Hello, and welcome to Dateline Disney World! This week, we’re taking a look at Epcot news and projects as the Flower and Garden Festival starts to wind down. Taking these photos was an adventure due to wild rain this week that had me shooting underneath an umbrella, but we have to bring you your weekly WDW fix.
It also came to my attention that this column marks an entire year since Dateline Disney World first popped up on MiceChat! I just want to thank all of you for following my journey in the parks, thanks for all your comments and support, and hopefully you’ll all stay on board for many more to come!
If you’d like to support the column and shop on Amazon.com
at the same time, just click HERE
| [img]http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.com/Other/DDW/i-vbVkdkc/0/O/epcot-1.png[/img] |
Welcome to Epcot!
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2672.jpg[/img]
I entered the park through the International Gateway this week, which, while I don’t have a photo, now has the touch to enter RFID gates.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2656.jpg[/img]
In France, the walls keep getting pushed further and further over as Disney prepares for the June opening of the new ice cream parlor.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2657.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2658.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2659.jpg[/img]
In Morocco, there isn’t much see when it comes to the construction of the new waterside restaurant.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2660.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2655.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2663.jpg[/img]
Aladdin and Jasmine are now meeting in the back of the pavilion in one of the gift shops.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2662.jpg[/img]
With the rain this week, crowds were relatively thin. Take this shot inside the Mitsukoshi department store for example!
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2664.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2665.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2667.jpg[/img]
Over at the American Adventure, there really isn’t much visual progress on the new bathrooms going in between this pavilion and Japan. But, you could hear construction vehicles moving quite well from inside the park.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2668.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2669.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2670.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2671.jpg[/img]
In Germany, I noticed many of the outdoor seats have been removed, which was odd.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2673.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2674.jpg[/img]
Also in Germany, a Cast Member was outside handing out maps telling guests that Snow White was meeting in Innoventions West due to the rain.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2675.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2676.jpg[/img]
Some exterior work is still going on over at at Maelstrom.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2677.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2678.jpg[/img]
The ride is still open during this refurbishment.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2680.jpg[/img]
Even on a rainy day, the park is beautiful.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2681.jpg[/img]
Passholder RFID exchanges are still going on until the middle of this month.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2682.jpg[/img]
I don’t think I’ve seen this ‘truck’ open since it came back. Maybe it’s just propping up the ticket exchange sign!
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2683.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2684.jpg[/img]
Inside MouseGear, the Monsters University merchandise has taken center stage.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2685.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2686.jpg[/img]
Hipster Mickey is also apparently the flavor of the month.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2687.jpg[/img]
There isn’t much left, but a few pieces of EPCOT30 merchandise is available still.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2688.jpg[/img]
Over at Mission: Space, the paint job is finally done, and the exterior is once again a thing of elegant beauty!
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2689.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2690.jpg[/img]
It really looks great. Don’t you think?
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2691.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2692.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2693.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2694.jpg[/img]
Rumors have been floating around that a new Epcot attraction is being designed for 2015, and Universe of Energy being revamped is one of the ideas floating around. What do you all think?
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2695.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2696.jpg[/img]
Over at MouseGear again, some birds were building a nest in the exterior signage. Not newsworthy, but I thought it was neat.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2697.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2698.jpg[/img]
Starbucks is coming to the old FountainView, and while the photos don’t really show it, the inside is basically gutted.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2699.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2700.jpg[/img]
Chip and Dale were hiding from the rain.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2701.jpg[/img]
These ponds were all empty the other day, probably for some cleaning up. The ones by Imagination are still a little bit shallow.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2702.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2703.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2704.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2705.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2706.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2707.jpg[/img]
Leaving the park, the Boardwalk Bakery has recently reopened after being completely redone on the inside.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2708.jpg[/img]
It now features a much more streamlined look and a queue on the inside, which is greatly needed.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2709.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2710.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2711.jpg[/img]
I love seeing the resort name on the sweets.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2712.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05012013-IMG_2713.jpg[/img]
Well, that does it for this week’s column. What do you all think of the many projects now taking place at Epcot? Let us know in the comments below.
If you’d like to support Dateline Disney World and you shop regularly at Amazon.com
If you enjoyed the column, especially the photos, and you want to check out more photos and tutorials on Disney photography, please check out my photo site, [URL=”http://www.DisneyPhotographyBlog.com”]Disney Photography Blog[/URL]. And if you like listening more than reading, you can hear us talk about Disney and photography on my podcast, [URL=”http://www.ISO5571.com”]ISO5571[/URL]