News Big changes coming to EPCOT's Future World?

[DC0703]

If done correctly, what's proposed could correctly build on what's considered good today whilst removing some past mistakes. The plans are quite big. As is the proposed funding. There's even a chance for an Epcot 3.0

This thread has me a bit excited. On these boards, people have been saying for quite some time that Epcot has been neglected, and it looks like finally we will be getting some major updates. This is definitely a good thing.

I am very curious about the past mistakes part. Obviously the tombstones at the front of the park is one. Imagination? I know this was on the back burner, but now wondering if that changed. Mission Space - Maybe more significant updates than initially planned?

Giving some love to world showcase is my top hope, so I'm curious to hear the announcement.

 

[JBIRDTO]

If the focus of Space Ship Earth was shifted from communication to transportation and exploration, it would instantly improve its longevity and be positioned as a true marquee for the park. Communication in the 80's seemed to have endless possibilities. Now, communication is changing minute by minute and it is truly hard to imagine how much more advanced it could get apart from telepathic communication.

Transportation on the other hand has as rich a history as communication but the advancements and the sheer possibilities for exploration do seem endless, even in today's crazy fast paced world.

Imagine SSE as a celebration of past present and future transportation and an invitation to all to explore Mars, our distand cousin, or explore galaxies yet discovered. Better yet, we cannot forget what is in our own backyard and in our own minds, the Land, our Earth and our unlimited Imagination.

As a core concept I think this could work, and provide a really good platform to build upon. Of course Morgan Freeman is a must for the voice over.

 

[Mike S]

More than anything, I'd love an Imagination redo w/Figment and Dreamfinder at least as worthy as the original.

It would be perfect. As characters they're already popular and it could make for an amazing ride.

That's why Disney will instead go with Inside Out #$ynergy.

 

[Nickels5]

It would be perfect. As characters they're already popular and it could make for an amazing ride.

That's why Disney will instead go with Inside Out #$ynergy.

I have hard time seeing Disney ever getting rid of Figment, he is the semi-mascot of an EPCOT and you see his merch everywhere. I do think there is potential for a really solid inside out ride somewhere in EPCOT though.

 

[Clamman73]

I have hard time seeing Disney ever getting rid of Figment, he is the semi-mascot of an EPCOT and you see his merch everywhere. I do think there is potential for a really solid inside out ride somewhere in EPCOT though.

I've been trying to think what works better in this day and age of EPCOT and peoples attention span...Figment and Inside Out in some incorporated ride, or some type of reimagined Dreamfinder/Figment ride....but either way, Figment remains the face of Epcot in some way. Kinda weird though that he became the de facto face of Epcot (look at the F&W merchandise) considering what is the Imagination pavilion as it stands today....

 

[ElvisMickey]

A lot of the new Epcot merchandise that comes out today has the retro EPCOT logo and lots of Figment representation. BRING THEM BOTH BACK IN THE PARKS! Aside from the abomination that's currently in the Imagination pavilion. And while we're at it, the spaceman Mickey, Minnie and Pluto in the silver suits with the rainbows on the front .

 

[Mike S]

I have hard time seeing Disney ever getting rid of Figment, he is the semi-mascot of an EPCOT and you see his merch everywhere. I do think there is potential for a really solid inside out ride somewhere in EPCOT though.

Inside Out could be worked into the theater at Imagination to boot the film festival even though I did enjoy seeing "Get a Horse" in 3D on the big screen again.

 

[DisneyGentlemanV2.0]

I have hard time seeing Disney ever getting rid of Figment, he is the semi-mascot of an EPCOT.

...an EPCOT long gone, except for our collective imagination.

 

[RoysCabin]

One more reference to the Passport to Dreams post: I think Foxxy made a great point about sponsorships and I wonder if people here, especially folks in my age/experience cohort (80s/90s kids or earlier who remember getting to see original EPCOT Center in action) would agree:

Her suggestion was that, given their status and importance to Future World, Disney should or should have simply taken over sponsorship for Spaceship Earth (the head of the park), Horizons, and Journey Into Imagination (the two chambers of the heart of the park). Made me wonder, if those three rides had been preserved and only updated in the ways that SSE has been updated over the years, would we all have been a lot more forgiving of the various other not-so-strong changes to Future World over the years? I mean, sure, I'm certain plenty of us would have bemoaned things ranging from the loss of Kitchen Kabaret, to the stagnation of Universe of Energy/Wonders of Life, to the IP overlay on top of the Living Seas, but if those "big three" had been preserved and simply refurbed as necessary, would you have been more likely to say "Eh, that stinks, but it'll be alright"? Kind of an interesting what-if for me.

 

[kpilcher]

A little off topic but does anyone remember the show in comunicore where people sat down and saw a computer room. Then a holographic miniature person walked on top of the computers while real life people were also in the room?
What was it called and anyone know of a video online from it. I remember when I first saw it and found the effect pretty cool and went back again and saw it after I exited

Empress had part of the answer. It opened in 1982 as Astuter Computer Review.
The FIRST Epcot attraction to close!! It reopened in 1984 as "Backstage Magic" and ran until CommuniCore closed in Late 1993/Early 1994.

 

[Matt_Black]

Inside Out could be worked into the theater at Imagination to boot the film festival even though I did enjoy seeing "Get a Horse" in 3D on the big screen again.

Yeah, that really is meant to be seen in a theater.

 

[RSoxNo1]

@marni1971 - is it safe to drop the "'s Future World" portion of this thread title?

 

[CanadianGordon]

It begins:

http://.com/blog/2016/08/breaking-t...struck-closing-goodbye-innoventions-at-epcot/

 

[Me 'Earties]

Return of kitchen cabaret/food rocks? Surely I kid but I'm sure some wouldn't mind it...veggie veggie fruit fruit

I have to admit-I loved kitchen cabaret!

 

[Thanks phoenicians]

Still going to miss the air conditioning more than what is currently offered in either of the buildings

 

[CaptainAmerica]

*It's happening.*

 

[Daveeeeed]

Is guardians still taking over Energy?

 

[Biff215]

Is guardians still taking over Energy?

Sounds like it's still on the table, but who knows if our ToT is still safe. Energy would clearly cost more, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them going the cheaper, quicker route, especially since they have DCA to practically copy.

 

[Daveeeeed]

Sounds like it's still on the table, but who knows if our ToT is still safe. Energy would clearly cost more, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them going the cheaper, quicker route, especially since they have DL to practically copy.

Seems like DCA got the change at least partly because of the Marvel land that will happen there, while Sunset Boulevard would not really work with a Guardians thing there.

 

[Biff215]

Seems like DCA got the change at least partly because of the Marvel land that will happen there, while Sunset Boulevard would not really work with a Guardians thing there.

I certainly agree, but some see the possibility of using Tower and RnRC down the line. I also don't trust Disney not to do something like this. I believe our Tower's saving grace may be the fact that it's one of five rides at DHS currently. DCA can afford to lose it and locals will pour in once it's done.