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

Jul 14, 2022 in "PLAY! pavilion"

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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Bocabear2 days ago

It would be amazing if they would create an engaging show about Figment and Dreamfinder...use lots of in-theater effects and create this magical experience introducing a new audience to Dreamfinder and Figment's origin story... Re-tool the interior of the theater to look like an amazing kinetic Steampunk machine...as the finale, Dreamfinder and Figment board the Dreamcatcher and fly over the audience...off to fill up the bag bound for the Dreamport....While singing the attraction's original song... Then... a new ride based on the original Dreamport but expanded....as an "Act 2"... When I think of the money Disney has dumped into the entertainment offerings at Disneyland... Like the Snow White Enchanted Musical, etc.... They could do something amazing here....and it would be extremely popular...

Epcot82Guy3 days ago

That is very true. A big part of the show is the in-theater experience. While the effects aren't that sophisticated by today's standards (and there isn't motion in the seats - just water), it's not a lift and move. I would think it would a bit easier to Magic Eye - at least for physical reasons. But, not a cut-paste, definitely. With that, I do think it would be a good idea. They would have had a left over spinner (TriceraTop spin), RnRC and a useable theater space. This could easily be Muppets Courtyard - and become a nice buffer gateway between Sunset Blvd. and the expansion of Animation Court someday. For the life of me, I also don't understand why Villains didn't go into Launch Bay. It would fit the theme. Meet and Greets would be out the door. And you could easily build other things to happen, let alone the preview of the land for MK when ready. (And it would have a natural expiration date once that land opened, making way for whatever the AC expansion plans would be.)

lazyboy97o3 days ago

That’s not easy. It’s not just a movie.

SoFloMagic3 days ago

Why wouldn't they just put it in the theater next to RocknMuppetCoaster instead of the villain show? Is that too easy?

ToTBellHop10 days ago

I’m never going to be okay with how much they shortened this ride. It angers me when I’m in that elevated portion of the queue over the old track.

DreamfinderGuy10 days ago

Magic Eye is really the only clean slate in all of EPCOT where they could do whatever and still be on-theme. It's just a theatre which has now had four shows unrelated to anything else in the park (with exception to the latter part of HISTA's run when the whole pavilion was themed around it, but it began its life as an unrelated show) I would prefer MuppetVision stay in its home park and EPCOT get something fresh, but I would certainly prefer MuppetVision to the waste of space that's there now. It's all a moot point anyway, they're not moving it there.

Disgruntled Walt10 days ago

That doesn’t count. There are multi-angle recordings of it on YouTube already. Putting it on D+ is akin to doing nothing.

communicorn9610 days ago

Waldo. A cgi character puppeteered in real time. He was the bleeding edge of technology in 1990, which makes him perfect for current day epcot.

Agent H10 days ago

Somethings going to happen. Mark my words. Even if it just ends up going on Disney+

WorldExplorer10 days ago

Disney has not promised anything with Muppet Vision. They've only said vague things about considering or talking about preserving it.

Agent H10 days ago

That ship sailed a long time ago.

Agent H10 days ago

There’s still hope!

OrlandoRising10 days ago

I'm not a fan of dogmatic Epcot purism and even I don't see a reasonable way that MuppetVision fits into that park or that pavilion.

Streetway Again10 days ago

If they were gonna move it, it was gonna be announced before the ride itself got a closing date to be “don’t worry, it’s not going anywhere!” It’s over man. I’m sorry.