The D23 Expo has announced some major changes to Disney World’s Epcot…especially to the World Showcase.
Of course, my main takeaway from this is:
OHMYGOD OHMYGOD OHMYGOD WE ARE FINALLY GETTING A MARY POPPINS ATTRACTION!!!
Wow, this looks amazing. It’s apparently part of upgrades across all of the WDW parks as part of the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort.
We haven’t been to WDW in a while…not since May. 
We weren’t actually planning to go back until 2021. We likely can’t go next year, as we already have a ski trip planned out west, an Alaska cruise (on Disney Cruise Line), and maybe a scuba diving trip in the Caribbean.
I can’t wait for all the Disney life-ers to bitch and complain about all the changes because any time Disney changes anything people freak out.
I’m all for the changes as EPCOT is especially dated. Outside of the festivals (and there are plenty) it’s the same old same old. Not a huge fan of changing Spaceship Earth because I adore that ride, but I also get it so I’m not too terribly torn up about it.
Hot take: Thank God for a new nighttime show because Illuminations is trashgarbage. That’s right I said it. Come fight me.
Agreed on all points. Epcot is definitely dated, and was way overdue for refurbishment.
Personally, I love Illuminations. I even have all of the music downloaded on iTunes, along with the music they play before and after the show.
My family, on the other hand, hate it with a passion. The only reason I was able to see the show one last time this past May was by telling them it was going away, and then getting a reservation at the Rose & Crown for dinner.
I, like many, are not fond of the current trend of “everything has to tie into an existing IP” model, but I’m resigned to it, and pretty much everyone knew something drastic had to be done. Trying to fit a Guardians of the Galaxy coaster into a “Discovery” theme does seem to be reaching a bit for themes.
The China and Canada films really needed to be updated, so that’s good. I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked the Frozen sing-along, so if the Beauty and the Beast one is that good, it’ll be fine. I do wonder if that will end up phasing out the Hollywood Studios version, as two different singing performances seems like overkill.
I liked Illuminations but not with the reverence some people seemed to have, and I’m interested to see if the new one is going to be using synched drones like many suspect. And I’m sure that view of it will be great from that new platform that’ll probably only cost you and extra $100 to get onto…
I like Illuminations, but it’s been unchanged for so long, and so far surpassed by Disney’s other nighttime shows (World of Color, Fantasmic) that it’s become a bit ho-hum. Which, come to think of it, is analogous to Epcot as a whole. I’m excited for these changes.
Depends on the show I think. Like you said, I love seeing the Frozen Sing-a-long because it’s 4th wall break-y ness is really funny and a bit refreshing for Disney. I doubt Beauty and Beast would be as silly, but if it’s more of a storytelling format then it can stand alone from the HS version which is just the movie, but live.
I’d like to know if Spaceship Earth is still going to be five minutes of audio animatronics followed by ten boring minutes of slowwwly descending backwards to the exit.
They have to keep updating it, or it’ll become EPCOY.
To tie it in with their more current movies, they’re going to have her yelling “I’m Yondu y’all!”
Maybe if they update the “here’s a look at YOUR future” part.
That being said, making funny faces and randomly choosing options is still the best part of the ride.
As long as they end the attraction the same way the Simpson’s take on MP did, I’m good with it.