What an incredible morning! We got the chance to go behind the walls in EPCOT to watch the dedication of the NEW World Celebration Gardens and Walt the Dreamer Statue!
Walt the Dreamer Unveiling
A little background for ya: you know how for the past, like, four years you haven’t been able to see the center of EPCOT because construction walls were up everywhere? Well, we are finally coming to the END of a long, hard road my friends, and EPCOT is starting to open back up!
EPCOT has undergone LOTS of changes!
Over the years, we’ve gotten to try out Connections Eatery and the Creations Shop, rode (and gotten sick…and then rode again) Cosmic Rewind, and journeyed through water with Moana. But, today, a brand new part of EPCOT was dedicated and we’ve got all the details.
Good morning from EPCOT where we’re bringing you a NEW look behind those pesky construction walls into World Celebration! REMINDER: this area opens to guests TOMORROW‼️ #mediaevent pic.twitter.com/9f2CKAKpON
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) December 4, 2023
While the World Celebration and Dreamers Point areas won’t officially open to guests until tomorrow, we were invited to a media event to see the dedication and unveiling.
Dedication
It was a very big deal in Disney World this morning.
Sound UP to hear the dedication ceremony for the ‘Walt the Dreamer’ statue in EPCOT! 🌐✨#mediaevent pic.twitter.com/l38u0p5uky
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) December 4, 2023
And then we got the chance to look around at this brand new area for the FIRST TIME!
First Look at World Celebration Gardens
World Celebration Gardens is the area just behind Spaceship Earth. It will be, well, basically EPCOT’s Central Park!
World Celebration Gardens
There’s lots of greenery and pathways to wander, adding a respite to the center of the World of Concrete that is EPCOT.
Here’s what World Celebration looks like facing out towards World Showcase! #mediaevent pic.twitter.com/sDuCoWnCQu
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) December 4, 2023
There will be several different gardens that all meet together at the central planter. The planter is based on the five-ring EPCOT logo. Each garden will have its own identity and all will evolve with the seasons. They will even change with the festivals!
Central plantar and surrounding gardens
And Imagineers have said that the area will “take on a whole new life” at night! There will be lighting that immerses guests in the nighttime experience. And maybe we’ll be seeing our illuminated cement here, based on the concept art!
©Disney
We also got a peek at a new seating area within the gardens and close to CommuniCore. And guess what!! It has OUTLETS all over the place!
There are outlets everywhere over here!
You’ll be able to relax, unwind, and CHARGE YOUR PHONE!
All the electricity we need!
But seriously, this area looks like it will be a great place to take a break during your busy day in EPCOT.
Fancy benches!
While we were at the media event, we had the chance to visit with Imagineer Dan (HI IMAGINEER DAN!), a project coordinator with Imagineering, about the concept behind World Celebration! Here’s what he had to say about the project.
We were happy to interview Dan who is a project coordinator with Imagineering about the concept behind World Celebration!#mediaevent pic.twitter.com/IZB0I6kRbA
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) December 4, 2023
They were clear that there will not be a soft open, so tomorrow, December 5th, is the big day. And today was the only official opening ceremony, so everyone should be able to walk right into the gardens tomorrow (because the WALLS ARE COMING DOWN). It’s going to be a great place to sit, relax, and take in the world of EPCOT around you. Stay tuned to DFB as we learn more about these new areas of EPCOT.
Everybody’s Asking What EPCOT’s CommuniCore Hall Is Gonna Be Like. Looks Pretty Cool According to This.
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 to visit the gardens? Let us know in the comments!
Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of World Celebration Gardens in EPCOT. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ
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It is just a park setting, no better, no worst. At least the fountains kept you guessing…
Well I always enjoy reading your blogs,and I am happy to see your reviews are totally unbiased, keep up the good work
Honestly, it looks like Disney ran out of money and had to do something with the area, very dissapointing and not what I’ve come to expect from imagineering and Disney.