WDW News & Rumors: Epcot Tombstone Removal, Aerial PhotoPass, New Night Shows, Etc.
It’s time with another Walt Disney World news & rumor round-up, as we drop in on projects at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom. This includes the “Project Gamma” Future World re-imagining, aerial PhotoPass of you and Cinderella Castle, new nighttime spectaculars, and more.
On the new nighttime spectaculars front, Rivers of Light: We Are One officially debuts tonight at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, telling the story of our connection with animals, plus the emotions and milestones we all share in our journey through the circle of life. This show introduces additional imagery and familiar animal characters from Disneynature films and classic moments from Disney animation.
This previewed last night, and early reviews we heard were mixed, at best. Then again, reviews for Rivers of Light are also mixed at best. Rivers of Light is a show we’ve enjoyed when we’ve seen it–in large part for the music, but we seldom make the effort to see it, especially after the shaman were cut. I don’t know when we’ll see Rivers of Light: We Are One, but it’s not high on my priorities. When we have the chance to be in Animal Kingdom at night, I’d prefer to spend that time soaking up the ambiance, visiting Pandora, and doing Expedition Everest. I’ll always have the music in iTunes.
Also debuting Animal Kingdom is a new Tree of Life Awakenings scene inspired by this summer’s release of The Lion King. Simba’s journey is depicted in a beautiful artistic style, set to an evocative score comprised of new arrangements of familiar music. I’m actually more eager to see this in person, as I love the (animated) Lion King and its music and think this could be well-done.
It’s probably been a couple of years since we praised them, but we love the Tree of Life Awakenings. This arguably Walt Disney World’s best use of projection mapping anywhere. The show is pure Disney magic, and reminds me a bit of (a technologically more impressive version of) the Kiss Goodnight at Magic Kingdom.
Each Awakening only lasts a few minutes, but they are beautiful in all regards. The experience captures the heart and the essence of Animal Kingdom, and we recommend making an effort to see them. Tree of Life Awakenings take place approximately every 10 minutes intermittently from nightfall to shortly after park close.
At Magic Kingdom, there’s a new limited-time photo and video experience from PhotoPass that allows you to capture an aerial video of you and Cinderella Castle. During daytime, look for a photographer in the East Plaza Garden at Magic Kingdom who capturing two one-of-a-kind photos and a super-zoom video from a unique angle above the theme park.
I’m not normally one for novelty PhotoPass photos, but I’ve gotta admit that the videos I’ve seen people post thus far (this debuted yesterday), have been pretty cool. It looks like a drone video, and is a really unique idea. Kudos to Disney on continuing to try new things with PhotoPass. (Walt Disney World has posted other new Magic Shot videos, but that’s unquestionably the coolest and least cheesy.)
On the resort counter service restaurant front, you’ll soon be able to mobile order at Pop Century’s Everything POP food court, the Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Contempo Café at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. These join the existing mobile order lineup of Centertown Market and Spyglass Grill at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and over 20 other quick-service locations in the parks and Disney Springs.
We’ve tried mobile ordering at the Caribbean Beach restaurants, and it has almost always been counterproductive. In the parks, lines at counter service restaurants can get long, especially at peak times. Maybe we just eat at the right times, but we’ve seldom had this experience at the resorts–especially those listed above. For us, it’s easier to just interact with a Cast Member at the register in resorts, but your mileage may vary on that.
Moving on Epcot, phased demolition of the Leave a Legacy monoliths has begun as Epcot overhauls the guest arrival experience. The granite monoliths honoring those lost in the Battle of Body Wars (that’s right, it was both a war and a battle) will be demolished in stages throughout the year.
The announcement of a New Epcot Entrance & Play Pavilion was ambiguous regarding this, but the tombstones themselves will not be rebuilt outside the park. The photos will be carefully removed and placed in a new area outside the park that is expected to debut in early 2020, though.
Construction walls on the west side of the Epcot entrance plaza went up earlier this week, and those Leave a Legacy tombstones are now inaccessible. Demolition is not the simple process it might appear, and we’d expect it to be a while before this is finished and walls go up around the east side of the plaza. (It’s not a pretty photo, but in the shot below you can see the photo removal.)
I have done little to restrain my enthusiasm about this “addition by subtraction” project. Leave a Legacy is an eyesore, one of several ugly aesthetic additions bestowed upon us by the Millennium Celebration. While I’ve also cheered the removal of other monstrosities from that (the Hat & Wand), at least I could understood the attachment to those things among some fans. I didn’t agree, but I could empathize.
Here, unless you’re among the .0001% of guests who have a photo on the tombstones, how could you like Leave a Legacy? And even if you do have a photo, I’d hope you recognize that these things bear an uncanny resemblance to a war memorial inside a theme park, which is…not a good look? Regardless, hopefully the new photo location and a beautiful park-like entrance for all to enjoy is a fair solution.
Note that this is just the first phase of the Epcot Central Spine Redesign (also known as Project Gamma), which is still happening. We’ve been talking about this for nearly 2 years and thus far have seen next to nothing come to fruition. From what we understand, the 2-Year Spaceship Earth Closure & Reimagining is still moving forward.
Likewise, the Gardens of Imagination-inspired revamp of Innoventions Plaza is still set to begin later this year. That project is rumored to see the demolition of Innoventions West, temporary (and permanent) relocation of Starbucks, a new water maze, along with some more questionable additions. As we’ve noted previously, there has been a ton of fluidity to this project, so don’t be surprised if totally different specific concepts come to fruition. Generally speaking, the goal is more water/green space, and less concrete/clutter.
Moreover, there are the new films slated for Epcot, which are rumored to debut in January 2020 as part of the 2020 Epcot International Festival of the Arts. This includes Awesome Planet, the new Seamless Circle-Vision 360 film for China, Beauty and the Beast Sing-a-long in France, and new Circle-Vision 360 film for the Canada Pavilion.
We anticipate a healthy amount of Epcot announcements and new details about existing projects to come in August at the D23 Expo. In addition to these Future World projects, big news could also be coming to World Showcase. Remember the addition of a Brazil pavilion that ranked #2 in terms of likelihood on our list of rumored Epcot projects (after the now-confirmed Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure)? That project hasn’t been quashed.
Suffice to say, it should be another exciting D23 Expo. We’re waiting with bated breath to see what is officially announced at the Parks & Resorts presentation both for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration and beyond. Until then, it’s fun to speculate about the future of Disney Parks based upon credible rumors that are out there!
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Your Thoughts
What do you think of the new/changing nighttime entertainment at Animal Kingdom? Excited, disappointed, or indifferent? Are you looking forward to the new park entrance experience at Epcot? What about the rumored changes to Innoventions Plaza or elsewhere around the park? Excited to try the new PhotoPass Magic Shots and video? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
We have photos of our daughters placed on Leave a Legacy and found them each and every time we went back to Epcot over the years, They are both adults now and it was a sweet reminder of their youth and a memory for the family. But, I tend to love memories and will miss the monoliths…to each his own. Maybe they meant more to me because we have a vested interest but I am sad to see them go.
My biggest disappointment at Disney World was when they did away with the nighttime parade Mainstreet Electrical Parade. Years ago it was the Spectro Magic Parade. Any chance one of these will return to Magic Kingdom? It’s just not the same at night without the magic of one of those parades.
What is happening in The Land where Cicrcle of Life was shown?
A new movie is going in!
I never felt that the LaL was a tombstone. It has been fun showing the grandkids our photos and those of their parents. Glad the photos are not being destroyed.
I just made our early 2020 reservation for 1st visit for granddaughter #3. Staying at BC so Epcot is a favorite. Removal of the Futuristic (in a bad way) Ball entrance is fantastic. I mentioned to the friendly cast member taking our resort res that it was a disappointing decision by Disney to now place smoking at the 2 Epcot entrances, front and back. Especially when Disney has realized the need for beautiful, green, color, &/or water elements as first impressions to replace the tombstone mistake.
What will happen to figment!? Please update us who truly grow up with him and still love him!
I honestly think opinion on both the “Sorcerer hat” and LaL depends on whether your first visit to the parks was before or after they were installed.
I liked both, but having never seen the parks before, I didn’t view them as “an out of place eyesore” and nor did I consider them to resemble “tombstones”. That said, I quickly adapted to the lack of the hat in DHS, so I expect it’ll be the same with LaL.
On a much more important note, is there any suggestion that Disney will finally resolve the double-bag-check when arriving from the TTC? Considering that the extra check costs them money every single day in additional security staff, and it could be easily and cheaply solved by some careful redesignation of the fencing at Epcot to bring the monorail exit within the secure area, it seems bizarre it hasn’t happened already.
Fixing the idiotic double security theater show at the entrance to Epcot is the biggest, most urgent project of the last few years. It’s far past time for this to be completed.
I am glad I have two WDW trips this year to get in some time on the ball ride, as we call it because we can never remember the name. I could listen to Judy Dench recite the phonebook- most perfect voice ever. We always do this ride as one of the last things when there is absolutely no line. It’s always a great way to end the night at Epcot.
I am glad to see the tombstones go. They were such a jarring entrance into a great park. I remember when there was a lot more to the future world section in the 80’s and I am looking forward to that area coming back. If I owned the place, every country would have a ride. But since I don’t, I am looking forward to more things to do in my favorite country- France.
AK in the evening is a must do for me. I love the ambiance of the park. I enjoyed the Rivers of Light and Tree of Life Awakenings shows. I hope this new Rivers of Light show isnt another IP-heavy projection show.
I am happy work has finally started in removing tombstones rather than hearing all talk.
I am also happy with more water/green than underutilized concrete buildings
It’s about time that Epcot gets attention. Not an expert, but I think its the most neglected park that Disney owns or has their name on. If only they would get rid of the horrible Journey into Imagination with Figment. The worse attraction in WDW now that Stitch has been closed.
I love the Figment ride. It needs some work but it is the best thing at Epcot IMHO.
It’s a pity, Ralston, that you did not see the original iteration of “Journey into Your Imagination.” If you had, you would understand why most people think this version is so bad.
I’d find it very hard to find a worse ride/attraction in Epcot. Compared to Test Track, Soaring, Spaceship Earth, it offers nothing. A lot of money was clearly spent, but not very well.
But what is great about Disney is that they cater for everyone. My 5 years old loved it, so I cant complain.
The ruined Maelstrom is worse. Waste of money.
What is this obsession with Journey into the imagination? I don’t know (or at least remember) the previous versions, but the one that was there in 2018 felt like something from a cheap, travelling circus. The lighting was awful, the spinning cardboard cutouts, the old, dilapidated parts… the annoying song.
Other than some connection to past versions of this ride (that I hope were better?), I can’t understand the enjoyment adults find in this attraction.
Can anyone tell me what they like about it?
The original one was so amazing! For those of us a kids who got to go we remember the original song one little spark which is why better than today’s version! We remember seeing our parents sing it and us humming it all day! Figment is apart of many childhoods and we hope he stays!
Thank you for the reply, Joey!
You motivated me to find a video on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prhyCRuHRVI
Looks like Disney put a bit more effort into the original!
Yes, the ruination of Journey Into Imagination is about the only thing on par with the senseless massacre of the Maelstrom.
Matt thanks for finding this video!!
I’m looking forward to the Project Gamma changes at Epcot! My growing up years were spent at Disneyland out west, and by the time I made it to WDW I was left to wonder what Future World must have been like in the early years.
Your rumor update left out a couple of interesting “changes” at Epcot revealed by your fish eye photos. Can’t wait to get a closer look at the new monorail nose cones and SpaceEgg Earth! ;^D
I agree that mobile ordering isn’t too helpful at Caribbean Beach. I’m hopeful that at Pop Century they’ll serve all the orders from a single spot, which will eliminate the need for the family to split up and stand in 4 different lines.
Any idea when the starbucks will be moved? I’m going near the end of September and want to make sure I can still find them.
Tom is talking about LONG-term changes to Epcot, that won’t be happening in the next few months. That said, if and when the Starbucks does relocate within the park, you can rest assured that it will be reported on sites like this and clearly labeled on park maps. Disney has no reason to ‘hide’ the Epcot starbucks :-).
I dunno, i think they absolutely should work to hide an abomination like Starsucks. Although I did eat a couple of their overpriced breakfast sammies on our list trip. What in the hell is the deal with no salt and pepper in there?
I’d like to see at Disney a place that shows all the Disney parks. It would be interesting to see the foreign properties. I know it would be difficult because of night and day, but I would think Disney could work there magic.
I actually have 2 photos in Leave A Legacy: 1 with an ex-boyfriend and 1 from my honeymoon… from my first marriage. Yeah, I’d be fine if those “Legacies” went missing.
I will be chuckling about this comment for a LONG time…
As of early this month, the moving sidewalk was gone from Space and we had to walk the whole way up the ramp. Not cool.
Can’t wait for the announcement next week of “Disney’s Lose a Legacy”, a new premium service costing $199.95 per legacy.
I think the only way I could convince my wonderful (and hopefully last) husband of buying into that upcharge is if Disney decides to unexpectedly bombard us and our 2 children with the photos from my ill-fated relationships. I’m imagining some RFID thing that flashes the photos wherever we go: the TV screens by Space Mountain’s moving sidewalk… the tags on the Mousekedance It floats… hitchhiking exes on Haunted Mansion. The possibilities are endless!
I can see my 4-year-old daughter now: “Mommy? Is that you? Who’s that strange man you’re with?” “That, my dear, is what you call a mistake… soooo… WHO WANTS A DOLE WHIP?!?”
I agree about getting rid of the Leave a Legacy. I am more unhappy about them removing the bricks at the Magic Kingdom.
Agreed. (If you want to read my sentiments in more than a single word, they’re here: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/walk-around-world-bricks-removed-magic-kingdom/)
Sadly, I was forever a casualty of Body Wars. Every. Single. Time. Always thought, “THIS will be the time I don’t get sick!”
Never happened.
Disney knew that the ride was going to make people ill before it opened. But they had already invested lots of money, shot the film (directed by Leonard Nimoy), and built the ride. The back-and-forth motion of being in the bloodstream was a major error by WDI.
really hoping the monoliths are removed by september, at least those on the current side. what. an. eyesore. and an even bigger bottleneck.
Help me understand what a “water maze” is. Google is just leading me to rat testing when I try to figure this one out.
Your guess is as good as mine. I haven’t heard it described in specific terms.
My guess would be something like the jumping fountains at Journey into Imagination, but on a winding path of some sort?
I am one of the .0001% of guests who has their picture on Leave a Legacy & I was never a fan. Sure, it was cool to show my kiddos the picture of my younger self…but the photos are terrible and the quality is lousy so they couldn’t even tell it was me. The tombstone/war memorial design never felt right to me either. I am happy to hear the photos (as bad as they are) will live on but I’m not sad to see them move.