Disney's Lost Attractions: PLAY! Pavilion, Mary Poppins Ride, and World Showcase Country Left Behind

At Walt Disney World in Florida, several attractions that were once promised to guests have been left behind. The PLAY! Pavilion was one such project announced in 2019 as part of EPCOT's transformation. It would have turned an old building into an interactive futuristic city with technology and Disney characters.

The space would have offered multiple interactive experiences instead of a traditional ride. However, after Walt Disney World's temporary closure in 2020 due to the pandemic, construction on several projects restarted, but PLAY! didn't experience the same comeback. By 2023, it had disappeared from EPCOT guide maps, and by 2026, its flag was gone.

Another attraction that met a similar fate was Mary Poppins' ride, announced in 2019 as part of EPCOT's United Kingdom Pavilion. Disney planned to recreate Cherry Tree Lane from the films and build an indoor teacup-style attraction. However, when construction resumed around EPCOT, Mary Poppins was missing, and development had been postponed.

Lastly, a traditional World Showcase country has not been added in nearly 40 years. Several countries have been considered over the years, including Costa Rica, Equatorial Africa, Iran, Israel, Puerto Rico, Spain, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, and even a Soviet Union or Russian-themed pavilion.

While these projects are effectively retired from Disney's current plans, theme park history has taught fans that an abandoned Disney idea can occasionally find a second life. The company brought back plans to update Spaceship Earth after an earlier refurbishment appeared to disappear, and Disney confirmed the return of Dreamfinder after fans spent decades asking for the character to reunite with Figment.