdom, for example. The Disney World park is buzzing with entirely new lands themed around Cars and Disney Villains.

Now, we can talk about how upset you might be to lose Rivers of America, but still, the point remains. Meanwhile, over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we’re looking at a major overhaul of DinoLand U.S.A., with a new area themed around the tropical Americas, potentially featuring Encanto and Indiana Jones attractions.

These are massive, game-changing updates that will undoubtedly draw huge crowds and refresh the park experience in meaningful ways.

And then there’s EPCOT.

Despite the years of transformation and the promise of exciting new experiences, what are we really getting? Well, there was a lot of talk about the new CommuniCore Hall and Plaza area. I was hopeful when they announced this overhaul, thinking it might bring some of that original EPCOT magic back. But now that it’s open, I have to say, it’s a bit of a letdown.

How do you say “we’re creatively bankrupt.” Easily, one photo of EPCOT’s Communicore Hall

How do you say “we’re creatively bankrupt.” Easily, one photo of EPCOT’s Communicore Hall: pic.twitter.com/sbWMMdqjOV

— OLD DISNEY/NEW DISNEY (@TRVLtruth) August 29, 2024

CommuniCore Hall was supposed to be this dynamic, multi-use space that would serve as the hub for EPCOT’s various festivals. But if you’ve seen it in person, you’ll know what I mean when I say it feels more like a missed opportunity. The design is functional, sure, but it’s also bland and uninspired.

The building’s exterior is, frankly, kind of boring, and the interior doesn’t do much to liven things up. It’s hard to believe that this is what we’ve been waiting for as part of EPCOT’s big transformation.

The CommuniCore Plaza, while slightly better, still doesn’t live up to the hype. It’s essentially an outdoor stage with a few scattered umbrellas and palm trees. Yes, it’s nice to have a space for live entertainment, but the design feels more like an afterthought than a carefully crafted addition to the park.

The whole area just lacks the wow factor that I’ve come to expect from Disney. There’s no denying that it serves its purpose, but where’s the magic? Where’s the sense of wonder that EPCOT used to inspire?

Is EPCOT being left behind?

What’s particularly frustrating is that there were rumors floating around about a potential new pavilion coming to World Showcase. As someone who loves exploring the different cultures and cuisines that World Showcase has to offer, I was really hoping that Disney would surprise us with a new country or at least something substantial.

But that’s not happening. Instead, we’re left with what feels like a lot of missed opportunities.

It’s clear that Disney is focusing its resources elsewhere, and I get it—new lands and attractions are exciting and bring in the crowds. I also understand that Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind are two of the newest attractions in Walt Disney World Resort.

Still, for those of us who love EPCOT, it’s hard not to feel like our park is being left behind.

The EPCOT that I fell in love with was all about innovation, imagination, and celebrating the future. It was a place where you could learn about new technologies, explore different cultures, and imagine what the world could be. Now, it feels like EPCOT is being reduced to a festival hub, a place where the focus is more on temporary events than on creating lasting, memorable experiences.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still going to visit EPCOT. It’s still one of my favorite parks, and I’ll always have a soft spot for it. But I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed by the direction it’s heading. While the other parks are getting new lands and attractions that will define their futures, EPCOT seems to be stuck in a state of perpetual renovation, with nothing truly groundbreaking on the horizon.

As someone who visits Disney World often, I’m hoping that Disney will eventually turn its attention back to EPCOT and give it the love and care it deserves. Until then, I’ll be crossing my fingers that the revamped Test Track brings a little bit of that old EPCOT magic back to the park. But for now, it feels like EPCOT is being left behind, and that’s a hard pill to swallow for those of us who remember what it used to be.