Nearly five years after Walt Disney World Resort overhauled Future World at EPCOT, two of the most polarizing neighborhoods born from that transformation are finally getting some fresh additions — though probably not the kind fans have been hoping for.
The Neighborhoods Fans Love to Criticize
World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery officially replaced the former Future World areas at EPCOT on October 1, 2021. While the new neighborhoods retained beloved original attractions like Spaceship Earth and Living with the Land (previously known as Listen With the Land), many longtime Disney Parks fans felt they erased the last vestiges of classic EPCOT.
The criticism hasn't faded with time, either. Spaces like the World Celebration Gardens and CommuniCore Plaza have drawn complaints for already looking worn down, despite being only a few years old.
New Palm Trees Arrive at EPCOT
This month, Walt Disney World Resort made a small but noticeable change to both World Nature and World Celebration: new palm trees. WDWNT reported August 12 that a trio of palm trees had been planted in a World Celebration flowerbed situated between the Imagination! Pavilion and CommuniCore Hall.
That particular spot didn't previously feature palm trees. Instead, it has typically hosted temporary festival installations, including the Rain or Shine Fruit Stand garden during the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival.
Over in World Nature, a second new palm tree appeared near Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. This one replaced a smaller tree that had been damaged by freezing temperatures earlier in the year.
This marks the second round of new palm trees that Walt Disney World Resort has added to EPCOT this summer. Back in July, the resort planted the same species at EPCOT's main entrance, also replacing trees that hadn't survived the cold snap.
Which EPCOT neighborhood is your favorite: World Nature, World Discovery, World Celebration, or World Showcase? Let Disney Fanatic know in the comments!
