WOL Demo coming ..

[Moth]

So to those wanting Imagination 4, I would put that, another world showcase country, and WoL replacement in the 50th category. Maybe a central spine fix by that time as well.

The goal I heard is to have Imagination 4, SSE 5, POTENTIALLY another World Showcase ride and WoL replacement by EPCOT50.

Some more... 'optimistic' voices have said another country and maybe a Mission Space retheme/something else. I don't believe those til I see them.

I sincerely think Imagination 4 has high chances at next year's D23, but everyone has said that for about two decades.

 

[mattpeto]

I don't know any kind of ice cream people or anything like that, but I'd be shocked if they spent any money on Epcot right now. Guardians isn't that old, TT V4.24488-8 just opened, and they spent god only knows how much on some crappy lightning and a tropical drinking fountain.

Epcot is clearly not doing any major work, but they have been more active than I expected:

Remy's to 2D
Frozen new animatronics
Soarin' new film

Just opened new Test Track last summer.

I don't expect anything major until after Villains Land opens.

But they should fix the stupid lights.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

I genuinely think we get very little in EPCOT until the 50th.

I didn't think so either but then we kinda got Remy, Frozen, and Soarin' all getting updates confirmed out of nowhere within like 2 weeks of each other.

 

[Moth]

I didn't think so either but then we kinda got Remy, Frozen, and Soarin' all getting updates confirmed out of nowhere within like 2 weeks of each other.

This is more making sure what Epcot has currently is in good shape while their attention is elsewhere. People will go and experience Guardians and TT3 for the first time til they start getting their feet going on EPCOT50 stuff.

 

[mattpeto]

The goal I heard is to have Imagination 4, SSE 5, POTENTIALLY another World Showcase ride and WoL replacement by EPCOT50.

Some more... 'optimistic' voices have said another country and maybe a Mission Space retheme/something else. I don't believe those til I see them.

I sincerely think Imagination 4 has high chances at next year's D23, but everyone has said that for about two decades.

At this point, I'm convinced that Imagination will rot to the ground unless Figment adds some friends.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

This is more making sure what Epcot has currently is in good shape while their attention is elsewhere. People will go and experience Guardians and TT3 for the first time til they start getting their feet going on EPCOT50 stuff.

Good point, its seems like they are trying to bring it up to a good standard. Hoping some money will be set aside for the inground lighting though, I think that would make a lot of people more happy. I think we see JOI get a smaller refurb before potentially finally getting 4.0 during the 50th time. Maybe something for 3 Cabelleros even if that ride is mostly fine.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

At this point, I'm convinced that Imagination will rot to the ground unless Figment adds some friends.

I don't think so, I think Figment has been popular enough to warrant keeping it atleast fairly good in its current form until the inevitable 4.0

 

[EeyoreFan#24]

I don’t think TT 3.0 closed the doors on Epcot development.


Well maybe it did for a day or two.

 

[Moth]

At this point, I'm convinced that Imagination will rot to the ground unless Figment adds some friends.

This would've happened a decade ago.

Unless you mean Magic Eye.

 

[UNCgolf]

I sincerely think Imagination 4 has high chances at next year's D23, but everyone has said that for about two decades.

I don't really have high hopes for Imagination 4 -- there's almost no chance it will equal the original ride, much less surpass it -- but the current ride is so bad that it will be very easy to improve on it. I just wonder who they'd put in charge of the design.

 

[HMF]

I don't really have high hopes for Imagination 4 -- there's almost no chance it will equal the original ride, much less surpass it -- but the current ride is so bad that it will be very easy to improve it. I just wonder who they'd put in charge of the design.

My money is on it not topping the original but being far better than versions 2 and 3 which realistically is probably the best we can hope for.

 

[HMF]

At this point, I'm convinced that Imagination will rot to the ground unless Figment adds some friends.

Why said "Friends" can't re-vitalize WOL is a mystery to me.

 

[Moth]

My money is on it not topping the original but being far better than versions 2 and 3 which realistically is probably the best we can hope for.

I think it'll
•be much more loved than 2 and 3 (free space)
•be seen as an agreeable alternative to v1 (due to them not adding past track back likely, but I'm sure they'll make the most of the current layout).
•overall be something the vast majority can agree adds to EPCOT than takes

If they maintain course on "SparkNotes JII but with the current track layout", I think it'll be loved by the GP and be a good tribute for those who love classic EPCOT.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

A better iteration than versions 2 and 3 is not an impressive hurdle to clear and I would hope the standards are infinitely higher. They're genuinely terrible rides even ignoring the existence of V1, I personally consider them the worst Disney has ever created (yes much worse than Superstar Limo). That includes V3. On a scale of 1-10, my most charitable rating is a 2/10.

JII V1 was one of those classic 9/10 arguably 10/10 rides. Would have aged like fine wine had it remained open and kept in proper shape. It would be extremely easy to create a vastly better ride than V2/3, again not a great achievement. I would hope the bar is a lot higher than "better than what's there now", it SHOULD be "as good or better than V1". I wish people would develop higher standards than desperate dogs starving for the tiniest scraps that are dangled in front of them.

A while back, I edited a hypothetical layout of a "sparknotes" version of the original JII using the current shorter track layout (credit to Park Lore for the original maps this is based off). I don't condone this as an acceptable alternative to a proper 1:1 rebuild with the original full length of the track and turntable restored, but this is probably the best case for the existing layout. With great care, it MIGHT be possible to squeeze an 8/10 ride out of this if they can find some good artists. But that's a big if given the talent of their current crop of imagineers...

Queue and load/unload areas needs some major reformatting, Dreamcatcher sequence would need to be an off-ride preshow. And the finale would need to be consolidated and reworked. But the rest of the scenes could be recreated 1:1. I don't trust them with something that diverges more significantly from the original without Tony Baxter back as lead imagineer. Which i'm assuming is "not a chance in hell". He's been consistent in saying he'd be thrilled to come back as lead on V4, but the company clearly doesn't want anything to do with him.

 

[V_L_Raptor]

I think it might be more accurate to say that the company doesn’t want anything to do with him unless they can claim his involvement and work product to their complete credit. Given the dropoff in talent at TDO and at WDI, plus the well recognized history, that might be a tough wand for Sorcerer Mickey to wave.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

I think it might be more accurate to say that the company doesn’t want anything to do with him unless they can claim his involvement and work product to their complete credit. Given the dropoff in talent at TDO and at WDI, plus the well recognized history, that might be a tough wand for Sorcerer Mickey to wave.

I'm talking about giving him any sort of influence or control over attraction projects. They'll still trot him out for PR stunts if they can get him to "behave". They know what sort of clout he has within the fanbase. But he's gotten much more belligerent towards leadership and imagineering and less inclined to stick with the company script when given a platform. And as far as actually being involved in designing attractions, they absolutely don't want anything to do with him.

Tony was allowed to sit down with the team working on Tiana very early on and make suggestions. It was a transactional thing for Disney leadership, allowing him to think he had some degree of influence over the project in exchange for a positive PR comment about it. I assume Tony initially came out of that meeting optimistic and under the impression that they liked his ideas and intended to use them since he did provide a positive statement at the time (I guess it's also possible he was simply paid to do so). By the time it was under construction though, he and several other former imagineers were very vocally against it.

I could see Disney trying to pull the same stunt with Tony again for a hypothetical JII V4. Hopefully he tells them to kick rocks this time. Unless they miraculously agree to appoint him the head of the project, like as a binding agreement. Never happening though. This sums up how Disney actually views him-

 

[monothingie]

Epcot is clearly not doing any major work, but they have been more active than I expected:

Remy's to 2D
Frozen new animatronics
Soarin' new film

Just opened new Test Track last summer.

I don't expect anything major until after Villains Land opens.

But they should fix the stupid lights.

Maybe sit this one out and let Epcot take the "L".

 

[monothingie]

Why said "Friends" can't re-vitalize WOL is a mystery to me.

Because it takes a decade or more for Disney to do anything.

 

[Raineman]

if you look back, my track record speaks for itself.. Dating back to watching Spectro getting the dumpster treatment with my own eyes before anyone believed that as well

Anyway.. I won't defend it any more.. Believe me, or don't.. I'm just here to share.. and I'm sad to say that WOL was one of my favorites from OG Epcot.. As far as 'whats next' for the space? I have no idea.. No idea if there is anything planned, speculated or otherwise. I mean, logic would dictate 'something' is up.. otherwise why demo WOL? but I digress.

Lets just hope they aren't tearing it out to put in permanent 'storage' ..

The skepticism comes from the fact that dozens upon dozens of members here over the years have claimed to have inside knowledge or know someone at Disney that is feeding them information, and, more often than not, the info they provide is proven to be false. There are a few long time, well known members whose track records make them a trusted source, but, outside of them, it can be hard to trust someone when they say they have information like this.

 

[bmr1591]

I’d just like to state that I’m no insider. My statements come from my own head and the logic of all that’s currently ongoing at Disney and a 50th EPCOT anniversary looming.