Walt Disney World has completed another landscaping change at EPCOT, with new Sylvester palm trees now installed near the park’s entrance plaza. The replacement trees sit on both sides of the main walkway leading toward Spaceship Earth, creating a refreshed look for guests entering the park.
The change follows the removal of the previous foxtail palms earlier this year after winter weather caused severe damage. The new trees bring back the palm-lined appearance of the entrance while introducing a different palm variety and a revised layout.
This EPCOT entrance update is one of several recent changes affecting the appearance of the park’s front entrance area.
Foxtail Palms Removed After Winter Freeze Damage
Before the recent work, the entrance plaza featured foxtail palms on both sides of Spaceship Earth. Each side included five palm trees, creating a symmetrical arrangement along the walkway.
Old foxtail palms lining EPCOT’s entrance – Photo Credit: Follow The Bradleys’ Fun
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The trees suffered significant damage during periods of freezing temperatures in Central Florida during the winter. Although Walt Disney World uses protective measures for sensitive landscaping when cold weather arrives, the foxtail palms did not recover.
The damaged trees were removed in May, leaving the planter areas without palms while Disney prepared replacement landscaping. The removal was noticeable because the trees had been part of the entrance design for years.
New Sylvester Palms Create a Different Appearance
The replacement trees are Sylvester palms, also known as silver date palms. The new design features three Sylvester palms on each side of the entrance walkway, reducing the total number of trees while adding larger specimens to the area.
New Palm Trees Planted at EPCOT Entrance After Previous Ones Damaged This Past Winterhttps://t.co/oweB4fum6s
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Compared with the previous foxtail palms, the Sylvester palms have thicker trunks and a different canopy shape. The change gives the entrance plaza a different visual appearance while maintaining the greenery that frames the approach to Spaceship Earth.
Sylvester palms are generally more tolerant of cooler temperatures than foxtail palms.
Part of EPCOT’s Continuing Transformation
The entrance work is part of the ongoing evolution of EPCOT’s World Celebration area. The park has continued making smaller landscaping adjustments following the completion of its larger transformation projects.
Spaceship Earth in Epcot at night – Photo Credit: M. Montanaro
Plant replacement is a regular part of maintaining a large resort landscape. Central Florida weather can create challenges for tropical plants, especially during unusual periods of freezing temperatures.
The new Sylvester palms provide a different look from the previous foxtail palms while restoring greenery to the entrance plaza. Guests entering EPCOT can now see the updated landscaping as they approach Spaceship Earth.
Disney has not announced any additional changes planned for the entrance area.
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