If you’ve walked through EPCOT lately, you may have noticed one of the park’s iconic water features looking very…un-EPCOT.
Construction continues in World Celebration, and while this isn’t the flashiest project happening around Walt Disney World, it’s quietly making noticeable progress. Disney has reached another milestone in the ongoing refurbishment of the large reflecting pool near the Imagination Pavilion, with crews recently applying an entirely new finish to the basin floor. It’s one of those small projects that most guests probably won’t think twice about, but once it’s finished, it’ll help restore one of EPCOT’s signature scenic views.
The reflecting pool, located in World Celebration beneath the Monorail beamway between the Imagination Pavilion and The Land Pavilion, remains completely drained as refurbishment work continues. During a recent look at the project, crews had covered much of the basin floor with a new reddish-brown finish that closely matches the surrounding terracotta-colored planter walls throughout the area.
Most of the central floor has already received the fresh coating, creating a much cleaner and more uniform appearance compared to the previous speckled terrazzo-style surface. However, the project is clearly still a work in progress. Several sections of the original flooring remain visible where the new finish has yet to be applied, making it easy to see Disney’s section-by-section approach to the refurbishment.
One of the more interesting details is how the decorative river rock beds remain untouched. These rock features continue to divide the reflecting pool into its familiar winding channels while the new finish has been carefully applied around them. Along much of the pool, a small border separates the freshly coated concrete from the existing river rocks, preserving the design guests have come to recognize over the years.
Construction equipment also remains in place around the basin. Scaffolding is still standing near the raised planters, signaling that work isn’t finished just yet. While crews weren’t actively working during the daytime visit documented in the report, much of this refurbishment appears to be taking place overnight to minimize guest disruption. With the water drained, guests can also spot normally hidden plumbing fixtures, fountain nozzles, and drain covers scattered throughout the basin—details that are almost never visible when the pool is operating.
Depending on where you’re standing in World Celebration, the project offers a completely different perspective. From beneath the Monorail beamway, guests can clearly see the long river rock spine cutting through the freshly painted floor. Looking from the Spaceship Earth side, the newly coated basin opens into a wide expanse that already gives a glimpse of how refreshed the area will look once water returns.
For now, Disney has not announced when the reflecting pool refurbishment will be complete, nor has the company confirmed whether the neighboring reflecting pools in World Celebration will receive similar treatment. As with many smaller enhancement projects throughout Walt Disney World, work is progressing quietly without an official reopening timeline.
Although this refurbishment may seem minor compared to EPCOT’s larger transformations, it’s another example of Disney continuing to invest in the park’s overall appearance and guest experience. Once the basin is refilled, the refreshed finish should help create cleaner reflections of the surrounding landscaping, monorail, and nearby pavilions, giving one of EPCOT’s most photographed walkways a polished new look.
We’ll continue following this EPCOT construction project and all the latest Walt Disney World refurbishment updates as progress continues. Be sure to check back often for more Disney Parks news, construction updates, attraction changes, and everything you need to know before your next visit.
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