Walt Disney World Epcot Discussion Thread

[Halian]

The upgrades coming to Epcot make me go .

 

I just wish Japan were getting a ride, too.

[Nrthwnd]

^ Mt.Fuji Mountain Flume!

 

Yep, there were Blue Sky plans for this. And look! Inversion Free! (o;

How it would have looked from the front. Awesome! (o:

[jlp94]

I was going to save all my thoughts for the trip report but I need to say Epcot today was f*cking incredible. It's all so enamoring and beyond words, I can't wait to share my report with this site.

[robbalvey]

Disney has released the final date for Illuminations and some new images for "Epcot Forever!"

 

Final showing of ‘IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth’ will be Sept. 30

 

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (April 9, 2019) – “Epcot Forever,” a new nighttime spectacular at Walt Disney World Resort, will debut Oct. 1, 2019, on World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot. The limited-time show will be a celebration of the past, present and future of Epcot, built around the magical soundtrack guests have come to know and love at the park.

 

 

The new show will feature fireworks, lighting, lasers and choreographed, special effects kites, accompanied by a stirring collection of songs that paints a colorful picture of Epcot. Disney Parks Live Entertainment is collaborating on the show with noted conductor and composer Don Harper, who is producing all-new arrangements of classic Epcot tunes to weave into the soundtrack of “Epcot Forever.”

 

 

“‘Epcot Forever’ is a celebration of what Epcot has been and what Epcot is going to become,” said Alan Bruun, show director for Disney Parks Live Entertainment. “Music is the star of the show, and we use songs going back to the very beginnings of Epcot to music in the park today – from attractions, spectaculars and other shows – and put them into a fireworks spectacular on the lagoon every night. Guests are going to hear music they know and love but in a whole new way.”

 

 

The current Epcot nighttime spectacular, “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” will end its dazzling 20-year run on Sept. 30, 2019. Now, more than ever, guests will want to bid the show a fond farewell this spring and summer to once again take in a nighttime extravaganza dedicated to the joyful history of humanity and the remarkable achievements of our time.

 

 

After it launches Oct. 1, “Epcot Forever” will continue into 2020, when it will then make way for the debut of the next epic Epcot nighttime spectacular as part of the park’s multi-year transformation.

[cfc]

IllumiNations had a good run (I first saw it when they still had the parade, too).

[Hilltopper39]

I will be a little sad to see Illuminations go since it's by far my favorite night time show at the resort, but I'm sure whatever they have lined up as a replacement will be spectacular.

 

I'm gonna have to get down there between now and September to see it one last time.

[Coasternerd3]

Definitely sad to see this one go. Good thing I get to see it one last time when I get down there in May.

[Dombot]

There's a good chance I'll be down there on the final day to pay my respects. I'm really stoked for both new shows, but this is still a huge gut-punch in the nostalgia for me.

[Jew]

Glad to see it leaving. Great show, but WELL past its prime. I like that they have the temporary replacement ready to go, so no disruption in the operations.

[Canobie Coaster]

That's incredible they have a new show ready to go the next day.

[DoinItForTheFame]

So glad that I’m getting to see it one last time before it’s gone for good!

 

Also looking forward to the new show!

[bert425]

That's incredible they have a new show ready to go the next day.

'

I would expect no less from Disney.

 

agreed, it's impressive.

[Chiselphane]

The case of Buzzy's disappearance has been solved. Short version is: employee theft.

 

https://miami.cbslocal.com/2019/05/20/former-disney-employee-accused-of-stealing-magic-kingdom-epcot-costumes/

[dominoes]

The case of Buzzy's disappearance has been solved. Short version is: employee theft.

 

https://miami.cbslocal.com/2019/05/20/former-disney-employee-accused-of-stealing-magic-kingdom-epcot-costumes/

 

Actually unless I missed something, they seem to have just accused this guy of taking costumes and things belonging to Buzzy. However the animatronic is still missing (he had been investigated before and they didn't find any evidence of him having the animatronic). Glad they finally got him though for stealing all those items.

[robbalvey]

Epcot's Food & Wine Preview 2019!

Welcome to one of my favorite events of the year! Where we get to preview a little bit of what is new at the upcoming Epcot Food & Wine Festival! And this year looks like it will be an absolutely AMAZING year! I'm going to just jump right in with something important...

 

This is Raclette! It is beautiful, delicious, and should be your ABSOULTELY MUST HAVE of the event! Do not stop anywhere else, head straight to "The Alps" and have this. THAT. IS. AN. ORDER!!!

 

So what is Raclette? In basic terms it is a "swiss" cheese that is melted under a high-heat broiler and then immediately scraped onto a dish and then into your stomach. That's how it works. It's been around for CENTURIES and it is something we often get when in Europe.

 

Here is the Raclette booth at Europa Park, for reference, and also to show that I'm not lying!

 

And as I said, the Raclette is baked to an amazing gooey and delicious state and then scraped off the half-wheel onto the plate.

 

Here is the final product.

 

What I found so "entertaining" at the media event was how many people had NO CLUE what Raclette was! I even overheard someone say they thought it was invented by Disney just for Food & Wine! I couldn't decide if I was just happy that Epcot is introducing this to people who were unaware of its existence or if I was disappointed in how uncultured and untraveled most Americans were! Either way, I'm just REALLY HAPPY this dish is coming to Epcot Food & Wine!

 

Here is a video of Raclette in action! I highly suggest watching it:

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Oh, yes, there were other items at the event!

 

This was FANTASTIC! Will probably be my second new stop... Actually more like my seventh new stop because I'll first have six stops at Raclette.

 

A few more new items...

Some of these I tried, some I didn't... but I look forward to trying them ALL when the event opens!

 

And I know everyone LOVES the Disney merchandise and Food & Wine always has some super cute and fun items! Here's a preview of what to expect...

I'm sure these Minnie ears will be VERY popular!

 

This Remi chef's hat is fantastic!

 

Always happy to see new Figment merchandise.

 

And yes, pin trading is still very much a "thing" at Walt Disney World!

 

A few more shirts and other items to round out the merch preview.

 

Hey! Look who I ran into! It's Joey Fatone from N*SYNC! Elissa was NOT JEALOUS AT ALL about him showing up to the event!

 

He was there to announce that "Joey Fatone & Friends" will be playing as part of the Eat To The Beat Concert Series on Nov 12, 13, and 14th. He even gave a shout out to TPR! Watch:

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And finally... THIS! OMG!!! THIS!!! Every single person needs to start the festival with Raclette... have MORE Raclette... and then end your night with the amazing Coffee & Donut Alcoholic drink! That is the recipe for a perfect visit to Epcot Food & Wine Festival!

 

Huge THANK YOU to Disney for inviting us out to the media preview!

[Dombot]

OMIGOD RACLETTE. I've seen so much of that stuff from Europa Park TRs, and I'm stoked to finally try it out. Food and Wine is my favorite time of the year so I'm just hyped about literally everything. Thanks for the report Robb!

[ytterbiumanalyst]

The raclette looks very good. Something I'd love to try someday.

[dhubbuch]

Man,I absolutely can't wait for my annual visit to the Food & Wine Festival! I'll be there twice between Oct. 21 and Nov. 7.

[SharkTums]

I honestly feel like someone at Epcot loves me. I mean, how "Elissa-Friendly" is this event!?!? Cheese, Potstickers, Rodents, Raclette, and now Joey Fatone!?!?! IS IT AUGUST 29 YET?!!?

[cfc]

Hmm--each year i wonder whether I'll make it to Food and Wine in the fall. Then they add raclette and some alcoholic coffee drink that's garnished with a donut.

 

Fiends!

[Alice Kane]

I honestly feel like someone at Epcot loves me. I mean, how "Elissa-Friendly" is this event!?!? Cheese, Potstickers, Rodents, Raclette, and now Joey Fatone!?!?! IS IT AUGUST 29 YET?!!?

 

 

All this delectable cheese chatter on the TPR Discussion Board must be pinging its way up cell towers from Orlando to NY's Upper West Side.   Lo & behold, I popped into my fave local 'super deli' - Zabar's - and there, in a HUGE basket in the center aisle, was a humongous display of The Day's Special: Raw Milk RACLETTE!  (Of course, these were the 'solid' sliced wedges....but still....melt some on toast and you have breakfast, lunch and dinner!)

P.S. "Rodents and Raclette"....hmm...sounds like an Off-Off-Off Broadway play!  'Experimental' for sure!

 

Alice

[Philrad71]

It's the most...wonderful time of the yeeeearrrr...

 

LOVE the Food & Wine reports!!

[Nrthwnd]

This looks like a wonderful sampling for this year's event...including raclette, YAY!

I hope it's that good (looking and tasting!) when we get there, in a few years or so.

[ernierocker]

Hmm--each year i wonder whether I'll make it to Food and Wine in the fall. Then they add raclette and some alcoholic coffee drink that's garnished with a donut.

 

Fiends!

 

Agreed. Looking forward to my all-time favorites in the amazing combo of Choup and Wild Mushroom Filet and trying the new hotness that is Raclette!

[robbalvey]

Just announced at D23 for Epcot...

A new park logo that is a throwback to the original!

 

Epcot will be unified with four neighborhoods that each speak to important aspects of the world and its people: World Showcase, World Celebration, World Nature and World Discovery. These neighborhoods will be filled with new experiences rooted in authenticity and innovation.

 

World Showcase at #Epcot will also welcome the first attraction inspired by Mary Poppins in Cherry Tree Lane, which will join the United Kingdom pavilion as an entirely new neighborhood!

 

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at #Epcot will feature the first reverse launch into space! This thrilling, family-friendly attraction will feature a never-before-seen storytelling coaster that rotates to focus on the action – wherever it may be.

 

An expansion of the Mission: SPACE pavilion, the new restaurant Space 220 will open this winter as an out-of-this-world culinary experience with the celestial panorama of a space station, including daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles up.

 

Following the limited time run of Epcot Forever at #Epcot, a new nighttime spectacular called HarmonioUS will be the largest ever created for a Disney park. It will celebrate how the music of Disney inspires people the world over.

 

PLAY! pavilion at World Discovery is opening in time for the 50th Anniversary of #WaltDisneyWorld. In this interactive metropolis, guests will discover a city bursting with games, activities, and experiences that connect them with friends, family, and beloved Disney characters!

 

At World Celebration in #Epcot, Spaceship Earth will remain the grand icon but the journey will be transformed with new scenes reflecting the universal nature of the human experience. A new guide and all new narration will focus on the storytelling that brings people together.

 

In World Nature, The reinvention of #Epcot will include Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana.” This first-ever experience inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios hit film will let guests interact with magical, living water in a beautiful and inspiring setting.

 

Two new CircleVision 360 movies will debut at #Epcot! “Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” will debut in January 2020. In the China pavilion, “Wondrous China” will take guests on a spectacular journey across the country!

 

A new pavilion at World Celebration will be the home base for #Epcot’s signature festivals, providing a stunning view of World Showcase and an ideal spot to witness the park’s nighttime spectacular.

Inertiatic.nltrack

Edited August 25, 2019 by robbalvey