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Credit: Jesse James, FlickrAlmost five years since their initial debut, Walt Disney World Resort has made some updates to two of the controversial new neighborhoods at EPCOT: World Celebration and World Nature. They, along with the World Discovery neighborhood, replaced the former Future World areas on October 1, 2021.
EPCOT Neighborhood Controversies
Although they’re home to some original EPCOT attractions like Spaceship Earth and Living with the Land (originally Listen With the Land), the three new EPCOT neighborhoods replaced what many Disney Parks fans considered the final remaining vintage elements of Walt Disney World Resort. Some features, like the World Celebration Gardens and CommuniCore Plaza, have faced criticism for already showing signs of wear and tear after just a few years in operation.
This month, Walt Disney World Resort finally made some changes in World Nature and World Celebration at EPCOT. They just might not be what Disney Parks fans had been asking for…
World Nature and World Celebration Updates
On August 12, WDWNT reported that Walt Disney World Resort had planted some new palm trees around World Nature and World Celebration at EPCOT. The first trio of trees appeared in a World Celebration flowerbed, between the Imagination! Pavilion and CommuniCore Hall:
This area was not previously home to palm trees. It has hosted temporary experiences tied to seasonal festivals, such as the Rain or Shine Fruit Stand garden during the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival.
The other new palm tree at EPCOT is in World Nature, near Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. This tree replaced a smaller one that had lived in the flowerbed but was damaged by freezing temperatures earlier this year.
This is the second time this summer that Walt Disney World Resort has brought new palm trees to EPCOT. In July, Disney planted the same species of palm tree at the main entrance to EPCOT, replacing older trees that the cold weather had also damaged.
Have you noticed any other changes around Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your experience with Inside the Magic in the comments!
