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

Aug 26, 2020 in "Gateway Gifts"

Gallery / 4 Photos
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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Centauri Space Station8 hours ago

Hasn’t happened since last year so can’t help you

HauntedPirate9 hours ago

That’s some impressive cherry-picking! Now try showing what it all looks like without a festival or Broadway display being involved.

Centauri Space Station10 hours ago

Not really 852921852922852923852925

Bocabear1 day ago

I think I would gut that area just after the Walt statue heading towards the lagoon and start over... A large show fountain basin in the center with the "park" areas flanking either side... Trees, shade structures, sculptures etc could be in those areas like they have now, but a central corridor, show fountain, and possibly a narrow waterway connecting the Walt Statue garden with the main Show fountain and then continuing towards the lagoon...following Walt's line of vision... Something that would feel grander in scope and kinetic with water features...

AidenRodriguez7311 day ago

I don't compare them for the reasons I stated above. BUT I do agree that the area needs more... something. I would bring back the Tree concept as well that seemed pretty cool and add in some other things into each of the current "Gardens". Make them each revolve around smth COOL, ya know?

Bocabear1 day ago

Not sure why it is unfair to compare them...Disney's renovation of the area suffered from a complete lack of vision...The scope was never as grand as what Epic did for their central core...and it honestly really should have been... We lost the symmetry of the central plaza for a building that was never built, and then all other interesting features of that space were cut....But even with the Table building it would still have lacked the dynamics it should have had... After passing Spaceship Earth that central plaza and first reveal of the park should have looked spectacular...not the lackluster corporate business park that we ended up with.... Yeah Yeah Covid.... but then after Covid and many many price increases, perhaps they then should re-visit that area and make it as engaging as it should have been.... Not leave it in this state for another decade....

AidenRodriguez7311 day ago

Yeah... it would be. A new theme park gets 100% attention essentially and fast tracked. The center of Epcot was clearly not as focused on, especially with a new theme park being built that would pay more due to the quantity of work needed. Plus Disney was building 2 massive coasters at the time (building wise) with indoor segments which is pretty pricey. Financially I'm sure they were planning on opening Tron, Guardians, Moana, Epcot Center, etc in different years/time periods to better spread the cost and focus on one at a time but COVID ruined that plan and left them all on equalish playing fields so Disney chose they wanted to have their most impressive project open first "Guardians" and send the main crews in to finish that one asap. Only having it delayed essentially by the time spent not building during part of the pandemic.

Disstevefan11 day ago

Now that you mention it, it is unfair to compare an entire new theme park to an area of an existing park. ;)

AidenRodriguez7311 day ago

I still think its a little unfair to compare the two since the circumstances were very different but yeah the middle of Epcot is still in need of some pretty desperate help. I think it overall looks "fine" but I would definitely like more than "fine" when we're talking about the central hub. To me, if they broke down the very center with the lights again, just fully replaced them + added in a nice fountain, I think it would go a LONG way in bringing Epcot up to a better standard

Bocabear1 day ago

Celebration Gardens....It is kind of funny that this uninspiring area which feels completely un-festive has that name... Sure doesn't feel like a celebration...just a place with some trees....

Disstevefan11 day ago

And Disney took about the same time to do (whatever they tried to do) in EPCOT that Universal took to build EPIC Universe. P.S. I HATE the RUST (finish?) all over World (Celebration?) gardens.

Bocabear1 day ago

It is amazing to be seeing all the video from the new Epic Universe Park and see how the central core of EPCOT could have looked with a grander vision...Fountains, waterways, trees, restaurants and some attractions all tucked into a beautiful park with grand show elements...instead of dusty corporate business campus with rusty sculptures and non-working light effects... Surprising especially since EPCOT is like twice the size of Epic Universe... If they had to destroy the central core of the park, I wish it had been at least for something like Celestial Park.... I guess we can be excited because we got a meet and greet and "Flex Space/ Cafeteria Building"...

SoFloMagic3 days ago

With 5x as many guests hanging out at the DJ as in the center, I can't imagine it's a priority. Oh, and you can't even hear the music these lights are synced to because of the club beats.