Disney World is always changing, which was always something Walt had in mind when he created his first theme park, Disneyland.
Spaceship Earth in EPCOT
Most recently, we’ve seen a massive EPCOT transformation begin to head toward completion. We’ve even seen the TRON ride finally open. There are new restaurants on the way. Plus Disney has some BIG plans for other parts of the resort. Some of those plans, though, are SUPER secret — and well, WE HAVE QUESTIONS.
These Disney World projects are so secretive that we don’t have a lot of information on them, and we don’t know what their status is.
When the Magic Kingdom expansion will happen
First, Disney just basically teased a Magic Kingdom expansion, but then later confirmed that it would be happening. We got a lot of talk about the area behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, but that’s about it. Some blue sky concepts were thrown out there, but we don’t have anything definitive except that it will happen and it will be the largest expansion ever for Magic Kingdom. Okay, we NEED MORE.
What’s going behind this? We need answers!
The biggest mystery, though, is WHEN will it happen? When will we start seeing construction at Magic Kingdom? When would Disney like to have this done by? We know that Disney just pledged to spend a LOT of money on theme parks, but it seems like the theme parks getting most of the love right now are not the ones in the U.S. Give us a timeline, Disney!
Disney Teases NEW Details on HUGE Magic Kingdom Expansion
When Dinoland, U.S.A. will close
Speaking of leaving us hanging, Disney announced that it was closing Dinoland, U.S.A. and replacing it with something else. Okay, so we’ll admit we LOVE Dinoland, and this made us really sad, but now we need to know WHEN we need to get that last ride on Dinosaur.
We’re going to miss this
We know Disney is entertaining both Encanto and Indiana Jones ideas for the area, but, we want to know when Dinoland will close for construction. We’d like to spend Dinoland’s last day THERE with Chip ‘n’ Dale in their little Dino outfits, as well as with Dr. Grant Seeker, who will have to file for unemployment once Disney shuts down the Dino Institute.
Did You Know About All of These Hidden Dinoland U.S.A. Details in Animal Kingdom?!
What’s going on with the restaurants that haven’t reopened?
Okay, we’re actually shocked that there are STILL restaurants that have remained closed in Disney World since 2020. We’re still waiting for Disney to announce plans for them. Remember 1900 Park Fare? It used to have a great character breakfast. What about the Grand Floridian Tea Room? Right now, it’s just an activity room that occasionally opens when it rains — what an insult!
It’s not open for tea, though.
Over in EPCOT’s Morocco Pavilion, Restaurant Marrakesh remains closed. We need to know if we’ll ever be able to enjoy these restaurants again, Disney.
2 Disney World Restaurants Are CLOSED With NO Reopening Date in Sight
What happened to the Play! Pavilion?
One part of EPCOT’s historic transformation was to be something called the Play! Pavilion, an area in the previous Wonders of Life pavilion that would offer ways to interact and play in a fun “city” setting. It would be a digital metropolis with interactive games, experiences, entertainment, characters, and more in both a virtual and real setting.
©Disney
Well, the building is still there. We’ve even seen some work being done on it. But as of January 2023, the EPCOT map removed the previous “Future Home of PLAY!” and we haven’t heard a word about it since. It seemed like a perfect fit for EPCOT, but will it ever happen?
Here’s what we’re missing
The Spaceship Earth Update
Anyone who’s been on Spaceship Earth recently knows it is overdue for a serious update. The ride hasn’t been updated since 2008. A LOT has happened with communication since then, so why hasn’t it been updated? Well, this was another project that was supposed to happen with the EPCOT transformation, but it hasn’t happened yet and is currently on hold.
Spaceship Earth needs an update
Disney mentioned a lot of things coming to the ride, including new scenes, story elements, and narration. However, Spaceship Earth is still collecting dust while it’s stuck in the early 2000s like flip phones and Windows XP.
What Is Going on With the Spaceship Earth Update in Disney World?
What’s going on with the Reflections Resort?
In 2019, Disney announced a new hotel called Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge. Permits were filed and everything seemed set for the resort to be built — and then 2020 happened. Then construction seemed to have stalled on the project, and Disney got VERY quiet about their plans for the new resort, which would have had a Princess and the Frog theme.
Reflections Concept Art © Disney
So at this point, we could assume that Reflections is canceled, right? Well, we’re not so sure about that. Disney recently got an extension on a permit for work at the resort. That doesn’t necessarily mean the company is moving forward with it, but the permit extension was for five years, so they are potentially considering it, maybe? Whatever the case, Disney is being VERY secretive about it.
Is a NEW Hotel Coming to Disney World? Disney Can’t Seem To Make Up Its Mind.
Will the Mary Poppins expansion at EPCOT happen?
Well, let’s return to the EPCOT transformation, or rather, things that were supposed to be part of the transformation but never happened. Disney promised us a Mary Poppins attraction at the UK pavilion. Have you seen a Mary Poppins attraction at the UK Pavilion? Because we surely haven’t!
Mary Poppins attraction concept art
Well, Disney did release a statement that the project was postponed. Okay, we can accept that — we can wait. However, signs began pointing to it being canceled, although we haven’t had an official update on the project since October 2022.
Has the Mary Poppins Project at Disney World Been Canceled?
Disney is good at keeping secrets and they could surprise us with some big announcements in 2024. We’ll be looking out for those announcements, so stay tuned to DFB for more.
Cast Members Are Leaving a PERMANENT Mark on the EPCOT Transformation
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
What do you think of these secretive projects? Got any theories? Share them in the comments!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
I really don’t think they should do the MK expansion, but I’m aching for them to do a Spaceship Earth re-theme and get Wonders of Life back open again as the PLAY Pavilion or whatever. I really think they should build a value or moderate resort on the site of reflections instead of having DVC pop up EVERYWHERE!
Honestly, I don’t trust Disney. They make big announcements to distract from the wrong things they’ve been doing, then quietly cancel them. Universal will build an entire new park in the time Disney has spent on just completing Epcot construction. Disney has done nothing to improve guardians of the galaxy for the holidays. They’ve not updated the world showcase since 1988. In 35 years they couldn’t addd 1 or 2 new countries? Instead they announce a new play pavilion, Mary Poppins attraction, a building with landscaping on top & then cancel it all, leaving you right where you started.
The Play Pavilion was a bad idea from the get go. By the time construction would be completed, the technology in it would be out of date. Tech is moving too fast to make it viable. It was the struggle with the original Communicores followed by Innoventions. It was fun to be hands-on back in the mid 1980’s, but today everyone has things at their fingertips at home.
I’d prefer not see anything occur at Magic Kingdom. It will only increase capacity, yet the walkways of the park despite improvements to the hub in recent years cannot handle more people.
Please place all focus on immediately wiping DinoLand from the map in which we can try to forget that the low-budget mistake ever occurred.