If you haven’t been to EPCOT in a few years, you’re in for a BIG surprise on your next visit.
The park has been undergoing a massive transformation, which means that a large section of it is currently under construction. But it’s not all bad — we’ve gotten new rides, restaurants, and gift shops so far, and we’ll soon be getting a new attraction, festival area, and MORE. The transformation of the park has also included some changes to theming (things like logos and atmosphere music), but one recent theming change may point to something more exciting.
On a recent visit to EPCOT, we noticed that the parking lots had been rebranded! The lots were repainted and the former names were removed, and replaced instead with character-themed lots like you’ll find at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Formerly, the lots were named things like “Imagine,” “Discover,” and “Explore” but now you’ll find Crush (Finding Nemo), Hei Hei (Moana), Dory (Finding Nemo), Moana, Rocket (Guardians of the Galaxy), Gamora (Guardians of the Galaxy), Wall-E, and Eve (Wall-E).
Now, we can easily explain most of these additions. The majority of the characters featured here are represented or will be represented within attractions in EPCOT. For instance, you’ll find Dory and Crush at The Seas and Rocket and Gamora are featured in Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
As for Moana and Hei Hei, they’ll be represented through the new walkthrough Moana-themed attraction coming to World Nature. Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana is set to open before the end of 2023, and it’ll have nods to many characters from the movie.
But there are two characters on the list that raise some eyebrows — Wall-E and Eve from the Pixar film Wall-E. These characters aren’t currently featured in any major attraction in the park, and there hasn’t been an attraction announced to specifically feature them in the future.
There’s one small place where you can find Wall-E and Eve currently, tucked away in World Discovery. The Green Landing Play Zone is a playground area for little ones located next to Creations Shop, and it has seen a few different themes over the years. Right now, it’s themed to Wall-E, and you can spot the two characters featured on the entrance sign.
Overall, the theme is a bit more space-forward than specifically Wall-E, but you’ll notice color schemes and graphics that remind you a bit of the film.
So why choose characters that are featured so minimally when all the others in the parking lot have their own major attractions? Well, one theory is that they were just the ones who fit the best.
With the re-named parking lots, we have two new re-named tram routes — Earth and Space. That means we need four earth-based characters (from Moana and Finding Nemo) and four space-based characters. The Guardians characters were an obvious choice, but since no movie characters are explicitly featured in Space 220 or Mission: SPACE (the other space-themed offerings in EPCOT), the options are limited.
You could make an argument for Buzz Lightyear and Zurg since a Buzz Lightyear topiary is featured near Mission: SPACE during the Flower & Garden Festival, but those two characters already have their own lots at Magic Kingdom. You could also suggest Star Wars characters, since merchandise from those films and shows is featured in Mission: SPACE Cargo Bay, but that would fit better at Hollywood Studios instead.
So, perhaps Wall-E and Eve WERE the best choices if they wanted to go with a space theme in the parking lot. However, it still feels slightly off balance that the other six characters are so prominent in the park when compared to these two. It leaves us wondering if we could see more Wall-E in EPCOT in the future.
Since space travel is featured so prominently in the movie, it would seem that Wall-E could be a good fit for World Discovery, where there are THREE space-themed offerings. While we’re not sure if the film is “big” enough for a solo attraction, it could definitely be featured in smaller ways.
For instance, in the past, we’ve spotted a roaming Wall-E robot at the D23 Expo (Disney’s fan club expo) in Anaheim, CA. How cool would it be if there was a roaming character meet like that in the parks?!
WALL-E was at the hotel bar last night. 🤘 pic.twitter.com/GYxorQeq7h
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) September 10, 2022
The movie could also be a good fit for Animal Kingdom, thanks to its conservation-forward theme. We’ve seen Wall-E and Eve featured in PhotoPass Magic Shots and on snacks for Earth Day in the past.
EPCOT’s transformation is set to be complete by the end of this year, but it’s not too late for Disney to announce more additions or surprises. Who knows what could happen in the next several months?! We’ll be on the lookout for any ways that Wall-E and Eve could be featured in the park in the future.
Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on the EPCOT transformation and all the construction projects happening in Disney World. We can’t wait to share the new additions with you as soon as they open!
Click Here to Learn More About the New Parking Lots!
Want MORE Details About EPCOT’s MASSIVE Transformation?
NEW Festival Areas, Gardens, a Meet-and-Greet Area, and More Are Coming to EPCOT
Learn All About Journey of Water -- Inspired by Moana
Has the Mary Poppins Project at Disney World Been Canceled?
What’s Been CUT From the EPCOT Transformation?
SNEAK PEEK at the NEW Fireworks Show Coming to EPCOT
Click HERE for All the News and Details about EPCOT’s Transformation!
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Would you want to see Wall-E in EPCOT? Tell us in the comments!
Marcus says
It seems if the Wonders of Life Pavilion did open as something new the old Body Wars attraction could be the perfect site for a Wall-E space flight attraction.
Ken says
EPCOT has most definitely taken a turn for the worst when it comes to theming vs pure commercialism. It is too bad, I so enjoyed the heavy emphasis on learning in the 1990’s. My kids Learned so much by going to EPCOT. Not that way anymore, turning into an overpriced thrill park.
Jacqueline says
Aww I would love them to show some love to Walle. So many attractions have been put up that weren’t very popular. If they do it well it will be a hit.
Todd says
Wall-E might not be big enough for a “solo” attraction? It generated over $500 million at the box office and out-performed Cars, yet there is an entire land at California Adventure. It nearly doubled the box office revenue generated by Princess & The Frog, yet Splash Mountain is getting re-themed. Wall-E certainly can stand on it’s own.
While I’m not a fan of IP in Epcot, a conservation message would certainly be more appropriate than the stretch that Imagineering had to come up with to explain how Guardians fits in Epcot. I think I’d rather see Wall-E in Tomorrowland though considering the on-going need to freshen that land. The conservation message definitely would fit Animal Kingdom well.
elmore hattlestad says
Well hopefully the former names of the parking lots will be repurposed to name more vessels of the disney cruise lines.
Carole says
Huh, just came back and remember thinking that I was seeing Wall-E and eve a lot . I was parked at Dora and didn’t see them in the parking lot. Hope they do add them at the park, loved that movie 😊
Emily says
I think many underestimate the popularity and appeal of Wall-E, even now, 10+ years since it as released. I have a preschooler and a young grade schooler who are obsessed, as do many other parents I know. The teenagers today were kindergarteners when it was first released, so they love it and most adults my age ADORE it as well. It’s also widely considered by many critics to be the best Pixar/Disney movie not to mention the best love story they ever made. I can’t believe it doesn’t have a spot somewhere in Disney World already….Epcot seems like the obvious choice, and you’re right that there is so much they could do highlight the message of the importance of environmental conservation. Come on Disney… Bring us Wall-E and EEEEEVVVVUUUH!!!