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Walt Disney World 2024: Epcot




Epcot has long been a symbol of innovation and imagination. As visitors step foot into this futuristic utopia, they are transported to a world where technology and culture seamlessly intertwine. Over the past 5 years, Epcot has undergone a major transformation.  And that transformation will be completed in 2024. Along with new lands and updated attractions, some old favorites will be returning.

Festivals

Festival of the Arts has speciality vendors selling crafts, unique photo ops, and activities guests can participate in. There is a giant panic-by-number mural that guests can paint themselves! Each guest is given a square to paint. By the end of the Festival, thousands of guests will have contributed to a masterpiece. 


Epcot fully blooms during the Flower and Garden Festival. This spring-time event features flowery exhibits, topiaries of your favorite Disney characters, a butterfly house, and good music.


Food and Wine Festival is by far the most popular time at Epcot. Guests celebrate the best thing to do at Epcot - drink and eat around the World. On a normal day at Epcot, there are many treats and drinks to find at each country's pavilion around the World Showcase. During the Food and Wine Festival, food stands representing other countries also offer delicious options. Booths representing cuisine from Greece, Ireland, Brazil, Spain, India, Belgium, and Australia have been known to make appearances. 


Similar to the Food and Wine Festival, the Festival of the Holidays shows guests how different countries and cultures celebrate. There will be plenty of decorations, delicious treats, and maybe a cup of cheer or 2 (or 5). The main event for this Festival is the Candlelight Processional. Each night, a celebrity will narrate the Biblical Christmas story, backed by a choir and orchestra. 


Here are the dates of the festivals. At the time of writing this article, several dates have not yet been announced. 


  • Festival of the Arts: January 12 - February 19
  • Flower and Garden Festival: February 28 - May 27
  • Food and Wine Festival: August 29 - November 23 
  • Festival of the Holidays: November 29 - December 30 (estimated)


CommuniCore Reborn

Hardcore fans of opening day EPCOT will recognize the name CommuniCore. This used to be some buildings in Future World that would display the latest technological advancements. Later, they would be renamed to Innoventions. During Epcot's facelift, the old CommuniCore/Innoventions buildings were torn down to make way for a new gift shop and Starbucks (because of course), and some exciting new additions. In honor of Epcot's past, these new projects will be named CommuniCore Plaza and CommuniCore Hall. CommuniCore Plaza will be an outdoor event space meant to host shows, similar to the America Gardens Theater in the American Adventure Pavilion. This stage will most likely be used during festival times (so, year round) for extra atmospheric entertainment. 


CommuniCore Hall will be similar to its predecessor in that it will be a gallery and exhibition space. Again, it willl be used primarily for festivals. And because this is Epcot we're talking about, there will also be a bar and mixology station inside. 


In between the Plaza and Hall will be the New World Celebration Gardens to beautify the space behind Spaceship Earth.  


CommuniCore was predicted to open in 2023, but the project has been delayed to 2024. It will officially open this summer on June 10.


Test Track Refresh

It was announced last year that Test Track would be getting a re-vamp. Test Track first opened in 1999, replacing the World of Motion ride. It sounds like the refresh will merge the two incarnates. Specific dates have not yet been announced. It is rumored that Test Track will be closing down in late 2024. To learn more about the rides at Epcot, check out Disney Darling's Attractions Guide. 


Soarin’ Around the World Returns

here are two versions of Soarin’. The first one is Soarin’ over California. This ride takes you above beaches and orange groves and ends in Disneyland. The second edition is Soarin’ Around the World. This will take you over the Great Wall of China and the Lau Islands and ends in Epcot. While Soarin’ Over California is the original, Soarin’ Around the World definitely fits in better at Epcot.


To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Disney Company, Soarin’ Over California was shown again at Epcot. But 2024 will bring back Soarin’ Around the World.  


After Hours Events

After Hours are special-ticket events that allow guests to stay in the park after it closes.  After Hours starts at 10:00pm, but you can enter the park as early as 7:00pm. The event ends at 1:00am each night. Epcot’s After Hours event will occur on:

  • February 2
  • February 8
  • February 15
  • March 7
  • March 28
  • April 4


Many guests love these events because they allow you to stay in the park longer than anybody else and experience more attractions with lower wait times. If your Walt Disney World vacation coincides with one of these dates, you may want to consider this add-on. 


Your Opinion

What are you most looking forward to about Epcot in 2024? Share your thoughts below in the comments! 


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