News Round Up 2019

[Amy11401]

News

First-of-its-Kind Play Pavilion, New Park Entrance Part of Epcot’s Historic Transformation

Wow that play area seems like it could be really neat. It sounds like it would be open for our next trip since we are not going until 2022-2023....excited about all the new things that will be open. We are planning to make this trip a bit longer too than our last 7 day trip.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

News

First-of-its-Kind Play Pavilion, New Park Entrance Part of Epcot’s Historic Transformation

wow, that is a pretty big announcement - something happening to the Wonders of Life building (which I guess means new location for the Festival Center in the future), will be an "City" (guess sort of playing homage to Walt's original goal of EPCOT) and will feature Disney Characters ... seems to fit the whole "More Family, more Disney" goals with the redo of EPCOT

"The ongoing evolution of Epcot includes plans for a play pavilion that’ll be unlike anything you’ve ever seen at the park. This new space will be devoted to playful fun and feature an innovative city that’ll come to life under the dome of the un-named pavilion previously known as Wonders of Life. The pavilion’s city will be bursting with interactive experiences, your favorite Disney characters, hands-on activities and engaging entertainment when it opens just in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort!"

 

[rteetz]

wow, that is a pretty big announcement - something happening to the Wonders of Life building (which I guess means new location for the Festival Center in the future), will be an "City" (guess sort of playing homage to Walt's original goal of EPCOT) and will feature Disney Characters ... seems to fit the whole "More Family, more Disney" goals with the redo of EPCOT

"The ongoing evolution of Epcot includes plans for a play pavilion that’ll be unlike anything you’ve ever seen at the park. This new space will be devoted to playful fun and feature an innovative city that’ll come to life under the dome of the un-named pavilion previously known as Wonders of Life. The pavilion’s city will be bursting with interactive experiences, your favorite Disney characters, hands-on activities and engaging entertainment when it opens just in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort!"

Finally some big Epcot news we have been waiting for. The redo of the entrance looks really good in concept IMO.

 

[The Pho]

News

First-of-its-Kind Play Pavilion, New Park Entrance Part of Epcot’s Historic Transformation

That looks promising, really doubling down on the Future World aesthetic.

 

[SaharanTea]

It's fascinating to see how open it is under Spaceship Earth. It looks like there will be some pretty significant changes to the first part of that ride (and end). I know concept art can be pretty different from reality, but that's striking.

 

[rteetz]

That looks promising, really doubling down on the Future World aesthetic.

Agreed. The entrance concept looks really good. Pays homage to the original but giving it much needed updates.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Finally some big Epcot news we have been waiting for. The redo of the entrance looks really good in concept IMO.

Obviously just concept art but looks like a lot more trees/greenery beyond Spaceship Earth - over by Imagination, etc.

 

[Phicinfan]

yup - and the name is officially Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

Okay is this a direct reaction to Tron coming to MK? I have to admit I am not into the Universal vs. Disney talks, but this seems really coincidental

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I'm calling it hagrid's coaster

 

[dina444444]

Okay is this a direct reaction to Tron coming to MK? I have to admit I am not into the Universal vs. Disney talks, but this seems really coincidental

I don’t think so. They closed the old roller coaster right after Labor Day 2017 to build this, but this coaster is much more family friendly compared to what was there.

 

[Phicinfan]

I don’t think so. They closed the old roller coaster right after Labor Day 2017 to build this, but this coaster is much more family friendly compared to what was there.

True, I don't remember the date the Tron move to MK came out, but wonder now who may be reacting to whom....

Two "motorbike" Roller coasters just seems way to coincidental to me

 

[MissGina5]

News

First-of-its-Kind Play Pavilion, New Park Entrance Part of Epcot’s Historic Transformation

I don't know WHAT to think of this! I am excited to see new stuff coming though and that new entrance looks phenomenal


EDIT: what @TheMaxRebo said about connecting it to the original vision of EPCOT is great so now I like it. I wonder what IPs they are thinking? Zootopia? Meet the Robinsons?

 

[dina444444]

True, I don't remember the date the Tron move to MK came out, but wonder now who may be reacting to whom....

Two "motorbike" Roller coasters just seems way to coincidental to me

Tron announcement came that summer, but universal had announced a number of months before that the dragon coasters would be closing for a family friendly coaster.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

News

First-of-its-Kind Play Pavilion, New Park Entrance Part of Epcot’s Historic Transformation

This looks very exciting.

I always think of Epcot as a concrete jungle, so more greenery in future world would be amazing.

 

[Gusey]

News

First-of-its-Kind Play Pavilion, New Park Entrance Part of Epcot’s Historic Transformation

So happy something is finally happening at Wonders of Life, reminds me a bit of the Oh My Disney scene from Ralph Breaks the Internet with the city where you can meet characters. I do wonder if the Character Spot might move over there? Does sound like Odyssey is becoming official festival center too. Also loving the new entrance look, more potential for Flower and Garden maybe? Can't wait

 

[tlmadden73]

News

First-of-its-Kind Play Pavilion, New Park Entrance Part of Epcot’s Historic Transformation

Wow.. finally a use for the Wonders of Life pavilion.
Doesnt sound like it will have a ride/show attraction, but sounds like it will be a fun place for the kids to play (I mean Epcot always had a lot of those with the play areas in the pavilions). But I like how they are finally striving to improve this and all their parks.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Okay is this a direct reaction to Tron coming to MK? I have to admit I am not into the Universal vs. Disney talks, but this seems really coincidental

I don’t think so. They closed the old roller coaster right after Labor Day 2017 to build this, but this coaster is much more family friendly compared to what was there.

I think it is more just a coincidence - they are very different styles of coasters - this is more family friendly and the design they came up with - with the one rider on a bike and the other in the side car is partly to get each rider at slightly different elevations so both can see all of the set pieces (which will mostly be on the side of the side car). If anything I think this will be more like the guardians coaster in that it is telling a story with set pieces and animatronics while being a rollercoaster

 

[atricks]

Okay is this a direct reaction to Tron coming to MK? I have to admit I am not into the Universal vs. Disney talks, but this seems really coincidental

Not really, this Potter coaster is more like Seven Dwarves mine train, except longer, and more elaborate. A forested track with animatronic creatures all over and a bunch of surprise track elements. Tron is a short, more thrilling type of thing that already exists in China.

 

[Mr. lncredible]

News

First-of-its-Kind Play Pavilion, New Park Entrance Part of Epcot’s Historic Transformation

Haven't heard anything about the spaceship earth refurb in awhile, wonder if it would be part of this project.

 

[rteetz]

So happy something is finally happening at Wonders of Life, reminds me a bit of the Oh My Disney scene from Ralph Breaks the Internet with the city where you can meet characters. I do wonder if the Character Spot might move over there? Does sound like Odyssey is becoming official festival center too. Also loving the new entrance look, more potential for Flower and Garden maybe? Can't wait

Yes I believe WoL will become a major new spot for characters. Innoventions will go the way of the Dodo.