Epcot Update – May 2019
Epcot is the next stop in our May 2019 Walt Disney World construction updates & photo reports. As the park continues and further gears up for its massive re-imagining, work is underway in both World Showcase and Future World. However, much of this is backstage, and there isn’t a ton of visible month-to-month progress.
Instead, we’ll focus on smaller recent and upcoming changes. Along the way, we’ll also take brief looks at construction progress on the big projects: the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Mission: Space restaurant, Japan restaurant, Epcot films, and more.
We’ll start with Walt Disney World’s official announcement that the still-unnamed space restaurant will open in 2019. Patina Restaurant Group will operate the new restaurant, and they’ve developed a menu featuring internationally-inspired cuisine, over 1,000 bottles of wines, and a wide selection of craft beer.
No other details have been released about what readers here have been calling Mission: Plates (other name cheeky name suggestions are always encouraged in the comments). For those unfamiliar with Patina, they also operate the restaurants in Epcot’s Italy pavilion, as well as the Edison, Maria & Enzo’s, and Morimoto Asia. They’re also behind several restaurants in Downtown Disney at Disneyland (and numerous others in Southern California).
Unlike most other restaurant groups, my impression of Patina is generally very positive, both inside and outside the Disney sphere. With that said, the space restaurant opening this year comes out of left field. Construction has progressed quickly on the building, but I think we’re all anticipating and hoping for a carefully Imagineered and believable environment inside. Even a late 2019 opening seems like insufficient time to accomplish that. Hopefully I’m wrong on this.
Also worth noting is the reality that many recent Walt Disney World restaurant additions have been delayed. This includes several at Disney Springs (the Edison missed its original opening season by over a year), and in hotels. While I’d love to see the space restaurant open sooner rather than later–and I realize there’s a rush to get new draws into Epcot–I really hope it’s done right. In this case, I wouldn’t mind a delay at all.
Speaking of new things coming to Epcot, across Future World, work continues on Awesome Planet, which was announced only a couple months ago. Awesome Planet will deliver an environmental message that will resonate far beyond its final scenes. The film will feature spectacular nature photography, immersive in-theater effects, and space sequences created by Industrial Light & Magic.
The new films slated for Epcot could debut in January 2020 as part of the 2020 Epcot International Festival of the Arts. This includes Awesome Planet, the new Beauty and the Beast Sing-a-long in France, and new Circle-Vision 360 film for the Canada Pavilion. An ‘Epcot Film Festival’ during Festival of the Arts would be a fun and marketable addition.
Moreover, this would give Walt Disney World the ability to space out new offerings to drive attendance. IllumiNations ending is that drive now; Epcot Forever will fill the roll come October; Space Restaurant in December (maybe?); followed by new films in January. My recent track record in predicting opening months has been atrocious, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a push to get Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure opened by June 2020.
Moving on to everyone’s favorite topic: infrastructure work!
This temporary ticket booth recently appeared outside International Gateway, presumably because one or more of the permanent ticket windows is closing. You might recall that a maze of construction walls went up here last month around the old turnstiles and bag check area. The presumed goal is expanding all of this to prepare for the influx of Skyliner guests. (On the plus side, the construction wall around the Skyliner station is now down.
One of the two out-of-park smoking areas at Epcot is back here.
Oddly, these smoking areas went from being mostly out of the way in-park locations to being outside the park locations that far more non-smokers will walk past to enter the parks.
Here’s a look at one of the in-park signs at Epcot in what was previously a smoking area.
We’ve already encountered a couple instances of guests discretely smoking on random park benches and (twice) inside restrooms. Hopefully Walt Disney World management empowers front of line Cast Members to enforce the rule.
Our concern is that rule-breaking will become an even bigger problem if guests start seeing others get away with it; why bother going all the way outside the park if the rule isn’t being actively enforced?
Also back at International Gateway, we can see the first testing of this leg of the Skyliner.
We shared video of this in our May 2019 Disney Skyliner Gondola Update, which also features 50 photos of the 55 newly-unveiled character-themed Skyliner cabins.
From the same area, here’s a look at the facades taking shape in the France expansion. This is moving at a brisk pace, and even though a lot clearly remains to be done, we really wouldn’t be surprised to see this finished in a year or so.
The show building has been fully enclosed for months. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is a trackless screen-based dark ride, with some physical props that would’ve been built off-site.
Here’s a look at work on the walkway that’ll connect the existing France pavilion to the expansion.
This walkway will be more narrow than the path in Mexico that’s a notorious crowd-flow issue. Hopefully since this isn’t a main thoroughfare that won’t be as much of an issue…but it will be the way to access Epcot’s most popular attraction (for at least a year), so there’s that.
Construction also continues on the Guardians of the Galaxy hybrid coaster. Not much else to report on this.
We’re still expecting this to debut at some point in 2021, hence Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure having about a year as Epcot’s most popular attraction.
Work on the new Signature Restaurant in the Japan pavilion.
Again, not much to report here. We’re expecting the entrance here to be pretty nondescript; think Monsieur Paul in the France pavilion.
On the topic of food, here’s the new-ish Coffee-rubbed Pork Poutine with Barbecue Demi-Glace, Fire-roasted Corn Relish and Cheese Curds available for Flower & Garden Festival. I enjoyed this, but prefer the Beef Brisket Poutine. It’s less ambitious, but if I’m eating an indulgent guilty pleasure off the top of a trash can, I might as well go all out.
This poutine was also recently “featured” in our Lovebugs at Walt Disney World post. For those who have asked, the lovebug situation is improving, but there’s probably at least another week or two of it being a thing. (Additionally, May tends to be significantly worse than September.)
Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival continues through early June. (See our 2019 Guide to the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival if you’re planning a visit.)
We had the chance to watch portions of a couple of Garden Rocks concerts (from the walkway behind the theater), and they were quite enjoyable. From what we observed, seating is now fairly easy to obtain.
As the event winds down, we’re starting to see discounts on Flower & Garden merchandise.
Currently, you can take 25% off drinkware, apparel, and ears.
The entire line of World Showcase Mickey designs (like what’s pictured above) is buy one, get one 40% off.
I like these–simple, but interesting designs.
Heading out, we have construction in the parking lot as Epcot is in the process of transforming its “arrival experience.”
Right now, this isn’t too bad, but it does mean a bit more walking depending upon where you’re going or parked. We’d anticipate this area becoming larger, though. We’ll monitor that (and attempt to get some daytime photos) in the next few months. For now, that’s all from Epcot!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of the current state of Epcot and its construction projects? Thoughts on the space restaurant opening in 2019, or the new films potentially debuting in January 2020? 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!
Wow, somebody on here is certainly on the belligerent offensive about their smoking habit! Honestly, as a non smoker I was delighted with the ban and then realized I didn’t see the point. We have made annual trips to WDW since 2003, and I have never really noticed smokers actively smoking unless I passed one of the designated areas, which I am usually to avoid. I have smelled it on people (the odor bothers me physically so I’m hyper-aware), but now I am afraid for our September trip. I have no desire to walk through clouds of smoke to get in or out of the parks, or be in a restroom only to have someone light up in the next stall. If that is the result of the ban, then I would say please forget the ban and go back to the designated areas. And maybe try not to be so angry at people you don’t even know.
I read somewhere? That WDW will not eject a guest from the parks for noncompliance to the nonsmoking rule. Is this TRUE ???
If you got em, smoke em ! Phony to the nay Sayers Let Freedom Ring!
Glycol and Glicern, the same compounds in fog generators all over WDW, is the base for vape juice, but that is banned too……vape, not the fog generators…..hold your breath!!!
Glycol and glycerine are not even remotely the same thing. Vape oil and fog machine juice are entirely different as well.
Every one of these cigarette hating phonies will all show up in a vehicle burning gasoline by the gallon, right after they get off a plane that has burned a thousand gallons of fuel. I would have to smoke a cigarette as long as the Magic Kingdom and as wide as their lake to equal the number of harmful chemicals these hypocrites claim bothers them. Oh, but they will tell you that they need their vehicle so that is different. Then they will eat the lousy food Disney provides packed solid with enough chemicals to give cancer to their elephants at the Animal Kingdom. Then they will all cluster into the center of each park and breath enough chemicals and smoke from the fireworks going off to match the entire day of cigarette smoking from all the smokers. Then they will get in their vehicle again and cluster into thousands of vehicles pack into traffic jams, breathing each other’s tailpipe through their air conditioning as they drive back. Once again, they will board a plane on the way home and discuss with the other moron sitting next to them how pleased they are with Disney’s abuse on smokers. Meanwhile, their little darling princes sitting on the other side of them will begin to cough and the idiot who complains about my tiny tiny tiny little cigarette will say ” what’s the matter, honey? Are you getting a cold?” The answer is NO SHE IS GETTING CANCER FROM ALL YOUR BAD HABITS IDIOT!!! Leave my tiny habit out of it.
JD: What a cancerous post.
Well there you go. Now cigarettes are not dangerous because of this beautiful rant. Well done.
All the alcohol is not thou I guess. Who woulda thunk it!
Last time I looked Tobacco was not a banned substance ???
Truth Hurts my friend
Looks like were heading toward a Smoker Rebellion!
On the other hand, the 1000 bottle of beer new restraunt will be praised!
Should name it 1000 bottle Cantine, WDW should start selling a approved vape stick, then all will be well in the happiest place on earth.
Just be patient, when Florida inevitably approves recreational marijuana the tides will turn and there will be an outcry for them to allow smoking in the parks again!
Wow! Brilliant
Bravo! These self righteous hypocrites are the reason I smoke!
We recently went to Disneyland Paris and they still have smoking in the park at designated areas. What I found humorous was that the Parisians seemed to smoke where ever they pleased and the only people you would find in the actual smoking areas were the Americans since we area all trained to follow the rules I guess. Heck, we were in line for a ride and they had to come over the loud speaker and say there was no smoking in line. I don’t think I have EVER seen someone smoking IN LINE for a ride at WDW or Disneyland. I’m guessing if Europeans ignore smoking areas in their own countries, they will not be looking for them in the US. I also think it is a huge mistake to take away the areas. I think you will get a lot more rogue smokers during the food & wine festival once people start drinking.
Firstly, not all the concerts are easy to find seating. Last night for Richard Marx, the standby line went all the way through Italy.
Secondly, I had a horrible experience at a Patina restaurant last weekend. If an inspector was there, the restaurant would have been shut down. I did talk to the manager about what I saw and hopefully they have addressed the issues. She did not have much to say about it, other than thank you. I feel if I would have seen this at a Disney owned restaurant, I would have received a bit more feedback from a manager. But maybe that’s just wishful thinking.
What do you recommend we do when we see the inevitable smoking going on? I’m thinking that I’ll tweet time and location + a question to @wdwtoday on Twitter?
I think that’s probably the best option. Confronting the smoker is a terrible idea. Putting a nearby front-line Cast Member on the spot is also potentially awkward; if Walt Disney World hasn’t given them training and support on how to deal with the issue, they could be in an uncomfortable position with having to deal with the problem.
Tweeting it to @wdwtoday or visiting Guest Relations puts WDW on notice that this is an issue, in which case it can be dealt with via policy-making at the appropriate ‘pay grade.’
And what about vape, it’s the same compound WDW uses for there fog generators in too many locations to list……those harmful too ???
AOM, it’s not even remotely similar to fog machine juice. I would think that a quality vape product would have far fewer bad chemicals in it, but unfortunately people often buy the cheap junk. And since it’s very easy to find vape liquid with THC in it, they’ve banned vaping.
If they are in a line, urinate on their legs and feet. If they are in a toilet stall, throw wet or used TP or paper towels on them over the dividers. I was there last week for seven days and actively looked for such an opportunity. But alas, i saw none! But if i do in the future, they are at least getting the wet towel treatment.
Good luck at your Proctologist as he looks for my boot
That’s almost funny JD!
What is the matter with you? I don’t understand the total venomous hate. Last post that mentioned smoking, Tom had to block all comments because of things like this. Seriously, find some humanity.
You called it, lots of reports of rule breakers smoking.
If Disney is going to make rules, they need to enforce them. This is worse now than before.
it’s really unfortunate. i had high praise for the ban, but i assumed they would have measures in place from day 1 to combat the inevitable “the rules don’t apply to me” crowd. smoking in the bathrooms is immature… are we back in high school? i hope they have well-trained cast members to deal with this and hopefulyl they get a handle on it right away.
I find it Highly Unlikely that “Well Trained Cast” will be used to “Combat” the Scourge of illicit smokers and eject them from the Park, who wants to throw out a paying guest, Shirley not WDW !
The problem as I see it is far too many regulations are made based on feelings and not logical fact.
I have given the restaurant the moniker
Mission: Space for Dessert
Great update!
Any rumours about whether the entrance changes will eliminate the double-bag-check experienced when arriving from the Epcot Monorail? That drives me crazy.
Yeah, that’s a stupid oversight that should’ve been corrected long ago. An easy change to the monorail ramp would’ve fixed it.
I agree…So sad that the walkway into the back/countries of Epcot is to be a major smoking destination. We are bringing yet another young grandchild for her 1st visit in early 2020, & always stay at the Beach Club Villas. That peaceful, beautiful stroll from the resort into the charming United Kingdom area is wonderful~ it has always embodied the Disney experience that is Epcot for nearly 25 years for our family…the best part of our day. Calm, quiet, beautiful, lovely music playing, enticing views of French architecture, Friendship boats gliding by, surrounded by shady magnolia trees. It has been awful to see that atmosphere degraded with the addition of smoking benches. Now it will become even worse, funneling 20, 30, 50 or more smokers to congregate simultaneously along the 2 main entrances which children frequent en masse. Surely Disney can come up with a better experience than walking through a toxic fog as first impressions for their major, international-destination, art, gardens, architecture, culture & educationally-focussed theme park.
Just last night at the DVC Moonlight Magic event at Epcot, my husband and I encountered a man vaping in line in front of us while we were waiting for fish and chips in the UK pavilion. It annoyed us both and no one officially said anything to him. We took the approach of what are we going to do, but it minorly irked us nonetheless.
My 7 yr old would have said something (he’s all about the rules and people not smoking or vaping)
Planet 51
Eckle & Skiffs
Turo’s
Witch Mountain
Nostromo’s
Any word yet if a Tang slush will be the official specially drink at the space restaurant?
Hopefully whatever they do with the “Gastronautic Galaxy” … it won’t be Coral Reef in Space.
The fish tank painted black with twinkling lights on the wall and “astronauts” floating by waving to the diners. Not much worse than high definition screens in place of windows … or is it?
I, nor my family smoke, but my in-laws do. I wondered what would happen with the new rule because NO smoker in my aquaintance can go for hours without a cigarette and walking to the front every hour to smoke would get old. My guess is there will be more smoke clouds to annoy us with the new rule vs old smoking areas.
I think they’re making a mistake. We go to Disney 2x a year. We never smelled smoke from the out of the way areas. Making people walk out of the park to smoke is insane. I think this is a first step in removing smoking from Disney all together. Bad idea. There are numerous empty buildings in the parks that can retrofitted with exhausts to accommodate smokers.
The only place I ever found this to be a problem was outside of big thunder. While doing ride swap, the only place to hang out in that area was next to a dock full of smoke.
Only if they charge the smokers to use them and not the rest of us…
Thank you! I am a smoker and want to thank you!!! I have never broken the rules while smoking at Disney, I have actually walked away when other smokers bring their kids in the smoking area… I think this new rule is unjust, and very stressful for the guest that do smoke. What if I told the guest I am taking away all sodas and alcohol!?
I have to wonder if the non-smoking rules are being put in place to try to control wacky-tobaccy. I believe it is totally legal in California and might be a problem for them to enforce over there without just banning all smoking all together. Then ban it in Florida just for the sake of consistency throughout the parks.
I know when I was in Disneyland recently l smelled it once or twice.
Comfort, that’s exactly it. It’s not totally legal in CA as it is still a federal crime, but we’ve pretty much written that state off to begin with. Can’t stomach giving money there to go visit DL any more though.
“Other name cheeky name suggestions are always encouraged in the comments”. Hopefully these potential restaurant names don’t make you regret that statement:
International Plate Station
Garçons of the Galaxy
Space Mouthin’
Starlight Seasons
Spaceship Girth
And beyond the restaurant name itself, they’ll need themed offerings. Like the wine list titled “Star Pours: The Viticulture Continues” or the featured “Galaxy’s Wedge” salad.
These are all very good – Garcons of the Galaxy is my favourite.
Well done. Space Mouthin’ is definitely my favorite!
With a new theme song by Deep Purple?
This is quality work Pete, I salute you!
Spaceship Girth!!!!!!!! Ding ding ding we have a winner – laughing so hard!
When the Ratatouille attraction opens, I’m guessing Frozen will move to Tier 2? Surely they won’t have all four attractions Tier 1…..right? RIGHT? Then maybe Ratatouille moves to Tier 2 when Guardians coaster opens?
My guess is that Soarin would drop before Frozen Ever After.
FEA is like Tier 6, maybe…
Has a date for the renovation of Spaceship Earth been made available yet?
Nothing official. As far as I know, it’s still slated to occur.
I enjoy seeing the progress. Is that temporary ticket booth a re-purposed Food and Wine Festival booth? It looks like one.
Reading this blog probably makes me “not-the-general public”, but I’m probably more excited for the new movies than for Ratatouille. The WS movies are part of “original Epcot” and hold a lot of charm for me. I’m really glad to see them updated (hopefully retaining the song int he Canada movie).
On our recent trip (beginning of May), we encountered people smoking in the Pandora restroom. In that case, guests in the restroom were yelling at the person to get out and put out the cigarette, and cast members outside the restroom were singing, “Smokin’ in the boys’ room,” at full volume. It was pretty entertaining, but I don’t think the smoker was actually identified.
Oh there’s a good idea !!! Belittle the poor person who is addicted to nicotine. Then come on here and let everyone know what kind of a person you are along with the Disney low life’s that help you do it. What a happy place ????
Why should everyone else suffer because the smoker thinks the rules don’t apply to him?
Wow. That sounds cruel. I can’t believe Disney would be OK with cast members humiliating guests publicly like that.
While ‘stupid’ is not a legally-protected class, I’d agree that CMs could be subject to discipline if such actually occurred although I wouldn’t say they were humiliating the fools. When I worked at MK and they were letting CMs ride test Splash before it opened, they told us a group had actually given the sad guest spectators the finger as they went down the main drop, and they were fired on the spot at the unload point. Back in the good old days before they added lap bars…