NEW World Celebration Gardens at EPCOT

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

Via DisneyLists.com

Since 2019, EPCOT has been undergoing a historical transformation; thankfully, it is almost complete. On December 5, 2023, World Celebration Gardens, including the sure-to-be popular Dreamers Point, opened to guests. The new area is a gorgeous spot to sit, relax, and enjoy the views of Spaceship Earth.

World Celebration Gardens

In the middle of EPCOT, you’ll now find World Celebration Gardens. This area features beautiful greenspaces for guests to explore. In the center, there is a large planter based on the five rings of the iconic EPCOT logo.

The gardens feature ample seating and shade. Guests are invited to connect with one another and the nature around them in this lush new area. When we visited, we found lots of different kinds of seating areas. From tables and chairs, benches, and Adirondack-type chairs. This area will be a fantastic spot to take a rest or eat a meal.

The area also includes many different charging stations where guests can charge their devices while sitting there.

Dreamer’s Point

Found within World Celebration Gardens is Dreamers Point, where guests can visit the new “Walt the Dreamer” statue. The statue shows Walt later in his life when he was dreaming up the initial concepts for the park and the overall Florida Project. His relaxed and reflective demeanor was important to the design of this statue, a nod to the pure optimism he felt for the future and the magic of possibility that was the basis for the dream he never saw come to life.

Below, you can see the entire area. Guests can sit on either side of Walt for a special photo. So far, we’ve seen a Disney PhotoPass photographer posted there regularly.

As you can see from the photos, guests will need to step up to sit next to Walt. One criticism we’ve heard is that guests who cannot transfer from a mobility device will have trouble getting close to Walt. However, as seen below, there is a spot to the left of Walt where a wheelchair could be backed in for a photo.

We’ve visited both during the day and at night. Do note that the lightning is quite blinding in the evening, and you’ll need to be extra careful stepping down after your photo.

Overall, we’re very pleased with the statue. We’ve seen some really tender moments from guests. We’ve seen children hug Walt and some adults getting a bit teary. Like Roy Disney’s statue with Minnie at Magic Kingdom, the ability to sit next to Walt and have some interaction makes the experience more meaningful.

New Character Greeting Spaces

Also, in the new gardens are a few new character greeting spaces. We’ve seen Pluto and Daisy greeting guests. Check the My Disney Experience app for greeting times.

Communicore Plaza

The last section still yet to be completed is Communicore Plaza, which was also supposed to open in December 2023. However, Disney pushed back the opening until sometime in 2024. Communicore Hall will be a place to meet Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.

Communicore Plaza will be the new home for festivals. See the concept art below for an idea of what it will be like inside.

World Celebration Gardens is a fantastic new addition to EPCOT. The beautiful gardens offer guests a great place to rest and meet. Guests will also not want to miss the Walt the Dreamer statue. Be sure to check out the gardens on your next visit to EPCOT.

Winnie the Pooh Meet and Greet Returns to Christopher Robin’s Bedroom in EPCOT U.K. Pavilion

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

The Winnie the Pooh meet and greet has reopened in Christopher Robin’s bedroom at the back of EPCOT’s U.K. Pavilion. This meet and greet space has been closed since 2020 when Walt Disney World theme parks shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the parks reopened, Pooh bear (and sometimes his friends) has only been appearing at EPCOT as a “sighting” near the Imagination! Pavilion.

The Christopher Robin’s bedroom meet and greet had actually been closed for three years before reopening in September 2019. The space features a wardrobe, desk, bed, and plenty of knick-knacks — including Christopher Robin’s yellow umbrella.

Pooh bear usually stands next to the bed, in front of the window — which shows the Hundred Acre Wood outside. When we visited, there was no PhotoPass photographer, but a Cast Member who could take your picture with your phone or camera.

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https://x.com/WDWNT/status/1708860611491197065?s=20

Pooh and his friends also appear daily for meet and greets next to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom.

FIGMENT Gets a Meet and Greet

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

When we think of Disney, we often conjure images of beloved characters, enchanting princess tales, and magical kingdoms. However, one often overlooked gem at Walt Disney World Resort is the unique and imaginative character known as Figment.

Figment is a small, purple dragon with a mischievous personality who serves as a guide through the wonders of the human mind. Figment can be found in the Imagination Pavilion at EPCOT, one of the four theme parks that make up Walt Disney World Resort.

While the world may not know his name, he is a true A-list celebrity to Disney fans.

Figment

Figment’s fanbase has completely exploded over the past couple of years. His nostalgic element, mixed with the fact that he is a Walt Disney World original character, makes him very important to a lot of fans. Disney has not always registered the love that fans have for Figment, but that shift began to happen last year with the sale of his Popcorn bucket.

When Disney released the Figment Popcorn bucked, fans lost their minds. Lines stretched through all the Parks in the hot Florida sun just to grab one of these coveted accessories. The resale market on these also blew up, with people selling these buckets for massive upcharges.

Disney World Figment popcorn bucket

Earlier this year, Disney announced the thrilling news that Figment would be receiving his own meet and greet in EPCOT. Fans will finally be able to hug and interact with this beloved character. At today’s D23 presentation, fans were treated to a viewing of what Figment will look like, and they also received the best news possible.

The Figment meet and greet is started Sunday, September 10! This is much sooner than fans were originally anticipating, and the fandom is certainly delighted at this news.

Beloved Disney Princess Meet-and-Greet Coming to Disney World’s EPCOT

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

The Walt Disney Company just announced some exciting Disney Princess news during the Destination D23 event: a new princess meet-and-greet is coming to EPCOT for the first time ever!

When you think of meeting a beloved Disney Princess, you probably think of the classic Magic Kingdom character interactions.

After all, Magic Kingdom has everything from Cinderella’s Royal Table (a character dining experience where guests can meet various princesses) to Princess Fairytale Hall.

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Guests can also meet Ariel from The Little Mermaid (1989) at her Grotto in Fantasyland and Jasmine from Aladdin (1992) in Adventureland.

But, technically, EPCOT may be the Disney Park with the most opportunities for meeting princesses.

Guests visiting Walt Disney World’s EPCOT can meet Jasmine in the Morocco pavilion, Mulan in the China pavilion, Aurora from Sleeping Beauty (1959) and Belle from Beauty and the Beast (1991) in the France pavilion, and Snow White in the Germany pavilion.

Now, a new princess is being added to the lineup as EPCOT prepares to add a Moana meet-and-greet opportunity to its impressive arsenal.

Currently, Moana can be met in Animal Kingdom. But beginning on October 16, guests can also meet the adventurous voyager in EPCOT’s World Nature area.

This coincides with the opening of Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana, which opens on the same day. Be sure to experience both of these offerings the next time you visit Walt Disney World’s EPCOT theme park!

Author’s Son Hand Delivers Book to Disney’s Princess Belle

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

Some wholesome news is always welcome in this day and age, and this time it is courtesy of an author’s young son and Disney’s Princess Belle. If there is one leading characteristic of Beauty and the Beast’s (1991) lead Disney Princess, it is that she loves books! In a gesture of kindness toward his author mother and towards Belle’s love of books, Noah Harmel created his own magical Disney moment.

At Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Belle meets Guests in her blue and white village dress at the France pavilion of EPCOT. During the day, Noah’s father, Jason, brought him to meet the princess for one sweet reason – to deliver Belle a book he was sure she hadn’t read yet. The book is called The Paris Daughter and is a new work from his New York Times Best Selling Author mother, Kristin Harmel.

Kristin Harmel’s book, The Paris Daughter, follows a young woman who travels to Paris after inheriting a mysterious painting from her mother, whom she never knew. While in Paris, she discovers secrets about her mother’s past. It includes her romantic relationships and the confrontation of her fears and insecurities. The novel explores themes of family, identity, love, and the power of art to connect us across time and distance.

This book sounds like Belle’s kind of book! It’s got adventure, and romance, and France! Noah really focused in on his mom’s target audience, and Belle looked thrilled by his gift! Here’s how Kristin Harmel captioned her Facebook post about the interaction:

So today, while I was getting my hair cut, Jason took Noah to deliver a copy of The Paris Daughter to Belle (as a cute little surprise to me!) in France in Epcot! Apparently Noah told her it was a gift because he figured she has already read all the books in her library!

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Maybe it was just a promotion for her new book, but sweet and unique character interactions are always the best! Hopefully, Belle enjoys reading the book and will give us her review soon.