Disney has quietly reversed a controversial decision at EPCOT.Few Walt Disney World attractions have survived as many changes as those that opened with EPCOT in 1982. Over the past four decades, the Florida theme park has replaced numerous original experiences while introducing new rides, restaurants, and entertainment.Credit: Sarah Larson, Inside the MagicHowever, some opening-day attractions remain. Among them is Impressions de France, an 18-minute film that has transported guests through the French countryside since October 1, 1982.Located in World Showcase’s France pavilion, the attraction takes viewers from the Loire Valley to Versailles using five screens spanning 200 degrees. Despite its age, the film remains a favorite among longtime EPCOT visitors, particularly those who remember the park’s earliest years.Now, after a proposed scheduling change threatened to make the attraction significantly harder to experience, Disney has seemingly listened to frustrated fans.Disney’s Latest EPCOT Changes Spark Guest ComplaintsOn November 2, Walt Disney World’s operating calendar revealed an unexpected change to Impressions de France.Beginning January 1, 2027, the attraction appeared set to lose its evening performances, leaving just one 30-minute operating window between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. each day.This represented a considerable reduction from the film’s existing schedule, which also includes performances between 7 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.Credit: Erica Lauren, Inside the MagicThe announcement was particularly frustrating for guests who had already seen the attraction’s operating hours reduced in recent years.Since January 2020, Impressions de France has shared the Palais du Cinéma theater with the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along. The newer attraction occupies most of the day, leaving the original film with morning and evening performances.Disney also temporarily closed the theater for refurbishment between February and May 2026. When it reopened, guests discovered new seating, including red upholstered backs and decorative panels with built-in lighting.The prospect of losing evening performances so soon after the refurbishment prompted criticism on social media.“Disney just completed a multi-month refurb on Palais du Cinéma, only to screw over Impressions de France yet again. The theater has never looked better, and somehow they can’t manage to show its feature film for more than 30 minutes a day,” complained one X user.Credit: Disney TipsAnother wrote, “It’s a terrible tragedy that Impressions de France has had its evening hours cut. It’s a true EPCOT Center classic.”They continued, “and it already had atrocious hours prior to this ONE showing is not acceptable, I’ve already let guest relations know & I encourage everyone else to as well!”The proposed changes would have been especially inconvenient for guests visiting EPCOT during Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.On January 7, 9, and 10, EPCOT is scheduled to open at 10 a.m. rather than 9 a.m. The original January calendar listed no Impressions de France performances whatsoever on those three dates.Fortunately for fans, the apparent reduction didn’t last long.Disney Reverses Course on Classic Attraction’s Operating HoursJust one day after the initial schedule attracted criticism, Disney updated its January 2027 calendar to restore the missing evening performances.According to the revised operating schedule, Impressions de France will continue operating between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., followed by another block of performances from 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.The updated schedule covers January 1 through January 13, 2027, the dates currently published.Meanwhile, the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along will retain its existing hours of 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on standard operating days. Neither attraction is currently scheduled to lose its regular performances.Even the three late-opening dates during Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend have regained their evening screenings.However, Disney’s calendar still lists 9 a.m. performances on those dates, despite EPCOT not opening to regular guests until 10 a.m.The reversal has already prompted some celebratory responses from EPCOT enthusiasts.Bullying works https://t.co/ABedgg5LRa— DreamfinderGuy (@DreamfinderGuy) November 3, 2026“Bullying works,” wrote one X user.“Well, I guess it worked,” added another.Despite the reaction, Disney has not confirmed that guest complaints influenced its decision. The company has also not explained whether the original January schedule represented a planned reduction or simply an administrative error.Interestingly, this is not the first time the attraction’s evening hours have disappeared from Disney’s calendar before being reinstated.On March 7, 2023, Disney reduced Impressions de France to morning-only performances, with the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along occupying the theater for the remainder of the day.However, that decision lasted just three days. By March 10, Disney had restored the original film’s evening screenings, establishing the schedule that remains in place today.The attraction has also received upgrades over the years. In 2020, Disney introduced a 4K remaster of Impressions de France alongside the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, helping preserve one of EPCOT’s oldest experiences.Do you think Disney should give Impressions de France more operating hours?The post Disney Backtracks on EPCOT Changes Following Widespread Guest Backlash appeared first on Inside the Magic.