New Entertainment Options Replacing Several Fan Favorites at Epcot’s World Showcase
Disney has announced that several popular entertainment acts are being replaced in Epcot's World Showcase.
In the next few weeks Mo'Rockin', Off Kilter, Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps, and the World Showcase Players will all have their final performances at Epcot.
Disney said they are "refreshing the atmosphere entertainment around World Showcase with the addition of new acts and enhancements to some existing performances."
The acts are being replaced by a traditional Berber music and dance troupe in the Morocco pavilion, a lumberjack-inspired show in the Canada pavilion, a Celtic music ensemble in the United Kingdom pavilion, and a corps of flag waving performers in the Italy pavilion.
There has been no replacement act announced for the Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps.
According to Disney, Mo'Rockin', Off Kilter, and Spirit of America will have their final performances on September 27, while the World Showcase Players will have their last performance on September 25.
These announcements have caused quite a stir amongst Disney fans with some being excited for changes, and others being truly upset that old favorites are going away. How do you feel about this announcement? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts!
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Bill Puglisi wrote on Fri, 08/29/2014 - 11:46:
While I wasn't a fan of some of these acts, I always enjoyed and looked forward to the Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corp. The patriotic music, the colonial uniforms etc. all made for a very enjoyable experience. Why does Disney have to eliminate existing acts that many people love? Why can't they add things without taking away time-tested favorites? Maelstrom comes to mind too. Put a new Frozen show in the space formerly occupied by American Idol in DHS. Leave Maelstrom alone. I think Disney should be looking to enhance what's already there by adding new shows/attractions without removing others.
Kristen K. wrote on Fri, 08/29/2014 - 12:54:
I'm looking forward to the new acts! I know that many folks are upset, and I will miss the acts that are leaving but I think that it will all be fine in the end. I'm really excited to see the new Italian flag corp. I'm sure that replacing entertainment options rather than enhancing them is a product of budget more than anything else.
stevenw wrote on Fri, 08/29/2014 - 13:14:
I'm surprised the Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps is getting the boot. I guess with Disney World becoming more and more an international destination, the more esoteric patriotic stuff is getting the boot.
Brian wrote on Fri, 08/29/2014 - 19:15:
Im all for refreshing, but in the instance of The Fife and Drum Corps there is no replacement! Keep current entertainment until another option is found. Also always loved the timing of the three performances.... Catch the Drum corp, inside for Voices of Liberty then into The American Experience. It was patriotic overload at its finest :)
irishrick wrote on Sat, 08/30/2014 - 21:15:
Frankly, while I really liked Off Kilter & Mo'Rockin, they have been there a long time and were getting a bit stale. The replacements sound interesting. But getting rid of the Fife & Drum Corps is un-American!
Laurie HG wrote on Sun, 08/31/2014 - 16:43:
Sad about the Fife and Drum and World Showcase Players. I love the patriotic harmonies of the Spirit of America, & think it's an important aspect of America at WDW.
Caro wrote on Sun, 08/31/2014 - 16:57:
No to the lumberjacks (seriously, Disney? Lumberjacks? Come on.) and a definite NO to Fife & Drum being booted out.
Rob wrote on Sun, 08/31/2014 - 16:58:
Once again a cost cutting decision. At some point, Disney will cease to be Disney and morph into "just another amusement park." Drawing customers in with its reputation and not any of its "unique quality." :(
Anne wrote on Sun, 08/31/2014 - 18:51:
My husband & I will really miss Off Kilter. We always made a point of seeing their show whenever we were at Epcot. Taking away the Fife & Drum Corps really mystifies me. They were so representative of American history. I just don't understand that move at all. On the other side, I'm looking forward to the Celtic music ensemble and the flag waving performers.
Bob Travis wrote on Sun, 08/31/2014 - 18:51:
I will really miss the The Fife and Drum Corps performance. Our kids grew up watching this and it stirs a certain amount of Patriotism. It is the one performance our entire family consistently looked forward to watching together.
JT wrote on Sun, 08/31/2014 - 19:32:
I never, never miss Mo Rockin when we are there. They are one of my favorite groups at WDW. Too bad.
Rebeckah wrote on Sun, 08/31/2014 - 20:17:
Please leave the Drum and Fife "act." When I stand in front of the American Pavilion and hear the drum and fife corps, it's like stepping back in time. This was a period in time when America gained independence and an incredibly important time of history. Let's keep this tradition going!!
Linda wrote on Sun, 08/31/2014 - 23:55:
I don't see why the Fife and Drum would be cancelled WITHOUT A REPLACEMENT!!! I am sad to see Off Kilter go, one of our favorites. We just enjoyed the World players this month, always enjoyable. Britain already has musical performances, this is something different!! I don't understand why they can't just add new things. Prices have certainly risen enough! (And the new fast pass isn't helping IMHO)
Daniel Proctor wrote on Mon, 09/01/2014 - 02:18:
Those performances have been going for quite some time and new performances and performers would be a nice change. My girlfriend and I will definitely miss Off Kilter and Mo'Rockin', though. They're going to have some big shoes to fill for the the Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps. I can't wait to see what they change that with. Hopefully when I have enough discretionary income to spend on a couple annual passes next year, we can see all the new Epcot World Showcase attractions!
Beverley wrote on Mon, 09/01/2014 - 07:51:
Why remove the maelstrom. One the favourites in Norway at epcot,the queues and figures will confirm this. I understand times change but this will be sorely missed.
Anne-Marie wrote on Mon, 09/01/2014 - 10:56:
Extremely disappointed about the loss of The Fife and Drum. The way this country is going at the present, we need more displays of patriotism, not less. What is Disney thinking?
Barbara Meyer wrote on Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:19:
Fife and drum must stay...or is Disney really becoming so anti American...as is being reported?
Kristen K. wrote on Tue, 09/02/2014 - 16:55:
Beverly - There has been no confirmation on Disney's part of Malestrom being removed of significantly altered.
Mike G wrote on Mon, 09/08/2014 - 16:01:
I am angry at Disney's trend of being anti-American. To cancel the celebration of the birth of the greatest nation to ever grace this planet and not have a replacement is beyond unforgivable. So wants next Disney, do we erect a shrine to Mohammad in place of the Fife and Drum Corps? Why wouldnt that surprise me? I will not be renewing my annual pass ever again.
Eric T. wrote on Tue, 09/16/2014 - 15:51:
My entire family is very disappointed that Disney has once again chosen to make a political statement out of what should have been a no-brainer. While it may not have been your intention, your decision to cancel the Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps will be seen as Disney once again dismissing the very country that allowed it to even exist in deference to the stale fad of the cult of "multiculturalism". Removing the wonderful pageantry of our Colonial history does not make Disney more "liberal" but instead makes it seem more intolerant by choosing to not share America's unique beginnings with new generations of not only young Americans, but all of the new citizens we welcome to our shores. Since I have married a wonderful lady from the Philippines, who is now an official citizen of the United States, we were making plans to bring her daughter and nieces to Disney to specifically see the Fife and Drum Corps while we were there. But we get message. Disney apparently is only interested in keeping the traditions they deem "politically correct". We will therefore be travelling to Williamsburg Virginia, at much greater expense, this fall so that all of our "new citizens" will be able to experience some of our history first-hand and know that this nation is far more inclusive than Disney Co. would have them believe. Axe-wielding Canadian lumberjacks are just the kind of cliche'd stereotypes that children really don't need to be exposed to at a young age, so you won't be seeing my now rather large family thank you very much. "Disappointment" does not even begin to describe how we feel right now. Shame on you, Disney! Walt would not approve.
Kristen K. wrote on Wed, 09/24/2014 - 16:42:
You know we're not Disney, right Eric? We're a fan site and have no control over Disney's choices, we just report on them.
I'm so sorry to hear of your disappointment in the change of Entertainment options at Epcot. However, the history geek in my thinks that if you're looking for a real taste of Colonial America for your new citizens, Williamsburg is a fantastic choice!
Dan m wrote on Thu, 09/25/2014 - 17:26:
Kristen - you were wrong about Maelstrom. You seem to be an apologist for WDW. Dumb decision by Disney to can Fife & Drum - pure and simple.
Kristen K. wrote on Thu, 09/25/2014 - 21:49:
You're right Dan, I was wrong and Disney did later announce changes to Maelstrom. I'm not happy about them, it was one of my "must rides" at Epcot and I personally think that they are jumping the gun on Frozen's longevity as well as departing the base concept of what Epcot is all about. But that's the way it goes, and I don't actually get a say in the matter in any way that counts.
Am I an apologist for Disney? No - not at all. I've been traveling to Walt Disney World since they opened 1971 and they have done more than their fair of things that I'm not happy with. However I do recognize that businesses grow and change, and Walt Disney was a huge proponent of changing with the times to keep things current. In fact I think that if Walt had lived longer we would have seen changes much more frequently than we do. Some of those things that change will be things I love, I'll be upset, maybe even a little hurt, but in the long run I'm not going to let them ruin my vacation.
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