Rumor Siemens is going to end their sponsorship with the parks - Spaceship Earth and IllumiNations

[articos]

You mean autopilot until the end of time?

Well, Disney is a corporation that is so large it really needs to operate on autopilot. But I know what you mean. There are some good things working in fans favor here, however. Illuminations is due for an updated show, and new means more eyes on it and more money towards it. Plus there's the 50th anniversary coming, and Epcot's show is a flagship show. It won't languish. SSE is the first thing guests see, meaning they beeline towards it. It figures prominently in guest satisfaction ratings. If those ratings drop, it will be noticed. And again...35th anniversary, then the 50th anniversary, along with a massive park reconstruction. It will be ok.

 

[articos]

Do you think upper management sees SSE as something to not screw with? Obviously there were plans to do the opposite (Time Racers), but it seems that this is one of the last bones they can throw to Epcot fans.

SSE does not get thought of without lots, and lots, and lots, and lots of meetings. Current Epcot/TDO/WDI execs have love for SSE.

 

[Haymarket2008]

SSE does not get thought of without lots, and lots, and lots, and lots of meetings. Current Epcot/TDO/WDI execs have love for SSE.

THAT is a piece of news I love.

 

[WDW862]

SSE does not get thought of without lots, and lots, and lots, and lots of meetings. Current Epcot/TDO/WDI execs have love for SSE.

All SSE needs is to be cleaned up, a new descent, and narration with someone like Bill Nye and I would be happy.

 

[HMF]

Illuminations is due for an updated show, .

Updated, not replaced with an IP-Fest.

 

[HMF]

I'm fine with the communications theme, but I always thought the Horizons show would have been better placed here. If they do tweak it, I'd love it if it served more as an overall mission statement. What separates man from the rest of the creatures on the planet, how we have advanced, and where we may go from here. Communication, tools, power/energy, transportation, imagination. It wouldn't have to change much to do so, but as such a focal attraction, it should be all encompassing. I also think incorporating what worked with Imagination and Horizons by having guide characters that repeat might make the experience more personal and warm. See the difference in the SInbad ride in Tokyo DisneySea. The ride was sprawling and ambitious, but left people a bit cold. The added a song that progressed with each scene and a cute sidekick (merchandising!) Something along those lines could help here- I'm not as against IP in Epcot as most others, but I don't want it in Spaceship Earth. I think this pavilion needs to stay pure, by which I also wish it would now stay free of outside corporate sponsorship and influence.

Communications is the foundation holding the whole of Epcot together. Especially nowadays since the rest of Future World has been trashed so much. SSE and IllumiNations are the only things holding the park together which is why I am literally terrified for the parks future.

 

[Kman101]

All SSE needs is to be cleaned up, a new descent, and narration with someone like Bill Nye and I would be happy.

Uh oh, you mentioned Bill Nye. Cue the pages of debates on him and how he's a "liberal shill"



Glad to know from articos that SSE seems 'loved' by those in charge.

 

[kadybat]

Let's just say Jobs' death was untimely for a number of reasons.

Here it is, the single saddest post and the biggest "what if" I've ever seen on this forum.

 

[aladdin2007]

SSE does not get thought of without lots, and lots, and lots, and lots of meetings. Current Epcot/TDO/WDI execs have love for SSE.

Too bad not enough love though apparently since they have kept the descent in it's continuing state of decay for a decade now.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Too bad not enough love though apparently since they have kept the descent in it's continuing state of decay for a decade now.

I guess it's that everyone doesn't see the decay. I enjoy the descent way more than what proceeded it, which to me was just a grouping of 'fill the space' after-thoughts. I like being part of the ride both during and a little while after. To each his own really.

 

[tirian]

Let's just say Jobs' death was untimely for a number of reasons.

We already know he was a big fan, which is probably why Apple's new campus was unconsciously influenced by EPCOT Center's Communicore and World of Motion architecture.

 

[articos]

Too bad not enough love though apparently since they have kept the descent in it's continuing state of decay for a decade now.

Once it's built, there's little chance of major changes unless there's a reason or someone takes notice and decides to push for a project. SSE looks like it has. Any major change to the descent would be an actual WDI project, and without a reason, there's no plan or budget to do anything other than keep it as is. Any attraction is going to decline as it ages. Now that there is planning for a new Future World, and SSE will be under a new sponsorship at some point, and considering the age of the attraction, I expect SSE will see an update as part of the FW renewal. I'm not worried it will be a IP overlay or cheap. I expect it will be done properly. Nothing to report now though.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

SSE does not get thought of without lots, and lots, and lots, and lots of meetings. Current Epcot/TDO/WDI execs have love for SSE.

Did they put up a fight to prevent Energy from being the 'shove those superheroes in there' pavilion? Did they push for the competing plan to redo Energy with a Big Bang / energy theme?

Actual question, not a rhetorical statement.

 

[ford91exploder]

We already know he was a big fan, which is probably why Apple's new campus was unconsciously influenced by EPCOT Center's Communicore and World of Motion architecture.

I don't know about the unconcious part having been to the new Apple campus it's VERY reminiscent of Communicore.

 

[articos]

Did they put up a fight to prevent Energy from being the 'shove those superheroes in there' pavilion? Did they push for the competing plan to redo Energy with a Big Bang / energy theme?

Actual question, not a rhetorical statement.

Actual answer, without getting too specific: Energy needed something new. It is way past its sell by date, more money than worth it to put into new AA's and projectors and FX and the amount of stuff in there that is now due to be replaced, especially when you know it needs either a new attraction or a complete update. Satisfaction ratings aren't great and daily numbers aren't near what they once were. There are blue sky concepts proposed by WDI based on a number of factors: IPs other divisions have asked to get into the parks. IPs the parks want to capitalize on. Ideas WDI has to incorporate into the parks. Ideas Creative Entertainment has to incorporate into the parks. Ideas executive management has to incorporate into the park. Etc, etc. The ideas may be specific to a park or an attraction within a park or a land within a park or World or Land or they may just be an idea that then gets floated by various execs involved. The concept or concepts are narrowed via all the relevant parties, then WDI gets to work. Other times WDI proposes what they want to do from the start, then the parks management give feedback, then WDI goes to work.

In the case of Epcot and FW, WDI has been working a master plan in coordination with TDO and Epcot's management that included Energy. Would they put up a fight? No. They would have questions and concerns that needed to be addressed through the process. They tend to defer to the creative team that's led by the guy who was on the original Epcot team. That team is going to put the best attraction they can in there, and the management groups all know that. Believe it or not, they look forward to new attractions as much as everyone else. We don't get to redo major attractions all that often. Whether they personally agree with the request to incorporate an IP or not, they are excited for something new. There were multiple ideas for Energy, and everyone signed off on the attraction that is planned. Disney runs by committee more than most realize, and there's a lot of factors that get considered in all of these decisions. So, plans considered. Meetings had. Ideas discussed. Some execs liked certain ideas over others, but this is the idea that was greenlit. Safe to say everyone is happy to have something new in there.

 

[flyerjab]

Actual answer, without getting too specific: Energy needed something new. It is way past its sell by date, more money than worth it to put into new AA's and projectors and FX and the amount of stuff in there that is now due to be replaced, especially when you know it needs either a new attraction or a complete update. Satisfaction ratings aren't great and daily numbers aren't near what they once were. There are blue sky concepts proposed by WDI based on a number of factors: IPs other divisions have asked to get into the parks. IPs the parks want to capitalize on. Ideas WDI has to incorporate into the parks. Ideas Creative Entertainment has to incorporate into the parks. Ideas executive management has to incorporate into the park. Etc, etc. The ideas may be specific to a park or an attraction within a park or a land within a park or World or Land or they may just be an idea that then gets floated by various execs involved. The concept or concepts are narrowed via all the relevant parties, then WDI gets to work. Other times WDI proposes what they want to do from the start, then the parks management give feedback, then WDI goes to work.

In the case of Epcot and FW, WDI has been working a master plan in coordination with TDO and Epcot's management that included Energy. Would they put up a fight? No. They would have questions and concerns that needed to be addressed through the process. They tend to defer to the creative team that's led by the guy who was on the original Epcot team. That team is going to put the best attraction they can in there, and the management groups all know that. Believe it or not, they look forward to new attractions as much as everyone else. We don't get to redo major attractions all that often. Whether they personally agree with the request to incorporate an IP or not, they are excited for something new. There were multiple ideas for Energy, and everyone signed off on the attraction that is planned. Disney runs by committee more than most realize, and there's a lot of factors that get considered in all of these decisions. So, plans considered. Meetings had. Ideas discussed. Some execs liked certain ideas over others, but this is the idea that was greenlit. Safe to say everyone is happy to have something new in there.

Your voice needs to be heard with more regularity on the forums. And I don't mean that as far as giving up company secrets. You have a way of maintaining a degree of ambiguity while helping balance out the troubled waters. Thanks for the information that you share and the way in which you share it.

 

[wdwmagic]

Actual answer, without getting too specific: Energy needed something new. It is way past its sell by date, more money than worth it to put into new AA's and projectors and FX and the amount of stuff in there that is now due to be replaced, especially when you know it needs either a new attraction or a complete update. Satisfaction ratings aren't great and daily numbers aren't near what they once were. There are blue sky concepts proposed by WDI based on a number of factors: IPs other divisions have asked to get into the parks. IPs the parks want to capitalize on. Ideas WDI has to incorporate into the parks. Ideas Creative Entertainment has to incorporate into the parks. Ideas executive management has to incorporate into the park. Etc, etc. The ideas may be specific to a park or an attraction within a park or a land within a park or World or Land or they may just be an idea that then gets floated by various execs involved. The concept or concepts are narrowed via all the relevant parties, then WDI gets to work. Other times WDI proposes what they want to do from the start, then the parks management give feedback, then WDI goes to work.

In the case of Epcot and FW, WDI has been working a master plan in coordination with TDO and Epcot's management that included Energy. Would they put up a fight? No. They would have questions and concerns that needed to be addressed through the process. They tend to defer to the creative team that's led by the guy who was on the original Epcot team. That team is going to put the best attraction they can in there, and the management groups all know that. Believe it or not, they look forward to new attractions as much as everyone else. We don't get to redo major attractions all that often. Whether they personally agree with the request to incorporate an IP or not, they are excited for something new. There were multiple ideas for Energy, and everyone signed off on the attraction that is planned. Disney runs by committee more than most realize, and there's a lot of factors that get considered in all of these decisions. So, plans considered. Meetings had. Ideas discussed. Some execs liked certain ideas over others, but this is the idea that was greenlit. Safe to say everyone is happy to have something new in there.

Great post!

 

[marni1971]

Actual answer, without getting too specific: Energy needed something new. It is way past its sell by date, more money than worth it to put into new AA's and projectors and FX and the amount of stuff in there that is now due to be replaced, especially when you know it needs either a new attraction or a complete update. Satisfaction ratings aren't great and daily numbers aren't near what they once were. There are blue sky concepts proposed by WDI based on a number of factors: IPs other divisions have asked to get into the parks. IPs the parks want to capitalize on. Ideas WDI has to incorporate into the parks. Ideas Creative Entertainment has to incorporate into the parks. Ideas executive management has to incorporate into the park. Etc, etc. The ideas may be specific to a park or an attraction within a park or a land within a park or World or Land or they may just be an idea that then gets floated by various execs involved. The concept or concepts are narrowed via all the relevant parties, then WDI gets to work. Other times WDI proposes what they want to do from the start, then the parks management give feedback, then WDI goes to work.

In the case of Epcot and FW, WDI has been working a master plan in coordination with TDO and Epcot's management that included Energy. Would they put up a fight? No. They would have questions and concerns that needed to be addressed through the process. They tend to defer to the creative team that's led by the guy who was on the original Epcot team. That team is going to put the best attraction they can in there, and the management groups all know that. Believe it or not, they look forward to new attractions as much as everyone else. We don't get to redo major attractions all that often. Whether they personally agree with the request to incorporate an IP or not, they are excited for something new. There were multiple ideas for Energy, and everyone signed off on the attraction that is planned. Disney runs by committee more than most realize, and there's a lot of factors that get considered in all of these decisions. So, plans considered. Meetings had. Ideas discussed. Some execs liked certain ideas over others, but this is the idea that was greenlit. Safe to say everyone is happy to have something new in there.

This this and this.

Someone doesn't just say "do this" and it happens.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Actual answer, without getting too specific: Energy needed something new. It is way past its sell by date, more money than worth it to put into new AA's and projectors and FX and the amount of stuff in there that is now due to be replaced, especially when you know it needs either a new attraction or a complete update. Satisfaction ratings aren't great and daily numbers aren't near what they once were. There are blue sky concepts proposed by WDI based on a number of factors: IPs other divisions have asked to get into the parks. IPs the parks want to capitalize on. Ideas WDI has to incorporate into the parks. Ideas Creative Entertainment has to incorporate into the parks. Ideas executive management has to incorporate into the park. Etc, etc. The ideas may be specific to a park or an attraction within a park or a land within a park or World or Land or they may just be an idea that then gets floated by various execs involved. The concept or concepts are narrowed via all the relevant parties, then WDI gets to work. Other times WDI proposes what they want to do from the start, then the parks management give feedback, then WDI goes to work.

In the case of Epcot and FW, WDI has been working a master plan in coordination with TDO and Epcot's management that included Energy. Would they put up a fight? No. They would have questions and concerns that needed to be addressed through the process. They tend to defer to the creative team that's led by the guy who was on the original Epcot team. That team is going to put the best attraction they can in there, and the management groups all know that. Believe it or not, they look forward to new attractions as much as everyone else. We don't get to redo major attractions all that often. Whether they personally agree with the request to incorporate an IP or not, they are excited for something new. There were multiple ideas for Energy, and everyone signed off on the attraction that is planned. Disney runs by committee more than most realize, and there's a lot of factors that get considered in all of these decisions. So, plans considered. Meetings had. Ideas discussed. Some execs liked certain ideas over others, but this is the idea that was greenlit. Safe to say everyone is happy to have something new in there.

And there you have it. Hate to see it go on one hand, but, excited about something new on the other. I hope they get it done soon enough while my health is still good to be able to experience it. Over the last few years I have adopted the motto... never look back except to learn how to form the future.

 

[PizzaPlanet]

Actual answer, without getting too specific: Energy needed something new. It is way past its sell by date, more money than worth it to put into new AA's and projectors and FX and the amount of stuff in there that is now due to be replaced, especially when you know it needs either a new attraction or a complete update. Satisfaction ratings aren't great and daily numbers aren't near what they once were. There are blue sky concepts proposed by WDI based on a number of factors: IPs other divisions have asked to get into the parks. IPs the parks want to capitalize on. Ideas WDI has to incorporate into the parks. Ideas Creative Entertainment has to incorporate into the parks. Ideas executive management has to incorporate into the park. Etc, etc. The ideas may be specific to a park or an attraction within a park or a land within a park or World or Land or they may just be an idea that then gets floated by various execs involved. The concept or concepts are narrowed via all the relevant parties, then WDI gets to work. Other times WDI proposes what they want to do from the start, then the parks management give feedback, then WDI goes to work.

In the case of Epcot and FW, WDI has been working a master plan in coordination with TDO and Epcot's management that included Energy. Would they put up a fight? No. They would have questions and concerns that needed to be addressed through the process. They tend to defer to the creative team that's led by the guy who was on the original Epcot team. That team is going to put the best attraction they can in there, and the management groups all know that. Believe it or not, they look forward to new attractions as much as everyone else. We don't get to redo major attractions all that often. Whether they personally agree with the request to incorporate an IP or not, they are excited for something new. There were multiple ideas for Energy, and everyone signed off on the attraction that is planned. Disney runs by committee more than most realize, and there's a lot of factors that get considered in all of these decisions. So, plans considered. Meetings had. Ideas discussed. Some execs liked certain ideas over others, but this is the idea that was greenlit. Safe to say everyone is happy to have something new in there.

I'd love to listen in on the many meetings they are probably having about the Imagination replacement. Hopefully there are enough people who care about Dreamfinder and Figment like we do.