-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
News Big changes coming to EPCOT's Future World?
- Thread starter djkidkaz
- Start date
Jayspency
Active Member
- In the Parks
- No
One thing I notice when it comes to modern Disney replacements like the new center of EPCOT is that they're still good, but don't live up to what was there before. I see a lot of negativity about these changes, and I feel like they can be underappreciated because of this. I'm not defending replacing things with inferior successors, but I feel like stuff like the new EPCOT garden center deserves a bit more credit.
Epcot82Guy
Well-Known Member
That is very fair. The problem I see is, in a park like Epcot, it feels more like chasing trends rather than trying to get ahead of them. I realize futurism is a very different beast in the mid 2020s vs. late 1970s. But, this feels contemporary. It doesn't set it apart. That doesn't make it bad design by any stretch, as you noted. But, I highly doubt we get 10 years out of this before it starts to feel highly dated - let alone 20. Some aspects are very good. But, the overall project doesn't have a distinct character. It's just "very nice". I think that's what's missing most.
(Or, on the other hand, a commitment that it will evolve and grow every 5-10 years. That would also work beautifully. But, that's not modern Disney.)
EDIT: And before the critics start, I'm not saying the original and 90s version didn't have their own challenges with this too. But, they were more ambitious and more unique than this one. And, you would think we could learn to create something better after 40 years - so I think it's fair to hold the newest version to a higher standard. Not just recreate a modern-looking version of the same problem (or even worse). They know how to do this. I would argue Disney Springs' Town Center is an example where this type of modern yet timeless design worked.
Bocabear
Well-Known Member
but do you want the core of EPCOT to look like Disney Springs...a place I can visit for free? I say no. I want and expect a theme park with a high admission price to take me to a different place rather than the regular lifestyle shopping center.... I want to be transported to someplace special and unique... This remodel completely failed at that. They settled for a location that looks like places we visit in our regular lives... It lacked creativity and ingenuity... It feels like a budget cut design.... Which, even if it is, it should never feel that way to guests....
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
Epcot82Guy
Well-Known Member
Oh - I fully agree. That wasn't my point. I meant Disney knows how to design to accomplish several goals at once (like timeless, modern and upscale in the case of Disney Springs). Historically, you could find many examples of this - Hollywood Blvd., World Showcase, DAK, etc. I would argue it was the hallmark of Disney Parks design for much of its history. I was referencing Disney Springs just as an example that capability isn't that far in the past.
Is designing a compelling Epcot core difficult? Sure. But, that's what used to be Disney's forte. Creating a space just like you described. Somewhere that transports you to a different place that can only exist at a Disney Park.
DisneyFanatic12
Well-Known Member
For sure! I'm not quite sure what they're using for lights underneath, but they should have waterproofed what's underneath the diffuser as well. Given that the pixels on the trees seem to just be regular square node pixels, I doubt what's under that diffuser is any more interesting than an LED strip or something similar. Anyways, if water is the issue, it just amazes me that they didn't waterproof the LEDs inside of the diffuser, since most all of the issues could have been prevented.
tparris
Well-Known Member
@DreamfinderGuy when you say the ground lights may be fixed by the holidays, do you mean by the start of Festival of the Holidays, or just around the time of actual holiday season?
The Jubilee Year (every 49 years)?
Incomudro
Well-Known Member
I think the lack of ambition as you noted is the biggest failure.
Many aspects of this redo are quite nice - when they function.
But there should be some sort of awe being felt.
DreamfinderGuy
Well-Known Member
Just the holidays in general. Last I heard they want to start work next month, and I'm assuming with a start date like that the work would be finished by Christmas? That was partly speculation on my part, my bad.
Ayla
Well-Known Member
Next month is this week.