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EPCOT Experience Removes Several Countries Overnight in Unexpected Move

Guests arriving at EPCOT today may not spot the change right away. There’s no sign posted at the entrance. No announcement in the app. No cast member explanation offered upfront. But once you step inside one familiar location, it becomes clear something isn’t quite right.

Overnight, Disney quietly reduced one EPCOT experience by roughly one-sixth. It wasn’t a scheduled closure or a seasonal update. It just… happened. And for guests who know this park well, the difference is noticeable.

The Monorail travels through the World Nature neighborhood at EPCOT
Credit: Haydn Blackey, Flickr

One Part of a Familiar Experience Is Suddenly Gone

Inside Club Cool, one entire soda sampling machine is currently out of service. With six machines normally available, losing one means fewer drink options, tighter guest flow, and longer waits inside the space.

This isn’t a situation where a single flavor is missing or temporarily swapped out. The entire unit is offline. All of its labels have been replaced, and guests are being directed to “try another flavor” instead. While Disney hasn’t shared details, the full shutdown suggests more than a quick fix.

Why a Small Cut Feels Bigger Than It Sounds

On paper, losing one machine might not seem like a big deal. In reality, it changes how the entire area functions. Club Cool relies on movement. Guests expect to pop in, sample several drinks, laugh, and move on.

With fewer stations available, guests linger longer at the remaining machines. Lines back up faster. And for first-time visitors, that means missing out on certain international flavors entirely. For returning fans, it’s often about losing a personal favorite they were excited to revisit.

Because this happened overnight, the adjustment feels abrupt. There was no time for expectations to reset.

Visitors at the entrance to EPCOT
Credit: Jesse James, Flickr

EPCOT Is in the Middle of a Bigger Shift

This quiet reduction comes as EPCOT prepares for several other changes. The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is nearing its end, with seasonal booths and entertainment preparing to close out.

Soon after, the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts begins on January 16, bringing a completely different vibe to the park. Food offerings rotate, entertainment changes, and the atmosphere shifts almost instantly.

On top of that, Frozen Ever After is scheduled to close for refurbishment on January 26. While it’s expected to reopen in February, its temporary closure removes one of EPCOT’s highest-demand attractions during a busy winter period.

A Quiet Reminder That EPCOT Is Always Changing

None of these changes signal anything alarming on their own. But together, they reinforce an important truth about EPCOT right now: familiar experiences aren’t as fixed as they once were.

Sometimes, the biggest adjustments don’t come with press releases or construction walls. Sometimes, they show up overnight—one missing piece at a time.

Andrew Boardwine

A frequent visitor of Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort, Andrew will likely be found freefalling on Twilight Zone Tower of Terror or enjoying Pirates of the Caribbean. Over at Universal, he'll be taking in the thrills of the Jurassic World Velocicoaster and Revenge of the Mummy

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