EPCOT Creations Shop opening this summer

[michmousefan]

The biggest improvement for me is the restoration of the overhang and pillars between the two buildings. Those replacement breezeways they added (with Innoventions, right?) with the vents and the blue & green colors... ugh.

This is shaping up to be an impressive restoration of the original building. Yes, I wish both sides could have been saved, but I'm pleased with the look so far of CC East.

 

[Jwhee]

The building is turning out so nice. Its a travesty the second one was torn down.

 

[raymusiccity]

The building is turning out so nice. Its a travesty the second one was torn down.

Of course the easy way out was demolition. Otherwise they would have been forced to fill the interiors with something worthwhile!

 

[James Alucobond]

Of course the easy way out was demolition. Otherwise they would have been forced to fill the interiors with something worthwhile!

Tearing the structure down was far from the easy way out. One can argue right or wrong all day, but this is far and away the more costly and time-consuming option, at least in the short term.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Tearing the structure down was far from the easy way out. One can argue right or wrong all day, but this is far and away the more costly and time-consuming option, at least in the short term.

Tear down or renovate and create something new. One is easy, one is difficult. We know which path Disney chose.

 

[James Alucobond]

Tear down or renovate and create something new. One is easy, one is difficult. We know which path Disney chose.

Just because you don't like the path they chose doesn't make it easier. Both options come with unique design challenges, and both would create something new despite your odd insinuation to the contrary. But it's a fact that the option they've gone with has a greater upfront cost and requires a great deal more effort from a construction perspective.

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

Tearing the structure down was far from the easy way out. One can argue right or wrong all day, but this is far and away the more costly and time-consuming option, at least in the short term.

More costly and time consuming, sure. That doesn't mean it's not easier. Filling the CommuniCores would've required some thinking outside the box for actual worthwhile content, instead we got some fountains and a wide variety of nothing in place of the building allegedly not even designed by them that was only gonna sell a wide variety of upcharges in the first place.

 

[J4546]

i like what theyre doing to epcot. i cant wait for it to be finished though

 

[James Alucobond]

More costly and time consuming, sure. That doesn't mean it's not easier. Filling the CommuniCores would've required some thinking outside the box for actual worthwhile content, instead we got some fountains and a wide variety of nothing in place of the building allegedly not even designed by them that was only gonna sell a wide variety of upcharges in the first place.

In the Journey of Water thread, I believe it was stated by folks in the know that the plan for the other half of CommuniCore, if maintained, was meet-and-greets, exhibition space, additional food and beverage options, and a theater. With that in mind, I think it's clear maintaining the indoor space would not have forced them to be any more creative than they're being now.

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

In the Journey of Water thread, I believe it was stated by folks in the know that the plan for the other half of CommuniCore, if maintained, was meet-and-greets, exhibition space, additional food and beverage options, and a theater. With that in mind, I think it's clear maintaining the indoor space would not have forced them to be any more creative than they're being now.

Exhibition space alone would’ve. Plus, a retrofit of an existing structure sets boundaries that a fresh build doesn’t.

 

[sedati]

More costly and time consuming, sure. That doesn't mean it's not easier. Filling the CommuniCores would've required some thinking outside the box for actual worthwhile content, instead we got some fountains and a wide variety of nothing in place of the building allegedly not even designed by them that was only gonna sell a wide variety of upcharges in the first place.

I love that your "out of the box" thinking involves just keeping things in a box.

 

[lazyboy97o]

In the Journey of Water thread, I believe it was stated by folks in the know that the plan for the other half of CommuniCore, if maintained, was meet-and-greets, exhibition space, additional food and beverage options, and a theater. With that in mind, I think it's clear maintaining the indoor space would not have forced them to be any more creative than they're being now.

It was more space that had to be filled with content. Coming up with five good ideas requires more creativity than coming up with three.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I love that your "out of the box" thinking involves just keeping things in a box.

Yes, because a smaller, more restrict box is better.

 

[James Alucobond]

It was more space that had to be filled with content. Coming up with five good ideas requires more creativity than coming up with three.

As far as I recall from the discussion, everything that would have been planned for the refurbished CommuniCore was still happening, the lone exception being the theater, which was replaced with Journey of Water. Some meet-and-greets were still to happen in World Celebration with others displaced to PLAY!, and additional exhibition space and food and beverage options were to be included in the festival center (and presumably still will be in the festival area). I thought most of the displeasure stemmed from the lack of practical functionality due to the exhibition space being elevated and the fact that the indoor square footage has been significantly reduced in a climate that desperately needs shade and air conditioning in the summer. I get that, plus the fact that it's problematic to lose half of a planned space. On the other hand, I don't really get being bothered by losing another theater. Aren't there already, like, 7 in the park, plus more attached to Wonders of Life that they could resurrect if they actually cared?

 

[sedati]

Yes, because a smaller, more restrict box is better.

I wish the other parks had more flex space, but certainly not as a hub. Smaller structures should be more purpose built and break up this monlithic expanse.
To repeat myself:
Communicore acted as a berm in the center of the park.
Communicore contained the appendix and footnotes in what is essentially chapter 2- it was essentially Future World's post-show.
Communicore offered flexibility in what should be the most stable section of the park- its spine.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I wish the other parks had more flex space, but certainly not as a hub. Smaller structures should be more purpose built and break up this monlithic expanse.
To repeat myself:
Communicore acted as a berm in the center of the park.
Communicore contained the appendix and footnotes in what is essentially chapter 2- it was essentially Future World's post-show.
Communicore offered flexibility in what should be the most stable section of the park- its spine.

None of that was going to be fixed. The original plan that may not happen just replaced the berm of CommuniCore with an actual earthen berm. A festival center by its nature should not be stable.

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

On the other hand, I don't really get being bothered by losing another theater. Aren't there already, like, 7 in the park, plus more attached to Wonders of Life that they could resurrect if they actually cared?

Theatre show allegedly themed to Wall-E, one of the very few Disney IPs that actually makes sense to put at EPCOT. Yeah, that’s a loss, especially when you consider it’s replacement is fountains, something there’s also “7 of in the park”. To your very point literally all they’re doing now is a worse and more expensive/time consuming version of what they would’ve done leaving the CommuniCore alone. That would’ve been functional, practical, preserved an integral part of park infrastructure, and kept the core symmetrical. Definition of having your cake and eating it too. But no, fountains and nothing!

And no, all the ones in Wonders of Life were demolished.

 

[James Alucobond]

I generally agree that I would have preferred they preserve CommuniCore, but it is what it is. They chose this route, and I guess my point is that, at least in terms of what was planned even had the complete CommuniCore stayed, I don't feel like I'm missing out on all that much that would have interested me aside from shade. I also think it's unfair to compare a theater experience we'll never know anything about to Journey of Water, which we currently also know next to nothing about. I'm curious to see how it turns out.

And sad to hear that about the WoL theaters. I'd heard the southern one was pretty much done-zo, but I thought the northernmost one might mostly remain.

 

[sedati]

None of that was going to be fixed. The original plan that may not happen just replaced the berm of CommuniCore with an actual earthen berm. A festival center by its nature should not be stable.

The festival center seemed more a much needed transition element from Future World to World Showcase. It isn't central, and doesn't obstruct from what I could tell. As for calling the rest of the replacement a berm, we'll have to see. My sense is it will offer clear paths to the pavillions with subtle elements that will guide you into the theme of each.

 

[doctornick]

It was more space that had to be filled with content. Coming up with five good ideas requires more creativity than coming up with three.

It doesn’t require much of any creativity to close off a section of a building and make it backstage. Or to just put a bunch of table and chairs up and make some seating for dining. And we all know that’s what they’d have done with the building if left standing, not some awesome new attraction themed to classic Epcot Center.

Disney finally got around to putting something more permanent in the old WoL building. I’m assuming most people bemoaning the loss of Communicore west are really excited about Play, right?