News Big changes coming to EPCOT's Future World?

Stripes

Stripes

Premium Member
BrianLo said:
More the case of them realizing what a disaster they've let WDW slowly become. Unfortunately, how out of touch they feel the parks are compared to their recent film successes. Finally, higher ups acknowledging the stagnation before it turns into a Paris situation.

Staggs was also useless and couldn't get anything of merit approved to save his life.

A lot of recent shake ups with Management on both the suit and WDI side - now we are seeing the result. For better or worse.

The 50th is just an excuse to get things in motion that should have been dealt with 5-10-15 years ago.
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Of course, I agree with everything. Especially, the bold portion.

I just find it all very curious...moves as big as these usually aren't made without strategic precision...and long-term plans. But, I'm probably thinking too much into this. Yeah, that's more than likely.
 
X

xstech25

Well-Known Member
Frozen and Guardians are much needed additions to make Epcot more appealing for kids and teenagers. With Avatar and Star Wars coming, huge crowds will be at DAK and Studios (and MK as always), there has got to be new stuff at Epcot to make people stay that 4th day instead of spending an additional day at Universal. No matter what hardcore Epcot fan is saying this is a very smart move Disney is making.
 
Pam Hates Penguins

Pam Hates Penguins

Well-Known Member
xstech25 said:
Frozen and Guardians are much needed additions to make Epcot more appealing for kids and teenagers. With Avatar and Star Wars coming, huge crowds will be at DAK and Studios (and MK as always), there has got to be new stuff at Epcot to make people stay that 4th day instead of spending an additional day at Universal. No matter what hardcore Epcot fan is saying this is a very smart move Disney is making.
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What happened to the greatness in education? Keep Epcot a history park!
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
SpaceMountain77 said:
@marni1971 , when Epcot celebrates its 50th anniversary, aside from The American Adventure, would you anticipate any other original or early attractions remaining?
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Mmm. Tough one. ID France is the only virtually untouched one left now. I'd like to think SSE will be similar to today (the first half anyway). I expect the showcase movies to have been altered before then, though if it's updating or removal I can't say.
 
danlb_2000

danlb_2000

Premium Member
xstech25 said:
Frozen and Guardians are much needed additions to make Epcot more appealing for kids and teenagers. With Avatar and Star Wars coming, huge crowds will be at DAK and Studios (and MK as always), there has got to be new stuff at Epcot to make people stay that 4th day instead of spending an additional day at Universal. No matter what hardcore Epcot fan is saying this is a very smart move Disney is making.
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Disney used to be able to appeal to kids and teenagers while still maintaining thematic integrity.
 
Next Big Thing

Next Big Thing

Well-Known Member
danlb_2000 said:
Disney used to be able to appeal to kids and teenagers while still maintaining thematic integrity.
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Not to say that this still can't happen, but it does become harder when Universal up the street is cranking out intense, fast-pace, thrilling, IP-focused experiences. It's become what the guests expect.

Now obviously with great creative minds put to the task they should still be able to come up with something that could work. They don't seem to want to do that though anymore, so we get IPs where they don't belong.
 
Pumbas Nakasak

Pumbas Nakasak

Heading for the great escape.
danlb_2000 said:
Disney used to be able to appeal to kids and teenagers while still maintaining thematic integrity.
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Its not just about supporting a thematic change its a fundamental departure from the old party line about not needing thrill rides and the usual jibes against Universal when it was raised that Disney were ignoring that demographic. But when youre a fan you can easily adjust to the company line, just have to wait till they give the nod.
I get its all about the money, but surely if you trade as the Industry standard you have to maintain some sort of differentiate between yourself and the competition.
 
Mike S

Mike S

Well-Known Member
Next Big Thing said:
Not to say that this still can't happen, but it does become harder when Universal up the street is cranking out intense, fast-pace, thrilling, IP-focused experiences. It's become what the guests expect.

Now obviously with great creative minds put to the task they should still be able to come up with something that could work. They don't seem to want to do that though anymore, so we get IPs where they don't belong.
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Universal shouldn't be seen as a problem because everyone hates "screenz" ;)
Pumbas Nakasak said:
Its not just about supporting a thematic change its a fundamental departure from the old party line about not needing thrill rides and the usual jibes against Universal when it was raised that Disney were ignoring that demographic. But when youre a fan mindless drone you can easily adjust to the company line, just have to wait till they give the nod.
I get its all about the money, but surely if you trade as the Industry standard you have to maintain some sort of differentiate between yourself and the competition.
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Fixed that for you. A fan is able to criticize what they're fans of if they see fit and think for themselves.
 
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SpaceMountain77

SpaceMountain77

Well-Known Member
marni1971 said:
Mmm. Tough one. ID France is the only virtually untouched one left now. I'd like to think SSE will be similar to today (the first half anyway). I expect the showcase movies to have been altered before then, though if it's updating or removal I can't say.
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Thanks, @marni1971 , but there is only one future that most concerns me :D:

9780717281428-us.jpg
 
RoysCabin

RoysCabin

Well-Known Member
Pumbas Nakasak said:
Its not just about supporting a thematic change its a fundamental departure from the old party line about not needing thrill rides and the usual jibes against Universal when it was raised that Disney were ignoring that demographic. But when youre a fan you can easily adjust to the company line, just have to wait till they give the nod.
I get its all about the money, but surely if you trade as the Industry standard you have to maintain some sort of differentiate between yourself and the competition.
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Good point at the end, there: does it really serve Disney to be perceived as responding and reacting to Universal, rather than committing to its own identity while making the statement "We're still the gold standard, here"? Universal is going to be drawing people in no matter what; it's a great place to visit, there isn't much Disney can do to stop it from being that. So why spend your time chasing them?
 
erwinalber4

erwinalber4

Well-Known Member
I'm excited but I'm also a bit scared. I spent the last few days reading through this whole thread, that was quite a job. I think there's a right and a wrong way to do this so I'll hold my judgement till I know more. If it's a complete rebranding and new theme taking over Future World as a whole then it could possibly work down the road but I have a hard time imagining TT, Soarin, and M:S going away anytime soon which in turn leaves me confused on what a new theme could even be. But I'll take what I can get because something is better than nothing but I do wish it was an original experience with maybe a small character tie in just like the old days. That picture of the massage chairs and photo booth really captured the feel of what Epcot has become and it's sad. I'd love to see one of those "Then and Now" photos of that specifically. I appreciate all the excellent news and time Marni has taken to share with us.
 
Captain Neo

Captain Neo

Well-Known Member
marni1971 said:
Not at all. There could be something new that would do the same. Without Iger and Chapeks IP shoehorning cross promotion.
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While a maelstrom refresh with an extended track and new show scenes is what we all wanted and would have been a crowd pleaser i you can't deny that by slapping Frozen on the attraction and having anna and elsa show up elsewhere in the pavilion it hasn't tripled the crowds to Norway and most importantly increased demand for supplemental revenue generators Akershus Royal Banquet Hall which has seen demand go through the roof! From a business standpoint this is a win-win especially since Norway refuses to foot the bill for the pavilion like back in the day.
 

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