Rumor: Epcot Might Be Getting a ‘New’ Name

According to the Orlando Weekly and Blog Mickey, Epcot may be getting a new name.

Blog Mickey reported that Disney recently filed paperwork to redo the Epcot parking lot area. They intend to shift the parking east so they can add new buildings to the western side behind the Living Seas Pavilion.  The rumor is that this will be most likely be for the rumored Epcot entrance hotel.

Blog Mickey zoomed in on the documents and noticed that they are referring to Epcot as “Epcot World Center.”

This is over Future World on the map, not over the World Showcase area, and right over the famous Epcot icon, Spaceship Earth.

Originally the park was named EPCOT Center from 1982 until 1993. In 1994 and 1995 the name became Epcot followed by the year, so Epcot ’94, and Epcot ’95, and by 1996 it simply became Epcot. The name hasn’t been changed since.

At least this isn’t a drastic suggestion like some of the ones suggested for the Hollywood Studios name change, but they recently announced that Hollywood Studios will keep it’s name.

“Epcot World Center” makes sense, but it is odd that it is focusing on the “world” in the name. The World Showcase is 1/2 of the park, but perhaps with the remodeling and restructuring of Epcot, they will somehow tie it all together as as a “World Center.”

Time will tell, but for now it’s a bit odd that the name was changed on this document.

Blog Mickey indicated that they could not find any trademark moves from Disney on the the name listed. We also searched and couldn’t find anything yet.

But what we do know is that Epcot is going to see many changes over the next few years, if the “blue sky” concept art is to be believed.

I have seen comments from fans before talking about how they park needs to be tied together better thematically. There were rumors that this is something Disney was working on. So perhaps the name is indicative of that.

I guess we have to wait and see.

What do you think? Comment and let us know!

Sources: The Orlando Weekly, Blog Mickey,