Overnight, Walt Disney World Resort made another surprise change at EPCOT. For the third time in about a month, several of the main entrance tap-styles have been altered, again changing the experience for Disney Park guests.
In early August, Walt Disney World Resort installed large metal gates at the main entrance to EPCOT. These gates were added to several tap-style entry points, helping guide guests through the entrance while preventing any accidental exits through the entrance area. The heavy, swinging gates made it much easier to manage guest flow, and they blended into the overall aesthetic of EPCOT’s main World Celebration entrance.
However, just a few weeks later, Disney made another change. On August 20, Disney Fanatic reported that EPCOT removed the new metal gates from the entrance. However, the support poles were left in place with a simple rope connecting them. The removal of the gates left guests wondering why Disney would go through all the trouble of installing them, only to take them down soon after.
Just when it seemed like the changes had come to an end, BlogMickey confirmed that EPCOT had reintroduced the metal gates at the main entrance. This time, however, the gates no longer default to the closed position. According to the September 2 report, the gates now stay open unless a Disney cast member moves them. It’s unclear exactly why Walt Disney World Resort made this change.
Construction crews are reportedly installing even more metal gates around the main entrance tap-styles. Two gates are now on both the right and left sides of the entrance plaza, with other tap-style areas being blocked by temporary stanchion barricades. These barricades suggest that Disney may be preparing for even more permanent gates at the EPCOT main entrance.
This news follows a busy summer of changes at EPCOT, including ongoing work in the parking lot. The Moana section of the parking lot is currently being repaved and repainted, with cones and other barricades preventing guests from parking there.
Which EPCOT entrance does your family like to use? Let Disney Fanatic know in the comments!
