since theres very little to do with future now...should Epcot rename the area
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Is it time to drop the "Future" from Future World
- Thread starter Mr_Tom_Morrow
- Start date
Rowdy
Member
Only if they start calling it EPCOINFA.
Experimental Prototype Community of It's Not Futuristic Anymore
PlutosPalace
Banned
I agree that the name does not actually fit anymore but they don't need to change it. I hear this question from time to time and people always respond with "Instead of going through the process of renaming it, maybe they ought to actually make it more of a Future World." The only problem with that is technology is moving so fast these days that by the time they put out something "futuristic" it will probably be more common to us. Think about it, how futuristic can you imagine things? Now, how long until you think those things will be commonplace? Back in the 1960's it might not have been too hard for Walt to dream up futuristic things that would amaze people. These days, not so much.
bgraham34
Well-Known Member
I agree with you.
DisneyFan 2000
Well-Known Member
Really, it's that hard? To imagine that maybe one day we might be living on a planet besides earth... That one day cars will be fueled by completely different energy sources? That maybe people will own private aircrafts as commonly as they own cars now? That we'll find an answer to the world's overpopulation? Find new ways to grow food? Control the weather? Cures to AIDS, cancer? The future of this world is endless... You don't just need to focus on the near future technology to wow people. There are some more distant ideas that could impress guests today while still being far enough out of reach so that Epcot doesn't become stale fast. The only building that would stay problematic is Innoventions because it's basically a show of tomorrow's technology and less so about the distant future.
atsolomon
Well-Known Member
Future World was about more than a forecast of technological trends, it was about a vision of the future. While some of the nuts and bolts of this vision have come to pass (video phones, cheap global communication), I think a coherent and optimistic view of the future is needed more than ever.
Carl Sagan said "The visions we present to our children shape the future. It matters what those visions are. Often they become self-fulfilling prophecies. Dreams are maps."
I'd like to see Disney double down on Future World.
--Adam
Carl Sagan said "The visions we present to our children shape the future. It matters what those visions are. Often they become self-fulfilling prophecies. Dreams are maps."
I'd like to see Disney double down on Future World.
--Adam
Disneydreamer23
Well-Known Member
i 2nd
wolf359
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure Future World was ever as futuristic as some want to believe.
Imagination? Never really about the future. The Land? Not really about the future either, Mickey-shaped pumpkins notwithstanding. Wonders of Life? Babies, Buzzy, and Innerspace: The Ride were either completely non futuristic or more science-fantasy than anything else.
Spaceship Earth, World of Motion, and Universe of Energy were all 90% history lessons; any guesswork about "the future" was left up to post shows or films. Even though The Living Seas tried to tell us its aquarium was somehow futuristic, it would take more than a Hydrolator to make me believe that. C'mon, not even one shark with a frickin' laser on his head? THAT would have been futuristic...
And poor Horizons, the only pavilion that gives us (another) history lesson before actually showing us some concrete and logical guesses about the future was the first pavilion to be completely torn out. Granted, Mission: Space is probably the one pavilion that ended up being the most dead-on in what it guessed about the future; considering the state of our space program even real astronauts will only be pretending to go to Mars for a very long time.
I feel what EPCOT tried to do was create the set-up, give guests a glimpse at what we've accomplished up to now (in other words, focus on what Disney does best; tell an entertaining story) using the main show of the pavilion and leave the "where do we go from here" part up to the guest to imagine for themselves, perhaps guided by a pavilion sponsor willing to invest in a post show that shows where the real industry leaders are actually headed.
The problem with that situation is two-fold. One, guests no longer want to do the imagining about the future for themselves, they want Disney to provide the answer for them, wrapped up neat and tidy. Second, the industry giants sponsoring the various pavilions haven't really been very good at looking to the future either. And if they can't even keep their own companies afloat without outside help, I'm not sure I want them telling me how I'm supposed to be making the future happen.
In a lot of ways, EPCOT has become that last, great shining badge of Disney's naivete. Walt Disney had a lot of confidence in both the American people and the "we can do it" attitude of big business. Even though Walt's EPCOT City concept wasn't actually built, I think a lot of the ideals of that project were a fundamental part of EPCOT Center.
But by the time EPCOT Center was built, the world had changed. Intrigue and inspiration weren't enough, it has to be instant gratification now. Open-ended questions and a lack of thrill rides will no longer be tolerated by the general public. Disney learned their lesson; look at the massive differences in scale, scope, and execution between EPCOT Center and Disney-MGM Studios.
So no, I don't think Future World needs a new name, any more than it did in 1982.
Imagination? Never really about the future. The Land? Not really about the future either, Mickey-shaped pumpkins notwithstanding. Wonders of Life? Babies, Buzzy, and Innerspace: The Ride were either completely non futuristic or more science-fantasy than anything else.
Spaceship Earth, World of Motion, and Universe of Energy were all 90% history lessons; any guesswork about "the future" was left up to post shows or films. Even though The Living Seas tried to tell us its aquarium was somehow futuristic, it would take more than a Hydrolator to make me believe that. C'mon, not even one shark with a frickin' laser on his head? THAT would have been futuristic...
And poor Horizons, the only pavilion that gives us (another) history lesson before actually showing us some concrete and logical guesses about the future was the first pavilion to be completely torn out. Granted, Mission: Space is probably the one pavilion that ended up being the most dead-on in what it guessed about the future; considering the state of our space program even real astronauts will only be pretending to go to Mars for a very long time.
I feel what EPCOT tried to do was create the set-up, give guests a glimpse at what we've accomplished up to now (in other words, focus on what Disney does best; tell an entertaining story) using the main show of the pavilion and leave the "where do we go from here" part up to the guest to imagine for themselves, perhaps guided by a pavilion sponsor willing to invest in a post show that shows where the real industry leaders are actually headed.
The problem with that situation is two-fold. One, guests no longer want to do the imagining about the future for themselves, they want Disney to provide the answer for them, wrapped up neat and tidy. Second, the industry giants sponsoring the various pavilions haven't really been very good at looking to the future either. And if they can't even keep their own companies afloat without outside help, I'm not sure I want them telling me how I'm supposed to be making the future happen.
In a lot of ways, EPCOT has become that last, great shining badge of Disney's naivete. Walt Disney had a lot of confidence in both the American people and the "we can do it" attitude of big business. Even though Walt's EPCOT City concept wasn't actually built, I think a lot of the ideals of that project were a fundamental part of EPCOT Center.
But by the time EPCOT Center was built, the world had changed. Intrigue and inspiration weren't enough, it has to be instant gratification now. Open-ended questions and a lack of thrill rides will no longer be tolerated by the general public. Disney learned their lesson; look at the massive differences in scale, scope, and execution between EPCOT Center and Disney-MGM Studios.
So no, I don't think Future World needs a new name, any more than it did in 1982.
DonChi
Member
jjharvpro
Active Member
Yeah I have come to look at Future World like I do Tomorrowland. Tomorrowland is that future that seems somewhat dated, but the "classic future". No, Future World was not intended to be like Tomorrowland, but I've come to kind of see it that way.
Im sure theres a dead horse around here somewhere but...
I honestly believe if Walt saw what they did with EPCOT he would be furious, from everything ive read of his writings on the park, and all the videos of him explaning the lay of the lands and how the park was supposed to be a show case for the future( future-world in particular). I always beliveved he thought the major companies would be jumping over eachother to show off their new technology. I dont think he ever expected most of the exhibits to last for as many years as Disney has tried to make them. They were supposed to be ahead of their time for the time, and as soon as the real world began to catch up they were supposed to be replaced by the next big thing.
I honestly believe if Walt saw what they did with EPCOT he would be furious, from everything ive read of his writings on the park, and all the videos of him explaning the lay of the lands and how the park was supposed to be a show case for the future( future-world in particular). I always beliveved he thought the major companies would be jumping over eachother to show off their new technology. I dont think he ever expected most of the exhibits to last for as many years as Disney has tried to make them. They were supposed to be ahead of their time for the time, and as soon as the real world began to catch up they were supposed to be replaced by the next big thing.
Cmdr_Crimson
Well-Known Member
Well, there's always the former Project Gemini Name of Future World..Discoveryland.
walterdisney
Member
no!!
i would be very angry if they switch the names... it wouldnt be right!
but i can see where your coming from
i would be very angry if they switch the names... it wouldnt be right!
but i can see where your coming from
menamechris
Well-Known Member
You do know what EPCOT was actually supposed to be right? Walt's EPCOT dissipated when EPCOT became a theme park, instead of an actual city.
PlutosPalace
Banned
Red herring? Who are you a Monty Python actor?
How is it an attempt to divert attention? And from divert what? :ROFLOL:And if you think it would be easy and practical to show the "future" in a theme park setting, then let's hear your ideas?
mp2bill
Well-Known Member
Agreed