Could Epcot's World Showcase finally be getting a new pavilion? I'm placing my bets that Disney's new Fall 2023 film Wish finally gets the gorgeous and never yet built Spain to finally come to Walt Disney World. Will Imagineering be given the go ahead by Josh D'Amoro? I thin so- and here's why.
I'd like to say that the original plan for Epcot included plans for many more countries for World Showcase is the reason. But it is not true. Most all those masters of Imagineering 1.0 have passed on. Many of the recent greats with ties to the old masters and their ways of doing things have moved on. So, we know this is not the reason. It boils down to three main issues:
1- The EPCOT transformation has not been seen as "that" successful by die hard fans or the public. After many years and too much wasted money, folks are seeing that Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, and the minor add Journey of Water Inspired by Moana is just not enough and definitely not compelling enough to build a trip or. Nor will it be enough to compete with Universal's upcoming Epic Universe. Other plans announced or hinted at- Mary Poppins, the Spaceship Earth redo, PLAY! and the Brazil showcase- have fallen by the wayside or deemed vastly unpopular and taken out. What, again, was the name of that monstrous failure of a nighttime water show?
A new country to explore with an attraction that could hold promise based on the movie's storyline would give more for the little ones to do while providing additional dining and shopping opportunities. Spain has already proven to be a beloved and successful stall at the Food & Wine Festival. Why stop there?
Once planned, never built.
2- The Intellectual Property mandate. Like it or not, and I'm not fond of it for Epcot, this is the course all four parks are headed. Enough said on that, right? I'd rather have the Future World and World Showcase of old but it seems the suits are pandering to the old Universal model of being parks about their movies instead of individual, highly themed parks that include some movie related attractions to strengthen the focus. An individual Intellectual Property themed land would not fit in this park, but one that highlights a culture (fictitious or "close enough to a real one) certainly would.
3- The Money. Perhaps the ultimate bottom line. The leaders of the Walt Disney Company finally realize that making significant investment to the parks brings in the most revenue for a consistent amount of time is a major driver for investors. Something is needed to fill all those Disney Vacation Club additions. Disney+ is a bust, and something must change to bring in the bucks. It's time to go back to the business model that worked- and one that made theme park fans happy.
Now about the movie itself.
The upcoming Wish film takes place on the Iberian peninsula. Spain as a new pavilion location is a perfect fit. As you can see from this concept art above, the flavor of what was once proposed fits in perfectly with art from the movie as seen at the top of this post.
Main heroine Asha fits the mold of a likable lead, and my hunch is she is rightful heir to the throne of villain King Magnifico. So you can add in another princess promotion. Toss in a lovable sidekick, a beautiful landscape, a handful of magic, and perhaps most importantly, plans for a pavilion that already exist, and you have all the makings of a fresh take on an old once planned addition to a park that needs something new on the lagoon skyline.
Is it the best plan? Absolutely not. Is it one that would fit the original Imagineering model for this park? Not even close. But these days, a Wish inspired Spain may be the best we get.
Ready for some paella? I just think I might be ok with this. Maybe.
(Art and photographs copyright The Walt Disney Company.)
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