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

[FigmentJedi]

It's an idealized version of a roadside tourist trap for sure, like most things at Disney. I agree that it's nicer than an actual crappy roadside tourist trap, but that would have been worse than what exists -- it just needed to evoke one, and I think it's pretty clear that's what it's supposed to be (at least for anyone who knows what that is, and I think the number of people who do know that is rapidly declining).

It's not even the right kind of roadside tourist trap for a dinosaur theme. Tacky dinosaur parks tend to not have carnival rides, just janky sculptures of prehistoric beasts lurking in the woods that sometime allow you to drive through or even take a tram ride.
In other words, they should have just made a land-based dinosaur clone of Jungle Cruise.

 

[UNCgolf]

It's not even the right kind of roadside tourist trap for a dinosaur theme. Tacky dinosaur parks tend to not have carnival rides, just janky sculptures of prehistoric beasts lurking in the woods that sometime allow you to drive through or even take a tram ride.
In other words, they should have just made a land-based dinosaur clone of Jungle Cruise.

It's not supposed to be that kind of dinosaur park -- it's supposed to be a roadside tourist trap near an actual interesting location that draws people (an archaeological dig), a bit like the stuff you'll find around, e.g., Niagara Falls.

That said, I think there's definitely an argument that an archaeological site wouldn't be the kind of draw that would support this type of roadside attraction.

 

[James Alucobond]

the "Neighborhoods" thing doesn't really work... The fact that "Imagination" is seated in World Nature, but somehow part of Celebration which is on the other side of the hub makes no sense at all.. They would be way better off going back to Communicore East and Communicore West... It is what it is now, but it sure doesn't work...it is more like a jerrymandered district...lol It would be nice to have that whole section from Mission Space to Wonders Of Xandar all Space related ... Did anyone notice that Kennedy Space Center has opened a new attraction and running commercials?

I think they were explicitly trying to ditch the East and West nomenclature because they frequently orient the in-park maps opposite the cardinal directions so that the entrance is at the bottom. I think given what they have now, the simplest solution might be to call the whole area World Discovery, but then refer to each quadrant with a specific theme to help guide folks to different areas. You could have:

• NATURE: The northwest quadrant, including The Land, The Seas, and Journey of Water
• EXPLORATION: The northeast quadrant, including Mission: SPACE, Wonders of Xandar, and Connections (mural inside redone to show a connected intergalactic community of planets); eventually includes the re-themed dome
• IMAGINATION: The southwest quadrant, including Imagination and a renamed Communicore Hall
• INVENTION: The southeast quadrant, including Test Track, a re-themed Odyssey, and Creations (mural inside redone to showcase some of humanity's most important inventions)

The plaza, Spaceship Earth, and Dreamers Point could either be independent or part of a fifth section, maybe called VISION or something. I dunno ... Not the most elegant solution, but something that appeases my map-making sensibility more than the current situation.

 

[FigmentJedi]

It's not supposed to be that kind of dinosaur park -- it's supposed to be a roadside tourist trap near an actual interesting location that draws people (an archaeological dig), a bit like the stuff you'll find around, e.g., Niagara Falls.

That said, I think there's definitely an argument that an archaeological site wouldn't be the kind of draw that would support this type of roadside attraction.

The gateway communities to places like Dinosaur National Monument and Petrified Forest National Park are overloaded with tacky dinosaur statues and there outright is a "Dinosaur World" next to Dinosaur Valley State Park in Texas. The Chester and Hester giftshop is actually good at nailing that roadside Arizona Giftshop covered in ugly dinosaurs vibe, but the carnival they put next to it just seems to be "Screw it, just build South of the Border SC with dinosaurs instead of Mexican stereotypes".

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

New permit for "General Construction", expires 11/29/2024. Was posted in the Guardians thread and is marked 1350 rather than 1360 which is the address usually used for Wonders, but I can't imagine what it would be for in the Guardians plot? Potentially work in Wonders?

 

[James Alucobond]

If nothing else, hopefully they at least re-pave the entrance, restore the landscaping alongside Mission: SPACE, and remove the temporary fencing. Just roping off the path would be sufficient.

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

If nothing else, hopefully they at least re-pave the entrance, restore the landscaping alongside Mission: SPACE, and remove the temporary fencing. Just roping off the path would be sufficient.

Wonders is still "active" construction, so I don't think they would want just a rope between park guests and that. A rope never stopped curious people from wandering in there before, it certainly wouldn't now.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

If anything now they'll just make it a DVC pavilion lounge, close the one at Imagination, and make it the start of the real construction that needs to be done for that pavilion instead..

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Plot twist. The Play! Pavilion has been reimagined as the Work! Pavilion. An interactive experience that allows guests to create food and beverage items that are sold in the outdoor kitchens and maintain flowerbeds and topiaries through watering, weeding, and trimming.

 

[mysto]

The gateway communities to places like Dinosaur National Monument and Petrified Forest National Park are overloaded with tacky dinosaur statues and there outright is a "Dinosaur World" next to Dinosaur Valley State Park in Texas. The Chester and Hester giftshop is actually good at nailing that roadside Arizona Giftshop covered in ugly dinosaurs vibe, but the carnival they put next to it just seems to be "Screw it, just build South of the Border SC with dinosaurs instead of Mexican stereotypes".

There's a wild animal hospital in Ogden UT (WRCNU) that is being displaced for a dinosaur kids park. Those tacky dino statues have some serious clout and big backers. The hospital might survive, they are trying really hard.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

The Epcot Experience making a comeback

 

[doctornick]

The Epcot Experience making a comeback

Can’t tell if this is a joke or something actually planned….

 

[MisterPenguin]

New permit for "General Construction", expires 11/29/2024. Was posted in the Guardians thread and is marked 1350 rather than 1360 which is the address usually used for Wonders, but I can't imagine what it would be for in the Guardians plot? Potentially work in Wonders?

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Maybe they need to change WoL's roof?

 

[mightynine]

Maybe they need to change WoL's roof?

Well, it has been a minute....

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Still seems odd why you can still order a poster print of the cancelled pavilion on Shop Disney's webstore..

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Still seems odd why you can still order a poster print of the cancelled pavilion on Shop Disney's webstore..

I would be surprised if anyone at TWDC was even aware of its availability on Shop Disney. That would assume cross division/team communication.

 

[No Name]

I think this would be an excellent location for an ultimate Club Cool. A huge rotunda of free drink machines serving every single drink under the entire Coca Cola umbrella from every single nation around the earth. A beacon of unity in a divided world. The current Club Cool is an okay start but much too small.

 

[HauntedPirate]

I think this would be an excellent location for an ultimate Club Cool. A huge rotunda of free drink machines serving every single drink under the entire Coca Cola umbrella from every single nation around the earth. A beacon of unity in a divided world. The current Club Cool is an okay start but much too small.

That's actually not a bad idea. Disney will never do it, no ROI for them, but if done right would be pretty nice.

 

[Coaster Lover]

I think this would be an excellent location for an ultimate Club Cool. A huge rotunda of free drink machines serving every single drink under the entire Coca Cola umbrella from every single nation around the earth. A beacon of unity in a divided world. The current Club Cool is an okay start but much too small.

Sounds similar to what World of Coke is (has) in Atlanta, but unless Coke wants to pony up the money, I don't see it happening. Plus, If you thought there were a ton of complaint of a Guardians of the Galaxy pavilion in EPCOT, I can only imagine the complaints we would get from what is essentially a "Coke" pavilion.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I think this would be an excellent location for an ultimate Club Cool. A huge rotunda of free drink machines serving every single drink under the entire Coca Cola umbrella from every single nation around the earth. A beacon of unity in a divided world. The current Club Cool is an okay start but much too small.

That's actually not a bad idea. Disney will never do it, no ROI for them, but if done right would be pretty nice.

Sounds similar to what World of Coke is (has) in Atlanta, but unless Coke wants to pony up the money, I don't see it happening. Plus, If you thought there were a ton of complaint of a Guardians of the Galaxy pavilion in EPCOT, I can only imagine the complaints we would get from what is essentially a "Coke" pavilion.

Also, They have the big Coca-Cola store and Soda Bar at The Springs...So, why not a Pavilion..