News EPCOT's World Showcase concrete improvements move to the Japan pavilion

raymusiccity

raymusiccity

Well-Known Member
"I love the smell of fresh sidewalks in the morning!"
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Prototype82

Prototype82

Well-Known Member
James Alucobond said:
My experience has generally been that there’s a fairly organic mix that speaks to the evolution of the space over time. I am a bit mixed on this change as I liked the stamped fan pattern, but I think @Prototype82 is correct with regard to the fact that they just want a slightly more consistent and natural transition and will keep the charm of the stamped stone around the shop entrances and the back part of the square. I am kind of curious about how this will look when finished, though. There’s something that feels a bit geometrically weird about what they’re doing, but I’ll reserve judgment until they’re done.
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I'm hoping the contrast in shape works as well. I can't agree more on the Old World feel of the stamped fan pattern. I do see this as kind of a misstep. But reserving judgement also.
Sir_Cliff said:
Discussing these kinds of things is what my life has come to, I suppose.
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There's always going to be that one person who thinks we're overkill. lol. But the truth is that these pavilions have been telling a certain story for decades with very deliberate design decisions that all add up.
 
boufa

boufa

Well-Known Member
Prototype82 said:
There's always going to be that one person who thinks we're overkill. lol. But the truth is that these pavilions have been telling a certain story for decades with very deliberate design decisions that all add up.
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Hopefully more than 1 person.

I disagree with your premise that it's deliberate. I think it adds up mostly because we are used to it and it provides contrast between pavillions. With all of the glaring holes, I find it surprising that anyone thinks these pavilions have any sort of accuracy. They are suggestive of their home countries, and for the 90% of people who visit Epcot and will never get to these countries, they are close enough to do the job.

(I will say that there is a street corner in Marseille, France that when I stood there recently for the first time I thought "This reminds me of Epcot")
 
J

James Alucobond

Well-Known Member
Now that I think about it, once Germany is done, Italy is probably next since they've redone the pavement at Morocco, France, Japan, and Germany in quick succession, leaving Italy as the only one surrounding America that hasn't been touched to my knowledge. I suppose it did get some attention when they put in the permanent gelato shop, though.
 
A

Aschwenker

Member
boufa said:
Hopefully more than 1 person.

I disagree with your premise that it's deliberate. I think it adds up mostly because we are used to it and it provides contrast between pavillions. With all of the glaring holes, I find it surprising that anyone thinks these pavilions have any sort of accuracy. They are suggestive of their home countries, and for the 90% of people who visit Epcot and will never get to these countries, they are close enough to do the job.

(I will say that there is a street corner in Marseille, France that when I stood there recently for the first time I thought "This reminds me of Epcot")
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Having just returned from a trip to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, on which the Germany pavilion is based, and Paris; I can say the building accuracy is alarmingly on par. My wife and I commented on how remarkably similar both places looked to their country's pavilions.

I forget where I read it, but when Disney was designing the EPCOT pavilions, back when the countries were still invovled, Disney wanted to replicate Berlin or Cologne and the German delegation refused and insisted on using Rothenburg. The glockenspiel and fountain at the heart of the EPCOT pavilion are based on similar items in Rothenburg.

Side note, Rothenburg was also the inspiration for the set design in Pinocchio and served as the capital of Vulgaria in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The roads and sidewalks in Rothenburg absolutely use the fan cobblestone pattern. I hope Disney doesn't replicate the unevenness of the cobblestones though...
 
tparris

tparris

Well-Known Member
Slightly off-topic, but it still has to do with concrete in EPCOT. Does anyone here have any idea when they might start replacing the pavement in World Discovery, specifically around the breezeway? The crazy pattern that’s there now really clashes with the aesthetic of all the redevelopments in that area of the park. Based on concept art and what we’ve already seen in other areas, it seems they’re going to redo essentially all of the pavement in the park at some point. I’m curious as to why it hasn’t been done in World Discovery yet considering that side of the park is all but complete now aside from Play.
 
Haymarket2008

Haymarket2008

Well-Known Member
tparris said:
Slightly off-topic, but it still has to do with concrete in EPCOT. Does anyone here have any idea when they might start replacing the pavement in World Discovery, specifically around the breezeway? The crazy pattern that’s there now really clashes with the aesthetic of all the redevelopments in that area of the park. Based on concept art and what we’ve already seen in other areas, it seems they’re going to redo essentially all of the pavement in the park at some point. I’m curious as to why it hasn’t been done in World Discovery yet considering that side of the park is all but complete now aside from Play.
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Have been wondering the same thing. It looks like they've only done the area surrounding Guardians and thats it.
 
J

James Alucobond

Well-Known Member
I'm sure they'll just do it in chunks at some point like they do everywhere else. The exit from Connections is in the new style, so I doubt they abandoned their plans. Otherwise, they'd have matched it.
 
michmousefan

michmousefan

Well-Known Member
tparris said:
Slightly off-topic, but it still has to do with concrete in EPCOT. Does anyone here have any idea when they might start replacing the pavement in World Discovery, specifically around the breezeway? The crazy pattern that’s there now really clashes with the aesthetic of all the redevelopments in that area of the park. Based on concept art and what we’ve already seen in other areas, it seems they’re going to redo essentially all of the pavement in the park at some point. I’m curious as to why it hasn’t been done in World Discovery yet considering that side of the park is all but complete now aside from Play.
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I would think they are waiting until the rest of the paths west to World Nature are set, so looking more like 2029.
 
tparris

tparris

Well-Known Member
Bumping this thread as more pavement has been replaced in between Cosmic Rewind and Connections, and they’ve finally begun slicing up some pavement in FW West/World Nature, over by The Seas. They’re also starting to prep some pavement for replacement in front of the Locker & Restroom area by the West construction bypass. A lot of the old walkways really are quite rough looking, with cracks and tons of obvious patchwork having accumulated over the years, so this is a nice update. I’ve also grown to prefer the new style of concrete in FW, I find my shoes have a better grip with the new walkways, not to mention I think it looks much nicer as well with the flowing lines and different shades. I can’t believe I just wrote a paragraph about concrete lol
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J

James Alucobond

Well-Known Member
tparris said:
Also, there’s a spot by the monorail station that’s been filled in with plywood for a while now, but today I saw a guy measuring or leveling it with something.View attachment 670777View attachment 670778
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That’s where the ground-level signage for the monorail is supposed to go, seen here:
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Hopefully that means they’re close to replacing it.

Also worth noting that World Showcase pavement is progressing as well, having moved on to Italy and China.
 
D

DisneyfanMA

Well-Known Member
tparris said:
Bumping this thread as more pavement has been replaced in between Cosmic Rewind and Connections, and they’ve finally begun slicing up some pavement in FW West/World Nature, over by The Seas. They’re also starting to prep some pavement for replacement in front of the Locker & Restroom area by the West construction bypass. A lot of the old walkways really are quite rough looking, with cracks and tons of obvious patchwork having accumulated over the years, so this is a nice update. I’ve also grown to prefer the new style of concrete in FW, I find my shoes have a better grip with the new walkways, not to mention I think it looks much nicer as well with the flowing lines and different shades. I can’t believe I just wrote a paragraph about concrete lol
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Thanks for this update. Gets me excited with anticipation.... I'll be at this very spot in about 40 days to end our week there.
 

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