There’s an unusual collection of Walt Disney World attractions that exist only through old announcements and concept art.
Guests never got to ride them. Disney never celebrated their grand openings. Yet, for a time, these projects appeared to be genuine pieces of the resort’s future.
EPCOT has several examples.
As Disney continues moving ahead with a new generation of projects, three ideas that once generated plenty of attention have effectively been left behind: the PLAY! Pavilion, a Mary Poppins attraction, and another traditional World Showcase country.
EPCOT Almost Had an Entirely New Pavilion
The PLAY! Pavilion was supposed to give an old EPCOT building a new purpose.
Disney announced the project in 2019 as part of its larger effort to transform the park. The former Wonders of Life pavilion would become an interactive futuristic city filled with technology and Disney characters.
Rather than sending guests through one traditional ride, the space would offer multiple interactive experiences.
Disney released colorful concept art and promoted PLAY! as part of EPCOT’s changing future.
Then progress stalled.
After Walt Disney World’s temporary 2020 closure, Disney restarted construction on several EPCOT projects. PLAY! didn’t experience the same comeback.
By 2023, the pavilion had disappeared from EPCOT guide maps. Disney said it was reevaluating the concept.
Another sign arrived in 2026 when the PLAY! Pavilion flag disappeared from EPCOT’s central plaza.
The ambitious pavilion Disney originally presented never welcomed guests.
Mary Poppins Lost Her EPCOT Ride
Another 2019 announcement met a similar ending.
Dick Van Dyke appeared at D23 to help reveal a Mary Poppins addition for EPCOT’s United Kingdom Pavilion.
Disney planned to recreate Cherry Tree Lane from the Mary Poppins films and build an indoor teacup-style attraction.
The project could have transformed the United Kingdom Pavilion by giving the area a traditional ride.
Disney even displayed the concept as part of its previews for EPCOT’s transformation.
But the attraction became another project affected by the changes surrounding the pandemic.
When construction resumed around EPCOT, Mary Poppins was missing. Disney eventually confirmed that development had been postponed as the company reevaluated its long-term plans.
It never returned to the announced lineup.
What Happened to Another World Showcase Country?
The third idea stretches much further back.
Disney has considered adding numerous countries to World Showcase over EPCOT’s history.
Proposals have included Costa Rica, Equatorial Africa, Iran, Israel, Puerto Rico, Spain, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, and a Soviet Union or Russian-themed pavilion.
Some plans included substantial attractions.
Spain could have received a boat ride, while Switzerland was considered for a Matterhorn Bobsleds-style attraction. Venezuela had plans involving a waterfall and aerial tram.
None came to life.
Norway became the last new World Showcase country, and nearly 40 years have passed without another addition.
That long gap, combined with Disney’s growing focus on recognizable entertainment properties for new developments, makes a traditional World Showcase expansion difficult to imagine in the immediate future.
Of course, EPCOT fans have recently received reminders that Disney can always revisit its past.
The company brought back plans to update Spaceship Earth after an earlier refurbishment appeared to disappear. Disney also confirmed the return of Dreamfinder after fans spent decades asking for the character to reunite with Figment.
So while these three projects are effectively retired from Disney’s current plans, theme park history has taught fans one important lesson: an abandoned Disney idea can occasionally find a second life.
