Disney announced a Mary Poppins-themed attraction for EPCOT's UK Pavilion in 2019, but the project has been postponed since 2020 with no further updates. The ride, envisioned as an immersive journey through 1910 London, was removed from promotional materials by 2022. While other EPCOT enhancements have proceeded, the UK Pavilion remains without a new ride.
In August 2019, at Disney's D23 Expo, Bob Chapek, then chairman of Disney Parks, announced the "biggest transformation of any Disney park in history" for EPCOT, including a brand-new Mary Poppins-themed attraction for the UK Pavilion in World Showcase. Dick Van Dyke, who played Bert in the 1964 film and was 93 at the time, joined the stage after a performance of "Step In Time" by chimney sweep dancers to reveal the project.
The concept involved guests stepping back to 1910 London, strolling down Cherry Tree Lane past Admiral Boom's house, and entering Number 17, the Banks family home, to begin the adventure. Disney released one piece of concept art, but provided no timeline or additional details. The attraction was seen as a fitting addition to the UK Pavilion, offering an immersive experience without feeling forced.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted plans when Walt Disney World closed for four months and reopened in July 2020. Shortly after, Disney stated that the Mary Poppins attraction was being "postponed," along with the reimagining of Spaceship Earth. The project was removed from The EPCOT Experience, a promotional film at the Odyssey Pavilion.
At the 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting, Chapek described the attraction as in a "holding pattern" due to a pause on capital-intensive projects. By July 2022, it had been fully excised from The EPCOT Experience loop and all official communications, with no fanfare or statement. Disney has not officially canceled the project, maintaining the term "postponed."
In 2024, the British Board of Film Classification updated the maturity rating for the 1964 Mary Poppins film, noting a racial slur. The UK Pavilion continues without a ride attraction, and the intended space for Cherry Tree Lane remains empty. Meanwhile, EPCOT has seen openings of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, and Journey of Water Inspired by Moana. An Imagineer had designed a teacup layout for the ride, but no revival has been announced.
