Disney confirms multiple EPCOT projects are paused

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Epcot new central spine concept art

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Posted: Wednesday July 15, 2020 5:53pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has announced to Cast Members today that several EPCOT projects will be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing uncertainty about the future.

Both the Mary Poppins addition to the United Kingdom and the new Spaceship Earth redevelopment are currently paused.

Mary Poppins attraction poster and concept art

In the center of the park, work will resume on the new neighborhood of World Celebration, which will bring new dining, retail and entertainment. But the company says it will be taking a different approach to the previously announced festival location.

Concept art of Epcot's new festival pavilion

Although not confirmed, it is speculated that the multi-tier structure originally announced will no longer be built. When originally announced, Disney outlined how it would provide an elevated view of the entire park and an ideal spot to witness Epcot’s nighttime spectacular. The three-level structure was to feature a plaza level, a middle expo level, and a park that sits in the sky on the top level.

Much of the center of the park is in various phases of demoliton

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WondersOfLifeApr 03, 2021

marni1971Apr 02, 2021

MisterPenguinApr 02, 2021

Not to mention that all of World Showcase is just one icon. The entirety of Epcot is an icon. Odyssey, which is just a flex space is an icon. And the supposedly cancelled World Celebration Festival Center is an icon. Trying to figure out what qualifies for an Epcot icon is like trying to figure out what makes one a Disney Princess based on the membership of each group. The answer is: Marketing.

DreamfinderGuyApr 02, 2021

If it isn't a pavilion, how come it has a pavilion icon? Checkmate. ;) (Seriously though, are they still considered pavilion icons, which would make Moana a pavilion, or are they just attraction icons? What's the requirement for something to get an icon?)

TikibirdLandApr 02, 2021

I'm so glad April 1st is over...

HauntedPirateApr 01, 2021

One last bit of Epcot news courtesy of copious amounts of pineapple sake: Epcot renovation plans to change. New bar to be built in place of demolished Innoventions building. Play Pavilion to house massive bar and M&G areas. Test Track to receive Tron overlay plus a huge bar in post-show area. The Imagination pavilion will remain untouched for at least 5 more years.

DCLcruiserApr 01, 2021

Correct it is not a building. But, without being too literal, Moana is technically between the two pavilions and you can walk through it to access Land and Seas. I get it you want a building in the forest area sandwiched between Seas and Land.

marni1971Apr 01, 2021

FTFY.

HauntedPirateApr 01, 2021

🤔 ;)

HauntedPirateApr 01, 2021

If it were truly between The Land and The Living Seas. Which it's not, because they demolished Communicore West to make way (partially) for this and this doesn't touch any of the land between the two pavilions. And JoW is not a pavilion, it's a walk-through attraction.

M:SpilotISTC12Apr 01, 2021

Wait is this real or a crappy April fools joke? Its sad that we can't even tell because most of their decisions lately have been in the April fools style but are no joke.