PHOTOS - The last of the original EPCOT Center signs replaced under Spaceship Earth at Gateway Gifts

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New signage at Gateway Gifts

Posted: Wednesday August 26, 2020 11:04am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

One of the last surviving EPCOT Center signs has been removed and replaced under Spaceship Earth at Gateway Gifts.

The new style sign at Gateway Gifts

The original sign lasted through several refurbishments, including the most recent earlier in the year.

The original Gateway Gifts sign

The new style sign is part of the park's makeover, and matches the other new signage that is being installed throughout what is currently Future World.

New signage at Gateway Gifts

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Disstevefan128 minutes ago

Repair by removal? Which holiday? Independence Day 2025?

DreamfinderGuy40 minutes ago

Reconfirmed that the plan is still to have the ground lights working again by the holidays, FWIW

tparris2 hours ago

The ones closest to Connections/Creations aren’t fully working, the sides are stuck on a bright white

Squishy9 hours ago

trainplane310 hours ago

They were plates that could be lifted up I believe. They weren't actually concreted into the ground. They had a hollow feeling when you walked over them.

DCBaker13 hours ago

From one of the photos @wdwmagic posted:

Ayla14 hours ago

Seriously?!

It's like they ran out of (budgeted) money. The elements for Dreamers Point got installed very late (compared to the lateness of the rest of the projects), the stage elements were also delayed in finishing up (the back-facing display put in late), they aren't fixing the lights, the central planter was supposed to have a nice display that synced with whatever festival was happening, and Communicore Hall is bare. At least we know there will be an attempt to rightfully decorate Communicore Hall for the holidays.

dmc49315 hours ago

How did they used to repave the concrete sections that had the fiber optics in them? or did they just never get repaved, and miraculously survived all those years...

disneyC9717 hours ago

I wasted opportunity to move Starbucks and Club Cool back to the west side when they decided to ditch the Festival Center and build the mess that's there now.

Nottamus18 hours ago

I am here now - and was very excited to see the lighting effects in action, And you know what? Sure, they are not working - BUT the whole area Is really amazing. They did an amazing job! We asked for seating - and there’s seating - the sculptures and lights that do work, really make this a win in my opinion - it really feels awesome out here !

tparris18 hours ago

I visit the park pretty much weekly and the lighting effects around World Celebration (including the lights on SSE) are all in the worst shape they’ve ever been. I’m thinking of recording a video showcasing the dozens of broken lights and effects sometime soon.

monothingie19 hours ago

Ambitious but not practical designs coupled with rush deadlines. Underground lighting is tricky, especially in high traffic areas. These were custom built fixtures that were already broken on day 1, they had no chance. Even the commercially available well lights that surround the perimeter of Connections and Creations are showing extreme wear and not working properly. I think the problem is, and this carries through to a lot of WDI projects that have rocky starts, that no one is empowered to speak up and point out issues and there is a disconnect between the contractors doing the work and the architects/engineers doing the design. In my experience, and I see it time and again, it is easier for contractors to build or put in something that is destined to be problematic because that's what the plans call for, rather than speak up and bring attention to problems. I also have a feeling that the response to any scrutiny directed at WDI over this or other type fails, is to blame the guests or someone else.