"The project consists of modifying a back of house area to include gravel parking and two dry detention ponds," according to a letter from a Reedy Creek project manager to the SFWMD, included in the permit application. While that doesn't sound especially exciting on its own, the modification would be a necessary first step toward a new construction project on the site.
We recently reported that insiders were working on plans to bring a version of Walt Disney Studios Paris' Ratatouille ride to Epcot's France pavilion. Last month, Reedy Creek — the Disney-controlled local government agency that oversees development at the Walt Disney World Resort — filed a permit to modify canals behind the Universe of Energy pavilion in Epcot's Future World, which would be the first step in what we've been told will be the replacement of Ellen's Energy Adventure with a new Guardians of the Galaxy-themed roller coaster.
The new permit application for the France pavilion defines the project boundaries to include the entire backstage area behind the existing France pavilion buildings, as well as the space to the east of the France pavilion all the way over to the buildings in the adjacent Morocco building.
From a quick glance at Google Maps, that space would provide enough area to house the show building for the Ratatouille: L'Aventure Totalement Toquee de Remi ride from the Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris. That attraction is a 3D trackless dark ride, which we reviewed upon its opening in 2014.
As with all construction projects underway at the Walt Disney World Resort, Disney won't officially confirm anything until it is good and ready to make a public announcement. With this application covering only site preparation work, we would appear to be several months — at least — away from the start of any major construction at either the France or Universe of Energy pavilions.
Update: Hearing now that we might expect Disney to announced the Epcot projects at the D23 Expo in Anaheim next month. Stay tuned!
You Also Might Like:
Rate and Review:
Tweet
That said, I'm still not sure what a Guardians of the Galaxy Roller Coaster would have to do with Future World.
Meets? In my headcanon, NDT *is* Starlord. The casting of Chris Pratt in the movie role is a ruse.
Epcot shouldn't have a rollercoaster. Sick of them. THey are cheap to build than a proper world class attraction which i guess is why Disney would be keen.
That said, I'm still sceptical about how Ratatouille is going to be received, unless it gets some serious plussing for its Epcot iteration. It's a good attraction, but I'm not sure how it's going to hold up in the Orlando market.
I will repeat a prior comment from a past thread. EPCOT is an oasis for me, especially the world showcase. It is so much different from the typical theme park, and even my kids appreciate the difference that it brings. I hope they do not seek to substantially change the park.
As with the rumored DHS name change, they might want to rechristen Epcot, too. Let's face it, this park is headed in a completely different direction, leaving science and edutainment further and further behind.
@anonymous126: "I don't want them to delete anything". Hopefully one day you get a chance to visit EPCOT. It's a real place - you can't "delete" anything.
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
