New Play Pavilion to replace Epcot's Wonder of Life

Feb 21, 2019 in "EPCOT"

Posted: Thursday February 21, 2019 11:06am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has today announced that a new Play Pavilion will be coming to Epcot's Future World in the former home of Wonders of Life.

This new space will be devoted to playful fun and feature an innovative city that’ll come to life under the dome of the un-named pavilion previously known as Wonders of Life. The pavilion’s city will be bursting with interactive experiences, your favorite Disney characters, hands-on activities and engaging entertainment when it opens just in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort.

“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.”

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S.I.R. the Robot4 days ago

I think they don't like the inside of the human body, specifically ladies of the '80s exploring it. Too bad, Disney. I like that kind of stuff.

Epcot81Fan5 days ago

Not crazy at all once you realize they couldn’t care less. Wonders of Life, Imagination, Living Seas, Spaceship Earth? They are more than fine with letting them rot into oblivion.

KDM310915 days ago

It is kind of crazy that this pavilion has been more or less abandoned for almost 20 years now. Yes, it has been used in some capacity for festivals, but the main attraction spaces have been unused for all intents and purposes. It's time to do something with it and open it.

S.I.R. the Robot5 days ago

Yet they won't bring back S.I.R. and they defo won't bring back Clint Reed (my name for the volunteer.) Rest in paradise, my two lovely guys. Seriously, they just can't refit Cranium Command with Inside Out?? They're literally gonna add Joy to the pavilion, but the CC space seems like a no-brainer...

Bocabear12 days ago

no more stitch! lol

Disney Maddux12 days ago

THIS

danlb_200013 days ago

You are correct. Here is a post about roof work from August of 2020. https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/new-play-pavilion-to-replace-epcots-wonders-of-life.953275/post-9394285

V_L_Raptor13 days ago

Could be. I thought they finished whatever they were hoping to get done, rather than left it hanging (or dripping).

Disstevefan113 days ago

I need to do some research, but I think I remember them still working on the roof after they announced Play.

V_L_Raptor13 days ago

If I remember correctly, roof work went on a few years ago, well before the pandemic.

S.I.R. the Robot14 days ago

The Body Wars safety video? The two volunteers in the attraction?? (Seriously, they look like Marge Simpson.) It's gotta be a guy. He's wearing something on his head, and he has like a full body cast on. Maybe to make it androgynous? He looks like the guy from the preshow...

OSUPhantom14 days ago

Sounds ideal for a Wall-E experience

Andrew2515 days ago

BINGO I think people forget that Imagineering is still great... they just are locked behind a door. We still see them produce quality, but corporate gets in the way of things. Imagineering was literally told in the past to think outside the box/budgets, nowadays they're stuck with whatever strategy corporate gives them. I'm sure Imagineering hates that they had to ruin the Epcot skyline and had a bit more money to put a proper façade in place for GOTG. I'm sure they have more interesting designs and concepts for the Poly DVC tower, but corporate chose the cleanest/cheapest version. I do think Imagineering needed to wake up a bit and become a bit more practical with their budget, but they are not the problem with the Domestic parks.

Cmdr_Crimson15 days ago

Nothing screams "The Future of Possibilities" like the putrid smell of a sewage line...