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

[TheIceBaron]

If true, glad they are going to do something to the SGE space, about time they do something with their abandoned attraction spaces.

Still, they were able to get another Test Track refresh with a sponsor, would it be that difficult to get some sort of healthcare company to sponsor WoL again? (Assuming the pavilion will remain health inspired). I know sponsors are kind of bleh because they interfere in the creative process sometimes, but it’s better than keeping the pavilion in this state. I’m assuming the only thing holding them back from doing anything to the space is money, unless some of the large investment they announced is earmarked for this

 

[Tegan pilots a chicken]

Soarin over idaho

Made this as a joke in one of the imagineering games.

 

[Andrew C]

I mean it could happen lol
View attachment 749152

I would soar over the sawtooth mountains.

 

[Phicinfan]

View attachment 749356
Made this as a joke in one of the imagineering games.

Sponsored by Walmart!

 

[aladdin2007]

If true, glad they are going to do something to the SGE space, about time they do something with their abandoned attraction spaces.

Still, they were able to get another Test Track refresh with a sponsor, would it be that difficult to get some sort of healthcare company to sponsor WoL again? (Assuming the pavilion will remain health inspired). I know sponsors are kind of bleh because they interfere in the creative process sometimes, but it’s better than keeping the pavilion in this state. I’m assuming the only thing holding them back from doing anything to the space is money, unless some of the large investment they announced is earmarked for this

Like many have said Advent Health would have been perfect, but I dont think Disney has any plans for that to be a health pavilion again and the whole corporate sponsorship thing doesn't seem to work too much anymore. Disneys fees are just so outrageously high cant blame any company for not wanting to sponsor an entire pavilion sadly.

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

Was it ever mentioned how far into development PLAY! was prior to the decision to mothball it? Wasn't it like 80% completed?

Depends on what you mean by development. Creative was pretty much finished, as far as actual on site work goes they did essentially nothing. Construction stopped just after they finished gutting WoL, couple structural frames for Play got put in but nothing beyond that.

 

[Mickeynerd17]

Depends on what you mean by development. Creative was pretty much finished, as far as actual on site work goes they did essentially nothing. Construction stopped just after they finished gutting WoL, couple structural frames for Play got put in but nothing beyond that.

And a brand new roof for the dome, which was probably the only real structural improvement made.

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

And a brand new roof for the dome, which was probably the only real structural improvement made.

There were various other back of house "improvements" made, the Cranium facility was gutted and slightly modified for example. But essentially nothing happened in the dome once all the WoL stuff was removed.

 

[Dragonman]

I thought the roof only got repainted not replaced?

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

I thought the roof only got repainted not replaced?

Nope, they replaced each tile. It was repainted a handful of times within the last six years or so but it was most recently replaced entirely.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Just you wait for that Simpsons/Universal contract to drop and Say Hellllllooooo IP!

 

[Bocabear]

Play! pavilion should be at DS behind a paywall. Hopefully they just relocate things over there.

That was Disney Quest.....

 

[pdude81]

That was Disney Quest.....

Exactly.

 

[Rich Brownn]

Exactly.

And we know how well that went

 

[Epcot82Guy]

While not my taste, having PLAY! be a modernized DQ focused on social media could have been a successful replacement for that Westside space.

 

[pdude81]

And we know how well that went

Sure, but consider that Dave and Busters keeps building new environments, and even the shell of DisneyQuest was able to limp along for a while. So I'm saying if they spent development money working out ineractive experiences for Play!, that could be reused somewhere else that locals might pay to go to as well. And with all the dining nearby they don't have to wipe off nearly as much grease and honey mustard off the consoles.

20 years ago I think I would be a one and done at DisneyQuest. But my son and his generation I believe would beg to go on every trip. Just my two cents

 

[Robbiem]

Yes. Iger LOVES the NBA, Iger LOVES China. Iger LOVES the NBA in China.

Didn’t iger want to run the NBA in one of his past retirements or was that the NFL?

 

[Disstevefan1]

Didn’t iger want to run the NBA in one of his past retirements or was that the NFL?

I don’t know but we know he loves the NBA so it was probably the NBA

 

[DisneyDreamerxyz]

It boggles the mind that Disney would close an entire pavilion full of stuff and let it sit and rot for almost 20 years, but I guess they did it with River Country and probably the Starcruiser next. lucky for them these locations are out of site for most guests and after awhile the average guest / cast member just forgets about them.

 

[Disstevefan1]

It boggles the mind that Disney would close an entire pavilion full of stuff and let it sit and rot for almost 20 years, but I guess they did it with River Country and probably the Starcruiser next. lucky for them these locations are out of site for most guests and after awhile the average guest / cast member just forgets about them.

Logic does not apply in TWDC. We see it everyday with this company sadly.