Remember that we were promised a big shiny new and exciting pavilion at EPCOT back in 2019!
Well Disney's Play Pavilion should have been open right now, it was actually set to open last year, as a new headliner attraction celebrating Walt Disney Word's 50th Anniversary in 2022.
Yet the Pavilion still sits empty as the 50th celebrations come to an end, although lets not mention Tron, another headliner for the 50th that's still under construction!
At the announcement for the Play pavilion, Imagineer Zach Riddley said “This innovative, new pavilion is beyond anything we’ve ever created and is completely unique to EPCOT. 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.”
Sounds awesome, right? So where is this wonderful new attraction...
Sounds good, too good to be true it seems, Play Pavilion has since been quietly paused, scaled back, cancelled, or well... nobody seems to actually know, we don't even think that Disney know either, perhaps they have just forgotten about it, well it is hard to see that bright gold pavilion lurking in the corner of EPCOT hidden behind the massive Guardians Of The Galaxy building, housing a brand new shiny ride: that at least Disney delivered on that project!
Only weeks ago it seemed all was not lost, as the pavilion was actually listed on the shiny new EPCOT40 commemorative map given out to celebrate EPCOT's 40th Anniversary on October 1!
A close inspection at the World Discovery area of the park map revealed a tiny little dot above the former Wonders of Life Pavilion proclaims “Future Home of PLAY!,”
But now as it looked like Play might actually still be happening, it seems Disney have killed the project forever!
According to WDNT sources inside the compan now indicate that executives have “officially” canceled the project during a recent retreat to Walt Disney World.
Reportedly, it was the the main man himself, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, Josh D’Amaro, and king of the selfie, who pulled the trigger and killed the project.
This seems crazy considering that a lot of the interior had already been installed and completed.
Yes, we had already heard that the project had been considerably slimmed down with those originally working on the PLAY! Pavilion having been moved to other projects, but still!!
Imagine giving up on a half-built new attraction, what's going on at Disney right now, seriously!
Who knows why D'Amaro had killed the project, but honestly nothing surprises us right now with the current Disney management.
