EPCOT has quietly updated its newly completed World Celebration neighborhood with a subtle yet meaningful improvement for guests who have been frustrated with the area’s design. The change comes after months of criticism directed at the large central space that replaced Future World and Innoventions, a project that took years to complete and weathered multiple delays and cancellations.
CommuniCore Hall and Plaza, the centerpieces of the new development, have been a frequent target of guest dissatisfaction. Some visitors have compared the event facility to a convention center, while issues with broken in-ground lighting and temporary walkway repairs have inspired memes on social media. Even with the positive reception of Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, many EPCOT fans were vocal about feeling shortchanged after five years of construction and the cancellation of the Spaceship Earth refurbishment.
When it comes to the new EPCOT I can deal with the broken lights and the miserable Communicore Hall. What I will just never be ok with is the wedding DJs in Communicore plaza. The ChaCha does NOT need to be heard across the entire middle area of the park.
When it comes to the new EPCOT I can deal with the broken lights and the miserable Communicore Hall. What I will just never be ok with is the wedding DJs in Communicore plaza. The ChaCha does NOT need to be heard across the entire middle area of the park.
— crazyparkguy (@crazyparkguy) December 6, 2024
In response to some ongoing concerns, EPCOT has now introduced a small but practical change within the World Celebration area. According to reporting from WDWNT, at least nine new backless benches have appeared along the walkway between CommuniCore Hall and Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. The benches are situated under surrounding trees and greenery, providing Disney Park guests with shaded seating during certain parts of the day.
This addition directly addresses one of the most common complaints at Walt Disney World Resort: the lack of outdoor seating. It remains unclear whether Disney will extend similar improvements to Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
Will these new benches improve the guest experience at EPCOT? Share your thoughts with Disney Dining in the comments!
