EPCOT guests have gotten used to construction walls over the last several years, but the latest round of projects is hitting some of the park’s most recognizable areas. Disney has already transformed large sections of the park with new neighborhoods, updated attractions, and refreshed dining experiences.
Now, World Showcase is stepping further into that overhaul as two major projects continue unfolding at the same time.
Guests visiting EPCOT can already see visible changes spreading across the Mexico and Canada pavilions, and Disney is still not finished.
World Showcase Has Always Been the Heart of EPCOT
There is a reason World Showcase feels different from the rest of Walt Disney World.
The area offers a slower pace than most Disney parks while still giving guests plenty to experience throughout the day. Visitors move between restaurants, live entertainment, shops, rides, and festivals while exploring pavilions themed to different countries.
That atmosphere has become a huge part of EPCOT’s identity.
Because of that, even moderate refurbishments inside World Showcase often grab attention quickly. When pathways close or buildings become covered in scaffolding, guests notice almost immediately.
That is exactly what has happened at the Mexico Pavilion over the last few months.
The Mexico Pavilion Refurbishment Is Still Ongoing
Disney first began visible work on the Mexico Pavilion pyramid in February 2026. Since then, scaffolding, scrims, and temporary closures have surrounded portions of the structure as crews continue exterior refurbishment work.
The project has shifted several times throughout the spring.
Most recently, Disney reopened the pavilion’s front-left entrance after keeping it closed for about three months. Even with that pathway available again, construction remains active throughout the area. Another side entrance remains blocked while crews continue working on the pyramid’s infrastructure and exterior detailing.
Despite all the visible construction, Disney has avoided major disruptions to the pavilion’s attraction lineup. Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros remains open to guests following previous updates to portions of the ride’s audio and projection systems.
But while the Mexico Pavilion work has been hard to miss, another EPCOT project nearby could completely change a longtime guest favorite.
Refreshment Port Is Becoming Something New
In January 2026, Disney closed Refreshment Port near the Canada Pavilion for refurbishment. At the time, many guests assumed the location would reopen later with only small updates.
Instead, Disney revealed a much larger plan.
Refreshment Port is being transformed into a new food location called La Poutinerie Hosted by Air Canada. The announcement marked the end of a location that had become deeply tied to EPCOT’s festival culture.
For years, Refreshment Port operated as one of the park’s most reliable festival food stops. The location regularly offered specialty menu items during EPCOT events and became known for its poutine dishes.
Now, Disney is reshaping the space into an entirely new concept centered around Canadian-inspired cuisine.
Construction Walls Are Still Hiding Most of the Project
Disney has not announced an opening date for La Poutinerie yet, but work is clearly ongoing behind the walls.
Recent concept art suggests the overall building structure will stay mostly intact, though Disney appears ready to update several exterior elements. The artwork points toward new theming details, adjustments to the roof and chimney, and refreshed signage connected to the new identity.
Disney also recently filed construction permits for installing additional set elements at the location, signaling that exterior work is continuing.
For now, though, most of the project remains hidden from guests.
Construction equipment remains visible above portions of the roofline, while several older Refreshment Port details have not yet been removed. Existing signage remains in place as Disney continues work on the transformation.
Disney has also indicated that poutine will continue to play a major role in the new menu, which makes sense given how heavily the previous location leaned into those offerings.
Food & Wine Festival Timing Could Become Important
The future timeline for La Poutinerie may become especially important as EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival approaches.
The festival officially begins on August 27, 2026, but Disney has not yet confirmed whether the new location will be ready in time.
If construction continues into late summer, EPCOT could lose one of its established food locations during one of the year’s busiest dining events. That would create fewer options for guests while also putting more pressure on nearby festival booths throughout World Showcase.
If Disney manages to open La Poutinerie before the festival starts, though, the location could instantly become one of EPCOT’s busiest new additions. A fresh Canada-inspired food concept arriving during Food & Wine feels exactly like the type of opening Disney would want to capitalize on.
EPCOT’s Evolution Is Far From Finished
EPCOT has changed dramatically over the last several years, and Disney continues to find new ways to reshape the park.
The Mexico Pavilion refurbishment and the transformation of Refreshment Port may look like smaller projects compared to some of EPCOT’s recent expansions. Still, both changes are altering the atmosphere inside World Showcase in noticeable ways.
Guests are once again watching familiar EPCOT locations evolve in real time.
And based on the amount of construction still visible throughout the park, Disney’s EPCOT transformation is clearly not over yet.
