Permits filed for set areas at EPCOT's PLAY! Pavilion

Apr 20, 2020 in "PLAY! pavilion"

Posted: Monday April 20, 2020 1:00pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

A new permit has been filed for the upcoming PLAY! pavilion, part of the all new World Discovery area of EPCOT.

The contractor on the permit is Balfour Beatty Construction, a company that works on many of Disney's large projects. The permit description is vague - "Added information and detail for set areas."

It isn't clear when the permit was originally applied for, and the Notice of Commencement carries an expiration date of December 31 2021. We understand that the majority of Walt Disney Imagineering have been furloughed, and construction has been halted at the parks.

Originally planned to open for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World, 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.

Concept art of Epcot's new Play Pavilion

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Bocabear4 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...

Epcot82Guy4 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.)

lazyboy97o5 days ago

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

SoFloMagic5 days ago

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

ToTBellHop11 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.

DreamfinderGuy11 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 Walt12 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.

communicorn9612 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 H12 days ago

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

WorldExplorer12 days ago

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

Agent H12 days ago

That ship sailed a long time ago.

Agent H12 days ago

There’s still hope!

OrlandoRising12 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 Again12 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.