For the past four years, Epcot’s environment, or more specifically the main entrance area, has been completely surrounded by construction walls. After all of the buildup and excitement leading up to the big grand opening of the newly renovated space, which included Moana’s Journey of Water, guests have stated their opinions on the renovations and said it is actually not so grand and led to quite a disappointment among guests. On the other hand, there are others that believe the wait has been indeed worth it. While the walls are now gone, there are still several buildings within the vicinity still under construction leading to an open space that offers little to do. Overall, Disney guests have voiced controversial opinions about the recent changes Disney has put into place.

This new area has been labeled as the World Celebration area and features an intricate hub divided by multiple different gardens. Some even believe it’s one of the more ideal places to sit down and relax after walking to just enjoy the view of Epcot’s “Spaceship Earth” and main entrance area.

The wait for this new area took about four years. During this period, walking from one area of the park to another took a good amount of time. There was no ability to take shortcuts and guests had to take the long way around to the different sections of the park, specifically affecting those that may have problems with walking. Some also believed that the original was much better than now when comparing the design of this area.

Many are still attached to the old “Fountain of Nations,” but to make it better, they have brought back their famous light up pavement, connecting it with an area of plants to form the shape of Epcot’s famous logo. During the park’s different festivals, the lush greenery surrounding the area will vary. “The new design is nice with a lot of plants and it’s much more unique than it was before,” said 9th grader Peyton Moser. “I’m not sure it was really necessary though, especially since the wait for it took so long, but it adds a nice touch to the park.”

Additionally, the park’s most exciting addition is their statue of famous Walt Disney which they use to celebrate him as the “original dreamer” who brought this innovative land to life. Near the World Celebration area, you can find Walt sitting on a bench with a smile on his face, emphasizing his deep admiration and fondness for this famous park. They offer the opportunity for Disney fans to take a photo with him, but you should be aware that the line tends to get long. This is due to the popularity of this section, as it is newly opened to the public.