What does the D23 Expo 2019 and the Walt Disney Imagineering Presents the Epcot Experience, inside the Odyssey Events Pavilion, have in common?
They both signify the beginning of the transformation of Epcot.
Details of the multiyear transformation of Epcot were announced at the D23 Expo 2019 during the Sunday morning Parks and Resorts Panel – Watch the full presentation. While the presentation was Sunday morning, the Expo and the Parks Pavilion opened on Friday with a few spoilers and teasers as to what would be announced on Sunday. The Experience included posters from past, present, and future attractions, a model of Epcot, and a display with lots of teasers and previews. It was our first glimpse at concept art for the Play Pavilion, Moana Journey of Water, and the new nighttime spectacular, HarmonioUS, though we won’t know the name until Sunday.
So… how do you link the D23 Expo to Epcot? Relocate the model from the Anaheim Convention Center to the Epcot Odyssey Events Pavilion; enhance the presentation with a 360-degree theater experience; dim the lights (which you really can’t do in an Expo hall); incorporate projection-mapping that brings the model to life by continually changing the
landscape, completely synchronized with the 360-degree film all around you, completely emerging the audience in the 12 minutes long Epcot Experience. ON top of that, relocate all of the attraction posters from the D23 Expo; add some four-dimensional photo pass locations which make you feel like you are standing on top of Spaceship Earth or shrunk to the size of Remy from “Ratatouille”; incorporate some display cases with artifacts and memorabilia, including an opening day ticket and pin sets showcasing the history of Epcot Pins; concept art of the new Epcot and Epcot attractions; a grab-and-go food location with a few tables and seats; and of course, a merchandise location celebrating the New Epcot.
But of course, the feature attraction is the 360-degree film which includes archival footage that takes guests on a journey from the vision of EPCOT Center to present-day Epcot and beyond, including the Play Pavilion, the New Spaceship Earth, HarmonioUS, Mary Poppins, and more. This episode of Sams Disney Diary is the full 12 minute Epcot Experience as recorded in October 2019 along with footage from the D23 Expo 201 Parks and Resorts Pavilion. Thanks for watching. Be sure to subscribe for more and don’t forget the Disney nerds Podcast.
Check out these great entertainment options around Epcot’s World Showcase. Carol Stein, Mariachi Cobre, Canadian Holiday Voyagers, Sergio, The Story of Coco, Lumberjacks, Agent P, Kim Possible, Matsuriza Japanese Drummers, British Revolution
Check out these other videos from the D23 Expo Archives Stage: 60 Years of the Jungle Cruise, Great Moments with Walt Disney, Digging Deeper Disney History, Making Walls Talk, A conversation with Bill Farmer, Kevin Rafferty, Star Wars Music, Disneyland 1959, Haunted Mansion at 50, Disney and Pixar did That?, Legacy of Disney Products, Disney Park Maps, Marc Davis goes to WED, Legends of Imagineering, Voices of the Parks or 50 Years of Pirates! and a Kiss Goodnight with Richard Sherman
