News Big changes coming to EPCOT's Future World?

[Bocabear]

Aesthetically speaking I think the end product will be a dramatic improvement. Outside of the look of Future World though I think this massice overhaul of Epcot has been a disappointment which so many of the promised and needed attractions cancelled. I think they had the right intentions when they started but COVID and other factors really watered down the final product which is unfortunate.

Future World is a disorganized mess with this overhaul, and to continue to blame the bad planning and crazy decisions on Covid is just wrong... There was a serious lack of leadership and budget to do what they set out to do...Clearly when you spend a year razing a building and then have to rebuild half of it, there were internal problems...but Covid didn't cause every bad decision they have made on this project...

 

[Bocabear]

It worked in the entrance plaza and Spaceship Earth, at least for me. That's the only modern upgrade that truly feels "EPCOT" to me.

I'm still going to be hurt by the loss of symmetry for many years though. I don't care how empty Innoventions West was and how much concrete there was. There were better ways to improve this area IMHO.

Also, watching this "outdoor stage" venue develop, I'm getting generic 2023 LA outdoor concert vibes. Looks kind-of weird with SSE in the background. Reminds me of my local zoo which did a similar thing at the beginning of its slide into "young adult food and wine festival with zoo exhibits attached."

I agree, the forecourt of Spaceship Earth and the lighting package they added not only look great, they look like they were meant to be there...but they did not have the tech to do it in 1981.

 

[Ayla]

Has the dark band of missing lights around SSE been fixed, yet?

 

[Disstevefan1]

Future World is a disorganized mess with this overhaul, and to continue to blame the bad planning and crazy decisions on Covid is just wrong... There was a serious lack of leadership and budget to do what they set out to do...Clearly when you spend a year razing a building and then have to rebuild half of it, there were internal problems...but Covid didn't cause every bad decision they have made on this project...

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Future World is a disorganized mess with this overhaul, and to continue to blame the bad planning and crazy decisions on Covid is just wrong... There was a serious lack of leadership and budget to do what they set out to do...Clearly when you spend a year razing a building and then have to rebuild half of it, there were internal problems...but Covid didn't cause every bad decision they have made on this project...

You never hear good old Josh take the blame ever. He’s in charge of the parks. I guess taking selfies with guest gives you immunity

 

[retr0gate]

It shouldn't have taken as long as it did, but I still see this new spine as a MASSIVE improvement over what was there before. The biggest travesty, I will admit, is the loss of the Fountain of Nations. Especially with all these planters that are being built, I really don't see why one of them couldn't have become a fountain instead. I'd argue that it wouldn't even have to take up as much space as its predecessor, but something is better than nothing.

I think this planter in particular has/had the potential of being reworked into a new FoN, as modeled below.

 

[Vinnie Mac]

I expect many “ooh’s” and “ahh’s” from those who think color-changing LED’s are wonderful entertainment.

....?

 

[Mickeynerd17]

It shouldn't have taken as long as it did, but I still see this new spine as a MASSIVE improvement over what was there before. The biggest travesty, I will admit, is the loss of the Fountain of Nations. Especially with all these planters that are being built, I really don't see why one of them couldn't have become a fountain instead. I'd argue that it wouldn't even have to take up as much space as its predecessor, but something is better than nothing.

I think this planter in particular has/had the potential of being reworked into a new FoN, as modeled below.
View attachment 725306View attachment 725307

At this point, I'd 100% take that.

Better than nothing.

 

[Tha Realest]

Walkway and restrooms reopen in EPCOT's World Nature​

Walkway and restrooms reopen in EPCOT's World Nature

Walkway and restrooms reopen in EPCOT's World Nature

www.wdwmagic.com

The real Journey of Water is all the drinking one does throughout EPCOT only for it to be returned to sender, here

As the old saying goes - you don’t buy drinks, you rent them.

 

[tparris]

A few things I noticed today after being out of town for a couple weeks: new lighting poles have been installed along the pathway by the JoW water treatment area. They’re the larger versions, like the ones over by Guest Relations. Also in that area, the construction walls have been removed on the side of the SSE queue and exit, which really makes the pathway feel bigger and less “temporary” looking. Unfortunately there are marks on the ground where the walls once were, but hopefully those will fade away over time. Another development of note is right in front of SSE’s entrance, where for the longest time there has been a small section of the old style of pavement that never got replaced when the rest of the area did. That section has been cut into sections in preparation for removal and replacement, so that whole area should look a lot more cohesive soon. Finally, the area along the Imagination walkway (towards the former temporary Starbucks) that’s been walled off for who knows how long now is finally getting cleared out. All lights and structures behind the walls have been removed and construction equipment can be seen back there. Most likely going to be replaced with more pathway area and landscaping.

 

[tparris]

 

[MisterPenguin]

 

[HauntedPirate]

Everyone who enters the area at night:

 

[tparris]

Everyone who enters the area at night:

I feel like Bioreconstruct is gonna be the one having a hard time with prison search lights beaming up at him at night

 

[Disstevefan1]

I love all of the lighting enhancements made to EPCOT.

Ironically, the lighting enhancements was probably the least expensive of all the upgrades they made.

And as we all know, going to LEDs greatly reduces the cost to light areas too.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

It looks like there is a structure going up in the middle???? picture was taken in the Creations Shop.

 

[Rteetz]

It looks like there is a structure going up in the middle???? picture was taken in the Creations Show.

More lighting rigs like by CommuniCore Hall. The will surround the center.

 

[Skibum1970]

It probably wouldn't make a difference but I wonder if Imagineering thinks of light pollution and how to avoid it when designing these fixtures. Downwards facing lights or focused beams would seem to be better choices, although I'm saying this without having observed these new lights at Epcot in action. The Magic Kingdom parking lot looks like either dawn is coming is a large fire has broken out and the other lots are similar.

 

[J4546]

im guessing those new brown structures will be covered in plants. They have similar setup at the getty museum in their outdoor garden area

 

[Disney Analyst]