Walt Disney World is famous for its attention to detail, and that includes the drive in. Even the road signs have had a personality of their own, with a retro purple and red design that countless guests have followed to the parks, hotels, and shopping.
If you’ve visited recently, though, you may have noticed something different. Little by little, those classic signs have been giving way to a new blue color scheme, and digital signs have even appeared in select spots around the property.
Now, another wave of changes is on the way. The district that oversees Walt Disney World’s roads has put out a call for contractors to replace even more signs in 2027, including a pair of big overhead structures on EPCOT Center Drive.
Inside the Bid
The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which took over from the Reedy Creek Improvement District as the governing district for Walt Disney World, is seeking bids for what it calls the 2027 Overhead Sign Structure Replacement.
The headline piece of the project is on EPCOT Center Drive. Two overhead sign trusses that stretch across the eastbound and westbound lanes between Buena Vista Drive and World Drive will be taken down and replaced.
That’s only part of it, though. The project also includes removing and replacing existing overhead and ground-mounted wayfinding signs, plus their foundations, at spots throughout Walt Disney World property. In other words, the changes won’t be limited to one road.
Detours, Foundations, and Late-Night Closures
Whoever wins the contract will have a full plate. The District’s description calls for the contractor to set up temporary traffic control, including detours, and to handle erosion and sediment control around the work zones.
The new signs will need serious support, too. The project uses concrete drilled shaft foundations, and the crew will remove the old sign structures before installing the replacements.
Here’s the part drivers will care about most: EPCOT Center Drive can’t just be shut down whenever crews want. Any work requiring a closure of the road is only permitted from two hours after the latest park closing time until 6 a.m. That means a full closure of EPCOT Center Drive shouldn’t get in the way of a daytime drive to the parks.
Mark Your Calendar
According to the District’s paperwork, the notice to proceed could come as early as January 25, 2027, which is when work would be able to start.
From there, the wayfinding sign replacements around the property have a mandatory completion date of September 30, 2027. The EPCOT Center Drive overhead structures are expected to reach substantial completion 240 days after the notice to proceed, or around September 22, 2027. Final completion for that part of the project is estimated 270 days out, around October 22, 2027.
Those dates aren’t set in stone, though, and could change as the project moves forward.
Work is scheduled for weekdays, Monday through Friday, beginning at 7 a.m. Overnight work and other hours are possible with approval.
Part of a Bigger Refresh
This new bid follows earlier sign work on the same corridor. Back in April 2025, the District awarded Hubbard Construction Company a contract of about $2.26 million for EPCOT Center Drive sign structure replacements.
The broader goal seems to be a consistent, updated look across the property. The District’s bid documents talk about bringing signage in line with new sign specifications, and the switch from the classic purple and red style to blue has been rolling out gradually for a while now.
Digital signs at select locations add another modern touch to how guests find their way around the property.
A Fond Farewell to Purple and Red
It’s funny how something as everyday as a road sign can carry so much nostalgia. For plenty of fans, the purple and red signs were the first sign of a Disney vacation, a cue to roll down the windows, crank up the Disney playlist, and start counting down the minutes to the parks.
By the end of 2027, if this project stays on schedule, even more of the property’s older signs could be replaced. If you’re planning a visit before then, it might be worth snapping a picture of your favorite one on the way in.
We’ll keep tabs on the project and share an update once a contractor is chosen.
Now we want to hear from you. Are you Team Purple and Red or Team Blue? Do you have a favorite Disney road sign, or a memory tied to that first glimpse of one as you pulled onto property? Tell us in the comments. And if you’ve already spotted the new digital signs around Walt Disney World, let us know what you think of them.
