Epcot Photo Update From May 22nd, 2019 Including Monorail Views of Leave a Legacy; International Gateway Construction

Hi everyone!

We went to Epcot yesterday to check out construction work and also to enjoy what will be our last day at Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival for this year. We head to Anaheim soon for a travel conference and to experience Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! Most of my photos will encompass construction at the front of Epcot and International Gateway, along with a handful of other pictures.

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We had breakfast at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and then walked over to the Ticket and Transportation Center. I always enjoy the monorail ride though Epcot, but never more than during the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival timeframe.

Here is our video of the entrance plaza with the full monorail ride through Future World.

The Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster is being built ahead.

A lot is going on in the parking lot area and entrance plaza. The concept art is gorgeous, and Disney says that the changes will include “new pathways, sweeping green spaces and a newly reimagined fountain. This new design will pay homage to the original park entrance with fresh takes on classic elements.”

Here is a look at construction in the parking lot.

And one side of Leave a Legacy was boarded up a couple of days ago. I was never a fan of these from day one, but it’s nice that guests who have tiles will still be able to visit them once work is complete.

Here are a couple more photos, and then I will be showing them from the other monorail side.

But first…if you’ve never taken the monorail loop through Epcot, it is worth doing for the fantastic views when the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival is happening. It is beautiful at other times of year too, but the flowers and topiaries visible make it worth the trip around.

The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival ends on June 3rd, so there isn’t a lot more time to enjoy these views.

Another look at the east flower quilt.

Spaceship Earth and Goofy.

And the west flower quilt.

Here is a view of the Leave a Legacy sculptures from this side. Nothing appeared to have been done with them yet.

There is a lot of construction work visible from the monorail ramp, really it’s mostly dirt right now.

And walking into Epcot, the wall can be seen on the right hand side.

Pretty flowers with Spaceship Earth in the background.

For the first time that I can remember, Disney is offering up merchandise that is said to be for Pride month. For years, the parks have sold rainbow merchandise as it approaches June.

10% of the proceeds from the merchandise through June 30th, 2019 will go to GLSEN.

This is a rainbow Mickey ear hat, and I will be posting more merchandise photos with prices this weekend.

The Epcot main flower quilt looks beautiful on a blue sky day.

Frozen Ever After didn’t have a line out the door, the stand-by said 35 minutes and I don’t think it was quite that. We were able to secure Fastpasses easily.

My go-to counter service meal lately has been chicken terriyaki at the Katsura Grill in Japan. A nice sized portion of white rice can be purchased to add to it (if splitting the meal) for just $2.00. It is a healthier option than many around World Showcase.

Over at the International Gateway, a lot of work is ongoing to allow for more guests to enter later this year after the Disney Skyliner opens. There will be 4 resorts having access here that don’t now (Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and the upcoming Disney Riviera Resort).

Friendship boats are still operating here and guests can walk in and out of the International Gateway.

The Disney Skyliner gondolas are still covered up here.

The Eiffel Tower is on the left, the Disney Skyliner can be seen on the right.

Ratatouille and other France construction is in this direction and I will show more of that.

The Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios can be seen past the Disney Skyliner gondolas.

Signage for Friendship Boats, the walkway to the Epcot Resorts (and Disney’s Hollywood Studios) and ticketing.

There are a lot of walls up here right now, that will change later this year.

The Disney Skyliner gondolas can be seen upwards. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, they are all uncovered.

The Friendship Boats.

Disney Skyliner gondolas past the awning.

We walked to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and I took some photos of France during the first portion of the walk.

I am looking forward to Ratatouille and the new crepe location that will open hopefully next year.

There are a lot of shrubs to cover up the work at the Disney Skyliner station.

Most of the walls did come down here but the area is still blocked off.

Here is a closer look.

And more photos of the construction in France.

The new ticket booth that has been out here a couple of weeks was hours from opening (or so I was told).

A sign went out while we passed by.

And looking back at the International Gateway as we walked toward Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

That is it for Epcot construction updates for a couple of weeks or so. We are looking forward to some cooler weather in Anaheim next week, along with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and much more! We will be sharing here at Mousesteps, our YouTube channel and social media.