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

[ChrisFL]

I agree they could easily find a way to do projection on the large dome and relatively cheaply do a weather pavilion, or some other shows that can use the dome as the setpiece and update the show as needed. At this point I don't really care what they do with it but silly to keep the pavilion (with A/C) closed with nothing

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

Cosmic Rewind would honestly be fine if they just excised the Marvel plot and it delivered on being a journey through the Big Bang (and I also vainly hope this happens someday). I feel like the formation of the universe and exploration of our immediate planetary neighbors are sufficiently differentiated topics to exist in independent pavilions. Kind of agree that WoL would ideally go in a different direction, though.

It's still not ideal but yeah, if Guardians went that direction and a proper pavilion themed around space exploration opened in the M:S plot I think it could work. We just don't need three of the same thing occupying that entire half of Future World.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Cosmic Rewind would honestly be fine if they just excised the Marvel plot and it delivered on being a journey through the Big Bang (and I also vainly hope this happens someday). I feel like the formation of the universe and exploration of our immediate planetary neighbors are sufficiently differentiated topics to exist in independent pavilions. Kind of agree that WoL would ideally go in a different direction, though.

Something like "To the Big Bang... and back!" could have worked as a concept for UoE's replacement.

If only they had something to put in that big empty gold dome formerly dedicated to health and fitness next to Guardians...

 

[Rhinocerous]

And in fact there apparently was some plans to make the WoL area into a weather pavilion just like you suggest. I think it was something like 10-15 years ago but it was considered and there are surely some blue sky plans that could be dusted off if desired.

A dusty blue sky isn’t a very exciting theme for a weather pavilion.

 

[Brer Panther]

I feel like something about the elements, with Elemental as the mandatory IP tie-in, could make a decent pavilion.

 

[Robbiem]

If we could redo the whole thing, I still think a space travel World Discovery that sectioned off Test Track and then had Guardians (fantasy), Mission:Space (reality) and Planet Play! Would have worked. The last being a look at history of space travel though a whimsical eye using the characters. Sort of combining the structure of WoL, the whimsical looks at the past of Horizons and World of Motion and the characters required. Seeing Goofy as Jules Verne could actually be pretty fun. And you could easily do an omnimover in classic Epcot style.

It would have created a cohesive narrative through the land and rounded out the offerings age wise.

I used to have a comic book of Goofy Galileo so there is already IP for a tie in

 

[Bocabear]

So....this pavilion was announced in February of 2019...literally 4 and a half years ago...And is still sitting shuttered... We have seen permits for show set installation, a new roof...and still it sits. Maybe they are just hoping people forget it is even there....

 

[HauntedPirate]

So....this pavilion was announced in February of 2019...literally 4 and a half years ago...And is still sitting shuttered... We have seen permits for show set installation, a new roof...and still it sits. Maybe they are just hoping people forget it is even there....

Granted, Covid took a shotgun to the original 2019 plans, which was probably a good thing because the concept, while family-friendly in theory, was a terrible one. But let's be honest - This pavilion has been dead since it was shut down on 1/1/2007. The fact that no one has been able to come up with a suitable concept, or even reinvigorate the previous pavilion, in over 16 years is yet another indictment of the Iger era and the general lack of creativity and vision (courtesy of management and the sharp pencil people) that's been endemic under him.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

We just don't need three of the same thing occupying that entire half of Future World.

Heck, During the early 2000s we had 2 pavilions that featured the same actress...

And yes, I know it was another voice actress impersonating her voice but, it was still something she had done..

 

[BagOfGroceries]

New monorail narration has been recorded but isn't live yet - they remove mention of it in the upcoming spiel.

Oooh, who’s the new voice?

 

[No Name]

Maybe they are just hoping people forget it is even there....

That’s worked for the last 20 years.

Heck, During the early 2000s we had 2 pavilions that featured the same actress...

And yes, I know it was another voice actress impersonating her voice but, it was still something she had done..

Steven Tyler occupied two of Hollywood Studios’ greatest attractions at one point. The park hasn’t been the same ever since.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Oooh, who’s the new voice?

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

They should use the technology thats used for LucasFilm “ The Volume “ where they can change the theming out whenever they want.

 

[Phineas]

A Big Hero 6 omnimover dark ride would be great!

Big Hero 6 would fit perfectly-we’re attending a San Fransokyo technology fair before things go awry. Like the current Imagination concept, only good.

Heck, I just want them to make ANY new long form Omnimover ride, regardless of theme. Epcot basically perfected them as an art form, and then quickly removed 80% of them and pretended they never existed. No, I don’t want to design a car. YOU design a car.

 

[Bocabear]

Big Hero 6 would fit perfectly-we’re attending a San Fransokyo technology fair before things go awry. Like the current Imagination concept, only good.

Heck, I just want them to make ANY new long form Omnimover ride, regardless of theme. Epcot basically perfected them as an art form, and then quickly removed 80% of them and pretended they never existed. No, I don’t want to design a car. YOU design a car.

Well...not quickly, but they did remove them, and they were amazing.
I guess people don't want that sort of immersive amazing experience anymore... Just quick selfie stations and instagram moments... or at least that seems to be the trend in what Disney is willing to invest in...

 

[𝐌𝖆𝖓 𝖎𝖓 𝐖𝖊𝖇]

I'd fully embrace a revisited Weather Pavilion concept. But it'd have to be tied to an IP, atleast in part. Ideas?

 

[Chupaca Bruh]

New movie. "The Weatherman" a biopic of Bob Iger.

 

[Robbiem]

I'd fully embrace a revisited Weather Pavilion concept. But it'd have to be tied to an IP, atleast in part. Ideas?

How about Kamino the storm planet from Star Wars? You could have a cloning attraction and call it clone wars

Seriously you could do something tied to National Geographic I guess or maybe use someone like Lugwig Von Drake or Dr Bunsen as host but I doubt Disney wants to do edutainment anymore

I still think the original epcot concepts health, energy, transportation etc were broad enough that they could have been updated, including IP if they wanted to, and still been relevant but they’ve chosen a different path

 

[Tha Realest]

I guess people don't want that sort of immersive amazing experience anymore... Just quick selfie stations and instagram moments...

in that sense the EPCOT transformation is a perfect representation of its recently promoted lead designer

 

[JustInTime]

I'd fully embrace a revisited Weather Pavilion concept. But it'd have to be tied to an IP, atleast in part. Ideas?

The elements would be better. And of course go with an Elemental theme.