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=== 2010s–present: Transformation and redesign === [[File:Connections Cafe, EPCOT.jpg|thumb|As part of Future World's overhaul from 2019 to 2024, several original structures were reutilized, such as the [[CommuniCore]] Pavilion being repurposed as Connections Cafe.]] In 2011, it was reported that the building was being converted to the first office space for [[Walt Disney Imagineering]]'s upcoming theme park projects, such as Magic Kingdom's [[Fantasyland]], and take place in the former STOLport area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Walt Disney Imagineering building new project office in the former STOLport area |url=https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/fantasyland/news/21jul2011-walt-disney-imagineering-building-new-project-office-in-the-former-stolport-area.htm |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.wdwmagic.com}}</ref> Test Track was refurbished into a new version presented by [[Chevrolet]] in 2012, and Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure was rethemed to [[Perry the Platypus|Agent P]]'s World Showcase Adventure the same year. The Norway pavilion's [[Maelstrom (ride)|Maelstrom]] attraction closed in 2014 and replaced two years later by [[Frozen Ever After]]. Soarin' was also temporarily closed while a new film was added to the attraction. In 2017, Mission: SPACE was divided into a new green/Earth mission, and the original orange/Mars mission. In November 2016, Disney revealed that EPCOT would be receiving “a major transformation” that would help transition the park into being “more Disney, timeless, relevant, family-friendly”.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2016/11/22/disney-confirms-major-transformation-at-epcot-and-rumors-are-flying|title=Disney confirms major transformation at Epcot and rumors are flying|last1=Storey|first1=Ken|date=November 22, 2016|work=Orlando Weekly|access-date=March 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314152525/http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2016/11/22/disney-confirms-major-transformation-at-epcot-and-rumors-are-flying|archive-date=March 14, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2017, the formal announcement came that EPCOT would undergo a multi-year redesign and expansion plan that would introduce ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy (film)|Guardians of the Galaxy]]'' and ''[[Ratatouille (film)|Ratatouille]]'' attractions to Future World and World Showcase, respectively, as well as maintaining the original vision and spirit for the park.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/15/business/media/disney-epcot-theme-parks.html|title=Disney Vows to Give Epcot a Magical, Long-Overdue Makeover|last=Barnes|first=Brooks|date=July 15, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715181742/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/15/business/media/disney-epcot-theme-parks.html|archive-date=July 15, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> As part of the announcement, [[Universe of Energy|Ellen's Energy Adventure]] closed the following month, and the pavilion's show building was reused for [[Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-et-s4-disney-epcot-construction-20180731-story.html|title=Disney World: Look at latest Epcot construction|last=Bevil|first=Dewayne|date=August 1, 2018|work=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=March 21, 2019}}</ref> while the EPCOT 35 Legacy Showcase exhibition opened in the Odyssey Pavilion. That same year, the park reported the first drop in overall attendance ranking among the four Walt Disney World Resort parks, dropping from second to third place, the first in its history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/08/24/disney-world-needs-to-fix-its-fading-theme-park.aspx|title=Disney World Needs to Fix Its Fading Theme Park|last=Munarriz|first=Rick|date=August 24, 2019|website=The Motley Fool|access-date=September 9, 2019}}</ref> On August 25, 2019, at the 2019 [[D23 Expo]], Disney expanded on the plans for the improvements to EPCOT.<ref name="Epcot-D23-20192">{{cite web|url=http://www.fox13news.com/entertainment/epcot-to-undergo-multi-year-transformation-disney-announces-at-d23-expo|title=Major changes, new attractions coming to Epcot, Disney announces|date=August 25, 2019|work=fox13news.com|publisher=New World Communications of Tampa, Inc.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827175619/http://www.fox13news.com/entertainment/epcot-to-undergo-multi-year-transformation-disney-announces-at-d23-expo |archive-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> One of the most significant changes announced was the creation of four distinct "neighborhoods"; the subdivision of Future World into three areas (World Celebration, World Discovery, and World Nature).<ref name="Epcot-D23-20192" /> [[Journey of Water|Journey of Water—Inspired by ''Moana'']]'','' a walkthrough attraction, was also announced.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haller |first=Sonja |title=Disney World is getting a 'Moana' attraction and there's no telling how far we'll go to get there |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/parenting/2019/08/26/moana-journey-water-attraction-coming-disney-worlds-epcot-finally/2122470001/ |access-date=December 12, 2022 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> At the same expo, Disney also announced that [[Pinar Toprak]] would be composing a new [[Anthem|musical anthem]] for the park. Toprak's "EPCOT Anthem" was eventually used in various nighttime shows, such as ''[[Harmonious (Epcot)|Harmonious]]'' and ''[[Luminous: The Symphony of Us|Luminous]],'' as well as featured in [[ambient music]] within the entrance plaza and throughout World Celebration. On October 1, 2019, it was announced that a new nighttime fireworks show, ''[[Epcot Forever|EPCOT Forever]]'', and The EPCOT Experience Center, a preview space for the park's expansion project, would replace ''[[IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth]]'' and EPCOT 35 Legacy Showcase. In late 2019, EPCOT installed new directory signage in Seabase Alpha, restoring the former Living Seas logo, as the pavilion was renamed to The Seas Pavilion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wdwnt.com/2019/10/photos-the-living-seas-pavilion-logo-returns-on-sleek-new-directional-signage-inside-the-seas-at-epcot/|title=PHOTOS: The Living Seas Pavilion Logo Returns on Sleek New...|last=Figueroa|first=Jessica|date=October 11, 2019|website=WDW News Today|language=en-US|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> Agent P's World Showcase Adventure closed on February 23, 2020; it was slated to be replaced with ''DuckTales'' World Showcase Adventure, which did not open until 2022. In early 2020, Disney officially announced that the park's name would revert back to all-uppercase (from Epcot to EPCOT) as an homage to both the park's original name and Walt Disney's original concept—although the name is still not an acronym.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="Martin 2019" /> EPCOT [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on The Walt Disney Company|was closed]] from March 16 to July 15, 2020, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Florida]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/12/media/disney-world-close-coronavirus/index.html|title=Walt Disney World closes, paralyzing the company's tourism empire|author=Frank Pallotta|work=CNN|date=March 12, 2020|access-date=July 17, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2020/05/27/live-blog-walt-disney-world-reopening-plans-presentation/|title=Live Blog: Walt Disney World Presents Reopening Plans to Orange County Economic Recovery Taskforce|author=Laughing Place Staff|work=Laughing Place|date=May 27, 2020|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref> Modified operations were established, including a pause on concerts and fireworks, in order to promote sufficient [[Social distancing|physical distancing]]. ''[[Spaceship Earth (Epcot)|Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story]]'', the attraction's fifth update, the ''Wondrous China'' film, the PLAY! pavilion in World Discovery, and the United Kingdom pavilion's Cherry Tree Lane expansion were indefinitely delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the CommuniCore Hall exhibit space and the CommuniCore Plaza festival stage was built instead of a three-level festival pavilion. On September 29, 2021, the nighttime spectacular ''[[Harmonious (Epcot)|Harmonious]]'' replaced ''EPCOT Forever'' as part of the resort's 50th anniversary celebration.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Harmonious' Will Tell a Story of Global Connection When it Debuts October 1 at EPCOT as Part of 'The World's Most Magical Celebration' |url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/07/harmonious-will-tell-a-story-of-global-connection-when-it-debuts-october-1-at-epcot-as-part-of-the-worlds-most-magical-celebration/ |access-date=December 12, 2022 |website=Disney Parks Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=September 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909155748/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/07/harmonious-will-tell-a-story-of-global-connection-when-it-debuts-october-1-at-epcot-as-part-of-the-worlds-most-magical-celebration/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The show ended its run on March 31, 2023, in preparation for ''[[Luminous: The Symphony of Us]]'' which debuted later that year; ''EPCOT Forever'' returned during the interim period. [[Remy's Ratatouille Adventure]] (duplicated from [[Disneyland Paris]]) opened in the France pavilion on October 1 as part of the same celebrations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Just Announced! Remy's Ratatouille Adventure Grand Opening at EPCOT Set for Oct. 1, 2021, in Honor of Walt Disney World Resort's 50th Anniversary |url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/03/just-announced-remys-ratatouille-adventure-grand-opening-at-epcot-set-for-oct-1-2021-in-honor-of-walt-disney-world-resorts-50th-anniversary/ |access-date=December 12, 2022 |website=Disney Parks Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310235900/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/03/just-announced-remys-ratatouille-adventure-grand-opening-at-epcot-set-for-oct-1-2021-in-honor-of-walt-disney-world-resorts-50th-anniversary/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The EPCOT Experience Center closed in 2022, and [[Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind]] opened on May 27.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Opens May 27 at EPCOT! |url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2022/04/guardians-of-the-galaxy-cosmic-rewind-opens-may-27-at-epcot/ |access-date=December 12, 2022 |website=Disney Parks Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=April 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404193613/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2022/04/guardians-of-the-galaxy-cosmic-rewind-opens-may-27-at-epcot/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Journey of Water|Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana]] opened in World Nature opened on October 16, 2023, and World Celebration Gardens, divided into five sections (Inspiration Gardens, CommuniCore Gardens, Connections Gardens, Creations Gardens, and Dreamers Point) opened on December 5 of that year. CommuniCore Hall and Plaza, named after the former Future World pavilion, opened to the general public on June 10, 2024. Test Track, closed for refurbishment on June 17 to make way for the attraction's third iteration, is expected to open in late Summer 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=First look at EPCOT's new Test Track |url=https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202404/10144/ |access-date=April 5, 2024 |website=Theme Park Insider}}</ref> At D23 2024, it was announced that a new lounge, '''Geo–82''' and '''Geo–82 Fireworks Experience''', which will take the place of the former Siemens lounge attached to Spaceship Earth and will open on June 4, with reservations, which will opening on May 6, 2025, <ref>{{Cite web |date=August 10, 2024 |title=New Spaceship Earth Lounge Coming to EPCOT - WDW News Today |url=https://wdwnt.com/2024/08/new-spaceship-earth-lounge-coming-to-epcot/ |access-date=August 17, 2024 |website=wdwnt.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |date=2024-12-03 |title=New Details About What's Coming to Walt Disney World in 2025 |url=https://disneyparksblog.com/wdw/new-details-about-whats-coming-to-walt-disney-world-in-2025/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=Disney Parks Blog |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-28 |title=BREAKING: Spaceship Earth Lounge GEO-82 Opening Date and Menu Revealed |url=https://wdwnt.com/2025/04/breaking-spaceship-earth-lounge-geo-82-opening-date-and-menu-revealed/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=WDW News Today |language=en-US}}</ref> and it was reserved for adults only.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-17 |title=BREAKING: New Spaceship Earth Lounge Name Announced, Reserved for Adults Only |url=https://wdwnt.com/2025/03/new-spaceship-earth-lounge-name-announced-reserved-for-adults-only/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=WDW News Today |language=en-US}}</ref> On November 21, 2024, it was announced that the second stage has been installed in the CommuniCore Plaza Stage, and the stage will be the home of '''JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season''', as a seasonal entertainment offering during the 2024 annual EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. On March 23, 2025, a fire broke out near the area.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mike |date=2024-11-21 |title=A Second Stage Has Arrived in CommuniCore Plaza at EPCOT |url=https://blogmickey.com/2024/11/second-stage-communicore-plaza-epcot/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=BlogMickey.com - Disney World News, Photos, and Info |language=en-US}}</ref>
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