News Big changes coming to EPCOT's Future World?

[lazyboy97o]

I agree, this was mentioned in the film as well I believe. The difference I believe was the transportation ideas that Walt had with the monorail going in/out of the city, and peoplemover going around within the city. Disneyland was a great testing ground for that type of thing.

A few things that were sticking points: The cast members always being "on stage" even during their off hours if there were tours through the city. Also, the industry area attracting companies but often they don't want to share a lot of their innovations until they're ready for market.

The Garden Cities described by Howard are actually connected by rail. While not part of the Garden City concept, continuously moving transportation was also an idea shown to the world at the World’s Colombian Exposition, the very fair Elias Disney worked on as a carpenter. The idea would pop up over the years as transit proposals and visions of the city.

EPCOT was a big idea in starting fresh and really sticking to some of these ideas. Those various components were not really new ideas. It’s scope and commitment were what really set it apart. Imagineers may have not known and understood the “details” but a variety of architects and urban planners would have been familiar with the ideas. Cities also aren’t built on detailed, specific plans. When you see renderings of big urban developments the buildings you see are not really designed. They couldn’t be built and in most cases are never intended to be built. They’re placeholders to show an idea, a pattern. Even in small projects like a single building, it’s not unusual to have to get planning approvals for designs that are not detailed or near ready for construction.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Spacious.

Just like Connections and Creations. No more claustrophobic vibes.

I know others aren't, but I'm thoroughly pleased with Communicore East's refurb.

I never felt claustrophobic in the Guest Relations space.

They didn't really change anything, so I don't know how anyone can call this "more open" than what was there previously.

 

[Anteater]

I never felt claustrophobic in the Guest Relations space.

They didn't really change anything, so I don't know how anyone can call this "more open" than what was there previously.

Well, there IS less people in there. I guess everyone is happy with their G+ experience!

 

[HauntedPirate]

Well, there IS less people in there. I guess everyone is happy with their G+ experience!

Probably taken early in the morning, before all the complainers and haters lined up to demand refunds for their G+ "experience".

 

[trainplane3]

Here are our pictures of the new guest relations lobby.

EPCOT's new guest relations lobby opens in World Celebration featuring the iconic EPCOT five ring logo​

EPCOT's new guest relations lobby opens in World Celebration featuring the iconic EPCOT five ring logo

The main guest relations location at EPCOT is back with a new look.

www.wdwmagic.com

It feels like this dark gray wall on the extreme right is unfinished. Maybe an additional graphic coming later? It's just such a large wall with nothing on it.

 

[Anteater]

It feels like this dark gray wall on the extreme right is unfinished. Maybe an additional graphic coming later? It's just such a large wall with nothing on it.

That's why it feels so spacious!
No, really, it's that color to match the floor mat.

 

[Stupido]

I feel like each park should have theme specific guest relations costumes. They look great on mainstreet, but these costumes look ridiculous in this space.

 

[montyz81]

Yes, the panopticon was always up there, but it was broken up a bit more visually by the flags that used to hang around it.

Is that the same one that is now standing all by itself on the west side of Future World? Are the service stairs underneath that? Yellow circle in this picture:

 

[bpiper]

Is that the same one that is now standing all by itself on the west side of Future World? Are the service stairs underneath that? Yellow circle in this picture: View attachment 640782

From Google Maps, it appears that the stairwell would be behind the wall to the right of the counter. You can't have glass in a stairwell. It would break under the heat of a fire and let smoke in.

 

[James Alucobond]

Is that the same one that is now standing all by itself on the west side of Future World? Are the service stairs underneath that? Yellow circle in this picture: View attachment 640782

@Casper Gutman was asking about the glassed-in area behind the guest relations desk, not the vertically extended stairwell outside the building.

 

[vikescaper]

Yes, the panopticon was always up there, but it was broken up a bit more visually by the flags that used to hang around it.

I always thought that it was a remnant of Epcot Computer Central.

 

[MisterPenguin]

the previous club cool was so much better and more fun, not to mention bigger and actually themed. This was created like an after thought, shoved into a corner of the old mousegear as part of the new creations, off to the side. pathetic. why they even bothered at all I'll never understand.

You're right, it should be shoved to the side because it never fit the theme of EPCOT anyway, especially "Future World."

Also, IMO, the previous Club Cool looked awful from an interior design point of view. I saw nothing pleasing when I went in there... which is why I stopped going in there.

 

[wdwmagic]

New vs Old

 

[mightynine]

Has there always been a mail drop there?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

New vs Old

The Guest Relations costumes are very Main Street USA and they look horribly out of place here. I like the design of the space otherwise.

 

[Anteater]

Goes to show you how much paint can do for a place, huh?
(I don't see any difference wrt the amount of light let into the place).

 

[HauntedPirate]

You're right, it should be shoved to the side because it never fit the theme of EPCOT anyway, especially "Future World."

Also, IMO, the previous Club Cool looked awful from an interior design point of view. I saw nothing pleasing when I went in there... which is why I stopped going in there.

I thought it was because your flippers stuck to the floor?

 

[MisterPenguin]

New vs Old

Well, then, my bad for misremembering it as smaller.

 

[HauntedPirate]

New vs Old

Charm = Removed. The little bits that the old GR had are gone, replaced by a logo and a gray wall.

 

[lazyboy97o]

You can't have glass in a stairwell. It would break under the heat of a fire and let smoke in.

You can get rated glazing for use in a protected stair.