Rumor Brazil (and maybe others) Pavilion Coming to Epcot [not about Brazilian people nor a country wish list]

[Sir_Cliff]

Ok...now that it can be said: why did you want Brazil anyway?!?

I think the “thought”
Process behind this was crap from the start...and ultimately was “there’s tour groups...it must be BRAZIL!!!”

There’s plenty of people from jersey...they aren’t gonna build a Newark pavilion

It never made sense to me.

Now I don’t have to drop $200 on Caipirinhas for Marty at the Christ of the Andes bar and grill.

(Though the offer still stands are spice road or the Italian place, Dude)

I don't think the fact Brazilian tour groups would like it was a big factor for why it seemed a decent proposal for a new WS pavilion. For one thing, the world according to World Showcase only goes as far south as Mexico, which is in North America! So, Brazil would have helped round out the representation a little by adding something from South America and the southern half of the globe more generally.

Even with its recent economic problems, there are also a lot of big companies with money in Brazil who might be willing to throw a few million into nation branding efforts like a WS pavilion because they think it would reflect well on them as Brazilian brands/buisnesses. If anything, the need for a positive nation brand for Brazil has risen mightily in recent times. Brazil is also just a big, important country in terms of its population and economy.

From Disney's point of view, Brazil should have been an easy sell in terms of food and beverage. Caipirinhas sell themselves and churrascaria is both pricey and about the right amount of exotic for WDW guests to handle in large numbers. The significant amount of Brazilian tourists WDW receives is also a plus, as most would likely at least want to go to EPCOT to see the pavilion and it builds some good will that can potentially be spun into a decent marketing campaign down there. The moment also seems right, as they're trying to re-launch EPCOT and the first WS pavilion in decades would be a big announcement that the park was back in business.

I love Spain as a country and tapas and sangria are always fun, but I have no idea why people are so keen on them building a Spain pavilion. WS is too Europe-heavy as it is.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don't think the fact Brazilian tour groups would like it was a big factor for why it seemed a decent proposal for a new WS pavilion. For one thing, the world according to World Showcase only goes as far south as Mexico, which is in North America! So, Brazil would have helped round out the representation a little by adding something from South America and the southern half of the globe more generally.

Even with its recent economic problems, there are also a lot of big companies with money in Brazil who might be willing to throw a few million into nation branding efforts like a WS pavilion because they think it would reflect well on them as Brazilian brands/buisnesses. If anything, the need for a positive nation brand for Brazil has risen mightily in recent times. Brazil is also just a big, important country in terms of its population and economy.

From Disney's point of view, Brazil should have been an easy sell in terms of food and beverage. Caipirinhas sell themselves and churrascaria is both pricey and about the right amount of exotic for WDW guests to handle in large numbers. The significant amount of Brazilian tourists WDW receives is also a plus, as most would likely at least want to go to EPCOT to see the pavilion and it builds some good will that can potentially be spun into a decent marketing campaign down there. The moment also seems right, as they're trying to re-launch EPCOT and the first WS pavilion in decades would be a big announcement that the park was back in business.

I love Spain as a country and tapas and sangria are always fun, but I have no idea why people are so keen on them building a Spain pavilion. WS is too Europe-heavy as it is.

The two most likely European candidates (other than the big boogie man country) you would look at - Spain and Greece - are “euro shot”...

So there goes that idea.

Brazil would make a lot of sense on some level...but they’re also kinda despicable, aren’t they? I never saw them as a match for Disney. They send their 16 year olds there...great - Disney will take that. That doesn’t mean they necessarily want to strap themselves to the parent country.

I don’t for a second think they “cancelled” an announcement due to a recent rainforest fire...however there are US officials who have commented (in generalities) that they seem to believe that the government is “encouraging” the fires. It COULD BE a shield for them to deforest for development using a “natural disaster” as a front. That’s is so “modern authoritarian” thad it falls in line with the powder keg world insanity we have seen grow over the last 10 or so years.

It’s not the craziest idea I’ve seen.

I don’t think they’re worthy...to be honest. No matter what there population or corporate interests.

And that could be why there’s never been a South American pavilion. None are all that stable...there’s no “Switzerland” there that makes complete sense.


The pavilion that always makes the most sense - to me - is Australia/New Zealand. But that was made a little complicated after DAK as well.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Around 90–91, Switzerland was planned, approved, announced, and never built.

Remember they had 3 new countries on their own promotional material IN THE PARK in 1983...and none of those advanced beyond letter of intent phase.

It’s not easy to get one done...Disney wants “the world” from corporate sponsors and all they get back is the “privilege” of paying to run something they don’t really see.

And I’ve elsewhere said this: the internet killed Epcot. There’s no draw/mystery like there was in 1980 when we have all the digital data on earth available at our fingertips in a nanosecond.

Why pay? I can see what the pyramids or the Sydney opera house looks like. I can video chat my cousin standing in front of it.

The reality is the Moroccan royal family paid for their pavilion - you can do that when you own every dime of your countries wealth like the saudis.

And Norway - now mongrelized in predictably stupid fashion - was this bizarre “business consortium” of Scandinavian countries that collapsed before opening day. Didn’t even make it.

Those were also in negotiations/groundwork before Eisner even got there. Tatum/Miller era...


This is why I poo poo these rumors (showcase) until I see a podium with an overpaid Disney suit talking about it...how can we not?

 

[marni1971]

It never made sense to me.

Nor me. But I didn’t greenlight it.

 

[jpeden]

Remember they had 3 new countries on their own promotional material IN THE PARK in 1983...and none of those advanced beyond letter of intent phase.

It’s not easy to get one done...Disney wants “the world” from corporate sponsors and all they get back is the “privilege” of paying to run something they don’t really see.

And I’ve elsewhere said this: the internet killed Epcot. There’s no draw/mystery like there was in 1980 when we have all the digital data on earth available at our fingertips in a nanosecond.

Why pay? I can see what the pyramids or the Sydney opera house looks like. I can video chat my cousin standing in front of it.

The reality is the Moroccan royal family paid for their pavilion - you can do that when you own every dime of your countries wealth like the saudis.

And Norway - now mongrelized in predictably stupid fashion - was this bizarre “business consortium” of Scandinavian countries that collapsed before opening day. Didn’t even make it.

Those were also in negotiations/groundwork before Eisner even got there. Tatum/Miller era...


This is why I poo poo these rumors until I see a podium with an overpaid Disney suit talking about it...how can we not?

My wife and I discussed just yesterday how the Internet and the advent of cheap travel killed the ideals and the want for a park such as EPCOT.

Unfortunately the technology that the park one day dreamed of is the technology that killed it.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Nor me. But I didn’t greenlight it.

I wish you had that power...it might make for some interesting bells and whistles...

Apparently no one else greenlit it either

 

[marni1971]

Apparently no one else greenlit it either

Eh-uh.

(Sound of an incorrect answer buzzer)

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

My wife and I discussed just yesterday how the Internet and the advent of cheap travel killed the ideals and the want for a park such as EPCOT.

Unfortunately the technology that the park one day dreamed of is the technology that killed it.

And I think that’s the only LOGICAL conclusion about the showcase.

But dusters hate me when I talk about this...because I don’t “fall in line” and do trip reports or a countdown indicating my desperation to get out of Cleveland or Philadelphia for a precious week once every 2 years in Orlando

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Eh-uh.

(Sound of an incorrect answer buzzer)

...we have so far to go

 

[Fairsky]

I’ve never understood the case for a Brazil pavilion. Anything new added to Epcot should have a Disney IP connection, and Brazil doesn’t. (Even the new water feature is themed to Moana.) I always thought India would be a much better addition to World Showcase with a Jungle Book attraction. Wasn’t that a rumor a few years ago?

 

[jpeden]

And I think that’s the only LOGICAL conclusion about the showcase.

But dusters hate me when I talk about this...because I don’t “fall in line” and do trip reports or a countdown indicating my desperation to get out of Cleveland or Philadelphia for a precious week once every 2 years in Orlando

I love WDW and EPCOT in particular. And no, I never saw it in it’s glory days. But this announcement could have been a lot worse. We could use new pavilions, and I hope they get built, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t.

 

[marni1971]

...we have so far to go

Like I said yesterday, I’m not out to be believed. Time will tell.

 

[marni1971]

Wasn’t that a rumor a few years ago?

It was.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Like I said yesterday, I’m not out to be believed. Time will tell.

Well you know how the game goes...
And it is a game...a meeting and a conceptual sketch is only good for what it is: killing time till lunch

 

[marni1971]

Well you know how the game goes...
And it is a game...a meeting and a conceptual sketch is only good for what it is: killing time till lunch

You really think that’s as far as it’s got? Okay. Moving on.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I love WDW and EPCOT in particular. And no, I never saw it in it’s glory days. But this announcement could have been a lot worse. We could use new pavilions, and I hope they get built, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t.

The net result is this much ballyhooed “spine” project”....isn’t really much in net.

There are some new things coming...but it’s still not where it needs to go if we’re honest.

The demolition of innoventions isn’t a major deal. What they’re building/ announced is nice...I think tasteful (as much as these stock wonks can muster) showcase builds are “ok”...
But there is one eyesore sitting just south of Canada that has GOT to get done - somehow.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You really think that’s as far as it’s got? Okay. Moving on.

No...I think it was somewhere between there and Iger’s desk/hotel room at sun valley.

But you see the problem?

 

[marni1971]

No...I think it was somewhere between there and Iger’s desk/hotel room at sun valley.

But you see the problem?

Sometimes I know too much. But I can appreciate your point of view.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Sometimes I know too much. But I can appreciate your point of view.

Contrary to one of our most popular sayings, “knowledge” is not “power”.

In corporate America...only the ability to manipulate money is power...through any means necessary.

Moving on...what are you hearing for D23 Orlando 2021 ?

(I may actually go to one of these someday...we can go to Fogo De Chao for those drinks )

 

[marni1971]

Moving on...what are you hearing for D23 Orlando 2021 ?

To avoid it?