We'll have to agree to disagree then. Look, I get it, you don't like Epcot, but your argument about attendance gimmicks is lame, because ALL theme parks have attendance gimmicks, especially MK. Just because MK may be the leading park regardless of attendance gimmicks or not, still doesn't change the fact that it by far has the most attendance gimmicks. Hell, you bash the festivals, but i'd argue that the work put into them and the food creations are arguably more impressive, and creative, than the Halloween and Christmas parties thrown at MK every year. And obviously the festivals are popular, hence why the park still cracks the top ten in attendance every year, and just barely slipped behind Animal Kingdom, despite Animal Kingdom getting a massive boost from Pandora. You can't take away the festivals from Epcot because it suits your bias, because festivals are part of that park, period.
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Animal Kingdom overtakes Epcot
- Thread starter darrelljon
- Start date
We'll have to agree to disagree then. Look, I get it, you don't like Epcot, but your argument about attendance gimmicks is lame, because ALL theme parks have attendance gimmicks, especially MK. Just because MK may be the leading park regardless of attendance gimmicks or not, still doesn't change the fact that it by far has the most attendance gimmicks. Hell, you bash the festivals, but i'd argue that the work put into them and the food creations are arguably more impressive, and creative, than the Halloween and Christmas parties thrown at MK every year. And obviously the festivals are popular, hence why the park still cracks the top ten in attendance every year, and just barely slipped behind Animal Kingdom, despite Animal Kingdom getting a massive boost from Pandora. You can't take away the festivals from Epcot because it suits your bias, because festivals are part of that park, period.
Trackmaster
Well-Known Member
I get that impression too about the festivals. I think that EPCOT is more or less centered around that festivals now. Its closest thing to a home run, big ticket attraction now is Soarin'. Frozen is pretty disappointing for how good the movie is, and Test Track is fine a few times, but I can't ride it forever. Spaceship Earth is getting a refurb, but at the moment its a little pathetic as well. But the Finding Nemo ride is actually pretty underrated in my opinion.
My impression is that EPCOT's purpose is to give AP holders and hotel guests a chance to go to a low pressure park where they can get some easy rides in without crazy lines, and to have guests enjoy the shopping, dining, and shows, and to not worry so much about the rides. I can't really see doing the park if I were to just buy a one day non-hopper ticket. Not enough to do.
WondersOfLife
Blink, blink. Breathe, breathe. Day in, day out.
Based on a lot of reviews, it already is. I always overhear families hyping up slinky dog, rockin roller coaster, tower of terror, and star tours. But never Test Track, Mission Space, or Frozen in general conversation. If anything, when they're brought up everyones like "Oh yea!!"With Galaxy's Edge opening this year, DHS should see a large attendance increase as well. Poor EPCOT will probably become the least popular WDW park soon.
Epcot only has the attendance it has still because of those annual pass items. Walking through the check in and walking back out 3 times so that annual passholders can get their cutting board... The free figment magnet... (Guilty as charged haha get it). That really boosted attendance from the passholders community. Just check out the facebook pages! "Can I just scan my park ticket 3 times on the same day? Or do I have to come 3 different days?"
There ya go.
WondersOfLife
Blink, blink. Breathe, breathe. Day in, day out.
True. But Epcot really is dead without those festivals. And I agree with the other post, MK would still be the top without the events and such. A lot of people are coming to Epcot right now PURELY for the fact that they want to see a Broadway celebrity sing for 45 minutes, ride Soarin and Test Track, and then leave. That's it. It pretty sad honestly.
justintheharris
Well-Known Member
Oh another thing to note about Epcot, WHY IS PARKING AND BAG CHECK SUCH A PAIN? The other day, it took me 13 minutes to get from the parking toll to my parking space. I’ve never had anything remotely similar at any other park. Not even Magic Kingdom. In addition, the bag check always moves so slow. No matter what time of day, I see long lines at the bag check and I’ve hardly experienced lines at any other park for security. Again, not even Magic Kingdom. Does anyone else notice this? Possibly have a theory on it? It’s another reason I don’t like going to Epcot because I feel like it takes less time to get to the gates of the Magic Kingdom from my parking space at TTC than it does to get to the gates of EPCOT from my parking space in the EPCOT parking lot.
Trackmaster
Well-Known Member
Who knows. Whenever I try to bring up making the parking toll to main gate walk-in time shorter people scold me saying that the build up is part of the "Disney Magic" or something.
I guess one theory would be that there's no All-Star attraction that guests are dashing to and the atmosphere is more laid back at EPCOT, so the park assumes that guests won't be as agitated when the wait to get in is longer? Like if you were trying to dash to Flight of Passage, you'd get pretty agitated if people were holding you up.
justintheharris
Well-Known Member
Well I mean more of a staffing issue. Perhaps they're understaffed? I understand the "building up of the Disney Magic" argument when you're getting on a monorail and watching yourself get closer to the park. I do NOT understand it when I'm waiting in line behind 400 cars waiting to get to a parking space and then standing in a bag check line that seems to never move. Especially when Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and even Magic Kingdom don't have the same issues on a regular basis.
Trackmaster
Well-Known Member
To me I'll never understand how all of that stuff bothers people, but they're OK with waiting 45 minutes to get on a subway train to take them a mile. If there's a legitimate logistical reason for it needs to be done, that's one thing, but I don't think its worth just to "build up some magic." Especially when you're an AP holder and are only going for a few hours.
aliceismad
Well-Known Member
I think there was a carefully crafted reason for why the Frozen stars can only be met in Epcot. I do know people who will go to Epcot only because their kiddos want a picture with/autograph from Anna and Elsa.
I also think GoTG will be a big draw for the "average" guest.
I also think GoTG will be a big draw for the "average" guest.
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
Objection, your honour!
Within a year EPCOT Center had six E-ticket rides. Something which neither DAK nor DHS has ever achieved, even after decades.
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
Can't say I'm surprised.
EPCOT is the greatest theme park ever built. But also the world's most mistreated one. It is heartbreaking to visit it, and this will only increase with the final nails currently being driven in its coffin.
DAK, by contrast, grows on me every trip. A last bastion of sanity (for the most part). Together with the AK Lodge it shows that, and how, WDW could have developed in tbe 21st century in a mature and dignified way.
Well... this was a topic here when it was new news in April of 2018.
DAK's number rose more than the other 3 WDW parks precisely because of Pandora, RoL, and becoming an "all day park."
Then our insiders related that this freaked some Disney execs when they realized that when SWL opens in DHS, Epcot would become their #4 park in Orlando. Epcot is huge and has some cachet as a premier theme park. So, to think of it dropping to #4, behind DHS, even, it was to shudder.
Thus, the timetable for Rat was moved up a year. Also moved up was a new fireworks show, but since the new permanent one wouldn't be ready in time, they're doing in interim show.
They also expanded the entertainment schedule at the festivals of Art and Flower. And they're rushing to get two new restaurant added this calendar year.
All this to boost Epcot's numbers: more rock acts, longer festivals, new fireworks show, new restaurants. That should get it to surpass DAK and still be #3 in 2019 when SWL opens.
Then the following year, there will be Rat opening, and the year after that, GotG (and maybe the Poppins ride), and the year after that, maybe Brazil.
DAK's number rose more than the other 3 WDW parks precisely because of Pandora, RoL, and becoming an "all day park."
Then our insiders related that this freaked some Disney execs when they realized that when SWL opens in DHS, Epcot would become their #4 park in Orlando. Epcot is huge and has some cachet as a premier theme park. So, to think of it dropping to #4, behind DHS, even, it was to shudder.
Thus, the timetable for Rat was moved up a year. Also moved up was a new fireworks show, but since the new permanent one wouldn't be ready in time, they're doing in interim show.
They also expanded the entertainment schedule at the festivals of Art and Flower. And they're rushing to get two new restaurant added this calendar year.
All this to boost Epcot's numbers: more rock acts, longer festivals, new fireworks show, new restaurants. That should get it to surpass DAK and still be #3 in 2019 when SWL opens.
Then the following year, there will be Rat opening, and the year after that, GotG (and maybe the Poppins ride), and the year after that, maybe Brazil.
SirWillow
Well-Known Member
The Poppins ride? I haven't even heard of this one other than a wild rumor on an unreliable site. So please, do tell, since there are no signs coming out of the park on it.
And Brazil is highly unlikely to happen. The Brazilian government isn't remotely interested in it, and they aren't doing it without the country putting in a bunch of the financing and playing a role in design, construction and staffing.
TwilightZone
Well-Known Member
You are not following Marni at all, aren't you?
SirWillow
Well-Known Member
Apparently not since I don't have a clue who/ what that is.
Edit- just noticed the threads in the other forum and think I know what you refer to now. Ehh, sorry, I'll stick by my skepticism on both.
Epcot_Imagineer
Well-Known Member
I am starting to become cautiously optimistic with the attention being given to Epcot in the future, especially with the recent developments in other threads today, and the hints at more to come. I still don't think the attention being given is enough, but you've gotta start somewhere, right?
Well, rumors are just rumors. However, when you have people whose rumors turn out to be correct most of the time, then we tend to treat those rumors more as insider information. (And yes, sometimes the rumors don't pan out because Disney often changes their minds, e.g., cancelling without any announcement their announced Magic Kingdom theater that they started to stage construction for.)
See here:
https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/wdw-rumor-and-timeline-tracker-v-2.934137/
justintheharris
Well-Known Member
What rides are you referring to? Soarin, Test Track, Mission:Space, Ratatouille and Guardians of the Galaxy are all I got.
I think you underestimate how popular Epcot is with the over 35 crowd. I know a lot of people who only like that park, and to a lesser extent Animal Kingdom.
I went a few times in the summer, where there was no festival going on, and it had solid crowds. Not MK crowds, but enough.
If Hollywood Studios is more popular, why was it the only Disney park to see a decrease in attendance in 2017?