In what can only be described as the second-most-popular reflecting pool refurbishment in America, Walt Disney World has applied a new finish to the floor of its World Celebration reflecting pool. What the Disney reflecting pool refurb lacks in popularity, it makes up for in competency. While visiting EPCOT today, we noticed that a new finish was applied to the floor of the reflecting pool, perhaps a new coat of paint. Here’s a look at the latest progress!
Disney World Applies New Finish for Reflecting Pool Refurb
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- See the new reddish-brown finish covering the drained pool floor
- Find out where the old surface still peeks through
- Spot the scaffolding that hints the work is not finished
A Fresh Coat Where the Water Used to Be
The reflecting pool sits near the Imagination Pavilion in the World Celebration neighborhood, just below the monorail beamway. Right now, it holds no water at all. Crews have drained the basin and started laying down a new reddish-brown finish across the floor.
Most of the main pool surface already carries the fresh color. The color looks like a warm terracotta, close to the existing planter walls that ring the space. The coverage looks even across the wide central section. It looks like crews are just doing one section at a time.
Where the Old Floor Still Shows
The new finish has not reached everywhere yet. In several spots, the original speckled terrazzo-style surface still shows through, pale and flecked with aggregate. We can see the line where the new coat stops and the old floor begins.
One section near a planter shows the new color painted in a rough patch over the old terrazzo. That uneven boundary suggests the work is mid-application rather than anywhere near finished. The crews appear to be moving section by section across the basin.
The decorative river-rock beds that wind through the pool remain in place. They split the floor into channels, and the new finish flows around them. A small border separates the painted concrete from the rock in most places.
Signs the Work Continues
Scaffolding stands at one edge of the pool, near the raised planters. We did not see crews on site during our visit, but the work continues during overnight hours.
The basin’s plumbing fixtures sit exposed across the dry floor. Small fountain nozzles and drain covers dot the surface, the kind of hardware normally hidden under the water and rocks. With the pool empty, the functional elements are visible.
A Look From Around the Basin
The reflecting pool wraps a long, curved footprint, so the work looks different depending on where you stand. From the monorail side, a long spine of river rock divides the painted floor. From the Spaceship Earth side, the fresh finish opens into a wide, smooth expanse.
What We Still Don’t Know
As is typical for smaller projects, Disney has not announced a timeline for the reflecting pool work. We also don’t know whether the other nearby reflecting pools are net on the docket. We’ll keep an eye on the basin and update you as the work moves forward.
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!