Is Epcot about to get some love?

Hyperion

Hyperion

New Member
spaceghost said:
Major sponsorship is what had made virtually every pavilion and country happen at EPCOT. So, was the whole park ruined from the day it opened?
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I cannot speak for MaD Hatter, but my interpretation from his comment is that the pavilion sponsorship model is flawed because it's funding/sustenance/concept is based on the corporate funding/input, putting it's creative elements/lifetime in jeopardy.
 
The MaD Hatter

The MaD Hatter

Well-Known Member
This wa
spaceghost said:
Major sponsorship is what had made virtually every pavilion and country happen at EPCOT. So, was the whole park ruined from the day it opened?
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This was already discussed but thanks for playing. What was essential in 1982 has nothing to do with 2012. Recent history has shown that sponsorship involvement in Epcot pavilions usually leads to a dumbing down of attractions. This obviously was not the case 30 years ago.
 
The MaD Hatter

The MaD Hatter

Well-Known Member
ParentsOf4 said:
TWDC was a very different company in 1978 (the year when EPCOT was announced), a fraction of its current size. Without corporate & country sponsorship, EPCOT simply would not have happened.
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Exactly! For example, with Bell Systems support Disney built a grand and wondrous attraction with Spaceship Earth. Fast forward 25 years and Disney (now a HUGE company) rolled over for Siemens and turned SSE into a joke. But I guess we shouldn't blame sponsors or Disney for Epcot's current state, instead we should just thank the Phoenicians. :rolleyes:
 
lobelia

lobelia

Well-Known Member
Tahu said:
You know who would make for a great Spaceship Earth narrator? Neil deGrasse Tyson. That or actually expand Mission Space into a pavillion that consists of more then just a Gravitron and a McDonalds playland and put some kinda space dark ride in.

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Yes This! As I was reading through the posts, I kept thinking that we need more space exploration in Future World. I would love to see more information about the rovers on Mars. How about an awesome planetarium type of show? I cannot remember the last time I was in a real planetarium. I imagine that in the last 30 years we know a bit more about the planets, considering that Pluto is no longer considered a planet. However, it is that kind of experience I want to have when I talk about the future. What about a simulated time warp? Instead of taking my afternoon nap in Energy, I could chill as the stars fly by. Yes it did happen (the nap). It was so empty I had the whole bench to lay down in the dark.

I hope they never ever ever ever change the hydroponics ride. It is and has been my favorite since I did a report on hydroponics as a kid. That kind of farming seems to fall into future farming practices, although I know it is widespread already. Who doesn't get a kick out of seeing pumpkin shaped Mickey.

While it seems common on this forum not to like SSE, my son and husband probably spent 45 minutes trying to beat each others reaction time at the machines before you exit. I bet they would skip the ride and play the games everytime.
 
lobelia

lobelia

Well-Known Member
I keep seeing forum members suggest that an Apple sponsorship would be ideal for EPCOT. While I can see the content match with technology, what could/would Apple provide that any other company with money could not? This questions is not meant to be a challenge or a critique of the Apple brand. I am just curious what these members think would be possible with an Apple sponsorship.
 
danlb_2000

danlb_2000

Premium Member
lobelia said:
I keep seeing forum members suggest that an Apple sponsorship would be ideal for EPCOT. While I can see the content match with technology, what could/would Apple provide that any other company with money could not? This questions is not meant to be a challenge or a critique of the Apple brand. I am just curious what these members think would be possible with an Apple sponsorship.
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Huge buckets of cash!

http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-cash-balance-2013-2012-6
 
tomman710

tomman710

Well-Known Member
I haven't carefully re-read all the posts on this but honestly how much would these items costs (granted I'd prefer innovative new original attractions but these three things alone would be a huge boost to EPCOT);

- A new Soarin' Ride Film (What $10 million? Judging on typical IMAX film budgets and this is only a five minute film but I figured the cost of upgrading everything to digital)
- Storm Rider clone (What would this be? $80 million? Less)

No brainer moves that really up the value of the park for less than 90 million probably.
 
misterID

misterID

Well-Known Member
Yes, I read this whole thread. Very god posts, all around.

I do think it's funny that the most popular attraction in EPCOT is a clone where you're suspended above the ground as you fly through arial scenes on an iMax screen... Yeah, we used to have an attraction like that, we called it Horizons. And that wasn't even the best part of that ride.

It would be nice if they replaced M:S with an actual Space Pavilion, one with an attraction that, I don't know, actually takes place in space? They wouldn't even need to bring back Horizons, just a Horizon's inspired dark ride and perhaps a coaster to go with it (so we don't forget about that important teen demo).

Until they give SSE a proper descent. Remake Imagination (so it's at least a shadow of) its former self. And make a real Space Pavilion. FW will remain completely stale and uninspired.
 
RSoxNo1

RSoxNo1

Well-Known Member
Pixiedustmaker said:
Here are the figures, attendance off a bit, but remember that ticket prices have gone up, and that Animal Kingdom opened in 1998, which did lead to cannibalization at WDW, in terms of theme park attendance. Actually, Epcot has seen a resurgence in attendance from just 8.3 million in 2002. You really cherry-picked your numbers.

2010: 10,830,000
2009: 10,990,000
2008: 10,935,000
2007: 10,900,000
2006: 10,460,000
2005: 9,900,000
2004: 9,400,000
2003: 8,600,000
2002: 8,300,000
2001: 9,000,000
2000: 10,600,000
1999: 10,100,000
1998: 10,600,000 Animal Kingdom opens.
1997: 11,800,00
1996: 11,200,00
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You're picking and chosing your defining timelines. You're acknowledging that Epcot's attendance took a hit when DAK opened which is justifiable, but the other parks recovered better than Epcot. Epcot was at it's most popular in 1997. World of Motion was the only closed classic EPCOT attraction and some misguided mindset existed that said that people were bored with Edutainment and guests wanted thrill rides. So they reinvent Future World with thrill rides and bad reworkings of attractions. The end result of the 600+ million investment into Future World over a 15 year period is a drop in attendance. That's not Animal Kingdom's fault, that's the result of poor decision making.
 
D

doctornick

Well-Known Member
misterID said:
It would be nice if they replaced M:S with an actual Space Pavilion, one with an attraction that, I don't know, actually takes place in space? They wouldn't even need to bring back Horizons, just a Horizon's inspired dark ride and perhaps a coaster to go with it (so we don't forget about that important teen demo).
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I don't have a problem with M:S as an attraction, but would like to see it re-themed to be an actually journey into space (as opposed to being themed as a simulator) and then letting you out in a Space pavilion as you suggest.
 
RSoxNo1

RSoxNo1

Well-Known Member
Pixiedustmaker said:
Epcot is third most visited Disney park in the U.S., behind Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, and it makes a lot off of the expensive dining experiences offered. Does that not make Epcot look good?
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World Showcase is the perfect model for Disney, to paraphrase from a fellow podcaster Chris Wakefield, "It's a well themed food court". I absolutely loved EPCOT Center, but I simply don't get that same sense of wonderment when I visit that park anymore. I enjoy Soarin', I enjoyed the original Test Track. The first 12 minutes of Spaceship Earth are very good. However, the only thing in Epcot that I must see on every trip to WDW is Illuminations. In my opinion it is now the worst Disney park in America.
 
RSoxNo1

RSoxNo1

Well-Known Member
Tahu said:
You know who would make for a great Spaceship Earth narrator? Neil deGrasse Tyson. That or actually expand Mission Space into a pavillion that consists of more then just a Gravitron and a McDonalds playland and put some kinda space dark ride in.

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He's a really charismatic (and obviously brilliant) guy - I'm not sure Spaceship Earth is the best spot, but I would love to see him host an attraction at Epcot.
 
RSoxNo1

RSoxNo1

Well-Known Member
tomman710 said:
I haven't carefully re-read all the posts on this but honestly how much would these items costs (granted I'd prefer innovative new original attractions but these three things alone would be a huge boost to EPCOT);

- A new Soarin' Ride Film (What $10 million? Judging on typical IMAX film budgets and this is only a five minute film but I figured the cost of upgrading everything to digital)
- Storm Rider clone (What would this be? $80 million? Less)

No brainer moves that really up the value of the park for less than 90 million probably.
Click to expand...
My understanding on a new Soarin' film is that the combination of the camera costs, and the permit costs are what's stopping them. Having said that, there's a Soarin' building in Shanghai so perhaps that film will find it's way to the States
 

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