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 Now that the summer travel season has come to a close, it's time once again to take a look at some of the big projects Disney has in the works for the next five years.

For our fall 2019 update, we take a look at the over two dozen projects in the works at Epcot, plus go over the six attractions that are still set to open in the final weeks of 2019! 

1. Disney Skyliner (Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios)

Image: Disney

Status: Confirmed

Opening in: September 29, 2019 

Walt Disney World's new gondolas project, officially named Disney Skyliner, will connect Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and the new DVC property, Disney's Riviera Resort through a series of elevated, closed-cabin gondolas. According to official documents, it looks like there will be six individual loading and unloading stations for the gondola system, one at each destination.


The various Disney Skyliner cabs will also feature favorite Disney characters, including the fab five as well as the hitchhiking ghosts. Construction has been moving along quickly at the resort, with work on stations at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot able to be easily seen from guest areas. 

Disney has confirmed that on September 29, 2019 the Disney Skyliner gondolas will take flight and officially begin transporting guests around Walt Disney World Resort. If you've been to Walt Disney World recently, you've probably seen the gondolas flying around Disney's Hollywood Studios this summer while Disney has been testing this system.

2. Epcot Forever (Epcot)

Image: Disney

Status: Confirmed 

Opening in: October 1, 2019

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth will end its 20-year run this fall later this month on September 30 2019. And then directly after the end of this show, Epcot Forever will debut on October 1st, 2019, Here's the official description of this new show:

Epcot Forever is a celebration of what Epcot has been and what Epcot is going to become. Music is the star of the show, and we use songs going back to the very beginnings of Epcot to music in the park today – from attractions, spectaculars and other shows – and put them into a fireworks spectacular on the lagoon every night. Guests are going to hear music they know and love but in a whole new way.

This show is temporary, and will only run for a limited time during the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020. 

3. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Disney's Hollywood Studios)

Image: Disney

Status: Confirmed 

Opening in: December 5, 2019

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is set to open at Disney's Hollywood Studios before the end of the year, on December 5, 2019, just in time for the busy holiday season! This attraction will be a more traditional dark ride experience, and will be using some amazing technology to bring the world of the First Order to life

According to the several sources, this attraction will have a whopping total of 305 animatronic figures and droids, almost a third of which are expected to be Stormtroopers. In addition, this attraction will have 18 different show scenes that involve 5 different ride systems, making it one of the most (if not the most) technically advanced rides at a Disney park ever. 

The entire Star Wars: Ride of the Resistance experience is said to be a half hour long, with three pre-show segments happening before the ride itself, which is said to be less than ten minutes long. 

4. Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience (Epcot)

Status: Confirmed 

Opening in: Fall 2019

There are a LOT of changes coming to Epcot over the next five years, and to help guests keep track of everything happening there will be a new semi-permanent preview center opening in the former Odyssey restaurant later this year that will showcase the upcoming changes to Epcot.

This reimagined preview space will feature engaging and interactive exhibits that showcase the relentless innovation, energy and excitement driving the future of Epcot, and will be open for the next few years while all of the following ambitious projects are in development.

Though no firm opening date has been given yet, construction inside this location began after the end of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, and hopefully we'll know more soon.

5. Space 220 (Epcot) 

Image: Disney

Status: Confirmed

Opening in: Fall 2019

Though Space 220 might seem like a strange name for a restaurant at Walt Disney World, the number actually refers to the number of miles above Earth diners will have to "travel" to get to this new dining location, which will be opening later this year at the Mission: Space pavilion.

Though Disney hasn't shared all the details yet, guests who show up to the entrance of this new restaurant will be able to board a special elevator outfitted with windows that let guests take in the views of the earth below them as they blast off into space and travel from Earth to this out-of-this-world dining location. 

Then once guests step into the dining room, they will be able to see amazing views of space with intergalactic scenery in the background, including a space station and a friendly astronaut floating nearby. Diners will be waited on by an international crew, and then, once their meal has concluded, will ride the elevator once again to return to Earth from their space dining experience. 

 
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