EPCOT Big changes coming to EPCOT's Future World?

[V_L_Raptor]

I will say this for the Land… it’s a fabulous example of the pavilion concept in general, wherein multiple coequal attractions (and sometimes even a dining location!) could coexist in a single building. Nowadays, buildings and themes from WDI don’t seem to have that multitasking flair anymore. They may try with a climbing playground or some exit artwork, but they still can’t really pull off multi-presentation pavilions the way they did for old school EPCOT Center.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

With the way things get redesigned nowadays they would go with that "Minimalism" crud. Remove all the whimsy, repaint the pavilion pure white, Make a plastic/stain glass mobile of the elements of the four seasons that slowly rotates and be done with it..

 

[aladdin2007]

I will say this for the Land… it’s a fabulous example of the pavilion concept in general, wherein multiple coequal attractions (and sometimes even a dining location!) could coexist in a single building. Nowadays, buildings and themes from WDI don’t seem to have that multitasking flair anymore. They may try with a climbing playground or some exit artwork, but they still can’t really pull off multi-presentation pavilions the way they did for old school EPCOT Center.

This. I doubt we will ever see something of that caliber/design format built again.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Disney Begins Installing Physical Gates at EPCOT Main Entrance

Walt Disney World has begun installing physical gates at the main entrance of EPCOT. Take a closer look with us!

blogmickey.com

This one's an interesting development, wondering if this is a result of guest behavior? People just going over/under the ropes?

So folks are entering EPCOT through exits to get in free at such a rate they need to put up gates?

 

[HauntedPirate]

I will say this for the Land… it’s a fabulous example of the pavilion concept in general, wherein multiple coequal attractions (and sometimes even a dining location!) could coexist in a single building. Nowadays, buildings and themes from WDI don’t seem to have that multitasking flair anymore. They may try with a climbing playground or some exit artwork, but they still can’t really pull off multi-presentation pavilions the way they did for old school EPCOT Center.

The Land pavilion is a masterclass of pavilion design. Or was, at least.

 

[Bocabear]

As was The Seas... Multiple Attractions, Immersive Environments and even signature dining....Even Wonders Of Life was developed in that style with multiple things to do, a little food... That is how Mission Space should have been done.... and how The Seas should be returned... Imagination's eventual redo should become more of a complete pavilion with multiple attraction and some dining and shopping.

 

[Haymarket2008]

I’m not sure how much you can do with the Land interior - the design of the space itself prompts the “food court” vibes. There’s only so much some paint and furniture rearranging can do. Personally, I find the retro feel very EPCOT.

They can start by looking at the original 1982 design of the pavilion. A great use of the space. Murals, a gorgeous fountain, iconography and signage.

The 1994 refurb and subsequent adjustments have left the place looking very long in the tooth.

 

[James Alucobond]

… a gorgeous fountain …

Ehhh, probably in the minority, but I always thought that fountain was uniquely ugly. Honestly, I’d rather just see them incorporate some greenery or something on the lower level since it’s The Land, after all.

 

[HauntedPirate]

They can start by looking at the original 1982 design of the pavilion. A great use of the space. Murals, a gorgeous fountain, iconography and signage.

FTFY. It starts with guest flow and storytelling. It has nothing to do with the rest of what you wrote.

 

[Haymarket2008]

Ehhh, probably in the minority, but I always thought that fountain was uniquely ugly. Honestly, I’d rather just see them incorporate some greenery or something on the lower level since it’s The Land, after all.

To each their own, but I hear what you're saying and I agree with your second sentence. It was VERY 80's. It would absolutely need something lush and interesting.

 

[Haymarket2008]

FTFY. It starts with guest flow and storytelling. It has nothing to do with the rest of what you wrote.

Everything I mentioned contributed to your classification of it as a "masterpiece" of pavilion design....

It has NOTHING to do with it?? Quite a statement.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Everything I mentioned contributed to your classification of it as a "masterpiece" of pavilion design....

It has NOTHING to do with it?? Quite a statement.

Is the Riviera a masterpiece of hotel design because it has some decorations glued to the walls and a couple of pictures of Walt hanging?

 

[Bocabear]

It would be interesting to remove the Shopping Mall look of the interior and actually make it look like The Land... Create giant trees holding up the roof, Make it look as if you are in a monumental forest... Waterfalls pouring down from the upper to lower level ....Something old school, thematic and immersive...Food court dining could have it's own tree canopy covering, etc...Something that would feel organically like The Land VS what now looks like a mid 70s shopping mall.

 

[Haymarket2008]

Is the Riviera a masterpiece of hotel design because it has some decorations glued to the walls and a couple of pictures of Walt hanging?

Absolutely not.

A weird thing to get in a tizzy over….You’re giving know-it-all vibes!

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

An all ages boat ride, a theatre show, an e-ticket, a sit down restaurant and a counter service. - yeah that’s a great example of a near perfect pavilion!

seasons used to be some of the best food on property - sad it’s gone down hill but there are still some decent choices.

I’d love it if they made the balloons a focus again - and ideally we would get “Soarin over the land”

 

[Rich Brownn]

I will say this for the Land… it’s a fabulous example of the pavilion concept in general, wherein multiple coequal attractions (and sometimes even a dining location!) could coexist in a single building. Nowadays, buildings and themes from WDI don’t seem to have that multitasking flair anymore. They may try with a climbing playground or some exit artwork, but they still can’t really pull off multi-presentation pavilions the way they did for old school EPCOT Center.

In theory thew original land was supposed to take you through the story of food, more or less. The film upstairs ("Symbiosis") talked about man and harmony with the land. The exits (most) took guests downstairs to the boat ride about advances in growing crops. This in turn exited next to "Kitchen Cabaret" which talked bout nutrition in foods.

 

[Dr.GrantSeeker]

An all ages boat ride, a theatre show, an e-ticket, a sit down restaurant and a counter service. - yeah that’s a great example of a near perfect pavilion!

seasons used to be some of the best food on property - sad it’s gone down hill but there are still some decent choices.

I’d love it if they made the balloons a focus again - and ideally we would get “Soarin over the land”

I love to see a mural on the ceiling like the had before with the balloons in the foreground.

Agree with you as well on the downhill of Seasons. I wish they would add some love back and make the food and menu better.

I also think the land pavilion could sell some really cool merchandise. Maybe they could find room for “gasp” a small merchandise store in there somewhere that sells land exclusive merch.

 

[HauntedPirate]

In theory thew original land was supposed to take you through the story of food, more or less. The film upstairs ("Symbiosis") talked about man and harmony with the land. The exits (most) took guests downstairs to the boat ride about advances in growing crops. This in turn exited next to "Kitchen Cabaret" which talked bout nutrition in foods.

And then you were able to buy food at the Farmer’s Market. The whole pavilion was designed with a specific flow and story in mind.

 

[Incomudro]

In theory thew original land was supposed to take you through the story of food, more or less. The film upstairs ("Symbiosis") talked about man and harmony with the land. The exits (most) took guests downstairs to the boat ride about advances in growing crops. This in turn exited next to "Kitchen Cabaret" which talked bout nutrition in foods.

Unfortunately, we now live in a society where it is no longer ok to talk about the benefits of healthy eating and exercise.

 

[V_L_Raptor]

In theory thew original land was supposed to take you through the story of food, more or less. The film upstairs ("Symbiosis") talked about man and harmony with the land. The exits (most) took guests downstairs to the boat ride about advances in growing crops. This in turn exited next to "Kitchen Cabaret" which talked bout nutrition in foods.

True enough, but the plus side of the 90’s update was the inclusion of some ecological awareness beyond Symbiosis. There’s an important shift from “Here’s how we get our food from the land” to “Here’s how we could get our food from the land more responsibly and efficiently.” Amazing Planet turns out to be some much needed education for people who don’t otherwise have a means of learning about climate balance in a nonjudgmental manner, but it’s not about agriculture at all. (Biomes are considered an essential framework for informal environmental education nowadays… See also Better Zoogether.)

It’s a different emphasis now, but it would have been comically irresponsible (and terribly dated) not to shift to an ecology emphasis after the cultural shift in the late 80’s/early 90’s. Whether it’s about food or about the functioning of a biosphere, it’s still an extensively developed pavilion.

Mission: Space, not so much. Test Track… nope, not even a Transcenter. Image Works… Geez, Louise. Disney barely figured out a glorified pole shed for a Goofy summer show. Pavilions are right out, no better than counting to five with the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.