Another change has arrived at EPCOT’s World Showcase, and this one could directly affect how some guests navigate one of the park’s original pavilions.
New construction walls have gone up around the Canada Pavilion, blocking portions of its elaborate outdoor environment.
More importantly, the work has resulted in the closure of a wheelchair-accessible walkway.
It’s the latest construction update to affect World Showcase as Disney continues working on several of EPCOT’s country pavilions.
New Construction Walls Appear at EPCOT
Guests visiting EPCOT on July 28 discovered several sets of construction walls throughout portions of the Canada Pavilion.
The barriers block access to some areas that guests could previously explore or use to view the pavilion’s scenery.
Exactly what’s happening behind them remains somewhat unclear.
Disney hasn’t revealed the full scope of the project, although the work may involve refurbishment of Canada’s rockwork.
Those artificial rock formations make up a significant part of the pavilion’s landscape, surrounding waterfalls, gardens, trees, and pathways.
Working on them isn’t necessarily a simple project, either.
Real plants grow around portions of the pavilion, and their root systems can complicate maintenance. Crews may have to work around those elements while repairing or refurbishing the surrounding scenery.
For guests, though, the biggest change isn’t what’s happening behind the walls. It’s what they can no longer access.
Accessible Canada Pavilion Walkway Closes
The construction has forced Disney to close the wheelchair-accessible walkway through the affected area.
Some viewing spaces are also unavailable while the construction walls remain in place.
The good news is that Disney has an alternative in place for guests visiting Canada Far and Wide.
Guests who need the attraction’s accessible entrance can temporarily enter through the exit instead.
Canada Far and Wide remains open during the construction, meaning the pavilion hasn’t completely shut down.
Instead, the project affects specific sections of Canada and changes how some guests enter the attraction.
Disney hasn’t announced when the accessible walkway will reopen.
World Showcase Has Seen Plenty of Construction
Canada isn’t the only EPCOT pavilion where guests have encountered construction recently.
Disney has continued carrying out refurbishment and maintenance work throughout World Showcase, including recent activity in Germany.
Morocco has also just come through extensive refurbishment work.
Canada itself isn’t unfamiliar with maintenance projects, either. Disney has previously carried out work around the pavilion, and these latest walls represent another update rather than the beginning of construction activity there.
With 11 country pavilions surrounding World Showcase Lagoon, maintaining these areas is a constant process.
Many of them rely on detailed outdoor environments just as much as their restaurants, shops, and attractions.
That makes maintenance especially noticeable when Disney has to put up construction walls.
Canada’s Landscape Makes It Different
The Canada Pavilion has welcomed EPCOT guests since the park opened in October 1982.
Rather than placing everything along the main promenade, its design encourages visitors to venture deeper into the pavilion.
Guests can explore gardens and pathways beneath Hotel du Canada while waterfalls and towering rock formations create a dramatic backdrop.
Canada Far and Wide sits farther inside the pavilion and presents a 360-degree film showcasing different parts of the country.
Because so much of Canada’s design relies on outdoor scenery, even routine refurbishment work can affect the pathways guests use.
That’s now happening with the latest construction.
No Reopening Date Announced
Disney hasn’t confirmed when the affected areas of the Canada Pavilion will return to normal.
Until then, guests visiting EPCOT should prepare to encounter construction walls and restricted access in portions of Canada.
The accessible walkway remains closed, although guests who need that route to reach Canada Far and Wide can use the attraction’s exit as their temporary entrance.
The rest of the pavilion remains available, making this an important distinction for anyone seeing the construction walls from World Showcase.
Disney hasn’t closed the entire Canada Pavilion.
But another portion of EPCOT is officially behind walls, and for now, there’s no confirmed date for when guests will regain access to the affected walkway and viewing areas.
