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what's wrong with Epcot

fbp

fbp

Well-Known Member
I miss the sense of optimism EPCOT gave me as a child. The EPCOT exhibits no longer invigorate me in a unique way. It's still a lot of fun, but not revelatory.
 
Now Is The Time

Now Is The Time

Member
IMHO, it just seems that Future World isn't very high on Disney's priority list. Over the years they put in Soarin', Test Track (still miss WOM), Mission Space (miss Horizons even more), added Nemo to the Seas and they messed around with Journey Into Imagination more than once. However, it's the lack of work or dare I say it, lack of complete concern about other attractions. Wonders Of Life just sits there looking like a condemned building just waiting for the bulldozer. Ellen's Energy Adventure is WAY outdated after 15 years and don't even get me started with Journey Into Imagination. They did a very so-so "update" to Spaceship Earth and not only has Honey I Shrunk The Audience run it's course for way too many years - Disney plans to bring it back after the Captain Eo run! That's mind boggling.

I still enjoy Future World but it certainly doesn't spark the imagination or inspire me anymore. It kinda lost it's heart in a matter of speaking... at least for me.
 
RiversideBunny

RiversideBunny

New Member
Future World at EPCOT seems to be a hodge podge of things, not that that's a flaw. It catches whatever doesn't seem to fit in one of the other parks.
Things there are sort of discovery, or space, or flight, or scientific oriented, or related to how technology has progressed, but they have to also be entertaining. 'Boring' is the enemy of Future World.

WDW does need to put some budget money into the outdated HISTA attraction and do something with Wonders of Life (loved Cranium Command).


'A thing is not perfect unless it has room for improvement.'

:)
 
Animaniac93-98

Animaniac93-98

Well-Known Member
jakeman said:
There is nothing wrong with Epcot.

Epcot's purpose has always been the same: to extend vacations at WDW and provide revenue for TWDC.

They just changed the way it was marketed.
Click to expand...

This sums up everything, along with attendance figures.

How many of the nearly 11 million people who visited last year hate The Living Seas out of principle for including characters from one of the company's biggest hits? I'm guessing not many.

Only Imagination! arguably is "wrong" because it may not be the best thing to convince people to go through the entrance turnstiles.
 
raven

raven

Well-Known Member
I think the problem with Future World really isn't Disney's fault. Technology advances so fast now that no matter what they build seems to be outdated quickly. How do you keep up with that? Most of it would have to be referbed yearly if they tried to. It's like buying a computer: the day after you get it, it's outdated. A simple name change for "Future World" would solve a lot of problems with that.
 
K

Krack

Active Member
fosse76 said:
I agree. It's very difficult to theme anything to the future, since the future is unpredictable.
Click to expand...

This is going to blow your mind. While it was called "Future World", the area of EPCOT Center was themed to Education and History. The "future" portion of every pavilion was typically a small portion at the conclusion of the featured attraction (that was concerned primarily with the history of a particular topic). It was designed that way for just the reason you present in the portion I quoted above.

The "future" portion was small and intended to be constantly updated to stay current. The historical portion was grand and expensive and designed to stay the same with minimal maintenance (because "history" doesn't change).

Management FUBARed Future World by ignoring the "future" portions and spending cash on, altering and in some instances, demolishing the long-term historical components. Recent management are idiots. The original designers? Not so much. There was a lot of foresight utilized.
 
Astronaut Jones

Astronaut Jones

New Member
I agree with most of what's being said here, but I don't really understand the opposition to the induction of Nemo into The Living Seas. I think it brought new life to the ride, and I don't see how it dumbs down the ride.
 
misterID

misterID

Well-Known Member
raven said:
I think the problem with Future World really isn't Disney's fault. Technology advances so fast now that no matter what they build seems to be outdated quickly. How do you keep up with that? Most of it would have to be referbed yearly if they tried to. It's like buying a computer: the day after you get it, it's outdated. A simple name change for "Future World" would solve a lot of problems with that.
Click to expand...

Technology has nothing to do with it. They could create a future that couldn't be replicated for a thousand years. No matter how outdated Horizons was, the outdatedness had nothing to do with its vision of the future and or its tech. We're not even close to seeing any of that brought to life.

There's no doubt imagineers could create something futuristic and cool.The rides changing had nothing to do with future tech becoming outdated. TT came about because of the sponsership. Same with M:S with HP and Imagination with Kodac. They need to fix that. Let the Imagineers create a future world. World of Motion fit futureworld because of the future city, which I have to admit I've always thought was on of the coolest parts of any disney ride.
 
jakeman

jakeman

Well-Known Member
Krack said:
This is going to blow your mind. While it was called "Future World", the area of EPCOT Center was themed to Education and History. The "future" portion of every pavilion was typically a small portion at the conclusion of the featured attraction (that was concerned primarily with the history of a particular topic). It was designed that way for just the reason you present in the portion I quoted above.

The "future" portion was small and intended to be constantly updated to stay current. The historical portion was grand and expensive and designed to stay the same with minimal maintenance (because "history" doesn't change).

Management FUBARed Future World by ignoring the "future" portions and spending cash on, altering and in some instances, demolishing the long-term historical components. Recent management are idiots. The original designers? Not so much. There was a lot of foresight utilized.
Click to expand...
Nope. Much more simple than that.

Disney was faultering in the late 70s and decided to mutate Walt Disney's last idea into a theme park.

They developed a brilliant marketing plan, so brilliant infact that a very small group of people still cling to it today.

However, it was just marketing, that's all; just ideas to move the turnstiles.
 
mpeters

mpeters

Active Member
So what the majority of you are saying is that EPCOT is not worth to go anymore? That's fine by me!!! Less people I have to deal with when I go. I see a lot of negativity on these boards anymore with regards to how Disney is "dumbing down" things or taking the cheaper way out with regards to refurbs or new attractions. Ask yourself this: Do you not enjoy yourself when you visit WDW? Are these things truly in your mind when you are walking into the park for the first time on your trip? If they are you need a life. Disney is a corporation and the almighty $$$ is their ultimate goal........not satifying a small percentage of customers with keeping rides the same. I personally like the NEMO ride now....................

Just my take on it...............

Let the riots begin
 

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