New Play Pavilion Coming to Epcot as Part ofTheme Park’s Historic Multi-Year Transformation
Innovative environment joins lineup of new and recently announced enhancements to the Walt Disney World Resort theme park
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2019) – Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort is a theme park overflowing with possibilities fueled by curiosity, wonder, optimism, belonging and human imagination. Through Disney magic, the park inspires guests to see the real world in more fantastic ways.
Today, Disney announced several new enhancements for Epcot, including a new play pavilion,a reimagined main entrance and an Experience Center showcasing the park’s future. These are the latest additions to a robust lineup of new projects already announced for the park.
“Epcot has always been, and always will be, an optimistic celebration of the real world that is brought to life through the magic of Disney,” said George A. Kalogridis, president, Walt Disney World Resort. “The exciting plans we have on the horizon will honor Epcot’s rich legacy of creativity and innovation while continuing to exceed the expectations of our guests for decades to come.”
The new pavilion in development will include first-of-their-kind experiences devoted to playful fun, inviting guests into an innovative, interactive city bursting with games and hands-on activities. Friends and family will interact with favorite Disney characters in an energetic metropolis unlike anything ever seen before at Epcot. The as-yet-unnamed space will come to life under the vast dome of the pavilion previously known as Wonders of Life (more recently the Festival Center) and will debut to guests in time for the Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary.
“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.”
Two more exciting new projects were also revealed today:
• Changes are coming to the Epcot main entrance, where the plaza will welcome guests with new pathways, sweeping green spaces and a newly reimagined fountain. This new design will pay homage to the original park entrance with fresh takes on classic elements. As part of this new entry experience, Leave A Legacy photos will move into a beautiful setting just outside the park’s gateway. Additional significant redevelopment will begin between Spaceship Earth and World Showcase Promenade; more details about the transformation of this area will be announced at a later date.
• Guests will be able to visualize the exciting plans for Epcot when doors open later this year on a new Experience Center in the Odyssey Events Pavilion. They will discovere ngaging and interactive exhibits that showcase the relentless innovation, energy and excitement driving the future of the park all throughout this unprecedented period of transformation.
“Epcot is beloved for its focus on imagination, innovation, fun, food and family,” said Kalogridis.“It’s a timeless place where the real is made fantastic through the magic of Disney. It has a very bright future ahead and the best part is that we’ve only just begun to dream.”
These new announcements join other projects already underway as part of the Epcot evolution.Larger-than-life Super Heroes will descend upon the park with the opening of a Guardians of the Galaxy-themed attraction. This new experience will be one of the longest enclosed rollercoasters in the world and feature a brand-new ride system when it also opens in time for the Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary.
Other exciting new developments underway at Epcot include:
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction in the France pavilion, patterned after the number-one family attraction at Disneyland Paris
• “Beauty and the Beast” sing-along in the France pavilion, showing in addition to the pavilion’s current film, Impressions de France
• Circle-Vision 360 film for the China pavilion and updated O Canada! 360-degree show
• Signature Dining experience inspired by the natural beauty of Japan
• Space-themed table-service restaurant adjacent to Mission: SPACE, inviting guests to travel high above the earth for an unforgettable dining experience
• Epcot Forever, a 2019 limited-time nighttime experience over World Showcase Lagoon set to classic Epcot tunes, followed by an all-new nighttime spectacular debuting in 2020
INTERCOT Founder & MCP
The OG Disney Fan Site - Founded 1997
This all looks great, I hope it can actually come together how they envision it! I'll be looking forward to visiting when it's done.
~Nikki~
Last Trip: February 2024
Next Trips: April 2024
"Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!" Hey, it all sounds good to me! I wonder if, amongst the new attractions in the Wonders of Life Pavilion, they will include a game where you try your luck at stealing Buzzy from Cranium Command. 
*Disneyland Paris Hotel
*Grand Floridian
*Disneyland Hotel
*Boardwalk Inn *Bay Lake Tower
*Contemporary *Old Key West
*Polynesian Resort *Animal Kingdom Lodge
* Port Orleans French Quarter *Caribbean Beach Resort * Fort Wilderness
*Art of Animation * Pop Century
* All Star Movies, Music & Sports
I have to wonder how necessary an "Experience Center" is when the park is just a generic mashing together of Disney IP without theme or focus. I guess it is better than empty buildings.
I would guess that as soon as Festival Of The Arts is over, the pavilion will officially close for remodeling?
So, for Flower & Garden and onward, they will be using the Odyssey building as the Festival Center?
"The game never ends
When your whole world depends
On the Turn of a Friendly Card"
goodby to the tombstones at the entrance.....hopefully. as was said, at least some of the empty buildings will be used
DVC owner at AKL, OKW & BRV. stayed at every WDW resort except GF & YC. also went to Aulani & Disneyland. top of bucket list Tokyo DL next year, maybe Paris and Hong Kong
I know some people greatly dislike it, but my wife and I have a picture at Leave a Legacy that is extremely important to us. I'm glad they are not getting rid of it, but just moving it. But I wonder how we're going to find our picture now. Right now I can walk right to it, but if they assemble them in a different pattern, how on Earth will I be able to find it?
G-Force!
Gatchaman;2521012 wrote: I know some people greatly dislike it, but my wife and I have a picture at Leave a Legacy that is extremely important to us. I'm glad they are not getting rid of it, but just moving it. But I wonder how we're going to find our picture now. Right now I can walk right to it, but if they assemble them in a different pattern, how on Earth will I be able to find it?
I’m sure they will have a way - either through a cast member helping or a phone app.
My guess would be they assemble them the same way they are now - but we will see.
INTERCOT Founder & MCP
The OG Disney Fan Site - Founded 1997
Yea! It was time for Epcot to get some love!
Heather aka ibelieveindisneymagic
INTERCOT Staff
Engaged at the castle!
My Disney Home is POFQ
Gatchaman;2521012 wrote: I know some people greatly dislike it, but my wife and I have a picture at Leave a Legacy that is extremely important to us. I'm glad they are not getting rid of it, but just moving it. But I wonder how we're going to find our picture now. Right now I can walk right to it, but if they assemble them in a different pattern, how on Earth will I be able to find it?
I have a Leave a Legacy tile there too, and I can NEVER find it. I must have a terrible memory. The good news is, you can go into the gift shop under Spaceship Earth and they can search by your names, then give you the coordinates of where your tile is. I would assume that is still going to be available. 
This is all part of the entrance/spine make over we have discussed previously... They sort of announced the spine make over and Spaceship Earth refurbishment too, without making it official or with details...
I'll give ya what I heard so far regarding a portion of the spine... Innoventions buildings may not be around once the spine work starts.... At a minimum, the Innoventions building housing Club Cool and Starbucks look scheduled to be demolished... Maybe....
You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway.
- Walt Disney
I'm excited for all the changes, especially the space themed restaurant adjacent to Mission Space. Sounds intriguing. I'm usually a little nervous about too many changes to the parks because I'm hopelessly nostalgic about WDW, but I'm good with this. Epcot needs it!
So Epcot's entrance will become more AK like with wandering pathways? That's cool that Canada and China circle-vision movies will get updates. Although we hope Martin Short stays!
Beth & David
09/82 Treehouse Villas, 06/86 BVP, 10/95 CBR, 10/99 DI, 08/03 PORS, 10/05 POP, 11/06 AKL, 09/09 POLY, 10/10 Wonder, 05/11 Dream/PORS, 08/13 POLY, 11/13 GF, 04/15 POLY, 11/15 BLT, 11/16 Aulani, 03/17 BLT, 08/18 BLT, 07/19 AKL, 06/21 BLT
WoL will be heavy IP but three main IPs... I expect Wreck it Ralph (the Imagination Pavilion M&G is temporary location until WoL is ready to go) and believe it or not Zootopia... I can only assume the other IP will be Inside Out, but no idea honestly... Pure speculation... I know it probably won't be Marvel... After Guardians, I don't expect to see any more Marvel in Epcot...
Epcot used to be my favorite park... With the way Disey let it become a mess, it fell to 3... I am very excited about these changes and upgrades... Even though I love Illuminations, I feel good about the replacement shows... Epcot's future is bright...
You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway.
- Walt Disney
I love it and I hope the name Epcot will change back to Epcot Center sense 1982!:mickey::cool:
