One of the coolest things about EPCOT is that it is quite literally always changing.Â
Each season brings in a new festival, which allows guests to indulge in a whole new assortment of food, drinks, and even activities. Currently, the festivals are spread out throughout the whole park, focusing on the 11 countries that make up World Showcase. However, that will all change soon. Let’s talk about it!Â
EPCOT has been undergoing a lengthy refurbishment, causing construction walls to be placed throughout the park in such a way that may Disney fans jokingly call the park “Wallcot.” This transformation will completely change the way we do festivals at EPCOT!Â
Included in the transformation is a designated festival area, which will include CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza. These locations will serve as a sort of “home base” for festivals — which is pretty awesome.
CommuniCore Plaza will provide an outdoor space for visitors to experience all the festivals have to offer, from live music to festival booths. Disney said that we can definitely expect stage areas to host large-scale concerts and even intimate performances. This will probably save a lot of folks a trek throughout World Showcase as they try to check out all the live music throughout the festivals!
CommuniCore Hall will be located within the Plaza, but will be an indoor area where chefs can host demonstrations, artists can showcase art, and there will even be places for live music. This is the FIRST permanent structure built in EPCOT that’s sole purpose will be to house festival happenings.Â
CommuniCore Hall and Plaza are set to open in late 2023, so it’s safe to say that festivals will look a LOT different in 2024. We can’t wait to have all the big festival events in one, convenient location.Â
We’ll continue to keep you all updated with more Disney news, including the EPCOT transformations, so make sure to follow along so that you never miss a thing.Â
Looking for more things coming SOON to EPCOT? Click here!Â
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!
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest EPCOT transformation news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
Are you excited about CommuniCore Hall and Plaza coming to EPCOT? Let us know in the comments!Â
There already is a hall in Epcot near Canada. Personally I hope there will still be outdoor booths also. It’s lovely walking around the world showcase!
Yes, let’s see how many people we can shove into one small area. I would rather eat around the world and sit down for concerts than fight for a space.
Sure let’s just crowd everyone into one space!!!
Festivals can seem pretty crowded at times. I think being more spread out is a better thing. We’ll have to wait and see how crowded it’s going to be, with it being set in one location.
It’s plain to hear that I am not the only one unhappy with the Epcot transformation.
Wonder if Disney is considering charging for a separate entry fee to these festivals? It would sure make it easier to do if they walled the area off into a convenient, tucked-away place.
Sounds like what they used to do in Wonders of Life building after they killed it off. I do hope the chefs’ come back to do more cooking demonstrations and wine pairings. Only got to do that on a couple of visit but had a great time.
I have a feeling we will still be eating around the World Showcase, but we will also have a better place to start off. Now, they can bring back Body Wars, Cranium Command and the old Wonders of Life (LOL). Ok, wishful thinking.
Does this mean absolutely no food booths in World Showcase? If it does, it makes absolutely no sense. If you’re sampling foods from different countries wouldn’t it make more sense to do it in the countries where there’s more room and it’s more spread out? For us, the WS atmosphere is part of the experience. This year may be the last of the festivals for us if this is true.
I’ve been complaining about this since the first renderings were released, but if there is no seating for the concerts, I won’t be attending. And I agree with what others have said about the festival food. The whole point was the different offerings from the different countries spread out around world showcase. Why fix something that isn’t broken? The only thing they needed to do was add more seating around the park so people could stop and enjoy their treats! That would have been a heck of a lot cheaper.
Personally I would be happy for all the temporary festival related booths to be located in the plaza, then the non festival guests can eat around the world from the more permanent booths without all of the festival crowds. Then you may actually have a place to sit and enjoy your meal or snack.
What happened to party for the senses? So many food and wine events never Re- appeared and I’ve seen No discussion in the blog? This years’ level of events is pathetic. 😖
Shoving all people into one area when everything you’ve changed has been blamed on the pandemic, really makes no sense. Now I suppose we will charge extra for concerts or any experience. That’s the Disney way. Get more money for what we have already paid for. I liked food around the world. You’ll have to go to one central spot to do samples. Lot more backtracking.
I’ll remain open-minded, but I like walking around World Showcase for the festivals. Besides, I need to walk off all the food, drinks, and treats.
I also agree with others’ comments about spacing and crowding. I hope they find a good blend of using the new space AND World Showcase.
Oh joy! I’m sure this was done for guest satisfaction … you can bet they will probably charge a fee to enter.
If the festival center I used as it was in the past with chef demos and the wine and other small shops, then good. Leave the country food booths in the countries. Don’t crowd them all in one space.