News Big changes coming to EPCOT's Future World?

[Chris82]

*In other news, there is no news about actual changes coming to Epcot

No, but there have been teases and suggestions and highly qualified innuendo, and that's good enough for me ;D

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

No. No more characters in World Showcase.

We have been debating where to stay next year around the first of December. After reading everyone's passionate stories about the charm of EPCOT, I'm going to choose between BC or YC. It's been a little while since we visited EPCOT and believe it would have the adult / holiday entertainment compared to the MK. Plus, almost every night has the MVMCP and I don't want to pay an extra fee. Plus, either of those resorts are a 5 minute walk. Thanks

 

[brb1006]

No. No more characters in World Showcase.

Not even the Meet And Greets?

 

[ShoalFox]

Not even the Meet And Greets?

As long as they don't take over the pavilions themselves...

 

[lazyboy97o]

Not even the Meet And Greets?

While small, the meet and greets are just as against the theme. The focus is not on the country being showcased or even the folklore from which the Disney film is derived.

 

[Matt_Black]

While small, the meet and greets are just as against the theme. The focus is not on the country being showcased or even the folklore from which the Disney film is derived.

Absolutely. It's not like Snow White was a GERMAN fairy tale or anything!

 

[Nick Pappagiorgio]

That's an interesting Gedanken experiment for all of WDW sans Magic Kingdom. To answer your question directly, if EPCOT was place in the suburbs of the greater Indianapolis area, attendance would take a 17.8% hit, but financial losses would be offset by a) selling fishing licenses in WS lagoon and b) the pre 500 Indy car parade around aforementioned lagoon. Also, the F&W festival would feature more pork products.

You forgot about the pavilion dedicated exclusively to corn. And don't even get me started on Soarin' over Indiana.

 

[trevorfs]

EPCOT to me is still a park I look forward to when I go but I do admit it could be much better. It could be my favorite pretty easily. Things I would like to see:

- 3 new dark rides based on movies in WS. Pinocchio (Italy), Ratatouille (France), Mulan (China) & then update the 3 Caballeros with AA's instead of the movie screens. I liked Malestrom but not sure why people act like it was so popular, never waited 20 min.

- I love the upcoming Soarin' update, California theme was getting tired. Update The Land and Circle of Life attractions to current day with new conservation propaganda. I like both they just need to be more current.

- Re-store Imagination to what it was with the Dreamfinder and add new scenes. Use the EO space to expand this. The Dreamfinder and Figment could be this parks Walt & Mickey.

- Update UOE with Ellen and Bill still but with new scenes incorporating today's energy sources and future possibilities. This needs to not be a 45 min attraction and needs more speed. Maybe a Dinosaur type ride vehicle showing Energy sources though time and in the future?

- Bring back WOL pavilion with a new attraction that focuses on the wonders of the human body. It would need to probably be a simulator, maybe virtual reality goggles coaster?

The problem/beauty with this park is you need to update attractions constantly to keep up with progress but if done right is awesome, see the past for proof. This isn't a billion dollar plan and they could do 1 pavilion a year along with 1 dark ride and could be done in 3 years. Now someone snap their fingers and wake me up!

Someone get this guy to the imagineers it is absolutely perfect. Those nostalgic epcot fans need to realize that what was isn't what will work now and that character themed rides is what draws the crowds. I still think that characters shouldn't be everywhere (the frozen addition is literally the entire pavilion getting taken over. Too much, Disney. Too much) A character themed ride that doesn't take away from the country would be a welcome addition to world showcase and the entire park.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Absolutely. It's not like Snow White was a GERMAN fairy tale or anything!

And that isn't conveyed in a meet and greet.

Someone get this guy to the imagineers it is absolutely perfect. Those nostalgic epcot fans need to realize that what was isn't what will work now and that character themed rides is what draws the crowds. I still think that characters shouldn't be everywhere (the frozen addition is literally the entire pavilion getting taken over. Too much, Disney. Too much) A character themed ride that doesn't take away from the country would be a welcome addition to world showcase and the entire park.

Just because people who don't really like themed entertainment say that it needs film properties doesn't make it true. There is no need for characters.

 

[Matt_Black]

Hey, you know what else breaks the theming? Coke in the restaurants! Coke was developed in the United States, so why can I drink it in Japan? IMAGINEERING FAIL.

 

[Nick Pappagiorgio]

Hey, you know what else breaks the theming? Coke in the restaurants! Coke was developed in the United States, so why can I drink it in Japan? IMAGINEERING FAIL.

Coke is literally the most proliferated and globally recognized brand on earth, so it would make total sense. But this is about attraction theming and entertainment and not what the F&B guys decide to sell. My guess is that Imagineering doesn't generally plan restaurant menus.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Hey, you know what else breaks the theming? Coke in the restaurants! Coke was developed in the United States, so why can I drink it in Japan? IMAGINEERING FAIL.

Go to Japan, there is plenty of Coca-Cola available.

 

[ShoalFox]

Coke is literally the most proliferated and globally recognized brand on earth, so it would make total sense. But this is about attraction theming and entertainment and not what the F&B guys decide to sell. My guess is that Imagineering doesn't generally plan restaurant menus.

Go to Japan, there is plenty of Coca-Cola available.

I think he was being sarcastic...

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think he was being sarcastic...

And like so many attempts at mockery of that which is not understood, it has no actual basis.

 

[Matt_Black]

Go to Japan, there is plenty of Coca-Cola available.

And guess what? Snow White was shown in Germany!

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

And guess what? Snow White was shown in Germany!

Most people don't realize that a lot of their classic Disney characters weren't invented by Walt himself. He did what they are doing right now - going around buying the movie rights to characters. I sometimes giggle when someone writes, " It doesn't belong, it's not Disney". Walt was a businessman - he's not turning in his grave.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I still can't take anyone seriously who believes Disney characters belong in Epcot.

What's more amazing is the fear of strong theme. Who ever says a film or novel needs a weaker story? But with themed entertainment that is the cry of so many so-called fans.

 

[monothingie]

I still can't take anyone seriously who believes Disney characters belong in Epcot.

So I guess you have a problem with Figment? or Cranium Command? or the various different shows from the Land that included characters? This has been going on for quite sometime, it didn't just start with Frozen and Norway.

 

[Haymarket2008]

So I guess you have a problem with Figment? or Cranium Command? or the various different shows from the Land that included characters? This has been going on for quite sometime, it didn't just start with Frozen and Norway.

Epcot original characters are not the same thing as Disney animation/Pixar characters.

 

[FigmentJedi]

So I guess you have a problem with Figment? or Cranium Command? or the various different shows from the Land that included characters? This has been going on for quite sometime, it didn't just start with Frozen and Norway.

As has been discussed before, when people complain about characters being shoved into Epcot, they aren't talking about those created for the park.