Recent aerial photos from friend of the site bioreconstruct reveal that the World Celebration section of EPCOT will open soon. Officially, Disney has only said that World Celebration and the Dreamers Point subsection will open in December 2023, but we think it might be within the first week. In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at what you can expect when it opens, and when we would open it if we were in charge.
World Celebration Opening Date
We don’t have an official opening date for World Celebration, but if we were in charge at Disney World, there is only one date on the calendar that should be circled: December 5, 2023. As you may know, December 5th is when Luminous: The Symphony of Us officially debuts at EPCOT, but that date is important for a different reason. December 5th, 1901 is when Walt Disney was born, and the perfect date to open up World Celebration and the Dreamers Point section of EPCOT.
Dreamers Point
Within World Celebration is a subsection called Dreamers Point. Disney World calls Dreamers Point an area where guests can “behold live entertainment in a picturesque viewing area that celebrates dreamers – like Walt Disney himself”. Disney World says that there will be lush gardens, stirring musical performances, and a place to delight in festival fun at Dreamers Point. Guests will also find a statue of Walt Disney called Walt the Dreamer within the area.
The Walt the Dreamer statue was first shown off at the September 2022 D23 Expo, but has since been delivered to Walt Disney World and has been installed in Dreamers Point. It looks like guests will be able to sit on a bench next to the Walt the Dreamer statue in an area immediately behind Spaceship Earth.
World Celebration Festival Gardens
Recent aerial photos seemingly reveal that the CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza party area will not open with the rest of World Celebration. So, what will be open when construction walls are removed next month? Gardens.
The World Celebration Festival Gardens are billed to be a dynamic space that will “feature seasonal gardens” that will “anchor the park’s renowned festivals” and offer “plenty of lush green space to enjoy”. Here is some concept art of the gardens that will become a defining feature of the front half of EPCOT.
Disney World has previously released concept video of the area that shows live entertainment and interactive elements, but we’re not sure how much of this made it into the final product. A guess? Not much.
CommuniCore Hall & Plaza (Delayed…Maybe…Probably)
The final element of World Celebration will likely debut sometime in 2024. Aerial photos show that the CommuniCore Hall building and CommuniCore Plaza party area will remain behind construction walls when the rest of World Celebration opens next month.
Now, Disney World has previously said that CommuniCore Hall would “[open] as a part of the new World Celebration neighborhood in EPCOT later this year”, but photos would suggest otherwise. It’s possible that it’s open by December 31st, but we’re currently going to take the “over” based on what the area looks like as of today.
Of course, the original idea of a World Celebration Festival Center has long been abandoned, but here’s a look back at concept art and a model of the Festival Center as the concept existed when The EPCOT Experience was open.
Whenever it opens, CommuniCore Hall will be home to the Mickey & Friends meet and greet venue and a “dynamic exhibition space that can transform with each new festival throughout the year”.
And that rounds out the World Celebration neighborhood. Disney closed multiple locations within the former Future World back in September 2019 as construction began on the overhaul of the “spine” of EPCOT.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!