Ok, so I was at Epcot today and decided it was time for me to post my suggestions for a new Future World at Epcot. There are many attractions that will remain unchanged, while some will change completely. I will go from each pavilion and discuss what I want to see/what is likely to be done included in each one. I also hope to make a video later on discussing this topic. Let's get underway with the text version...
1. Spaceship Earth Presented by Siemens
Changes: Now with completed decent!!! Otherwise, remains the same.
2. Universe of Energy Presented by Energizer
Changes: Personally I think the concept of the current ride is a bit dated and needs to go. Children and some adults these days can't sit still for a 45 minute attraction. Plus, with Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom, the dated dinos of UoE pale in comparison. I'd like to see the current building gutted and replaced with an omnimover dark ride ala Spaceship Earth or Horizons that talks about the various types of energy found around the world. Guests can journey deep below the ocean to discover oil, down a waterfall towards a hydro-electric dam and even into outer space. The name of the attraction would remain the same and be narrated by Morgan Freeman. I'd also say Energizer would be a good sponsor for the new attraction.
3. Stormrider Presented by Brighthouse Networks
Changes: Well, since the Wonders of Life Pavilion is no more, why not take the pavilion that once was, and make it something totally different? So instead of trying to make it a general pavilion like WoL use to be, it will be modeled similar to the more modern pavilions. The attraction would be Stormrider from Tokyo Disneysea, a simulatior ride where guests get to blow up an oncoming storm inside a weather machine. It would feature a pre-show and the attraction itself. After exiting the attraction, guests enter the Weather Center where they can partisipate in weather related interactive exhibits. There will also be a show similar to Cranium Command entitled What Makes The Weather? In it, guests join curious child Chester as he discovers what creates the weather we experience every day. As for a sponsor, I figure Brighthouse is a good choice since they do have their own news channels and weather teams.
4. Mission Space Presented by HP
Changes: Unfortunately, dispite how much I'd love to have Horizons back, Mission Space isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
5. Test Track Presented by Toyota
Changes: I'm only saying this because most likely this is going to happen. I'd love to see GM somehow keep their sponsorship, but that is very unlikely to happen. So SHOULD Toyota take over in 2010, here's all that should be changed: The queue line would have all refrences to GM removed and cars replaced with Toyota ones. The pre-show would now feature a brief explanation on the history of transportation, then brings you to modern day, where vehicles are being tested for the future. The ride itself remains unchanged except all GM logos are removed and replaced with Toyota ones and the narration is changed. I'd also like to see the showroom area go away in favor of interactive exhibits like most other pavilions.
6. Innoventions
Changes: I really haven't explored Innoventions much, so I can't really say what should be changed, if anything. It seems to work out fine the way it is, so I say leave it alone.
7. Epcot Character Spot
Changes: This would remain the same, since the kiddies have to see their characters...
8. The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Changes: None. This pavilion is fine the way it is, except for the fact that the ride still isn't that great. Not much can be done though to improve it, so it'd be best to leave it alone.
9. The Land Presented by Kelloggs
Changes: Kelloggs would become the new sponsor of the pavilion, which is a good fit. Circle of Life film would be replaced with Wall-E: Quest for Earth. It's still a film about conservation, but now it features characters from Disney-Pixar's Wall-E. Better fit for future world too... Living With The Land would mostly remain the same, but I'd like to see a new narrator, some improved scenes and the ending section changed for the new sponsor. Soarin' would retain it's name, but would now go around the world instead of California, which makes a lot more sence for Epcot.
10. Journey Into Imagination Presented by Kodak
Changes: Ok, here's the fun one... The pavilion that is going to be completely transformed. For starters, the ride portion is renamed Journey Into Imagination: Reimagined! The original track layout is restored and the downstairs Imageworks area is closed down. The ride vehicles would be re-painted purple and yellow and would feature touch screen toolbars and a wand looking device. The new attraction would begin with riders entering the Dreamfinder's Laboratory where the Dreamfinder (voiced by Robin Williams) welcomes you into the world of imagination. There you are also introduced to his trusty assistant, Figment. Dreamfinder discusses how today most things seem to lack imagination and how you as the riders are going to change all that. He then instructs Figment to lead you into a place only limited by your imagination. Guests then type in their names on the touch screens in front of them for use later. Next, after going into a rainbow tunnel similar to the original Imageworks, a photo is taken of each row for use later on.The ride vehicles then enter an area where everything seems to be in black and white. Guests can use the toolbar and wand to paint the area around them, creating a new work of art. Next, guests are taken to the invisable band jam session, where they can use the wand to point at an instrument and make it play while attempting to make music. Figment of course serves as the conductor. The next section features optical illusions similar to the original attraction. Next, guests are able to draw things using the wand on a giant notepad and watch their creations come to life in front of them. If you draw a creature with legs, watch it walk around and interact. If you draw a blob like creature, it flys around and makes strange noises. For the finale, guests enter a variety of different environments such as a haunted house and a jungle. They are instructed by Dreamfinder to react a certain way in each area. At the very end, the vehicles stop, Dreamfinder talks about how the guests' imaginations are filled with all kinds of new and creative ideas for the future. What would that future look like? Maybe something like this... Screens come on and display everything the guests created in a cleaver montage using the soundtrack they conducted in the instrument room, the art from the art room, the moving drawings and the reactions. Figment then returns to tell the guests that the world is filled with creative ideas that all start with... *cue classic song*. The vehicle continues moving and snapshots of the guests from earlier appear in lots of different random scenes such as in space, as monsters, in the desert or underwater. Finally, Figment greets each guest by name and wishes them good luck and to let their imaginations run wild.
*whoo, not bad for something I came up with off the cuff*
Ok, so that's just the ride portion. What about the rest of the pavilion? Well, the Imageworks area upstairs would be re-opened featuring several of the original exhibits, but mostly new ones that aren't featured in the attraction in some way, shape or form. I'd mostly like to see Dreamfinder's Stage School return as well as a few of the exhibits that were brought down to the current Imageworks. One new exhibit idea would be as sort of a tribute to Walt Disney's original plans for Epcot, hosted by Figment. He'd talk about how Walt had a huge imagination and wanted to build a community unlike any other.
In terms of what to replace HISTA with, the first thing that comes to mind is a simulator attraction, this time using an entire theater. The attraction itself would be called Journey Into Figment's Imagination. A new pre-show (with benches added to the room) featuring Figment would be added. Obviously Kodak has to have their little advertising segment, but after that guests are introduced to a dream of Figment's where he lets his imagination run a bit too wild. Guests then enter the theater with 3-D glasses in hand. Now, they are asked to buckle in their safety belts before the show begins. During the attraction, guests are transported inside Figment's dream and encounter all sorts of things ranging from just plain silly to dark and scary. 4-D effects would still be used such as strange smells and water effects to make things interesting.
So there you go. Those are my ideas for a new and improved Future World. I'll probably post some World Showcase ideas later on, but for now, that's all I have in the tank. Thoughts? Comments?
1. Spaceship Earth Presented by Siemens
Changes: Now with completed decent!!! Otherwise, remains the same.
2. Universe of Energy Presented by Energizer
Changes: Personally I think the concept of the current ride is a bit dated and needs to go. Children and some adults these days can't sit still for a 45 minute attraction. Plus, with Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom, the dated dinos of UoE pale in comparison. I'd like to see the current building gutted and replaced with an omnimover dark ride ala Spaceship Earth or Horizons that talks about the various types of energy found around the world. Guests can journey deep below the ocean to discover oil, down a waterfall towards a hydro-electric dam and even into outer space. The name of the attraction would remain the same and be narrated by Morgan Freeman. I'd also say Energizer would be a good sponsor for the new attraction.
3. Stormrider Presented by Brighthouse Networks
Changes: Well, since the Wonders of Life Pavilion is no more, why not take the pavilion that once was, and make it something totally different? So instead of trying to make it a general pavilion like WoL use to be, it will be modeled similar to the more modern pavilions. The attraction would be Stormrider from Tokyo Disneysea, a simulatior ride where guests get to blow up an oncoming storm inside a weather machine. It would feature a pre-show and the attraction itself. After exiting the attraction, guests enter the Weather Center where they can partisipate in weather related interactive exhibits. There will also be a show similar to Cranium Command entitled What Makes The Weather? In it, guests join curious child Chester as he discovers what creates the weather we experience every day. As for a sponsor, I figure Brighthouse is a good choice since they do have their own news channels and weather teams.
4. Mission Space Presented by HP
Changes: Unfortunately, dispite how much I'd love to have Horizons back, Mission Space isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
5. Test Track Presented by Toyota
Changes: I'm only saying this because most likely this is going to happen. I'd love to see GM somehow keep their sponsorship, but that is very unlikely to happen. So SHOULD Toyota take over in 2010, here's all that should be changed: The queue line would have all refrences to GM removed and cars replaced with Toyota ones. The pre-show would now feature a brief explanation on the history of transportation, then brings you to modern day, where vehicles are being tested for the future. The ride itself remains unchanged except all GM logos are removed and replaced with Toyota ones and the narration is changed. I'd also like to see the showroom area go away in favor of interactive exhibits like most other pavilions.
6. Innoventions
Changes: I really haven't explored Innoventions much, so I can't really say what should be changed, if anything. It seems to work out fine the way it is, so I say leave it alone.
7. Epcot Character Spot
Changes: This would remain the same, since the kiddies have to see their characters...
8. The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Changes: None. This pavilion is fine the way it is, except for the fact that the ride still isn't that great. Not much can be done though to improve it, so it'd be best to leave it alone.
9. The Land Presented by Kelloggs
Changes: Kelloggs would become the new sponsor of the pavilion, which is a good fit. Circle of Life film would be replaced with Wall-E: Quest for Earth. It's still a film about conservation, but now it features characters from Disney-Pixar's Wall-E. Better fit for future world too... Living With The Land would mostly remain the same, but I'd like to see a new narrator, some improved scenes and the ending section changed for the new sponsor. Soarin' would retain it's name, but would now go around the world instead of California, which makes a lot more sence for Epcot.
10. Journey Into Imagination Presented by Kodak
Changes: Ok, here's the fun one... The pavilion that is going to be completely transformed. For starters, the ride portion is renamed Journey Into Imagination: Reimagined! The original track layout is restored and the downstairs Imageworks area is closed down. The ride vehicles would be re-painted purple and yellow and would feature touch screen toolbars and a wand looking device. The new attraction would begin with riders entering the Dreamfinder's Laboratory where the Dreamfinder (voiced by Robin Williams) welcomes you into the world of imagination. There you are also introduced to his trusty assistant, Figment. Dreamfinder discusses how today most things seem to lack imagination and how you as the riders are going to change all that. He then instructs Figment to lead you into a place only limited by your imagination. Guests then type in their names on the touch screens in front of them for use later. Next, after going into a rainbow tunnel similar to the original Imageworks, a photo is taken of each row for use later on.The ride vehicles then enter an area where everything seems to be in black and white. Guests can use the toolbar and wand to paint the area around them, creating a new work of art. Next, guests are taken to the invisable band jam session, where they can use the wand to point at an instrument and make it play while attempting to make music. Figment of course serves as the conductor. The next section features optical illusions similar to the original attraction. Next, guests are able to draw things using the wand on a giant notepad and watch their creations come to life in front of them. If you draw a creature with legs, watch it walk around and interact. If you draw a blob like creature, it flys around and makes strange noises. For the finale, guests enter a variety of different environments such as a haunted house and a jungle. They are instructed by Dreamfinder to react a certain way in each area. At the very end, the vehicles stop, Dreamfinder talks about how the guests' imaginations are filled with all kinds of new and creative ideas for the future. What would that future look like? Maybe something like this... Screens come on and display everything the guests created in a cleaver montage using the soundtrack they conducted in the instrument room, the art from the art room, the moving drawings and the reactions. Figment then returns to tell the guests that the world is filled with creative ideas that all start with... *cue classic song*. The vehicle continues moving and snapshots of the guests from earlier appear in lots of different random scenes such as in space, as monsters, in the desert or underwater. Finally, Figment greets each guest by name and wishes them good luck and to let their imaginations run wild.
*whoo, not bad for something I came up with off the cuff*
Ok, so that's just the ride portion. What about the rest of the pavilion? Well, the Imageworks area upstairs would be re-opened featuring several of the original exhibits, but mostly new ones that aren't featured in the attraction in some way, shape or form. I'd mostly like to see Dreamfinder's Stage School return as well as a few of the exhibits that were brought down to the current Imageworks. One new exhibit idea would be as sort of a tribute to Walt Disney's original plans for Epcot, hosted by Figment. He'd talk about how Walt had a huge imagination and wanted to build a community unlike any other.
In terms of what to replace HISTA with, the first thing that comes to mind is a simulator attraction, this time using an entire theater. The attraction itself would be called Journey Into Figment's Imagination. A new pre-show (with benches added to the room) featuring Figment would be added. Obviously Kodak has to have their little advertising segment, but after that guests are introduced to a dream of Figment's where he lets his imagination run a bit too wild. Guests then enter the theater with 3-D glasses in hand. Now, they are asked to buckle in their safety belts before the show begins. During the attraction, guests are transported inside Figment's dream and encounter all sorts of things ranging from just plain silly to dark and scary. 4-D effects would still be used such as strange smells and water effects to make things interesting.
So there you go. Those are my ideas for a new and improved Future World. I'll probably post some World Showcase ideas later on, but for now, that's all I have in the tank. Thoughts? Comments?
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