Disney’s next major theme park may look very different from what fans once expected.
For years, rumors surrounding Shanghai Disneyland’s long-discussed second gate have pointed toward a park inspired by EPCOT at Walt Disney World. The Florida park is known for its blend of science, technology, and international culture, anchored by the iconic Spaceship Earth.
That concept now appears to be changing.
According to a recent report from The Wrap, Disney has moved away from plans for “an EPCOT-of-the-east-type science and technology park.” Instead, the company is reportedly exploring a broader theme centered around “Disney adventures.”
The shift could open the door to a far wider mix of intellectual properties.
For years, speculation suggested that Shanghai’s second park would echo EPCOT’s original Future World concept. Early rumors pointed to a science-driven park focused on technology, innovation, and global collaboration — ideas that helped define EPCOT when it opened in 1982.
Former Walt Disney Imagineering president Bob Weis has reportedly acknowledged that such a concept had been discussed internally.
Unconfirmed concept art linked to the project — known internally as Project Atlas — appeared to reinforce that idea. The imagery included a structure resembling Spaceship Earth, the geodesic sphere that serves as EPCOT’s centerpiece.
Oh le beau leak qui nous vient tout droit de Shanghai Disneyland ! pic.twitter.com/v6VxdlPlL6
— zobyeg (@zobyeg) March 26, 2026
Unlike EPCOT, however, the rumored concept art did not include anything resembling World Showcase — the lagoon surrounded by international pavilions representing countries around the globe.
It was also unclear whether the park would feature equivalents to EPCOT attractions such as Test Track, Mission: SPACE, or Soarin’.
Shanghai Disneyland already includes its own version of Soarin’. The attraction, called Soaring Over the Horizon, is located in the Adventure Isle section of the park.
Despite those similarities, Disney now appears to be reconsidering the EPCOT-inspired direction entirely.
Avatar Land Could Move as Disney Rethinks Park Strategy
The reported shift may also connect to changes elsewhere in Disney’s theme park portfolio.
According to The Wrap, Disney is reconsidering plans for an Avatar-themed land at Disney California Adventure Park. The land was originally announced as part of Disneyland Resort’s upcoming expansion projects.
Former Disney Imagineer Jim Shull has suggested that Zootopia could ultimately replace Avatar in California.
If that happens, the Avatar concept may not disappear completely. Instead, Disney could relocate the project to another resort.
Possible destinations include Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Shanghai Disneyland’s future second park, or even a rumored third park at Tokyo Disney Resort often referred to by fans as DisneySky.
The Rise of “Disney Adventures”
The idea of building a park around “Disney adventures” reflects a broader trend within the company.
In recent years, Disney has increasingly leaned on the word “adventure” as a flexible theme that allows multiple franchises to coexist in the same space.
That strategy became particularly visible earlier this year in France.
In March, Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris officially rebranded as Disney Adventure World. The change replaced the park’s original Hollywood production theme with a broader concept designed to accommodate more intellectual properties.
Not everyone within Disney’s creative legacy is enthusiastic about that approach.
During a talk at the Walt Disney Family Museum, Disney Legend Tony Baxter criticized the growing use of the word “adventure” in attraction names.
The label now appears across attractions such as Indiana Jones Adventure, Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure, The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.
Even so, Shanghai Disneyland’s second park appears increasingly likely to move forward in some form.
Earlier this year, the land reserved for the project underwent a planning adjustment. Its official designation was changed to commercial services, parking lots, and transportation hubs — a move some observers see as an early step toward preparing the site for expansion.
June 16 marks the resort’s tenth anniversary, making it an ideal moment for Disney to finally reveal what the second park will become.
Are you excited for Shanghai Disneyland’s potential second park?
