A Sneak Peek at the Future of Epcot
How do you bring the magic of the D23 Expo to Epcot? You relocate the model from the Anaheim Convention Center to the Odyssey Events Pavilion, enhance the presentation with a 360-degree theater experience, and create something truly immersive for Epcot guests.
The result? The Epcot Experience, which opened in October 2019, just weeks after its D23 Expo debut.
Concept Art, Attractions, and Sneak Peeks
At the 2019 D23 Expo Parks and Resorts Pavilion, Disney gave fans their first glimpse at concept art for the Play Pavilion, Moana: Journey of Water, and the new nighttime spectacular, then still unnamed—eventually revealed as HarmonioUS. Attractions, a large-scale model of Epcot, and loads of teasers and previews filled the space.
When that same experience made its way to Walt Disney World, it got the full Disney Parks treatment.
Inside the Epcot Odyssey Events Pavilion, lighting was dimmed, the Epcot model came to life through projection mapping, and a fully synchronized 360-degree film wrapped around the audience. The result was a 12-minute multimedia preview of everything coming to Epcot during its historic transformation—from the vision of EPCOT Center to future neighborhoods: World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature, and World Showcase.
Posters, Props, and Photo Ops
Disney didn’t stop at just a theater. They relocated attraction posters from the Expo, added PhotoPass locations that placed you atop Spaceship Earth or beside Remy, and included display cases featuring rare EPCOT memorabilia—like opening day tickets, historic pin sets, and never-before-seen concept art.
Guests could also grab a bite at the grab-and-go food location, shop for exclusive New Epcot merchandise, and get a closer look at the evolution of Epcot through thoughtful displays and stunning visuals.
This episode of SamsDisneyDiary features the full 12-minute Epcot Experience as recorded in October 2019—plus footage from the D23 Expo 2019 Parks Pavilion.
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.
