Epcot and IPs: Good or Bad?

DisneyManOne

DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Fresh off the success of Frozen Ever After, rumors have been flying around like wildfire that Guardians of the Galaxy will be coming to Epcot, thus sparking many theories about a veritable IP takeover plaguing the park.

First Nemo, then Three Caballeros, now Frozen and possibly Guardians? What's next? What's your stance on the matter of Epcot and IPs? Is it good that they're bringing them in, or is it downright heresy?

Honestly, to me, it feels like we're going through a repeat of the Eisner/Pressler years (just replace Eisner with Iger and Pressler with Chapek)...
 
orlando678-

orlando678-

Well-Known Member
I know Epcot needs the growth in popularity, but I personally believe the way they are using the IP ruins the Epcot theme. Instead of using Inside Out to bring back Wonders of Life in a edutaining way, they will most likely give it a more story like way, and guardians of the galaxy doesnt even have a link to Epcots themes. It will be a big mess to see the different themes from old Epcot clash with new Epcot. I think Disney should have re-thought the park by combining IP with non-IP and using them in the Epcot edutainment idea. Think about exciting new innovative rides next to a Ratatouille ride explaining something about France's culinary side.
 
Tom

Tom

Beta Return
DisneyManOne said:
Honestly, to me, it feels like we're going through a repeat of the Eisner/Pressler years (just replace Eisner with Iger and Pressler with Chapek)...
Click to expand...

The difference being that Eisner was good for the parks.

I feel like I'll just be part of the losing bandwagon if I am against IPs, because that's obviously the way it's headed. They're not getting any corporate or international/country sponsors, so they're having to use their own brands.

And I guess when I look at it that way, I'd rather they use Disney products than 3rd party (i.e. Avatar).
 
Cmdr_Crimson

Cmdr_Crimson

Well-Known Member
DisneyManOne said:
Fresh off the success of Frozen Ever After, rumors have been flying around like wildfire that Guardians of the Galaxy will be coming to Epcot, thus sparking many theories about a veritable IP takeover plaguing the park.

First Nemo, then Three Caballeros, now Frozen and possibly Guardians? What's next? What's your stance on the matter of Epcot and IPs? Is it good that they're bringing them in, or is it downright heresy?

Honestly, to me, it feels like we're going through a repeat of the Eisner/Pressler years (just replace Eisner with Iger and Pressler with Chapek)...
Click to expand...

I'm just going to leave this here.......
epcot-94-barbie-birthday-party-walt_1_6413807c948e3021037ef527d7be38c9.jpg
 
Seabasealpha1

Seabasealpha1

Well-Known Member
To me, IF they can use those IP's to accomplish what EPCOT Center was intended to do, I have no issue.

The Seas, was a missed oppoortunity. They had every chance to make that a learning experience. Mr. Ray could have taught us about the seas and about how what we're discovering about them will contribute to the future of mankind. It could have still been fun and taught us something...

But instead we got a crappy rehash of the Submarine Voyage at DL. And every time I ride it, it feels half done...

So, if they want to use Gaurdians of the Galaxy to teach us something about energy, spaceflight, health, etc...then, I'm great with it. If they want to use cultural IP's to teach us about the countries of the world, then great...

But, if they just wanna rehash movies and IP's...they have two other whole parks to do that in...Epcot doesn't need to be one too...
 
epcotWSC

epcotWSC

Well-Known Member
I don't mind the IPs too much as long as they don't take away from everything else. Each of the countries should be a showcase of that culture. Just don't shove the characters down our throats. IP rides should be done tastefully with a nod to that culture. For Future World, again, if they use IP to teach and give awe about scientific advancement and the future, then why not? If they're just throwing IP to make a ride based on some random movie, then it's bad.
 
World_Showcase_Lover007

World_Showcase_Lover007

Well-Known Member
I agree with much of the above. An IP can be used if it makes an old, out dated attraction better, but they shouldn't be used just to promote a movie. I believe that The Living Seas with Nemo and Friends is the perfect example of an IP gone wrong. It replaced a quality attraction (albeit a bit outdated one) with one that is of far lesser quality. If an IP doesn't fit, then the Imagineers simply need to design something generic that is enjoyable and long-lasting...aka what they used to do.
 
M

morningstar

Well-Known Member
My preference: no IPs. What Epcot can do is inspire with original ideas. Something you've never seen before. That's what it's about. When you see something new and amazing, you believe people can make new and amazing things. When you see something based on IP, you think people can crank things out of a factory with a cartoon face slapped on and people will buy it.

I mean, Mulan should appear in China, etc. That's just fine and it doesn't detract from all the actual Chinese cultural stuff they have there. I admit, I've defended Frozen Ever After. It is rooted in Norwegian culture. But it maybe is a bit too much. It's easy to forget that Norway is a real place. Maelstrom reminded you of that. It wasn't just about trolls. It was also about offshore oil platforms. And Norway isn't just about long-haired blond Vikings. It's also about blond schoolboys not that different from American boys, touching a ship and remembering "the spirit of Norway".

Nemo was the perfect idea of an IP to use in Epcot. It wasn't very well-executed, that's all. If they have to do IP, that's the kind of appropriate match they should go for. "Do we have an IP appropriate for the message?" Not, "We have this IP, where can we put it?" I can't see how Guardians of the Galaxy fits anywhere in Epcot.
 
The Empress Lilly

The Empress Lilly

Well-Known Member
EPCOT doesn t need IPs. EPCOT itself is the biggest and best IP Disney has ever created. It just doesn't realise it. The way it took TWDC fifty years to understand that Disney Princesses were there second biggest IP.
 
Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
Tom said:
The difference being that Eisner was good for the parks.

I feel like I'll just be part of the losing bandwagon if I am against IPs, because that's obviously the way it's headed. They're not getting any corporate or international/country sponsors, so they're having to use their own brands.

And I guess when I look at it that way, I'd rather they use Disney products than 3rd party (i.e. Avatar).
Click to expand...
I'm not saying you're right or wrong, but, it should be remembered that Imagination was changed eventually to what we got during his stewardship. Draw your own conclusions from that.

The IP's are fine and for the most part they are NOW Disney properties. I don't see any reason to not use them or to be concerned that they didn't think of it originally. I'm pretty sure the Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Mary Poppins and even the backstory of Splash Mtn. was from an outside source. If it is done well it really doesn't matter at all who thought of it first. There wouldn't be much in those four parks if it all had to be from inside the office.
 
Rinx

Rinx

Well-Known Member
I don't like it at all. But the fact of the matter is it's no longer EPCOT, it's Epcot. So creativity and innovation are far from the core idea of the park now.
 
M

morningstar

Well-Known Member
Goofyernmost said:
The IP's are fine and for the most part they are NOW Disney properties. I don't see any reason to not use them or to be concerned that they didn't think of it originally. I'm pretty sure the Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Mary Poppins and even the backstory of Splash Mtn. was from an outside source. If it is done well it really doesn't matter at all who thought of it first. There wouldn't be much in those four parks if it all had to be from inside the office.
Click to expand...

That's all fine for the Magic Kingdom, and of course Hollywood Studios is going to have movie-inspired stuff. Epcot is different, and so is Animal Kingdom. I guess there are a couple IP properties in Animal Kingdom, but it should be about real animals for the most part. If they felt like everything had to have IP, it would be Tarzan's Safari instead of Kilimanjaro Safaris.
 
Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
morningstar said:
That's all fine for the Magic Kingdom, and of course Hollywood Studios is going to have movie-inspired stuff. Epcot is different, and so is Animal Kingdom. I guess there are a couple IP properties in Animal Kingdom, but it should be about real animals for the most part. If they felt like everything had to have IP, it would be Tarzan's Safari instead of Kilimanjaro Safaris.
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I suppose, but, someplace along the line we are going to have to accept that Epcot hasn't been EPCOT Ctr. for many years now. It still is different because you don't see many other parks like it in the world, however, it's past mission is no longer. Now it must entertain, edutainment, although given a place in Epcot is no longer the purpose.

AK, has a unique problem. Not everything has to have an IP and not everything does, but, having one is not necessarily a bad thing. Just what else can we do with animals that hasn't already been addressed. Does that mean that Everest shouldn't ever have been built because the Yeti is really a fictional character. There isn't much else it could be without becoming a Zoo. Dinosaurs no longer exist... they shouldn't be there. And that awful roadside carnival, there with a background story, but, primarily to give people something to do besides stare at trees.

Erase all those past things and see them for what they evolved into. Most people never even give the general theme a moments thought. It just is a thorn in the side of those that either can't or won't accept that things change as all things must or they die on the vine.
 

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