Tate-316
New Member
I don't like this new trend at Epcot. I am all about evolution, updating, and re-imagining. But "the powers that be" seem to have lost their vision of what differentiates Epcot. Being educated and entertained at the same time. Will the new UoE deliver on maintaining the education aspect? Doesn't look like it if after what they did with Maelstrom/Frozen and what they look to be doing with Ratatouille/France... Will the new China movie include Mulan? Will Mission Space include Wall-E or Tron or similar?
Lots of entertainment, no one can argue that. Lots of immersion, no one can argue that either. But what happened to learning a little something along the way? What happened to piquing your interest in science, culture, art, history, or exploration? That's what the orginal EPCOT Center is rooted in. If Imagineering can no longer do all of this without the assistance of large franchise characters and stories to drive attendance then Imagineering has lost its way. If the attraction story is no longer concerned with piquing interest in science, culture, art, history, or exploration, then Disney management has lost its way. If Disney World customers don't demand attractions that can deliver on a slightly higher academic ground (at least at Epcot), then "we" have lost our way as some zombie-like society that is attracted to loud noises and shiny objects.
Every other major theme park in the world can deliver on pure entertainment. Walt's vision of Epcot (that is Walt of Walt Disney World; remember that guy?) was much, much different. (start at 10:55 ). Clearly it was never possible to deliver on Walt's original vision of Epcot without Walt, but Epcot opened and differentiated itself from the rest of the pack. It has been devolving since. I am no defender of any dated attraction NOT being updated or re-imagined, as this is directly aligned with Walt's vision for all his parks. I am however a staunch opponent of homogenizing park attractions with movie franchises in a way that diminishes the academic/education differentiators. The new Frozen Maelstrom should be in Fantasyland. GotG belongs in Hollywood Studios or some other land/park. Ratatouille... well if Impressions de France becomes a memory to make way for this, I'm going to seriously lose my mental and have a really mean face next time I'm at Epcot.
Lots of entertainment, no one can argue that. Lots of immersion, no one can argue that either. But what happened to learning a little something along the way? What happened to piquing your interest in science, culture, art, history, or exploration? That's what the orginal EPCOT Center is rooted in. If Imagineering can no longer do all of this without the assistance of large franchise characters and stories to drive attendance then Imagineering has lost its way. If the attraction story is no longer concerned with piquing interest in science, culture, art, history, or exploration, then Disney management has lost its way. If Disney World customers don't demand attractions that can deliver on a slightly higher academic ground (at least at Epcot), then "we" have lost our way as some zombie-like society that is attracted to loud noises and shiny objects.
Every other major theme park in the world can deliver on pure entertainment. Walt's vision of Epcot (that is Walt of Walt Disney World; remember that guy?) was much, much different. (start at 10:55 ). Clearly it was never possible to deliver on Walt's original vision of Epcot without Walt, but Epcot opened and differentiated itself from the rest of the pack. It has been devolving since. I am no defender of any dated attraction NOT being updated or re-imagined, as this is directly aligned with Walt's vision for all his parks. I am however a staunch opponent of homogenizing park attractions with movie franchises in a way that diminishes the academic/education differentiators. The new Frozen Maelstrom should be in Fantasyland. GotG belongs in Hollywood Studios or some other land/park. Ratatouille... well if Impressions de France becomes a memory to make way for this, I'm going to seriously lose my mental and have a really mean face next time I'm at Epcot.
