EPCOT

What's changed at EPCOT

EPCOT's multi-year transformation: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, new neighborhoods and the attractions that disappeared.

Verified changes
34Verified changes
Earliest year
2016Earliest year
Current through
2026Current through

The short answer

Since 2016, 34 verified changes have been recorded at EPCOT: 10 openings, 5 closures and 19 replacements, rethemes or operational changes. The additions include Luminous, CommuniCore Hall, Journey of Water and Connections Cafe. The losses include Electric Umbrella, IllumiNations, Innoventions and Leave a Legacy. The most recent entry is Test Track (Refurbished, 2025-07).

Added
10 openings and new lands
Gone
5 closures
Reworked
19 replacements and updates

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34 shown
NEWOpened May 27, 2022

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

EPCOT • attraction

One of the largest indoor roller coasters anywhere and EPCOT's headline attraction.

Now
Open in World Discovery

Source · Walt Disney World

NEWOpened October 2021

EPCOT

EPCOT • land

The park's entire layout and naming was restructured.

Then
Future World and World Showcase
Now
World Celebration, Discovery, Nature, Showcase

Source · Walt Disney World

NEWOpened October 2021

Remy's Ratatouille Adventure

EPCOT • attraction

A trackless family dark ride added to World Showcase.

Now
Open in the France pavilion

Source · Walt Disney World

GONEClosed August 13, 2017

Universe of Energy

EPCOT • attraction

The pavilion was cleared to build Cosmic Rewind.

Then
Open since 1996
Now
Demolished for Guardians

Source · Walt Disney World

REPLACEDMay 27, 2022

Wonders of Xandar Pavilion

EPCOT • land

The energy pavilion was gutted and rebuilt for the Guardians coaster.

Then
Universe of Energy pavilion
Now
Wonders of Xandar with Cosmic Rewind

Source · Parkstalgia Research

GONEClosed September 30, 2019

IllumiNations

EPCOT • entertainment

The long-running lagoon show ended after 20 years.

Then
Nightly since 1999
Now
Retired

Source · Walt Disney World

REPLACEDJune 21, 2016

Frozen Ever After

EPCOT • attraction

Norway's boat ride became a Frozen attraction.

Then
Maelstrom
Now
Frozen Ever After

Source · Walt Disney World

CHANGEDOctober 2021

EPCOT Entrance

EPCOT • land

The main entrance was demolished and rebuilt with a new fountain and pathways.

Then
Leave a Legacy monoliths
Now
Open fountain plaza

Source · Walt Disney World

UPDATEDJuly 22, 2025

Test Track

EPCOT • attraction

Test Track closed for a long rebuild and returned with a new look.

Then
2012 Chevrolet design
Now
New retro-futurist design

Source · Walt Disney World

NEWOpened September 20, 2021

Space 220

EPCOT • dining

A table-service restaurant simulating dining in orbit.

Now
Open near Mission: SPACE

Source · Walt Disney World

NEWOpened December 5, 2023

CommuniCore Hall

EPCOT • land

A new event and festival venue replaced dormant Innoventions buildings.

Then
Wonders of Life / Innoventions area
Now
New festival and event space

Source · Walt Disney World

REPLACEDApril 2, 2023

Harmonious

EPCOT • entertainment

EPCOT cycled through two nighttime shows in three years.

Then
Harmonious
Now
Luminous: The Symphony of Us

Source · Walt Disney World

NEWOpened December 5, 2023

Luminous

EPCOT • entertainment

EPCOT's current nighttime spectacular.

Now
Nightly lagoon show

Source · Walt Disney World

REPLACEDDecember 5, 2023

EPCOT Nighttime Show

EPCOT • entertainment

EPCOT went through Epcot Forever and Harmonious before settling on Luminous.

Then
Illuminations
Now
Luminous: The Symphony of Us

Source · Parkstalgia Research

GONEClosed September 2019

Innoventions

EPCOT • land

The old Innoventions pavilions were torn down for the new World Celebration.

Then
Two large exhibit buildings flanking the fountain
Now
Open plaza and CommuniCore Hall

Source · Parkstalgia Research

NEWOpened October 16, 2023

Journey of Water

EPCOT • attraction

A walk-through interactive water trail.

Now
Open in World Nature

Source · Walt Disney World

CHANGED2022

EPCOT Festivals

EPCOT • entertainment

Festival kiosks are now up almost any week you visit.

Then
Two main festivals a year
Now
Four festivals covering most of the calendar

Source · Parkstalgia Research

GONEClosed August 2019

Leave a Legacy

EPCOT • land

The entrance plaza monoliths were moved to make way for the new entrance.

Then
Stone monoliths with guest photos
Now
Relocated outside the gates

Source · Parkstalgia Research

NEWOpened July 5, 2022

Connections Cafe

EPCOT • dining

A rebuilt quick-service location replaced the Electric Umbrella.

Then
Electric Umbrella
Now
Open in World Celebration

Source · Walt Disney World

GONEClosed March 15, 2020

Electric Umbrella

EPCOT • dining

A longtime Future World quick-service spot never reopened.

Then
Main quick service
Now
Closed

Source · Walt Disney World

CHANGEDAugust 13, 2017

Mission: SPACE

EPCOT • attraction

The less-intense side became a gentle tour around Earth.

Then
Orbit Earth training mission
Now
Earth orbit flyover for the mild side

Source · Parkstalgia Research

NEWOpened October 2021

La Crêperie de Paris

EPCOT • dining

The France pavilion expansion added a new creperie.

Now
Crêperie in the France expansion

Source · Parkstalgia Research

REPLACEDJuly 2, 2021

Creations Shop

EPCOT • dining

EPCOT's main store was rebuilt and renamed.

Then
MouseGear main merchandise store
Now
Creations Shop

Source · Parkstalgia Research

CHANGEDJune 2022

World Showcase Dining

EPCOT • dining

Most World Showcase restaurants reworked menus and raised prices post-2020.

Then
Legacy menus
Now
Reworked and higher-priced menus

Source · Parkstalgia Research

CHANGEDAugust 18, 2021

Club Cool

EPCOT • dining

The free international soda tasting moved and swapped several flavours.

Then
Inside Innoventions West
Now
New location near Creations Shop

Source · Parkstalgia Research

REPLACEDFebruary 18, 2020

Regal Eagle Smokehouse

EPCOT • dining

The American pavilion's restaurant became a barbecue spot.

Then
Liberty Inn
Now
Barbecue quick service

Source · Parkstalgia Research

CHANGEDJanuary 17, 2020

Canada Far and Wide

EPCOT • entertainment

The Canada pavilion film was replaced with a newly shot version narrated by Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy.

Then
O Canada!
Now
Canada Far and Wide

Source · Parkstalgia Research

CHANGEDJuly 15, 2021

Garden Grill Restaurant

EPCOT • dining

Character dining returned in stages with different service styles.

Then
Full family-style character meal
Now
Returned with modified service

Source · Parkstalgia Research

CHANGED2022

Sunshine Seasons

EPCOT • dining

The food court in The Land got new stations and dishes.

Then
Original station menu
Now
Reworked stations and menu

Source · Parkstalgia Research

CHANGEDOctober 2021

Spaceship Earth

EPCOT • attraction

The exit area games and sponsor exhibits were scaled back.

Then
Project Tomorrow with sponsor branding
Now
Reduced post-show

Source · Parkstalgia Research

NEWOpened January 17, 2020

Awesome Planet

EPCOT • attraction

A new film replaced Circle of Life in The Land pavilion.

Now
New Earth-focused film

Source · Parkstalgia Research

CHANGED2023

Festival Center

EPCOT • planning

Festival seminars and events now happen in the new CommuniCore Hall.

Then
Festival Center in Odyssey
Now
Events moved to CommuniCore Hall

Source · Parkstalgia Research

CHANGEDJune 2021

Coral Reef Restaurant

EPCOT • dining

Operating hours were reduced after reopening.

Then
Daily lunch and dinner
Now
Dinner-focused operation

Source · Walt Disney World

CHANGED2024

Journey Into Imagination With Figment

EPCOT • attraction

One of the few EPCOT attractions untouched by the overhaul.

Then
Original 2002 version
Now
Still running, refurbishment rumoured

Source · Parkstalgia Research

Coming next

Officially announced or under construction — not open to guests yet, and not counted in the totals above.

ANNOUNCEDOpening date not announced

Wondrous China

EPCOT • attraction

Disney previously announced Wondrous China as a replacement for Reflections of China, but the new film has not opened and no current opening date has been announced.

Next · not open to guests yet

Source · Parkstalgia Research

Year by year

A one-line summary of every year we have verified records for.

  • 2025 changed Test Track.
  • 2024 changed Journey Into Imagination With Figment.
  • 2023 opened Luminous, CommuniCore Hall and Journey of Water; changed EPCOT Nighttime Show, Harmonious and Festival Center.
  • 2022 opened Connections Cafe and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind; changed World Showcase Dining, Wonders of Xandar Pavilion, Sunshine Seasons and EPCOT Festivals.
  • 2021 opened EPCOT, La Crêperie de Paris, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure and Space 220; changed EPCOT Entrance, Spaceship Earth, Club Cool, Garden Grill Restaurant and Creations Shop.
  • 2020 opened Awesome Planet; lost Electric Umbrella; changed Regal Eagle Smokehouse and Canada Far and Wide.
  • 2019 lost IllumiNations, Innoventions and Leave a Legacy.
  • 2017 lost Universe of Energy; changed Mission: SPACE.
  • 2016 changed Frozen Ever After.

Common questions

What has changed at EPCOT?

Since 2016, 34 verified changes have been recorded at EPCOT: 10 openings, 5 closures and 19 replacements, rethemes or operational changes. The additions include Luminous, CommuniCore Hall, Journey of Water and Connections Cafe. The losses include Electric Umbrella, IllumiNations, Innoventions and Leave a Legacy. The most recent entry is Test Track (Refurbished, 2025-07).

What is new at EPCOT?

10 additions are recorded, including Luminous, CommuniCore Hall, Journey of Water, Connections Cafe, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and EPCOT.

What is gone at EPCOT?

5 closures are recorded, including Electric Umbrella, IllumiNations, Innoventions, Leave a Legacy and Universe of Energy.

What is the biggest change at EPCOT?

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened. One of the largest indoor roller coasters anywhere and EPCOT's headline attraction. Opened May 27, 2022.

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