Jump to content
  TPR Home | Parks | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram 

Walt Disney World Epcot Discussion Thread

P. 119: Test Track closure announced, new concept art released!

Recommended Posts

New Play Pavilion Coming to Epcot as Part of Theme Park’s Historic Multi-Year Transformation

 

Innovative environment joins lineup of new and recently announced

enhancements to the Walt Disney World Resort theme park

 

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2019) – Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort is a theme park

overflowing with possibilities fueled by curiosity, wonder, optimism, belonging and human

imagination. Through Disney magic, the park inspires guests to see the real world in more

fantastic ways.

 

Today, Disney announced several new enhancements for Epcot, including a new play pavilion,

a reimagined main entrance and an Experience Center showcasing the park’s future. These are

the latest additions to a robust lineup of new projects already announced for the park.

“Epcot has always been, and always will be, an optimistic celebration of the real world that is

brought to life through the magic of Disney,” said George A. Kalogridis, president, Walt Disney

World Resort. “The exciting plans we have on the horizon will honor Epcot’s rich legacy of

creativity and innovation while continuing to exceed the expectations of our guests for decades

to come.”

 

The new pavilion in development will include first-of-their-kind experiences devoted to playful

fun, inviting guests into an innovative, interactive city bursting with games and hands-on

activities. Friends and family will interact with favorite Disney characters in an energetic

metropolis unlike anything ever seen before at Epcot. The as-yet-unnamed space will come to

life under the vast dome of the pavilion previously known as Wonders of Life (more recently the

Festival Center) and will debut to guests in time for the Walt Disney World Resort 50th

anniversary.

 

“This innovative, new pavilion is beyond anything we’ve ever created and is completely unique

to Epcot,” said Zach Riddley, portfolio executive, Walt Disney Imagineering. “Built on the power

of play, it introduces an immersive and interactive ‘city’ where you can explore, create and

interact with some of your favorite Disney characters. This is an experience worthy of our bold

vision for Epcot – and another signature element of our transformation.”

Two more exciting new projects were also revealed today:

 

• Changes are coming to the Epcot main entrance, where the plaza will welcome guests

with new pathways, sweeping green spaces and a newly reimagined fountain. This new

design will pay homage to the original park entrance with fresh takes on classic

elements. As part of this new entry experience, Leave A Legacy photos will move into a

beautiful setting just outside the park’s gateway. Additional significant redevelopment will

begin between Spaceship Earth and World Showcase Promenade; more details about

the transformation of this area will be announced at a later date.

 

• Guests will be able to visualize the exciting plans for Epcot when doors open later this

year on a new Experience Center in the Odyssey Events Pavilion. They will discover

engaging and interactive exhibits that showcase the relentless innovation, energy and

excitement driving the future of the park all throughout this unprecedented period of

transformation.

 

“Epcot is beloved for its focus on imagination, innovation, fun, food and family,” said Kalogridis.

“It’s a timeless place where the real is made fantastic through the magic of Disney. It has a very

bright future ahead and the best part is that we’ve only just begun to dream.”

 

These new announcements join other projects already underway as part of the Epcot evolution.

Larger-than-life Super Heroes will descend upon the park with the opening of a Guardians of the

Galaxy-themed attraction. This new experience will be one of the longest enclosed roller

coasters in the world and feature a brand-new ride system when it also opens in time for the

Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary.

 

Other exciting new developments underway at Epcot include:

 

• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction in the France pavilion, patterned after the

number-one family attraction at Disneyland Paris

 

• “Beauty and the Beast” sing-along in the France pavilion, showing in addition to the

pavilion’s current film, Impressions de France

 

• Circle-Vision 360 film for the China pavilion and updated O Canada! 360-degree show

 

• Signature Dining experience inspired by the natural beauty of Japan

 

• Space-themed table-service restaurant adjacent to Mission: SPACE, inviting guests to

travel high above the earth for an unforgettable dining experience

 

• Epcot Forever, a 2019 limited-time nighttime experience over World Showcase Lagoon

set to classic Epcot tunes, followed by an all-new nighttime spectacular debuting in 2020

2066153700_256_Overall_February2019_FINALforrelease.thumb.jpg.2e8f9d7d4dd08ca036834173552fedfd.jpg

2065307468_Epcotentrybirdseye_FINAL-022019.thumb.jpg.2b9ab88659ac5cd1a33596a8d60c9324.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love the rides in Future World but aside from Mission Space, Spaceship Earth and a few other select areas I feel like the entire area looks like it's stuck in 1982 as you walk around. To me it sticks out like a sore thumb when compared to everything else at the resort. This is great news and I'd love to see them continue to pour money into Future World in the coming years.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love all of these announcements! The entrance plaza facelift is filled with lots of nice touches and those that enjoyed Leave A Legacy (or purchased a tile) will be thrilled to learn that their portraits will still be displayed at the entrance of the park in a new location. The play pavilion looks like a really neat concept and having been fond of the preview-center style experiences like the Blue Sky Cellar that Disney has developed in the past, I'll love another excuse to visit Odyssey with the chance to learn more about the future of the park as it unfolds!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The as-yet-unnamed space will come to life under the vast dome of the pavilion previously known as Wonders of Life (more recently the Festival Center) and will debut to guests in time for the Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary.

OHMYGOD YES. It's about time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was so sad when all of the Innoventions exhibits were shuttered. But this "Play" Pavillion looks to take that idea to the 900th degree. It almost looks like they were inspired by both Innoventions and Kidzania for what they are doing. It looks amazing, and that area of the park will be positively buzzing now with GOTG, Play, Mission Space and Test Track. I hope society totally forgets the idea that Epcot is not a kids park because it's awesome for everybody.

 

How cool would it be if they installed the Illuminations Globe in the Fountain of Nations or somewhere else in the park as a permanent structure when it retires? That's my only suggestion as the imagineers have already promised to exceed my wildest dreams for this park.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A play pavilion? I'm starting an online petition to bring back : Where's the fire?

 

Pretty sure you and Joey are the reason Where's the Fire is gone!

 

I'm just glad I didn't actually start a fire while failing to find the fire!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Disney Quest Reborn! I know I know, it's totally different. Still, it reminds me of DQ a bit.

 

The future plans read great, and the art concepts look really nice.

 

P.S. It's been so long, I really don't remember, but....are the Body Wars simulators still there at the back of the Wonders of Life building? If so, maybe there's a re-purpose in them somehow, with this new pavilion concept? And the Cranium Command theater too, I guess? If not, is there still a bunch of space back there to work with? Just curious.

 

EDIT: Just found a recent photo of the Guardians/Galaxy construction,

showing the 2 show buildings still attached to back of the WoL pavilion.

WondersOfLife.png.32c5219947ce12441243526ef88fe16e.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

P.S. It's been so long, I really don't remember, but....are the Body Wars simulators still there at the back of the Wonders of Life building? If so, maybe there's a re-purpose in them somehow, with this new pavilion concept? And the Cranium Command theater too, I guess? If not, is there still a bunch of space back there to work with? Just curious.

The Body Wars simulators were recently scrapped for replacement parts for Star Tours.

 

From the looks of it this pavilion will be centered around shows and meet and greets as opposed to actual attractions.

Edited by Woodie Warrior
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’m 100% on-board with the “new” EPCOT! e

 

I’m just hoping that Illuminations holds out till our visit at the end of June!! I know it’s not the “best” theme park firework show.... But I’m still wanting to see it one more time before it’s gone forever.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think this looks amazing, that new entrance pavilion looks so much nicer than what they have now with the legacy tombstones as I've seen people call them. The trees and color really look so much better. Epcot has so many changes in the next few years and it all looks so good. Can't wait to get back down there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A play pavilion? I'm starting an online petition to bring back : Where's the fire?

 

Pretty sure you and Joey are the reason Where's the Fire is gone!

 

Ah, yes . . . what memories!

 

I'm glad that Leave a Legacy is being moved. While I was never a fan of that "monument," I recognize that people paid to be a part of it, and that it should remain in some form (just somewhere else). The new pavilion sounds like fun, too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They aren't changing the Innovations fountain show are they?

The original concept art for the Innoventions plaza showed a completely landscaped plaza and a brand-new fountain, but I think I recall people saying that those plans have changed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guests will be able to visualize the exciting plans for Epcot when doors open later this

year on a new Experience Center in the Odyssey Events Pavilion. They will discover

engaging and interactive exhibits that showcase the relentless innovation, energy and

excitement driving the future of the park all throughout this unprecedented period of

transformation.

 

This is really great. I hope they have scale models of future attractions in these exhibits.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use https://themeparkreview.com/forum/topic/116-terms-of-service-please-read/