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

[Andrew C]

Space 220 is not a win. It's an overpriced meal with an intro/outro queue

That is a bit of a harsh take.

 

[_caleb]

Surely someone at Disney feels a modicum of pressure to do something with the WoL pavilion? Like, is there a team who are scrambling to implement a plan B now that PLAY! is cancelled? Even if that plan B is an empty rest area or something?

 

[RobWDW1971]

Not that I said they’re healthier.

Maybe a pavilion in the park dedicated to life and health could help make some informed decisions.

Agree, but to say people today are more "health conscious" today than in 1989 is simply not correct.

The other challenge would be this new "health" pavilion would not be fact-based like the original WOL, but would have to embrace nonsense such as "body positivity" only reinforcing the extremely unhealthy lifestyles of today.

Can you imagine them showing a movie with Goofy being fat (an obvious health negative) and then eating right and working out to get thin? That would be offensive, triggering, and not welcoming - hence, why this insanity of avoiding offense at all costs is literally killing people.

But as they say on social media "Hey, you go girl! You look amaaaaaaaazing!!!"

 

[UNCgolf]

Surely someone at Disney feels a modicum of pressure to do something with the WoL pavilion? Like, is there a team who are scrambling to implement a plan B now that PLAY! is cancelled? Even if that plan B is an empty rest area or something?

While I've assumed it was quietly cancelled for months, I don't think we've ever gotten any confirmation that it's cancelled. Obviously nothing official from Disney, but I don't think any of our insiders have fully corroborated that report either.

 

[mightynine]

Surely someone at Disney feels a modicum of pressure to do something with the WoL pavilion? Like, is there a team who are scrambling to implement a plan B now that PLAY! is cancelled? Even if that plan B is an empty rest area or something?

Why? They’ve been perfectly content to run the park without it. They’ll open it (whether that be Play! or something else) when it makes sense on the balance sheet.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Surely someone at Disney feels a modicum of pressure to do something with the WoL pavilion?

Wouldn't that have led them to do something with it a decade ago?

 

[James Alucobond]

I would agree that they probably feel no pressure to actually utilize the space, but surely they want to at least clean up the entrance so that they can return some foliage to the left side of Mission: SPACE, remove the ugly temporary fencing, and pave a new path that they can cordon off. The unfinished look kinda trashes World Discovery.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I would agree that they probably feel no pressure to actually utilize the space, but surely they want to at least clean up the entrance so that they can return some foliage to the left side of Mission: SPACE, remove the ugly temporary fencing, and pave a new path that they can cordon off. The unfinished look kinda trashes World Discovery.

It doesn't matter, its EPCOT after all.

As long as there is a clear path to the food booths that's what matters.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

While I've assumed it was quietly cancelled for months, I don't think we've ever gotten any confirmation that it's cancelled. Obviously nothing official from Disney, but I don't think any of our insiders have fully corroborated that report either.

When it comes to Disney projects "paused", "delayed", "cancelled", "reimagined", are interchangeable IMO.

The end result is nothing is going to open in this space soon.

 

[_caleb]

I just figured that the people who green-lit PLAY went through a process like this:

1. Exec decides they should do something w/WoL
2. Data shows it's worth an investment of $X
3. What can/should we do with WoL that would be worth investment of $X
4. WDI comes up with ideas that meet requirements (scope, budget, IP mandate, etc.)
5. Exec chooses PLAY!
6. A plan is made, approved
7. Marketing begins to make hay
8. Work begins

If so, it seems like trouble at #8 might then push them back to level, I don't know– #3?
But it seems like folks here are saying the decision-making process goes all the way back to #1?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

That is a bit of a harsh take.

Slightly harsh…but not out of bounds.

It was neat at first…but after an hour…the flaws of the projection, mediocre overpriced food and…this is weird…awful ventilation of the kitchen that floods the dining room with smells…got to me a bit.

Better view at coral reef and LESS fish smell

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I just figured that the people who green-lit PLAY went through a process like this:

1. Exec decides they should do something w/WoL
2. Data shows it's worth an investment of $X
3. What can/should we do with WoL that would be worth investment of $X
4. WDI comes up with ideas that meet requirements (scope, budget, IP mandate, etc.)
5. Exec chooses PLAY!
6. A plan is made, approved
7. Marketing begins to make hay
8. Work begins

If so, it seems like trouble at #8 might then push them back to level, I don't know– #3?
But it seems like folks here are saying the decision-making process goes all the way back to #1?

I believe that steps 2-4 are where the trouble has started in recent decades…

I bet @marni1971 might have a thought on this…perhaps?

 

[UNCgolf]

When it comes to Disney projects "paused", "delayed", "cancelled", "reimagined", are interchangeable IMO.

The end result is nothing is going to open in this space soon.

That's what I meant; I used cancelled as a catch-all.

At least one insider suggested he still expected something to open there because they'd already done interior work, so I'm not sure it's accurate to say it's cancelled/delayed/whatever, although I hope it is.

 

[Rteetz]

Slightly harsh…but not out of bounds.

It was neat at first…but after an hour…the flaws of the projection, mediocre overpriced food and…this is weird…awful ventilation of the kitchen that floods the dining room with smells…got to me a bit.

Better view at coral reef and LESS fish smell

Hey look I agree with you!

 

[Disstevefan1]

Slightly harsh…but not out of bounds.

It was neat at first…but after an hour…the flaws of the projection, mediocre overpriced food and…this is weird…awful ventilation of the kitchen that floods the dining room with smells…got to me a bit.

Better view at coral reef and LESS fish smell

I would like to try it once; I will not be happy unless I can sit next to the screens.
For the record, I never tried Coral Reef, same applies, I want to sit next to the tanks.
Someday for both maybe.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I would like to try it once; I will not be happy unless I can sit next to the screens.
For the record, I never tried Coral Reef, same applies, I want to sit next to the tanks.
Someday for both maybe.

I was right in the middle…didn’t seem to matter much

Same NOT true at coral reef.

I was at a wedding reception once there in their meeting room…an Eisner/wells classic

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Hey look I agree with you!

…oh…it’s like the Phoenix “Rose from the ashes” today

 

[DoleWhipDrea]

Of all Future World (or whatever the hell they call this portion) pavilions, health should be the easiest to keep futuristic. We are well-aware if what we should be able to do in 20 or 30 years in medicine. Certainly in a more-definitive way than space travel. And I’m sure they could even find a pharma sponsor to be the Official Headache Medicine of Disney Parks or provide the fabulous employee health plans.

If only the deal with MetLife hadn't fallen through because of employee healthcare plans.

Surely someone at Disney feels a modicum of pressure to do something with the WoL pavilion? Like, is there a team who are scrambling to implement a plan B now that PLAY! is cancelled? Even if that plan B is an empty rest area or something?

Not anyone that ultimately gets to decide whether a project gets funding or not. For now, plan B is keeping it closed.

I just figured that the people who green-lit PLAY went through a process like this:

1. Exec decides they should do something w/WoL
2. Data shows it's worth an investment of $X
3. What can/should we do with WoL that would be worth investment of $X
4. WDI comes up with ideas that meet requirements (scope, budget, IP mandate, etc.)
5. Exec chooses PLAY!
6. A plan is made, approved
7. Marketing begins to make hay
8. Work begins

If so, it seems like trouble at #8 might then push them back to level, I don't know– #3?
But it seems like folks here are saying the decision-making process goes all the way back to #1?

9. Turnover/changes in leadership and staff
10. Wait, how much is this costing?
11. Hit the brakes before it's finished and has to be fully financially accounted for

 

[montyz81]

I just noticed that the “Play Pavilion” poster is still for sale on the DStore website. Wouldn’t they remove that is the plan for the new experience was indeed cancelled?

 

[Fear]

I just noticed that the “Play Pavilion” poster is still for sale on the DStore website. Wouldn’t they remove that is the plan for the new experience was indeed cancelled?

wow yeah how weird it's almost like it hasn't been officially cancelled yet