“As we build upon its core mission of optimism and hope to inspire the world, the real will become fantastic and the fantastic will become real—in whole new ways at Epcot,”
~Bob Chapek
This guy doesn’t get it. When he talks about Epcot it’s literally laughable. He says the park’s mission is optimism and hope. A little vague don’t you think? More perplexing than that is how a raccoon with a potty mouth and a rat that likes to cook will inspire the world. That is an idea that will leave me puzzled for years to come. His incoherent ramblings would be comical if he wasn’t the one deciding the fate of this theme park.
I think no concept better illustrates the confusion Disney has for Epcot, better than the new nighttime spectacular.
From the Press Release:
It will celebrate how Disney music inspires people around the world...
EPCOT Center wasn’t conceived with a self centered or Disney Centric view. It was a celebration of all of humanity. Thus the desire for corporate partners and the support of international organizations. Disney would be like the conductor of a large orchestra. The piece would be led by Disney as governments, non profits, and corporations all joined in.
As big and exciting as Mickey Mouse and Snow White are, the Imagineering team behind EPCOT Center saw this as bigger. They were helping to realize the dream of a futurist and change the world while doing it. Sure it might have been hype or overzealousness, but they believed it. And people who believe in things do end up achieving the impossible. They create incredible things like American Adventure that pushed every limit of design. They come up with exciting stories like Spaceship Earth. They are the ones that work inhumane hours to turn a terrible swamp into a beautiful park.
They do make mistakes. When you’re trying to change the world, your batting average isn’t going to be 100%. But people will understand and even love the quirks.
We weren’t supposed to be inspired by Moana. We were supposed to be inspired by humanity. What we had done, what we’re doing, and what we were about to do.
Have you noticed that everyone is negative these days?
...May EPCOT Center entertain, inform and inspire and above all, may it instill a new sense of belief and pride in man's ability to shape a world that offers hope to people everywhere.
May it instill a sense of belief and pride in man’s ability to shape a world that offers hope to people everywhere.
That’s a mission Bob.
If you search the internet for Walt Disney and escapism, you’re bound to get a ton of results. Some have even criticized Disneyland for creating a place to escape. I myself have characterized Disney Parks as escapist destinations. But do you really think Walt Disney would create someplace to escape the world? Nope. Instead, he created a place to reorient ourselves and give us the courage go forward and change it.
“Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, dreams, and hard facts that have created America...”
That DNA has been embedded in Disney up until Disney’s Animal Kingdom. When everyone else said they were sugarcoating reality, they ignored it. They knew what they were doing. They were changing the world.
But now Disney itself believes what people say about it. It’s a place to “escape.” Escape to a mindless world of raccoons, rats, and Frozen. And if you need help escaping the place you came to escape, the year long festivals provide the food and wine necessary to do just that too.
Please leave hard facts and ideals at the front door. Forget about the world. Have fun!
Have a Disney
Day!