In 2019, Disney revealed plans for a multi-year transformation of EPCOT, including new neighborhoods — World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery — as well as new attractions like Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and Journey of Water Inspired by Moana.
After the events of the pandemic, Disney shifted plans for the EPCOT transformation, and that's when CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza were revealed to the world.
I've been closely following the progress on the EPCOT transformation the last few years, so here's an early preview of what we can expect from CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza when they open this year. I visit EPCOT and the Walt Disney World parks frequently to provide construction updates. These are my photos from the parks.
Alright, let's start off with what CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza are going to offer. This area is in the heart of World Celebration and will complete the EPCOT transformation after all these years. CommuniCore Hall will be a flexible exhibit and gallery space, with multiple experiences highlighting art, live music, food, a demonstration kitchen, and more. Last year, Scott Mallwitz, Executive Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering, revealed that CommuniCore Hall will offer about 8,000 feet of indoor exhibit space that is subdividable in two, so there can be two different sets of offerings in the space at the same time. I'm definitely looking forward to how this is utilized so that the Epcot festival programming isn't the only offering, and that there will be more opportunities beyond only festivals.
It's also important to note that, in addition to this 8,000-foot space, CommuniCore Hall will also be the new permanent home to Mickey & Friends, so it will once again be easier than ever to meet your favorite characters all together in one spot. Fun fact, this new Mickey & Friends space stands in the same spot that the EPCOT Character Spot was in the former Innoventions West, which was demolished to make way for the original festival structure that was never built. The EPCOT Character Spot was always a fantastic offering to see so many characters in one spot, and the new Mickey & Friends space in CommuniCore Hall is sure to follow in its footsteps.
CommuniCore Plaza will be the new home of live entertainment at EPCOT, with the flexibility to host anything from small musical performances that will bring energy into the nearby gardens of World Celebration, all the way to large-scale concerts similar to what we currently have at the America Gardens Theatre for each festival in the America pavilion. Disney has not yet announced how the opening of CommuniCore Plaza could effect the current concert series for each festival at the America Gardens Theatre, but we will keep you updated here at Mickey Visit when new details are announced.
We already know that the first offering for this performance stage will be a new sing-along show featuring the beloved songs and story of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto” titled “¡Celebración Encanto!” that will run from June 10 to September 6. Disney says the show will be performed several times a day and will feature fan-favorite characters Mirabel and Bruno — and don't worry, we are allowed to talk about Bruno for this one. Live entertainment has always been one of my favorite things about the Disney Parks, so I hope this limited-time show can be a fun introduction to what we can expect from CommuniCore Plaza for years to come.
Starting 0ff with a monorail view, this is easily the best view of both CommuniCore Hall and Plaza, and with less than two months to go until these walls come down, the area is looking just about complete. Most recently, artificial turf was installed in the plaza, the CommuniCore Hall sign was installed, and nearly every piece of construction equipment has also been removed. This is our first look at how open the plaza will be, which is a welcomed change after years of construction walls.
CommuniCore and CommuniCore Plaza are going to be beautiful at night, as the exterior of the building is embedded with LED panels — the flat white triangles — and is sure to bring World Celebration to life in a whole new way connecting with the lighting of Spaceship Earth. Currently, lighting tests have been happening randomly, but the Mickey & Friends sign, along with the mural on the exterior, have been illuminated every night offering a first look at part of the completed lighting package.
Last August, Disney revealed the mural that will be featured on the exterior of CommuniCore Hall, and now, work is complete on it. While the bottom of the mural isn't visible as the construction walls are blocking it, the top of it is visible. This expansive mural covers the entirety of the exterior of the building, and will feature many nods to EPCOT and the park's history. This includes former pavilions like Horizons, and fan-favorite characters Dreamfinder and Figment.
It will be great to finally have the center of World Celebration completed with the addition of CommuniCore Hall and Plaza on June 10th. Stay tuned to MickeyVisit.com for all the details as the opening approaches!
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CommuniCore Hall Overview
Alright, let's start off with what CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza are going to offer. This area is in the heart of World Celebration and will complete the EPCOT transformation after all these years. CommuniCore Hall will be a flexible exhibit and gallery space, with multiple experiences highlighting art, live music, food, a demonstration kitchen, and more. Last year, Scott Mallwitz, Executive Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering, revealed that CommuniCore Hall will offer about 8,000 feet of indoor exhibit space that is subdividable in two, so there can be two different sets of offerings in the space at the same time. I'm definitely looking forward to how this is utilized so that the Epcot festival programming isn't the only offering, and that there will be more opportunities beyond only festivals.
It's also important to note that, in addition to this 8,000-foot space, CommuniCore Hall will also be the new permanent home to Mickey & Friends, so it will once again be easier than ever to meet your favorite characters all together in one spot. Fun fact, this new Mickey & Friends space stands in the same spot that the EPCOT Character Spot was in the former Innoventions West, which was demolished to make way for the original festival structure that was never built. The EPCOT Character Spot was always a fantastic offering to see so many characters in one spot, and the new Mickey & Friends space in CommuniCore Hall is sure to follow in its footsteps.
CommuniCore Plaza Overview
CommuniCore Plaza will be the new home of live entertainment at EPCOT, with the flexibility to host anything from small musical performances that will bring energy into the nearby gardens of World Celebration, all the way to large-scale concerts similar to what we currently have at the America Gardens Theatre for each festival in the America pavilion. Disney has not yet announced how the opening of CommuniCore Plaza could effect the current concert series for each festival at the America Gardens Theatre, but we will keep you updated here at Mickey Visit when new details are announced.
We already know that the first offering for this performance stage will be a new sing-along show featuring the beloved songs and story of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto” titled “¡Celebración Encanto!” that will run from June 10 to September 6. Disney says the show will be performed several times a day and will feature fan-favorite characters Mirabel and Bruno — and don't worry, we are allowed to talk about Bruno for this one. Live entertainment has always been one of my favorite things about the Disney Parks, so I hope this limited-time show can be a fun introduction to what we can expect from CommuniCore Plaza for years to come.
CommuniCore Hall and Plaza Construction
As summer 2024 at Walt Disney World quickly approaches with the highly anticipated opening of Tiana's Bayou Adventure and much more, so does the opening date of CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza, so let's take a look at the nearly completed project site.
Starting 0ff with a monorail view, this is easily the best view of both CommuniCore Hall and Plaza, and with less than two months to go until these walls come down, the area is looking just about complete. Most recently, artificial turf was installed in the plaza, the CommuniCore Hall sign was installed, and nearly every piece of construction equipment has also been removed. This is our first look at how open the plaza will be, which is a welcomed change after years of construction walls.
CommuniCore Hall at Night
CommuniCore and CommuniCore Plaza are going to be beautiful at night, as the exterior of the building is embedded with LED panels — the flat white triangles — and is sure to bring World Celebration to life in a whole new way connecting with the lighting of Spaceship Earth. Currently, lighting tests have been happening randomly, but the Mickey & Friends sign, along with the mural on the exterior, have been illuminated every night offering a first look at part of the completed lighting package.
CommuniCore Hall Mural
Last August, Disney revealed the mural that will be featured on the exterior of CommuniCore Hall, and now, work is complete on it. While the bottom of the mural isn't visible as the construction walls are blocking it, the top of it is visible. This expansive mural covers the entirety of the exterior of the building, and will feature many nods to EPCOT and the park's history. This includes former pavilions like Horizons, and fan-favorite characters Dreamfinder and Figment.
It will be great to finally have the center of World Celebration completed with the addition of CommuniCore Hall and Plaza on June 10th. Stay tuned to MickeyVisit.com for all the details as the opening approaches!
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