Animal Kingdom overtakes Epcot

[joshjoned]

Epcot sorely needs an overhaul.......too bad it's getting passed over.

DCA got one and Studios is getting something promising but EPCOT is being neglected for a an overhaul

2021

 

[Mickey5150]

I think it reflects very poorly on EPCOT. I think the truth of the matter is EPCOT is dated, has been ignored and is overall just not fun. Yes, it has its fans and plenty of them on this forum. But I only go to EPCOT when I feel guilty for going to the other three parks so much more than EPCOT. Also, the festivals are an attendance gimmick. I have no clue why nobody calls Disney on that. Food and Wine, Festival of the Arts and so on and so forth are all invented to boost EPCOT's attendance. Without those festivals, I have a hard time believing EPCOT could match either park at Universal Orlando Resort in attendance.

Rides, shows, characters, everything in a theme park is an attendance gimmick. The Festivals are part of what make Epcot unique.

 

[justintheharris]

Rides, shows, characters, everything in a theme park is an attendance gimmick. The Festivals are part of what make Epcot unique.

No, it’s a “let’s invest little money and hyping up an event that consists of nothing more than some info stands around the park and some temporarily available unique food items.” If the festivals disappeared, Epcot’s attendance would be embarrassing.
There’s a difference between the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and things like Epcot’s festivals and Municberg in Hollywood Studios.

 

[Jeff456]

It may do briefly but Rataouille isn't a great ride. Having been on the Paris one I won't be rushing to Epcot to try the new one.

That said I'd have Epcot as my number 2 park so if it's quieter its fine by me!

I'm in agreement about Ratatouille I was slightly disappointed it's a good ride but it didn't blow me away..

 

[erasure fan1]

if that's the case, you could argue that mickey's not so scary, and the Merry Christmas party are attendance gimmicks as well. Nothing wrong with attendance gimmicks if people like them.

I think the difference is that if you take away the parties from magic kingdom, it's still number one. Epcot could drop to last without the Festivals. Yes, everything they do is technically an attendance gimmick. But the epcot festivals are soley for the purpose of milking attendance without having to spend any money and actually fix the park in my opinion.

 

[FutureCEO]

Too bad that Epcot overhaul that it will get will be horrible. Epcot is my favorite park along with Animal Kingdom but Disney ruins it with all the characters all the time.

 

[Damon7777]

overhaul that it will get will be horrible.

What's with this "overhaul" for EPCOT so many of you keeping talking about?

There is no overhaul, none.

 

[Damon7777]

Are you folk taking about the 2 rides, one of which is a clone, and 1 restaurant additions?

If this were an earthquake it would register a 3.2 on the Richter scale....... nothing too earthshaking is planned, unfortunately.

 

[joshjoned]

I think the difference is that if you take away the parties from magic kingdom, it's still number one. Epcot could drop to last without the Festivals. Yes, everything they do is technically an attendance gimmick. But the epcot festivals are soley for the purpose of milking attendance without having to spend any money and actually fix the park in my opinion.

But the people enjoy the festivals, so what's the issue? You guys are complaining for the sake of complaining. Festivals are part of Epcot's appeal, and it's no different than MK's christmas and Halloween parties. They are attendance gimmicks solely for those particular parks. So you can't subtract from Epcot's attendance because of festivals, because festivals are part of Epcot.

And of course MK would still be the #1 park, as it was designed largely based on the original Disney park in CA. One could argue far less thought was put into MK compared to the other 3 parks. They essentially just remade what many considered a masterpiece, but made it bigger.

 

[joshjoned]

Are you folk taking about the 2 rides, one of which is a clone, and 1 restaurant additions?

If this were an earthquake it would register a 3.2 on the Richter scale....... nothing too earthshaking is planned, unfortunately.

Epcot's not a ride park, never has been, though in terms of rides it's on par with Hollywood Studios and AK. Neither of those two parks have a lot of rides

 

[justintheharris]

Epcot's not a ride park, never has been, though in terms of rides it's on par with Hollywood Studios and AK. Neither of those two parks have a lot of rides

Flight of Passage, Everest, the Safari at Animal Kingdom and Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania and the new Star Wars rides are not in any way on the same level as Test Track or Soarin’.

 

[joshjoned]

Flight of Passage, Everest, the Safari at Animal Kingdom and Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania and the new Star Wars rides are not in any way on the same level as Test Track or Soarin’.

that's all opinion based, isn't it?

 

[Damon7777]

Epcot's not a ride park,

OK, you lost me now

I basically said since Epcot is only getting a restaurant and 2 rides 'overhaul' is the wrong word to describe the planned changes.

And you respond with an irrelevant
Epcot is not a ride park, as if I said it.

Furthermore what's this "ride park" distinction you're talking about? All four WDW parks have rides. All four have headlining shows and diversions as well. And all four rely heavily on rides. None of the 4 could stand without rides.

 

[TwilightZone]

What's with this "overhaul" for EPCOT so many of you keeping talking about?

There is no overhaul, none.

It was announced during D23. And talked about by Marni. And has just begun with Guardians.

EDIT: And has concept art.

Basically the entire park is gonna change soon. How much is not known, but I'm expecting almost everything to be replaced.

 

[Mickey5150]

No, it’s a “let’s invest little money and hyping up an event that consists of nothing more than some info stands around the park and some temporarily available unique food items.” If the festivals disappeared, Epcot’s attendance would be embarrassing.
There’s a difference between the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and things like Epcot’s festivals and Municberg in Hollywood Studios.

Actually the festivals are many talented people sharing what they love with others. People love to dump on Disney for these festivals but the work that goes into Epcot every year probably puts many of their other park enhancements to shame.

 

[joshjoned]

Actually the festivals are many talented people sharing what they love with others. People love to dump on Disney for these festivals but the work that goes into Epcot every year probably puts many of their other park enhancements to shame.

I have no doubt the culinary team works hard too.

Funny how Epcot gets bashed for the festivals being "attendance gimmicks", while MK gets a free pass, despite arguably having more "attendance gimmicks" than the other three parks combined.

 

[joshjoned]

OK, you lost me now

I basically said since Epcot is only getting a restaurant and 2 rides 'overhaul' is the wrong word to describe the planned changes.

And you respond with an irrelevant
Epcot is not a ride park, as if I said it.

Furthermore what's this "ride park" distinction you're talking about? All four WDW parks have rides. All four have headlining shows and diversions as well. And all four rely heavily on rides. None of the 4 could stand without rides.

some rely more on rides than others.

 

[SirWillow]

It was announced during D23. And talked about by Marni. And has just begun with Guardians.

EDIT: And has concept art.

Basically the entire park is gonna change soon. How much is not known, but I'm expecting almost everything to be replaced.

I don't know that I would put much stock in that concept artwork. All of the buildings that are Innoventions are gone, replaced by a bunch of trees and gardens. No Mouse Gears, no Electric Umbrella, basically nothing where those are now. Highly unlikely that's happening.

The two gifts shots right by the water are gone as well, and what is that big thing floating in the water? And multiple bridges going across the water in the middle of World Showcase?

and Imagination looks like it's been replaced by a giant swimming pool.

Looks like a pie in the sky unrealistic dream more than it does actual concept art. I don't know if that came from Disney or not, but I wouldn't count on the vast majority of changes shown in that ever coming close to reality.

 

[TwilightZone]

I don't know that I would put much stock in that concept artwork. All of the buildings that are Innoventions are gone, replaced by a bunch of trees and gardens. No Mouse Gears, no Electric Umbrella, basically nothing where those are now. Highly unlikely that's happening.

The two gifts shots right by the water are gone as well, and what is that big thing floating in the water? And multiple bridges going across the water in the middle of World Showcase?

and Imagination looks like it's been replaced by a giant swimming pool.

Looks like a pie in the sky unrealistic dream more than it does actual concept art. I don't know if that came from Disney or not, but I wouldn't count on the vast majority of changes shown in that ever coming close to reality.

True true, but I honestly would not be surprised if innoventions was razed over. Or if they do add more trees (one of epcot's biggest complaints).

Heck considering how disney apparently has no real plans that I know of for imagination, I wouldn't be surprised if they razed that over too.

 

[justintheharris]

I have no doubt the culinary team works hard too.

Funny how Epcot gets bashed for the festivals being "attendance gimmicks", while MK gets a free pass, despite arguably having more "attendance gimmicks" than the other three parks combined.

As someone previously said, MK could get rid of its events and still be the most attended park in the world. Without festivals, EPCOT wouldn’t be in the top 10. And Disney is always desperate to invent new festivals for Epcot to shove people through the door. Epcot probably has more days in a festival than not. It reeks of desperation. I’m not saying many talented people contribute to the festivals but Epcot overall is a bore and is being propped up in attendance by.. what? 4 festivals?