After months behind closed doors, one of the most intimate theaters at EPCOT has reopened. Walt Disney World Resort guests stepping inside the Palais du Cinema in the France World Showcase Pavilion for a performance of the Beauty and the Beast Sing-A-Long or Impressions de France are finding a noticeably upgraded experience.
What Changed Inside the Theater
The Palais du Cinema closed for a scheduled refurbishment in February, with Walt Disney World Resort offering little beyond a promise that the theater would reopen in the spring. That reopening has now happened, and WDWNT recently shared a detailed look at what guests can expect when they walk through the doors.
The lobby where guests wait for their showing is unchanged — the same theatrical costumes and props that have greeted visitors for years remain in place, and the building's exterior looks exactly as it always has. The changes are entirely interior.
Walt Disney World Resort has replaced every seat in the Palais du Cinema. The new chairs maintain the same fold-down style as the originals but arrive with a significant aesthetic and comfort upgrade: red velveteen padded backs, faux leather brown seats, red plastic arms, and built-in lighting designed to help guests navigate the darkened theater without disrupting the screening.
What Calls the Palais du Cinema Home
The theater has been a fixture of the France World Showcase Pavilion since EPCOT opened on October 1, 1982, when Impressions de France debuted as one of the park's original attractions. The 18-minute film remains part of the Palais du Cinema's programming today, screening during early morning and late evening hours.
In 2020, Walt Disney World Resort added a second offering to the theater's lineup — the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, a 15-minute experience inspired by the 1991 animated film. That experience runs from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with Impressions de France filling the remaining showtimes on either side of it.
Both films are back on their regular performance schedules following the refurbishment. Guests can check current showtimes in the My Disney Experience app, on the Walt Disney World Resort website, or via the printed entertainment schedule available at park entry.
Have you been able to see Impressions de France or the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along since the recent refurbishment ended? Share your experience with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
