News Big changes coming to EPCOT's Future World?

[MaximumEd]

You're not the only one. My daughter loves it, though.

 

[FullSailDan]

Exactly. Just like Spaceship Earth and American Adventure.

Am I the only one that's kind of bored on Test Track?

Nope... I always tell my 5 y/o nephew we go faster on I4 offramps in the convertible and it's more fun. He agrees.

 

[RoysCabin]

I agree with everyone on Test Track. But am I the only one who could care less about designing a car? lol

I know it's not feasible due to sponsorships, but as a city dweller I'd love to see the transportation pavilion get to delve into things like mass transit and trains. Feel like it'd open up more avenues for ride and attraction concepts.

 

[Winter]

Geez, am I the only one that really likes Test Track?

 

[Kman101]

It's a fun little ride in a fast car but I don't think it's overly special.

 

[jpeden]

Geez, am I the only one that really likes Test Track?

Nah, it's one of my favorites.

 

[IMDREW]

Geez, am I the only one that really likes Test Track?

Nope, i love it too. Albeit the newest version.

 

[Walter Elias Disney]

EPCOT is beginning to buzz...
I'm hearing there could be a new movie replacing Circle of Life-An Environmental Fable. Living with the Land will receive an update, as well.Journey Into Imagination will receive a trackless system and possible theming similar to Mystic Manor. Figment will go next door with a brand new 4-D movie replacing Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival.The Seas with Nemo & Friends will receive an update aligned to Finding Dory, With the competition becoming tighter between Brazil and Spain...could the World Showcase possibly receive two instead of one new addition? Finally, the front gate will receive additional trees and plants to welcome guest without the tired Leave a Legacy. Electric Umbrella could be receiving a major update instead of demolition. Future World Pavilions could be home to a new themed area "Festival Headquarters". Sounds encouraging!

 

[tirian]

There's no "true future".

We're just far away enough that the 80s are back in style. Hence so many shows and movies nowadays either set in the 80s or inflienced by the aesthetics.

Late 90s and 2000s are still too close so it's considered tacky. But give it 10, 15 years and it'll be cool again.

Endless circle.

In style > tacky and outdated > retro and cool

You're right about the cycle, but minimalism has clearly been crowned "the 2000s."

Maybe Apple chose that for us.

 

[tirian]

You know what I thought would be cool. Use the car track and tell the history and future of transportation. Like for example: instead of testing simulated icy road conditions, how about go to Egypt and race aside a chariot. Weave back and forth through the town dodging new motorist etc. It could still be fast, informative and true to the old EPCOT Center roots.

I say it should be JttCotE and RSR style with a dark ride interior and speedy exterior. The transition to the outside would be "speeding towards the future." Essentially a fusion of WoM and TT taking the best parts of both.

Once again, armchair Imagineers create better ideas online than the "pros" with the actual jobs. I'm serious. Maybe WDI should resume hiring people with broad backgrounds instead of narrow specialties.

 

[aladdin2007]

EPCOT is beginning to buzz...
I'm hearing there could be a new movie replacing Circle of Life-An Environmental Fable. Living with the Land will receive an update, as well.Journey Into Imagination will receive a trackless system and possible theming similar to Mystic Manor. Figment will go next door with a brand new 4-D movie replacing Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival.The Seas with Nemo & Friends will receive an update aligned to Finding Dory, With the competition becoming tighter between Brazil and Spain...could the World Showcase possibly receive two instead of one new addition? Finally, the front gate will receive additional trees and plants to welcome guest without the tired Leave a Legacy. Electric Umbrella could be receiving a major update instead of demolition. Future World Pavilions could be home to a new themed area "Festival Headquarters". Sounds encouraging!

it does sound encouraging but will believe it all when I see it. Some of it is probably years away yet.

 

[aladdin2007]

Once again, armchair Imagineers create better ideas online than the "pros" with the actual jobs. I'm serious. Maybe WDI should resume hiring people with broad backgrounds instead of narrow specialties.

this!!! sometimes I think the "pros" are just tech geeks who are clueless when it comes to theming and story.

 

[trainplane3]

Once again, armchair Imagineers create better ideas online than the "pros" with the actual jobs. I'm serious. Maybe WDI should resume hiring people with broad backgrounds instead of narrow specialties.

Here's the other part I'd consider. Remember the projects have to be signed off by management. That means the ones above don't try to say "Can you make this better" or "how about this instead of that". The guilt goes all around. But then again, this is usually the case in most companies.

I was told to follow one process a couple months ago. I came up with a newer, faster process and everyone reacted with "Wait, this will give us the same thing in the end? And it'll be faster and use less company time? DO IT that way then". And this was ran by a group of 15 people that were convinced there was no faster way until I mentioned it. I'm not some special super smart person, just a fresh set of eyes that just started there. I did typically look at things differently than most at a previous job though.

What I'm saying is, get some young "kids" in there. They'll come up with new original stuff. Give them a chance (and they'll be "cheap"). Stop looking for 10 years of industry experience for people with 6 year degrees (I don't know the requirements for WDI FYI, just an example). Some may disagree with me here but, a piece of paper that says "I got a masters in X" might mean nothing in the end if you can't apply it well. And some people I've ran into amazed me that they have some super degree but can't think out of the box, it ALWAYS had to follow some rule.

 

[mimitchi33]

EPCOT is beginning to buzz...
I'm hearing there could be a new movie replacing Circle of Life-An Environmental Fable. Living with the Land will receive an update, as well.Journey Into Imagination will receive a trackless system and possible theming similar to Mystic Manor. Figment will go next door with a brand new 4-D movie replacing Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival.The Seas with Nemo & Friends will receive an update aligned to Finding Dory, With the competition becoming tighter between Brazil and Spain...could the World Showcase possibly receive two instead of one new addition? Finally, the front gate will receive additional trees and plants to welcome guest without the tired Leave a Legacy. Electric Umbrella could be receiving a major update instead of demolition. Future World Pavilions could be home to a new themed area "Festival Headquarters". Sounds encouraging!

First we got Ratatouille in EPCOT, then we got TRON in Magic Kingdom, and now Mystic Manor is possibly coming to EPCOT? This is just like the Happiest Celebration on Earth all over again, where they are giving us rides from all the Disney Parks around the world! I wonder what rides we will get from Disneyland California and Tokyo...

 

[MaximumEd]

He didn't say Mystic Manor was possibly coming.

 

[Amidala]

Is it weird that I'm most excited about the landscaping? I'm really looking forward to seeing a lush Epcot with a return to the streamlined and "futuristic" structures that have been obscured in the years since they were built. Really hoping Future World will feel beautiful and inviting by the time the WDW anniversary rolls around.

 

[Mike S]

Once again, armchair Imagineers create better ideas online than the "pros" with the actual jobs. I'm serious. Maybe WDI should resume hiring people with broad backgrounds instead of narrow specialties.

Pretty big compliment for an idea I just spat out by taking what I like about the other rides that use the TT ride system and just thinking, "huh, what if...?"

It's not like I have storyboards and stuff like that.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Once again, armchair Imagineers create better ideas online than the "pros" with the actual jobs. I'm serious. Maybe WDI should resume hiring people with broad backgrounds instead of narrow specialties.

I'm available, and even "better", I'm an accountant.

 

[MisterPenguin]

EPCOT is beginning to buzz...
I'm hearing there could be a new movie replacing Circle of Life-An Environmental Fable. Living with the Land will receive an update, as well.Journey Into Imagination will receive a trackless system and possible theming similar to Mystic Manor. Figment will go next door with a brand new 4-D movie replacing Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival.The Seas with Nemo & Friends will receive an update aligned to Finding Dory, With the competition becoming tighter between Brazil and Spain...could the World Showcase possibly receive two instead of one new addition? Finally, the front gate will receive additional trees and plants to welcome guest without the tired Leave a Legacy. Electric Umbrella could be receiving a major update instead of demolition. Future World Pavilions could be home to a new themed area "Festival Headquarters". Sounds encouraging!

So, let's take what you say and compare it to what our insiders are saying....

EPCOT is beginning to buzz...

Yes. We've known that for over a years since Bob Chapek announced an overhaul of the park​

I'm hearing there could be a new movie replacing Circle of Life-An Environmental Fable.

Our insiders have pretty much said there will definitely be a new movie. So, where are you hearing there only "could" be one?​

Living with the Land will receive an update, as well.

That's what our insiders have been saying.​

Journey Into Imagination will receive a trackless system and possible theming similar to Mystic Manor. Figment will go next door with a brand new 4-D movie replacing Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival.

That comports exactly with the wishful thinking of our armchair imagineers! However, our insiders say that whatever may happen to the Figment pavilion and Figment himself is up in the air and won't be addressed for several years.​

The Seas with Nemo & Friends will receive an update aligned to Finding Dory,

Our insiders say there will be updates to The Sea, but not exactly what.​

With the competition becoming tighter between Brazil and Spain...could the World Showcase possibly receive two instead of one new addition?

That's not how pavilions are decided. They are decided by sponsors, mostly corporate sponsors. Are you saying that there are corporations bidding to sponsor two different pavilions? If that was the case, Disney would say, "Fine we'll take all your moneys and build both!" Our insiders say Brazil is a done deal, all but announced; and that Spain is a possibility in the works; and maybe a third national pavilion by 2025.​

Finally, the front gate will receive additional trees and plants to welcome guest without the tired Leave a Legacy.

Our insiders have said that will be the case a year ago.​

Electric Umbrella could be receiving a major update instead of demolition.

And when you look at the artist's rendering wherein none of the Innovention buildings remain, how exactly would that happen?​

Future World Pavilions could be home to a new themed area "Festival Headquarters".

They could... if there was going to be a Future World. The fact is, that's the way it is now with WoL and Odyssey hosting festival activities and Innoventions East hosting AP festival HQ.​

 

[doctornick]

The ride itself feels slightly off to me (sterile, not enough integration of the actual vehicles we made, something else I haven't nailed down), but the pre-show and post-show are very well done.

I wold imagine that it would be difficult to properly integrate the developed ride vehicles -- though I'd love for WDI to prove me wrong -- but I don't understand why we lost out on the physical effects (heat, cold, bumpy road, etc.) from TT 1.0. Have those and the design your own care and it would be a pretty stellar attraction. As is, I feel the warehouse section feels too sterile.