New Play Area for Epcot?

[Atomicmickey]

Was in Epcot on Saturday. This area is beside the walkway as you leave Future World from the Imagination Pavilion area, and walk towards World Showcase. There were scrims up explaining that they were getting the area ready for Flower and Garden, but this looked a bit more permanent to me.

Anyone know if this is a feature that comes and goes, or if it's a new permanent play area? Sorry about the hasty pic . . . took it on the go . . .

 

[Neverland]

They put a substantial play area there each year. It's temporary, only for F&GF. This is from 2009:

 

[Atomicmickey]

It's a different color! That's news! :lol:

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[MichWolv]

There have in recent years been two play areas added for Flower and Garden. The one you saw, and another in World Showcase (between Germany and Outpost, I think).

 

[NewfieFan]

As others have mentioned they come and go each year!

I kind of wish they had something permanant like that in Epcot... I know the purists are getting out their flaming pitch forks... but it's nice to have a little area where kids can burn off a little energy. My kids love Epcot (it's their favorite park) but they're also kids who enjoy a nice play area!

 

[juniorthomas]

As others have mentioned they come and go each year!

I kind of wish they had something permanant like that in Epcot... I know the purists are getting out their flaming pitch forks... but it's nice to have a little area where kids can burn off a little energy. My kids love Epcot (it's their favorite park) but they're also kids who enjoy a nice play area!

Seems like a good addition at a minimal cost.

 

[roadtripper]

The one they had in World Showcase last year was nice. It wasn't there in 2009 but it looked like it was going to be permanent. They do a very good job of making it look like it's there forever. They put it in an unused grass area next to a Food and Wine tent. Nice time to have a beer.

 

[MichWolv]

As others have mentioned they come and go each year!

I kind of wish they had something permanant like that in Epcot... I know the purists are getting out their flaming pitch forks... but it's nice to have a little area where kids can burn off a little energy. My kids love Epcot (it's their favorite park) but they're also kids who enjoy a nice play area!

I agree with you. The first year I saw the two play areas was 2009 (when DisneyNature sponsored the show for the first time), and I actually assumed they'd leave them there after F&G ended. My son loved them.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

As others have mentioned they come and go each year!

I kind of wish they had something permanant like that in Epcot... I know the purists are getting out their flaming pitch forks... but it's nice to have a little area where kids can burn off a little energy. My kids love Epcot (it's their favorite park) but they're also kids who enjoy a nice play area!

Epcot used to have a kids play area: it was called the Viking ship in Norway, and it worked very well into the theme and appearence of the pavilion, but that was removed a few years ago and never replaced.

On the positive side, Kim Possible does give kids something to do throughout World Showcase. And running around the pavilions for 20 minutes or so probably helps burn off some energy so at least there's something else for the little ones now.

 

[DisneyHeather]

As others have mentioned they come and go each year!

I kind of wish they had something permanant like that in Epcot... I know the purists are getting out their flaming pitch forks... but it's nice to have a little area where kids can burn off a little energy. My kids love Epcot (it's their favorite park) but they're also kids who enjoy a nice play area!

I started to type these same thoughts earlier, and stopped myself out of fear of having those flaming pitch forks aimed at me! But I will join you now, as a self-proclaimed chicken.

I think if those purists realized that kids are going to visit Epcot no matter what, and giving them a play area to blow off steam will make them so much more tolerable (as they are strolled around in their luxury triple-wide strollers), they'd see it isn't that bad of an option!