Significant permit filed for the PLAY! Pavilion at EPCOT suggests a possible opening timeframe

Posted: Thursday July 14, 2022 3:28pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney Imagineering has filed a new permit for the upcoming PLAY! Pavilion at EPCOT with an indication of when the project may be completed.

Concept art of Epcot's new Play Pavilion

The permit has the vague description of "General Contractor Package," but it is assigned to Balfour Beatty Construction, one of Disney's main contractors for large projects. The expiration date for the permit is extended beyond the standard 12 months to December 31, 2024. Although permit dates are not always a precise indicator of timings, this date does suggest that a late 2024 or early 2025 opening may be in the plans. (Thanks to danlb_2000 on the WDWMAGIC Forums for spotting the permit.)

Announced in August 2019 and originally planned to open for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World, very few details have been confirmed for what will be included in the PLAY! Pavilion. We expect to hear more about the project at the upcoming D23 Expo later this year.

PLAY! pavilion concept art

Disney initially said that guests will discover an interactive city bursting with games, activities and experiences that connect them with friends, family and Disney characters – both real and virtual – like never before. As part of this new pavilion, guests will have the chance to help legendary fashion icon Edna Mode on her quest to rid the world of uninspired style, or make a splash competing in a water-balloon fight hosted by Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby.

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SoFloMagic14 days ago

I bet they bulldoze it for a Rollercoaster in 2038

WaluigiTime17 days ago

I may have gotten overly excited on my post. Stolen or not I bet he shows up in some Disney auction in 40 years.

Dragonman18 days ago

Honestly, unless there’s actual 100% confirmation on what happened to Buzzy, we’re just beating a dead horse at this point by continuing to speculate and bringing it up.

DreamfinderGuy18 days ago

And it didn't fix the leaks like they thought it would either, but you didn't hear that from me 🫥

Disgruntled Walt18 days ago

At least they replaced the roof not too long ago.

DreamfinderGuy18 days ago

The Play Pavilion? No that's not happening. The building will continue to sit and rot for the foreseeable future. Whether it gets a new attraction or demolished after that is really anyone's guess at this point, both are about equally likely.

WaluigiTime18 days ago

He used to work at Disney and he is the guy that documented everything in Horizons.

nickys18 days ago

Because nothing says “reputable source” quite like a vlogger who uses the tag “World Famous” before their name. 🧐

KDM3109118 days ago

I guess my question is, are there plans to ever actually make it happen? Or will it just sit and rot and be demolished eventually? The building has been entirely unused for years and been closed as a daily attraction for what, 20 years now? Kind of sad.

WaluigiTime18 days ago

I assumed David Ensign was a pretty decent source. 🤷‍♂️

MisterPenguin18 days ago

Oh. The anonymous imagineer was *respected*. So, that's airtight. And who again did they confirm this to? Another anonymous person? Was that person also *respected*? 🤔

WaluigiTime18 days ago

Thumbnail is clickbaity So this popped up in my recommends and Dave Ensign claims someone at Disney sold Buzzy to a collector and someone else got mad and filed a police report.