Hey, let’s talk about EPCOT for a bit.
If you’re an EPCOT fan like me, you know it has been in the midst of a HUGE transformation over the past few years. Now, we’ve seen some incredible additions, but not all the dreams that Disney had for EPCOT have or are coming true. Recently, Disney canceled three pretty big projects that had a lot of us excited. Let’s talk about it!
As we were saying, Disney canceled three major projects at EPCOT that many of us were excited about. So, let’s break down what got the ax, and talk about what could still be in the works.
The Mary Poppins Attractions
Remember when Disney announced a Mary Poppins attraction for the UK pavilion? For most of us, the announcement felt like a childhood dream come true. We didn’t know all the details, but we were all about the thought of walking down Cherry Tree Lane or maybe even flying with Mary herself!
Sadly, this project has officially been shelved. While Disney never gave a super clear reason, most of us speculate that it has something to do with budget cuts after the pandemic.
While it’s still possible that we could see a Mary Poppins experience in the future (fingers crossed), it’s definitely not happening anytime soon, which is a “supercalifragilistic” bummer.
The Play Pavilion
Now, the situation around this one feels a little more confusing. EPCOT’s Play Pavilion was supposed to be this high-energy, interactive space where guests could dive into digital games and experiences. It sounded like the perfect family-friendly addition to the park and there were even rumors that it could be connected to characters from franchises like Wreck-It Ralph and the Incredibles.
But here’s the kicker: Disney hasn’t officially said it’s canceled. They’ve said it’s “under reevaluation,” which sounds a lot like Disney-speak for “We’re not sure if this is happening, but we’re not fully killing it…yet.”
The concept was super cool, but with how technology keeps evolving, maybe they’re planning to revamp it into something even better. It was even on the map at one point and then it was later removed.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed as we wait for more updates.
The Festival Center
Last but not least, let’s talk about the Festival Center. Originally, Disney teased this towering, multi-level pavilion that was going to be the heart of EPCOT’s festivals. It was going to have a rooftop garden, breathtaking views of the park, and be a must-visit space during events like the Food & Wine Festival.
Instead, what we got was CommuniCore Hall and Plaza.
Don’t get me wrong. They are still a new home to a lot of festival activities and performances.
But let’s just say these new building are not quite as jaw-dropping as what was initially teased.
What Could Still Be Coming?
While it has been rough to see these projects shelved and/or scaled back, we still hold out hope for some big additional changes in EPCOT’s future. For example, Disney has been pretty tight-lipped about the reimagining of Spaceship Earth, but it’s still technically on the table.
The current ride is iconic, but a refresh could bring some next-level storytelling. And then there have been the World Showcase rumors. Disney fans have been buzzing for years about the possibility of adding new countries to the World Showcase. Spain, Israel, Brazil, and even an African pavilion have all been whispered about.
There you have it. That was just a bit about three projects at EPCOT that Disney canceled, and now we’d love to hear your thoughts down in the comments below.
In the meantime, keep following AllEars for all the latest Disney news!
Disney Announces Permanent Closure of Backstage Tour at EPCOT
What other “canceled” projects at Disney World were you really excited about? Let us know in the comments!
It is sad that they haven’t done the orginal building with the rooftop garden it would be awesome to have a place to eat and look over the World Showcase!
After what they have done to Epcot, the entire management team needs to be fired.
Four years and we get a “water fountain” and a multi purpose room?
Walt would be appalled.
Not to be forgotten is a new Horizons pavilion. Seemingly, there’s a rumor that idea might be reinstated. Wouldn’t that be lovely? To my mind, the best ride in the original Future World.
There’s a great need to bring the focus back to the countries represented instead of more “authentic-ish” food booths and more drink carts. Epcot’s world showcase has really lost its way and is more focused on drinking around the world.
There is an African Pavilion . That’s What The African Outposts use to represent they use to have a lot of merchants etc. but because they weren’t doing so well a lot of it has closed and many people just forget it’s there. Epcot does nothing but Put Kenya there during food and wine to help the tha the. Area.