With DHS and DAK likely to get a lot of love over the next few years, Epcot is moving towards the disjointed mess that is the current Hollywood Studios.
Frozen is coming in a big way to World Showcase and a new Soarin' film (and 3rd theater) is coming to Future World. It's also likely that enhancements and even a replacement to Illuminations is in the works. While those things coupled with seasonal drinking events may keep that park afloat they definitely don't "fix" it. Star Wars and Pixar can fix Hollywood Studios. Animal Kingdom didn't need fixing, it just needed more attractions and Avatar helps with that.
The question is, how do you "fix" Epcot?
I have my own thoughts which I'll share below, but I want to see what others have to say as well.
My plan is to bring back the spirit of what existed in the park before. There may be shades of Project Genesis in my thoughts, but that's only because I'm far from an Imagineer.
Future World - The name goes away. Future World needs to be a true permanent World's Fair, and that doesn't always mean Futuristic. I like Discoveryland as a name much better.
Frozen is coming in a big way to World Showcase and a new Soarin' film (and 3rd theater) is coming to Future World. It's also likely that enhancements and even a replacement to Illuminations is in the works. While those things coupled with seasonal drinking events may keep that park afloat they definitely don't "fix" it. Star Wars and Pixar can fix Hollywood Studios. Animal Kingdom didn't need fixing, it just needed more attractions and Avatar helps with that.
The question is, how do you "fix" Epcot?
I have my own thoughts which I'll share below, but I want to see what others have to say as well.
My plan is to bring back the spirit of what existed in the park before. There may be shades of Project Genesis in my thoughts, but that's only because I'm far from an Imagineer.
Future World - The name goes away. Future World needs to be a true permanent World's Fair, and that doesn't always mean Futuristic. I like Discoveryland as a name much better.
- Spaceship Earth - The interactivity at the end is perfect fodder for a post show activity... 5 years ago. Re-write the script and get a new narrator. There's nothing wrong with Judy Dench, but typically a new script has been accompanied by a new narrator. Put in a true future of communication finale in the descent and remove the onboard screens. Another option is to utilize the screens in a different way so that they interact with the finale outside the vehicles.
- Innoventions West - Unfortunately characters aren't going away. The Epcot Character Spot works, but the characters aren't wearing futuristic garb. That should change. I also encourage putting other classic characters in Innoventions West as a series of meet and greets. Like it or not, there's a demand for this.
- The Seas Pavilion - This is tough. I think the objection to character infusion is when a ride with a character goes where it doesn't belong. There's nothing inherently wrong with the ride here, other than it's out of place. Having said that, the Seacabs would bore today's audience. I don't want to see the characters here, other than perhaps teaching guests about the marine life in Seabase. Both The Little Mermaid Characters and the Nemo characters can be used on education signs, but not in the ride. I'd also like to see Turtle Talk relocated to Pixar Place.
- The Land Pavilion - I'd like to see the live narrator return to Living with the Land as well as the original song at the end. Scene upgrades could also help. Personally, I think the entrance to Soarin' should come from Showcase Plaza, which potentially opens up that area for another attraction. Circle of Life also needs an upgrade
- Imagination Pavilion - This is pretty simple. Gut the building, remove the ride track and put in a high capacity version of the LPS ride system. Dreamfinder should return with the "full of wonderment" version of Figment, not the "sugar high know-it-all" version that currently exists. I'd even like to see a full on recreation of the first scene, but allow the vehicles to travel all the way around the Dream Mobile. With 360 projections on the walls, the opening scene could really amaze in the same way the finale of Mystic Manor does. Walls can collapse as guests progress deeper into the ride.
- Innoventions East - This needs to tie back to Communicore. Many of the current exhibits (Sum of all Thrills, and Stormstruck) do a good job of this, it just needs to be refreshed regularly.
- Ellen's Energy Adventure - I'd like to hand over this attraction to Neil Degrasse Tyson. The visuals and concepts in The Cosmos are fascinating but may be a bit dry for the theme park audience. The focus should be on Energy and the pairing of a TV scientist with a comedian does work to a certain extent. Bring another comedian, pair them with Tyson and change the ride concept. Id' also suggest repurposing the Dinosaurs over to the Animal Kingdom.
- Wonders of Life - Yes, people keep saying that the Festival Center is needed for seasonal events. Let's be honest, it's an ugly building. Demo it and use the valuable real estate for something permanent. It's where I want to see the "Century 3" pavilion. This pavilion would include the updated Horizons attraction called Century 3. This should be a slow moving dark ride, like the original, but the guests should have the option to ramp up the intensity during the Imax screens and choose your own ending finale. I believe a similar concept was going to be in place for a Kuka Arm Incredibles attraction at one point. Carousel of Progress should also move into this Pavilion.
- Mission: SPACE - I'd like to see multiple destinations, but have been told by an Engineer that the pitch and yaw of the individual pods couldn't vary. Having said that, adding various destinations akin to Star Tours would still be a welcome addition.
- Test Track - I think the queue and set up for Test Track 2.0 screams EPCOT Center to me. What I dislike is the on ride narration and effects. The new ride is good, but it could be better. Tweak the narration and plus the show scenes and the ride will be fine.
- Showcase Plaza - My desire to have it's a small world move to The Odyssey has been well documented. I think with it's a small world on one side and the entrance to Soarin' Over the World on the other side, Showcase Plaza is an excellent kick off to World Showcase.
- Norway Pavilion - I hate the idea of a Frozen ride in World Showcase, but have conceded that Princesses aren't going away. Build the large meet and greet area, but bring back an attraction inspired by Norway's history and mythology, not a Disney animated movie.
- Mexico Pavilion - I'm not going to pretend that El Rio del Tiempo was a great ride, or that I don't really like the song at the end of Gran Fiesta Tour. Having said that, another change needs to happen to this ride. It's a high capacity boat ride that's always a walk on. I'm not sure how to fix it, but it needs to be improved.
- China Pavilion - I'm not a fan of Reflections of China at all. I don't know what to replace it with, but I doubt I will ever watch it again until it changes.
- Outpost - Ideally there would be a more permanent feeling Country here, but so much of Africa is represented pretty well over at the Animal Kingdom. The shops here are very cool and could easily find a home in the expanded Harambe.
- Germany Pavilion - There's room for a ride and there's an old concept for a ride. It certainly wouldn't hurt, but I don't think Epcot needs another boat ride.
- Italy Pavilion - I'd like to see an attraction here, but not sure where it could go.
- The American Adventure - I'd like to see a Table Service restaurant here that celebrates foods from around the country.
- Japan Pavilion - This is where a thrill ride should go, whether it's a bullet train simulator, Mt. Fuji, or something we haven't heard of, this is a great spot for a thrill ride.
- Morocco Pavilion - Other than the menu at Spice Road Table there isn't much I would change here. Sure, a ride would be nice, but there isn't really an obvious spot to put it unless you remove Restaurant Marrakesh.
- France Pavilion - For what it is, I enjoy Impressions de France, there isn't much I would change here.
- United Kingdom Pavilion - I miss the World Showcase players, but other than that I don't see a need for many changes.
- Canada Pavilion - The complaints about the Lumberjacks have been well documented. I enjoy O' Canada, but definitely like the idea of a water ride here. If that ride could also help hide the Soarin' show building, even better.
