Just a few days ago, Disney World finally unveiled CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza, the last pieces of the EPCOT expansion.
CommuniCore Hall
This is part of what has been behind those construction walls for YEARS, and everyone was super excited to see it, basing the design off the concept art Disney had released previously. Again, we all knew these were concept art drawings and that things could change…but let’s just say a lot of people are VERY disappointed with what Disney actually created.
To begin, let’s take a look at some of the concept art Disney released for CommuniCore Hall and Plaza, which are described as being flex spaces to be utilized during EPCOT’s many festivals throughout the year. CommuniCore Plaza is the outdoor area that is designed to be used for band performances, and is currently home to the new ¡Celebración Encanto! show.
CommuniCore Plaza ©Disney
CommuniCore Hall is the indoor area that is mainly the flex space for festivals, and also includes a new meet and greet with Mickey and friends.
Communicore Hall ©Disney
The space looked very colorful, lively, and had so many moving pieces. So what did the final product look like and why has it made so many so angry? Well, in the words of one commenter, “So, it’s just a big open space?”
CommuniCore Hall
Right now, there’s no festival happening in EPCOT. And that means, we’re not gonna lie, Communicore Hall really does just look like a large open space with chairs and tables, and some banners. One of our reporters was sitting in the area and noticed that 90% of the people she saw walked in, looked disappointed, and walked back out.
It is pretty…empty right now
Now, to be fair, this is WITHOUT a festival, so this is its base level. We’re hoping to see it really transform when EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival starts August 29th, and we’ll really see what this space can become. So we still have hope! But what about outside at CommuniCore Plaza? Well…
CommuniCore Plaza
…that’s kind just a big open space right now, too. Just like inside, there are some tables to hang out at, but there’s not a ton of shade, even when you’re watching shows on the stage!
Looking out from the stage to the audience
And in the Florida heat and sun? That’s not great. We’ve seen some commenters specifically be frustrated over the fact that Disney didn’t think at all about how guests will likely want to take a seat and watch a show under some shade instead of out in the blazing sun.
Another look at the stage
And we can’t argue with that complaint, because it IS hot, and we love to sit down and rest our feet. Now, when it’s later at night and the sun has gone down, listening to a band likely won’t be too bad (heat wise), but finding one of those rare picnic tables around the area will likely be hard to come by.Â
There are some fun games to play though!
The main thing we HAVEN’T heard many complaints about is the new Mickey and Friends meet and greet, because hey, it’s Mickey and Friends, and who doesn’t love that?
The Main Mouse
We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the latest CommuniCore news, so stay tuned to DFB!
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What do you think of CommuniCore Hall and Plaza? Tell us in the comments!
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Went today and even the flags were gone. Just dreary area with tables.
Under the Chapek regime, the cuts to the project started to save money. There was hope under Iger that Disney would return to its mission of entertain and educate. It didn’t. The EPCOT changes are a memorialized tombstone of what EPCOT was originally was and intended to be. Sad to the point it’s hurtful.
So Disney went cheap on it’s customers who didn’t see that coming 👀 but they also expect those same customers to pay more for logging, food and yes the ticket prices will increase! No thank you
Disney has lost it’s way and the more they try and cut costs, cut the need for Cast Members (Like this, how many people are working in the area, Did you see any) Little to no need to be maintained, Little to no operating cost. NO entertainment value. Disney is in a Death Spiral
And this surprises us why? Typical Disney MO these days.
Come on folks, the new improved Disney Exec’s couldn’t care less about your comfort in the heat, they really never have. And the same applies to finding a spot to rest along the way out of the sun.
They don’t want you resting, they want you moving and spending money to stay cool.
You can call it a flex festival space, but it’s just an empty warehouse with a few outdoor picnic tables and ugly planters. What’s really pitiful is that it took 4 years to create…and how much wasted money?
CommuniCore Hall
Well, Disney destroyed a perfectly good building to build the same exact building but made it look like something on a college campus.
Festival Favorites
None of the food is anyone’s favorite. It’s South American done wrong. Traditional warm food–ice cold. Traditional ice cold drinks–warm. Terrible tasting and not connected to the CommuniCore Hall so you have to walk around outside to get from one area to the other. Food is better at Connections Cafe.
Encanto show
Thrown together without much thought. Audience has to stand out in the sun with no cover to watch.
Not much cover with passing Florida showers.
It is an area we are just going to walk past and keep it moving. This area is for Floridians or DVCs who can go to Epcot whenever they have a whim to go.
5 years for this. Former cast members are upset to tears. I’m just glad the barriers are down. Walking around the maze made you walk more then what was necessary.
A waste of space and money.
I am feeling much better about letting our annual passes expire now. Thanks for sharing this story and the great photos!
I realize I’ll be in the minority, but I was okay with the Hall. I can’t speak for anyone else, but there have been many times at a Disney park when a room with lots of couches and chairs, and really good air conditioning, would have been heaven. At least new I have an alternative to the Odyssey for my collapsing spot.
I have to agree, though, that the whole area has an unfinished feel to it. But to be fair, they did say this space was mostly for festival activities. As for the shade… Disney *never* puts in enough shade. I’ve never understood why there are so many outdoor queues and food places. I thought maybe for the food it’s to drive you into the more expensive places, but as lot of them have outdoor eating areas, too.
If there’s so much space going unused inside when it’s so hot, why didn’t they move the show… inside… it doesn’t seem great, and obvioulsy it took too much time to change the space (which is typical of WDW now but still baffling). I suppose we are just supposed to be grateful that the walls are down and it’s not an exclusive space for DVC? Disney needs to make some different choices! Hopefully we will see something good with the expansions? I didn’t have a lot of confidence that would be the case, and this lowers it even more.
We walked through this last weekend. The Encanto show was going on and I saw parents, grandparents, and children having a blast, dancing and singing along. As for the Communicore indoor area, it was clean and a nice place to ‘cop a squat” out of the extreme heat!!!! I could see where they could inject decor for festivals or special events when the time comes. What’s so wrong with having a nice, clean place to sit and rest for a bit like they do with DVC and AP lounges????