EPCOT’s Play Pavilion Omitted from Disney Press Releases, Casting Doubt on Attraction’s Future

Jessica Figueroa

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EPCOT’s Play Pavilion Omitted from Disney Press Releases, Casting Doubt on Attraction’s Future

Welcome to EPCOT, where “Progress Walls” abound and the Magic of Possibility goes only as far as the next vague press release. Given the number of changes that have taken place—not to mention the overwhelming burden of an ongoing pandemicthe majority of information available on the park’s historic transformation is mostly outdated now, leaving fans gleaning what little information they can from periodic updates, or reading between the lines and seeing what projects Disney suddenly isn’t talking about.

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First came the ill-fated Mary Poppins attraction and Festival Pavilion, both of which are currently “indefinitely postponed”—the latter now merely referred to as a “festival area”, likely budget cut to ultimately become an astroturf lawn and/or temporary structures to host festival offerings until Disney deems a more permanent solution necessary. While projects like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Space 220, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure are delayed, but clearly chugging along, things over at the Play Pavilion seem oddly quiet…

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The Play Pavilion was one of the projects recently omitted from the most recent EPCOT transformation project press release, which otherwise included other major World Discovery projects like the Guardians of the Galaxy rollercoaster and the Space 220 restaurant.

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While the release also stated “more information on other previously announced experiences coming to EPCOT will be provided at a later date”, Play was also omitted from the EPCOT section of the latest Winter 2020 issue of Disney Twenty-Three D23 Magazine.

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Not all hope is lost for the former Wonders of Life pavilion, as clearly work on replacing the domed roof tiles has progressed significantly since the reopening of the park. A Disney Monorail book released back in August included a nod to the new Monorail Mark X attraction that was (is?) slated to open with Play Pavilion in 2021, and the latest park guidemap released for the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays still includes the pavilion as “coming soon”. However, given the hands-on, interactive element of nearly every attraction or experience within the indoor pavilion, it seems Disney is taking time to rethink the concept in the age of pandemic-proofing their parks… and until they’ve nailed down the necessary modifications, we probably won’t be hearing about the Play Pavilion anytime soon.

What’s your take on the omission of the Play Pavilion from recent press releases? Was it one of the projects you were looking forward to the most, or are you glad they’re focusing on other upcoming EPCOT attractions? Let us know in the comments below.

6 thoughts on “EPCOT’s Play Pavilion Omitted from Disney Press Releases, Casting Doubt on Attraction’s Future”

  1. Not Surprised Here !! the Play pavilion was lackluster to begin with, you see Chapek planned on moving gaming Consoles/stations from Epcot Innoventions and Hollywood studios (launch bay and path of the jedi waiting area next to Hyperion Theater exit) to the play pavilion.
    but every bit of penny counts towards executive benfits, so they had to gunn that tooo

  2. I suspect that it is still on the list but just not near the TOP of the list. As soon as Cosmic Rewind opens, that corner of the park will become very popular and will need an additional outlet for the people.

  3. Really expecting to be disappointed in Epcot’s transformation. Nothing seems to have any organization or connection in the front half of the park right now. The iconic unique architecture of each pavilion is being replaced or overwhelmed by massive “backstsage” warehouse like structures to fit what feel like forced thrill rides that don’t make any sense theming wise. A Moana water garden not by the sea or any Polynesian related area bothers me when Adventureland and Polynesian and Aulani resort exists already. Guardians attraction makes more sense in Tomorrowland/fantasyland than Epcot and Tron makes more sense in Epcot than Tomorrow/fantasyland. I feel like so much of this project is just about removing the center structures of the park and no real valuable plans for their replacement has been announced if they even have any. Maybe just expand and spread out all the food and wine kiosks and flower and garden stuff to that area for the time being would make most sense. It just seems like it’s clearing land for more future development until unknown projects are green lit. Also Tianas restaurant shouldn’t be in a nature themed hotel. Thank god that is cancelled. Add dining to back of magic kingdom with retheme of splash mountain they announced. Why not make a level of the river boat at mk a princess and the frog meet and greet or dining option on one level? So many missed opportunities for really well designed projects that guests actually get to experience without having to pay more money or try to book on their phones only to experience more technical difficulties and disappointments than magic. Sorry for ranting.

  4. I speculate that the new festival center is scrapped, and the play pavilion will be the festival center, at least for a few more years.

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