Recent Hits and Misses: World Celebration at Epcot

Over the past few weeks I’ve been adding some #ThrowbackThursday and #FlashbackFriday pictures to the Disney Over 50 Facebook and Instagram accounts. I love looking back. Many of the pictures that I’ve added are from rides or attractions that no longer exist. Some aren’t missed, like The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Others, like The Great Movie Ride, people do truly seem to miss. There has been a lot of change at Walt Disney World in the 13 years that my family and I have lived here. Some changes have been hits, while others have missed the mark. I thought it might be fun to write a short series on these hits and misses.

So far I have three hits; Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the Flotillas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and the Epcot International Festival of the Arts. I also have three that have missed the mark; Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, Harmonious, and Disney Genie+. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway isn’t a hit or a miss, or maybe it’s a little bit of both, depending on who you are talking to.

I’d like to add another one to the “hit” column. World Celebration at Epcot is brand new, and it is spectacular. I know that there will be people who don’t agree and there is nothing wrong with that. In my opinion, it’s a perfect fit for Epcot.

World Celebration is the area directly behind Spaceship Earth. It’s kind of a respite from the craziness of a Walt Disney World vacation. There are gardens, tables and chairs, and even charging stations. Wondering where to recharge your scooter at Epcot? This is the perfect place! There is also plenty of shade, something that is lacking around World Showcase.

The highlight of World Celebration is the Walt the Dreamer statue. Walt has his back to Spaceship Earth, looking towards what has been created in his memory. Walt does not sit in the center of the bench, and I’ve heard complaints about that. I think the placement makes sense. If you sit by yourself on a very long bench are you going to sit directly in the middle, or are you going to sit more to the side? Walt sits to the side. Walt the Dreamer is already a popular picture spot, and there may or may not be a PhotoPass Photographer on hand.

While World Celebration is a great place during the day, you need to experience it at night! There are lights that are synchronized to whatever is happening on Spaceship Earth. The lights on the ground are obvious, but there are structures throughout the area. It’s beautiful.

There are a lot of symbolic elements that went into the planning of World Celebration, and I’m not going to go into those. Instead, I want to recommend that you spend some time exploring the new area the next time you’re at Epcot. If you’re looking for a peaceful spot in the middle of a theme park, you’ll find it! In my opinion, World Celebration is Walt Disney World’s latest hit.