Mystery Project at Epcot

[ford91exploder]

What's funny is how much hype we got during the past few Expo's only to find out we get...


And CLEARY We see all of this construction and Disney is like..."We are preparing for a New Washroom....Move Along."

Yes 'Wheel of Fish" and Tangled Toilets... So exciting

 

[Progress.City]

What's funny is how much hype we got during the past few Expo's only to find out we get...


And CLEARY We see all of this construction and Disney is like..."We are preparing for a New Washroom....Move Along."

But it's a magical washroom!

 

[Progress.City]

I want another Disney Decade style press conference damnit! Lol

 

[Progress.City]

How many years has this been said, and then we get nothing at D23? I really hope that changes this year. That Avatar knife and the drawing on a piece of paper was totally lame last year. Was that D23. or another event?

Yeah, like last time, you saw all these Star Wars hints and they even showed Imagineers working on something Star Wars related only to say "No Star Wars announcements... Nothing to see here... Move along!" Ugghh

 

[ford91exploder]

Yeah, like last time, you saw all these Star Wars hints and they even showed Imagineers working on something Star Wars related only to say "No Star Wars announcements... Nothing to see here... Move along!" Ugghh

just more bait-n-switch

 

[raven]

What is interesting about this is that I also recently read that there is a rumor about a second restaurant opening in the unused building at the top of the Canada Pavilion. Why is this interesting? Because up until now, the building was not usable due to fireworks that are launched right in back of this particular building. The Canada restaurant rumor also included the point that a new replacement for Illuminations was coming, and that this new show would not launch fireworks from that location. This would then make this particular building usable, and one reason that it would be good for a new restaurant is that the view from atop the Canada Pavilion is excellent. And obviously, a used building generating money is better than an empty asset that garners nothing. We shall see.

The area you are talking about used to be retail space. It would only be able to hold something as small as the Fish & Chips building in UK if it were to be converted to food service. But this space did not close due to location of fireworks but rather mold.

 

[ford91exploder]

The area you are talking about used to be retail space. It would only be able to hold something as small as the Fish & Chips building in UK if it were to be converted to food service. But this space did not close due to location of fireworks but rather mold.

IE lack of proper maintenance

 

[jakeman]

The area you are talking about used to be retail space. It would only be able to hold something as small as the Fish & Chips building in UK if it were to be converted to food service. But this space did not close due to location of fireworks but rather mold.

IE lack of proper maintenance

It closed in the early 2000 (I think as part of the mass shuttering that happened due to 9/11), so if it was indeed mold then that lack of maintenance started in the late 90s.

 

[articos]

I don't think it actually provides 100% of the energy needs.

Correct, they supply some of the energy needs, but not all. More of a proving ground for back in the early 1980's when solar was still a novelty. To help showcase what the future might be like as far as how our energy needs can be met in the future. Especially since the oil embargo stuff from the late 1970's was still fresh in everyone's minds. Very fitting for future world. Well, at least more so than it is now. Some would still argue that it is still a novelty.

If they replaced each of those solar cells with modern photovoltaics, it would provide a ton more electricity to the attraction. If scholarly memory serves, the best efficiency for a photovoltaic on the market in 1980 was like 16%. In 2012, we hit almost 45%. That is an increase of almost 3 times the electricity. This is extremely relevant today, as much or more so than in the late 70s/early 80s.

I always wonder why, with all the green initiatives today, Disney doesn't better highlight the things that EPCOT does. The solar cells on UoE is a great example of a place they should highlight more (and update). The energy produced when Mission: SPACE is spinning down...the water that SSE directs toward the World Showcase Lagoon during storms...rescued manatees at The Living Seas, and other such things. At least the food production in The Land is highlighted, even if it is a small small small percent of the food served at EPCOT. What other theme park in the world grows its own food, generates its own electricity, conserves water, and rescues injured endangered animals, and does it all in plain view of the guests?

Long story short - show me more of the things that makes EPCOT a unique place to visit. Stop trying to make it another MK.

They all got replaced though I can't pin down a date. Certainly after the mid 90s.

When installed, the solar array (manufactured by a subsidiary of Exxon) generated about 15% of the pavilion's electricity on a really good day. (generating about 72-77 kW DC peak) The company forgot you need to maintain things like this and the infrastructure that goes with it, and the system failed and sat dormant for a few years in the mid 90s. By that time, the panels and infrastructure were outdated and parts weren't easily available. The show was redone in 96, but the capital wasn't included to redo the array until 1997. In 97/98, the entire system was replaced: wiring, components and new, more efficient panels. It went online in 98.

Disney no longer highlights what Epcot's FW does because Disney has - for a long time - no clue what Epcot is. It won't be that way forever, though.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

Disney no longer highlights what Epcot's FW does because Disney has - for a long time - no clue what Epcot is. It won't be that way forever, though.

Hope...how many times will i have to be burned with potential EPCOT hope before i finally give up and learn my lesson? This sequence for me sums up my experiences with Epcot since 1995.

But then this happens:

And so then i'm like:

 

[articos]

Hope...how many times will i have to be burned with potential EPCOT hope before i finally give up and learn my lesson? This sequence for me sums up my experiences with Epcot since 1995.

But then this happens:

And so then i'm like:

There are some good people working on Epcot. Not saying that to get hopes up, but just saying. Epcot holds a special place in my heart, too.

 

[gmajew]

There are some good people working on Epcot. Not saying that to get hopes up, but just saying. Epcot holds a special place in my heart, too.

I love this park but I don't go here for thrills. I go for the experience of the countries and really just enjoying my family and friends. We do the rides like the rides hate imagination and Ellen but we love the land and seeing new ways to grow etc.

Epcot needs to be reformed though well future world it needs so,ex major love. But we are talking about one a year on each area. Take energy down first as it is the worse. Rebuild re theme and then move to the next one imagination. Then so on.... Let the countries stay as is they look grest and are a lot of fun. Keep entertainment fresh and not worry about it right now.

 

[raven]

It closed in the early 2000 (I think as part of the mass shuttering that happened due to 9/11), so if it was indeed mold then that lack of maintenance started in the late 90s.

Wait. If it closed in early 2000, how does 9/11 (September 2001) effect it closure a year and a half later?

 

[jakeman]

Wait. If it closed in early 2000, how does 9/11 (September 2001) effect it closure a year and a half later?

2000s. Sorry about that. I don't know the exact year.

 

[Admiral01]

When installed, the solar array (manufactured by a subsidiary of Exxon) generated about 15% of the pavilion's electricity on a really good day. (generating about 72-77 kW DC peak) The company forgot you need to maintain things like this and the infrastructure that goes with it, and the system failed and sat dormant for a few years in the mid 90s. By that time, the panels and infrastructure were outdated and parts weren't easily available. The show was redone in 96, but the capital wasn't included to redo the array until 1997. In 97/98, the entire system was replaced: wiring, components and new, more efficient panels. It went online in 98.

Disney no longer highlights what Epcot's FW does because Disney has - for a long time - no clue what Epcot is. It won't be that way forever, though.

Great history lesson. Thanks for the post! Do you happen to know which panels were installed, and what their efficiency is? The fact the whole system was replaced probably really helped the efficiency. Brand new panels with old system infrastructure wouldn't have produced what a whole new system produces.

I'm interested in that stuff, which is one of the reasons I like EPCOT (and to a lesser extent, WDW). It is an engineering marvel. EPCOT, with the engineering, the architecture, the layout, and the concepts is what really captivates me. Without EPCOT, I wouldn't waste time at WDW. EPCOT is what WDW is all about - the heart and soul of the whole resort. It is a shame Disney forgot that.

 

[michmousefan]

I just keep thinking about WDW's 50th coming up in a few years, and if they're planning to have a grand celebration (which I'm seriously crossing my fingers for), then now would be the time to seriously ramp up all types of construction and plussing of the parks so that they're ALL EQUALLY show ready for a celebration as grand as a 50th anniversary. Perhaps (and this is a big perhaps), we will get news we've all been waiting for and maybe even some surprises at D23 this year. This is obviously the most optimistic side of me consuming all of my thoughts.

Well, the last D23 Expo - unlike previous years - didn't even have a Parks and Resorts keynote presentation. I'm hoping it was 'cause they didn't have that much to announce or promote at the time; they certainly shouldn't have that excuse this year so I'll be really surprised if a major P&R presentation isn't on the schedule somewhere this year. Certainly hoping for it as I already have my tickets!

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

I'm starting to think that Epcot is too far gone at this point. I'll be completely shocked if things ever improve at this point.

Imagination was ruined and every attempt to refresh it so far has been struck down, and Tony Baxter was informally fired recently (which to me signaled a final nail in the coffin for this ride having hope). Horizons was shut down in favor of an attraction that even at opening was somehow less futuristic than its predecessor, which admittedly was in need of updating in spite of my adoration of Horizons. Test Track still feels like you're riding in a car through an empty warehouse (the half arsed Tronish overlay didn't improve it for me), a horrible replacement for the fantastic World of Motion. Wonders of Life squandered for convention purposes. Innoventions is just sad. Spaceship Earth is at least still a good ride, but pales compared to at least the two forms predating it. The fact that imagineering and executives were lobbying to replace such a masterpiece with a roller coaster is offensive to me, a terrifying thought indeed. I am exceedingly grateful that it never happened. Universe of Energy was never a favorite of mine, but it at least definitely used to have a wonderful soundtrack and a great sense of dignity, both of which were dropped for the Ellen and Bill Nye overlay (and i grew up and really enjoyed Bill Nye). But it's far past time to overhaul the ride to coincide with how our concept of energy has changed in the recent past (sorry if it offends anyone, particularly the gop, but glorifying petroleum as a primary energy source is no longer a welcome ideal in modern society). The Living Seas is also a well known kiddified mess, almost all dignity lost. The Land is arguably the closest thing that remains of a respectably Epcot-like pavilion anymore at Future World (and both rides there are in awful condition sadly).

World Showcase is transitioning badly now as well. With what they've done to Mexico and now Norway, i smell an unpleasant future for that half of the park. I fear particularly for American Adventure, probably the best remaining attraction in the park. Food quality is completely ruined, good luck fixing that, especially with all the people guzzling that garbage.

I see no evidence that there's hope for Epcot at this point, i mean no offense and am sorry to say that but i've yet to see any real substantial evidence to have any hope. Especially with confirmation from 74 that executives are perfectly satisfied with staying the course they've chosen for the park (continuing to ruin what little good is left and escalate the overpriced poor quality booze and food events). And according to 74 and others in the know here, imagineering is just as much of a mess as the executive levels. They've thrown amazing talent like Tony Baxter under the bus, it sounds like imagineering has kicked out a lot of their prior talent. I don't know if there are talented and caring imagineers involved with Epcot, if there are then i'm not seeing their effects. Wouldn't matter much anyways whether wdi cares or not if the bean counters continue to hold the creatives in a choke hold.

 

[jakeman]

...especially with all the people guzzling that garbage.

What garbage would that be?

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

What garbage would that be?

Epcot's current food quality. It's a problem with WDW as a whole, but EPCOT in partcular used to be well known for its high food quality (don't know when exactly things dropped off so sharply but i suspect it began in the mid-late 90's, the time wdw's downward spiral as a whole commenced). And i would say my praise of classic EPCOT food holds some weight, i count myself very lucky to have been raised with some pretty high standards of cuisine. The peak of my good fortune having been my childhood visit to a number of countries in Europe and experiencing some truly wonderful fine dining, which gave me a pretty good reference point in judging World Showcase's food quality. They once did a surprisingly good job in that regard. Epcot's current food quality is just another sobering reminder of how far the park has fallen.

I also tried out some dishes at last year's food and wine fest (never tried any of the festival food and thought it might be a bit better than normal EPCOT food), i was NOT impressed whatsoever.

 

[jakeman]

Epcot's current food quality. It's a problem with WDW as a whole, but EPCOT in partcular used to be known for its high food quality (don't know when exactly things dropped off so sharply but i suspect it began in the mid-late 90's, the time wdw's downward spiral as a whole commenced). And i would say my praise of classic EPCOT food holds some weight, i count myself very lucky to have been raised with some pretty high standards of cuisine. The peak of my good fortune having been my childhood visit to a number of countries in Europe and experiencing some truly wonderful fine dining, which gave me a pretty good reference point in judging World Showcase's food quality. They once did a surprisingly good job in that regard. Epcot's current food quality is just another sobering reminder of how far the park has fallen...

Just curious, how old are you?