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

Jul 14, 2022 in "PLAY! pavilion"

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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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ChrisFL29 days ago

Maybe if they realize they can add more fancy upcharge things to it. I'm not saying they should but it might be the only thing to get them to do anything....offer free activities, some nice counter service things, and maybe something fancier. It would also be cool if they leaned on Horizons for inspiration for some parts of it, but I know that won't happen.

Bocabear29 days ago

The no-brainer would exit Mission Space into the WOL building as a Galactic Terminal or Space Port... then multi attractions within the building... Restaurant, QS, shop... Bring back the fun and wonder of space travel in the future..... Of course, this would work extremely well for Tomorrowland, but they seem intent on just ignoring it and letting it decay.

ChrisFL29 days ago

There's too many people who won't/can't ride M:S but I don't want to turn this into a thread about that attraction :)

ChrisFL29 days ago

I just watched the YT video from For Your Amusement about Mission:Space and how there's never much of a wait anymore for it and if it will be replaced soon. Then I thought, they could convert the WoL building to a Mission:Space add-on...make it a planetarium/space area with lots of things...it would also be super easy to route guests to it:

Tony the Tigger30 days ago

But they moved the headstones!

Disgruntled Walt30 days ago

FTFY

MisterPenguin30 days ago

It was built on Indian burial grounds.

MagicEye9930 days ago

Disney loves to ignore obvious things that could benefit them in favor of decisions that only bring them endless amounts of pain, like destroying ROA and potentially removing Muppet*Vision.

Bocabear30 days ago

Well....if there are more things to do and more attractions, people will be less likely to spend the additional $21 for Lightning Lane to ride GOTG...I will not be super surprised if underperforming Pavilions start to close one by one... Maybe Morocco next....Then perhaps The Living Seas... By then EVERYONE will have to purchase Lighting Lane in order to fill a half day's worth of experiences...

Brian30 days ago

One might even say it's one of the many wonders of life.

Disstevefan130 days ago

I wonder if a space is on stage but is closed, can they do some sort of tax write off? What I am asking is a closed space more valuable to them as a write off?

Andrew C30 days ago

It is one of life's greatest mysteries.

KDM3109130 days ago

Why is Disney so intent on not using this space?

eddie104Aug 11, 2024

I don’t think anybody was expecting any Epcot projects so the longe announcement is a plus I guess. 😂🙃😐 Also any blue sky ideas wouldn’t be presented anyway so. 🙄