New landscaping arrives in the long-vacant area near EPCOT's Guest Relations

Ayla10 minutes ago

There is nothing calming or restful about flashing, bright LED lights. These aren't supposed to look like the front of a Vegas hotel. I also hope they wouldn't bring on an epileptic seizure for my sister.

Epcot82Guy12 hours ago

I will say, it creates a nice dynamic nature. But, it does highlight the lights not working more than you would think. And, for most months out of the year, you get 1-2 - maybe 3 - hours of that at most. So, there is a glaring issue for the rest of the day where it feels a little plasticy and cheaper than it should.

Epcot82Guy12 hours ago

Having seen it in person this week, I'm torn... PROS: -The environment is very nice at night. -The lighting package here looks cool. -The music and general vibe works well (though it can get repetitive), especially its tie in to Luminous. -The garden aspects add a sense of depth. The former design felt "larger". This feels more "dense". I think both are great approaches, and the new approach feels more modern. -The interaction between Creations/Connections and the center is great. I hope they can create something similar with CommuniCore Hall. (TBD) CONS: -The area has a very different vibe in the day vs. night. During the day, it does feel a bit lacking. The kinetic energy is not there during the day. -They actually have a perfect place for a fountain in the southern planter. That area is basically dead. They could easily put in a jumping or creative fountain in the middle of the giant fountain and solve a number of problems. -The lighting being out is more noticeable than I hoped. They really need to work on maintenance here. -People gather in the center near the Figment topiary. Nowhere else... -CommuniCore hall looks quite cheap in materials, especially when compared with the other buildings. I know it's modern materials, but it is a noticeably a box clad in flat panels. Again, the lighting is a nice touch, and the mural is not bad. But, it feels much more like the TTC than anything substantial in a Disney theme park (let alone a new build). Kinda like Luminous, it feels like a really good idea given a much reduced budget. The west side of World Celebration also feels very disjointed/sparse from the east side, which is an issue. -I still hate the "missing" quarter of the central circle behind JOW. (However, doing some sort of modern archway walk way a la Rainbow Tunnel or Lights of Winter would do wonders.) TLDR - Cool idea with some cool night effects. The general vibe. Execution is uncertain and feels a bit disjointed. And, it feels noticeably budget cut, even not knowing anything more substantial planned.

HauntedPirate12 hours ago

LED lighting does not provide “kinetic energy”. IMHO.

MisterPenguin15 hours ago

The only panels that light are the ones that are flat (they don't pop outward into two new triangles) and the ones with a border. Flat panels with no border aren't LEDs (it seems) and the ones that pop out don't light up, tho, they seem they do when they reflect the panels that do light up.

radiorae15 hours ago

I’m sure they are! They likely turned them all off until they can get them working again together instead of having random ones out. I’d guess they’d want it back up and running by the time Communicore Hall opens, but only time will tell!

Disstevefan118 hours ago

I hope part of the testing includes power washing ;)

Disstevefan118 hours ago

Did TWDC buy a LED lighting company? The interns in charge of the lighting design in all parks in WDW LOVE to use A LOT of different color lights. As the interns say, "Fountains are so 1982...."

James Alucobond18 hours ago

I assume some is already in place for sprinklers within the planters, but whether or not what's there could support a fountain is another issue entirely. Also, I doubt they have to break up ground to fix the floor lights.

Incomudro18 hours ago

Maybe when they break up the ground to fix the broken floor lights they can run some plumbing? ;)

Bocabear18 hours ago

Actually in the video the central planter looked awfully dark and non kinetic... Flashing lights can do something, but the sound of water, the visual is not the same as video walls and flashing color-changing lights.... a central core fountain would have brought something wonderful to the heart of World whatever-its-called....Maybe at some point in the future.....

ChewbaccaYourMum19 hours ago

You are right lol

ChrisFL19 hours ago

Yes.....at night

kevlightyear19 hours ago

It does look cool. I just hope with all the color changing and flashing going on it doesn't look to Vegas-like. Like SSE, I think turning the brightness down 25-50% would do wonders.