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.

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

Cmdr_Crimson22 hours ago

Agent H22 hours ago

Fair enough I suppose I think little mermaid galaxies edge or pandora are the best at expanding the story

Brer Panther22 hours ago

Not so much when they still just rehash the movie. Like, for example, Elsa singing "Let It Go" out of context in Frozen Ever After.

Agent H22 hours ago

IMO that’s a good thing except for Tiana’s

Brer Panther22 hours ago

Nothing, honestly. I don't know what the plan for their hypothetical Inside Out replacement of Journey Into Imagination With Figment was. They do seem to be moving away from book reports, though.

Agent H22 hours ago

And what makes you think they won’t do that? I’m not trying to be rude

Brer Panther22 hours ago

Hence why I said "unless it's a book report". You'd need to have another excuse for them to be ejected from Headquarters again, but then you risk turning it into an attraction that takes place after the movie(s) but still rehashes it, like Frozen Ever After and the Seas With Nemo and Friends.

Agent H22 hours ago

Inside out 3:the cranium command

Agent H22 hours ago

Well there’s a new headcanon

Agent H22 hours ago

Sorry

Agent H22 hours ago

Sure if you stay in the headquarters it would be boring but you know there is the entire rest of Riley’s brain

Brer Panther22 hours ago

I think that IP would work best as a show. Unless it was a book report, if they did a dark ride it'd just be scene after scene of the Emotions in Headquarters, gathered around a control panel. That would make for a very boring dark ride.