EPCOT New Play Pavilion to replace Epcot's Wonders of Life

[James Alucobond]

Before today, I really would have thought that at least Play would open before Cosmic Rewind, but the updated maps and apparent media "previews" for the ride today have me thinking otherwise!

Cosmic Rewind is much more critical to the flow and function of World Discovery, so it doesn’t surprise me. Wonders of Life was basically a non-entity for years prior to this construction, so just cordoning it off again is probably very easy for them.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Before today, I really would have thought that at least Play would open before Cosmic Rewind, but the updated maps and apparent media "previews" for the ride today have me thinking otherwise!

It will be ready in anywhere between 6 and 12 months. For Disney, that’s like “tomorrow.”

 

[doctornick]

Play is happening. Note that Moana isn’t on the map either. Should tell you something about the timeline for those additions.

Ultimately though it seems like the big thing about opening Play is they want to wait until after the pandemic (or at the very least until a vaccine for children is approved and widespread).

Considering that pavilion has been closed for eons, I don’t think they are in any rush to open it at a time when they could get criticism about it.

 

[doctornick]

Too bad. That means we're going to be stuck with that half baked idea for years.

It wasn’t like the main floor of WoL was anything all that special anyway. If they had Play as planned but actually added a ride in the Body Wars space and a show in the Cranium Command theater, this would probably be a pretty nice addition. As is, it’s just an IP version the stuff they had in Innoventions (Where’s the fire, Piggy Bank Adventure,the video game consoles, etc)

 

[UNCgolf]

It wasn’t like the main floor of WoL was anything all that special anyway. If they had Play as planned but actually added a ride in the Body Wars space and a show in the Cranium Command theater, this would probably be a pretty nice addition. As is, it’s just an IP version the stuff they had in Innoventions (Where’s the fire, Piggy Bank Adventure,the video game consoles, etc)

There was some interesting stuff there, but I agree it wasn't anything amazing.

Regardless, they could have left the other half of Communicore up, put all of this there, and then actually used this for a new, interesting pavilion instead of an arcade. Now it's going to be mostly wasted space for decades.

 

[Phicinfan]

Play is happening. Note that Moana isn’t on the map either. Should tell you something about the timeline for those additions.

So, as we now have a date of 2022 for Cosmic Rewind, and its on the map, and no map for Moana and Play - we are talking no earlier than 2023 for them?

 

[muddyrivers]

There was some interesting stuff there, but I agree it wasn't anything amazing.

Regardless, they could have left the other half of Communicore up, put all of this there, and then actually used this for a new, interesting pavilion instead of an arcade. Now it's going to be mostly wasted space for decades.

I'm still surprised in today's world it wasn't kept as a health pavilion. There's initiatives to get kids outside to play for at least an hour a day, everyone has some sort of health tracker technology they wear (pedometer, heart rate tracker, blood glucose monitor, etc.). It seems now there is even more of a focus on one's health than there was before. Maybe it's not as "flashy" as glowing screens in a glorified arcade, but getting your tennis swing evaluated by Naomi Osaka or the Williams sisters would be pretty cool.

 

[Andrew C]

I'm still surprised in today's world it wasn't kept as a health pavilion. There's initiatives to get kids outside to play for at least an hour a day, everyone has some sort of health tracker technology they wear (pedometer, heart rate tracker, blood glucose monitor, etc.). It seems now there is even more of a focus on one's health than there was before. Maybe it's not as "flashy" as glowing screens in a glorified arcade, but getting your tennis swing evaluated by Naomi Osaka or the Williams sisters would be pretty cool.

The play pavilion. Celebrating the addictions that negatively impact our society.

 

[Chester&Hester Enthusiast]

New flags up in the Epcot entrance, and the PLAY! pavilion is represented. So, I guess it's still happening. Eventually.

Sigh.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

The play pavilion. Celebrating the addictions that negatively impact our society.

Yeah. Showing the concerns large amounts of sugar and overconsuming alcohol may not be a good message for $hapek's Epcot...

 

[ToTBellHop]

New flags up in the Epcot entrance, and the PLAY! pavilion is represented. So, I guess it's still happening. Eventually.

Sigh.

You are literally no fun.

 

[Chester&Hester Enthusiast]

You are literally no fun.

Wow. That hurts, Kyle. You know better than anybody else here that that's not true!

 

[ToTBellHop]

Wow. That hurts, Kyle. You know better than anybody else here that that's not true!

You have forgotten how to have fun.

 

[Chester&Hester Enthusiast]

You have forgotten how to have fun.
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I blame Chapek.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I blame Chapek.

You are the key to unlocking your own magic.

 

[Chester&Hester Enthusiast]

You are the key to unlocking your own magic.

Nope, not anymore. Now we just get to be Disney enchanted. It's a lot less magical, but it certainly is more Disney, more family, more timeless and more relevant.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Nope, not anymore. Now we just get to be Disney enchanted. It's a lot less magical, but it certainly is more Disney, more family, more timeless and more relevant.

I’m 2017, you were the key to unlocking your own magic. Now we’ve arrived. You are the magic.

 

[Chester&Hester Enthusiast]

I’m 2017, you were the key to unlocking your own magic. Now we’ve arrived. You are the magic.

The magic is me?

 

[Casper Gutman]

The play pavilion. Celebrating the addictions that negatively impact our society.

Isn’t that the social media pavilion?

 

[Chester&Hester Enthusiast]

Isn’t that the social media pavilion?

Isn't that what this is? I think that was the joke.