Circle of Life Closed for Refurbishment?

[SpaceMountain77]

I would welcome an updated edutainment offering centered on environmental consciousness or sustainability. If this is to become an animated shorts location, then I will be displeased.

 

[captainmoch]

Maybe the film is being updated with like, Wall-E or the Lion Guard or something?

 

[FutureWorldShowcase]

Another site, which is apparently filtered out here, is reporting that a "highly credible" source is telling them that this will reopen with a new film. I guess we'll see...

 

[draybook]

In honor of the "throwback" craze that has swept our nation over the last few years, the theater name will be changed to Throwback Theater and it will show PoV videos of the attractions and rides from Epcot's heydays. You know, back when they used imagination and creativity instead of movie tie-ins and stale, generalized products....

 

[DubyooDeeDubyoo]

So, I guess I'll be the one to throw the shade: This was the most 90s style preachy film I've seen out of Disney, and it's enormously hypocritical at that. While both "The Lion King" was one of my top five Disney films and I'm also a west coast visitor who is used to DLR politics and it's "never close anything ever" fanbase, I came out of this attraction thinking there HAS to be a better use of this space (which feels like walking into a JC lecture hall and watching a Saturday Morning special).

Furthermore, while I am generally supportive of the environment and believe in climate change etc, I walked out of this movie wondering how it's message about nature being pushed aside for development is supposed to gel with the fact that the theme park in which it sits is a paved-over swamp. The fact that it uses a shot of downtown Las Vegas (my current home, and a town that competes with Orlando for convention/tourism related purposes) to symbolize man's sins on the planet really just put an exclamation point that this movie was the product of an especially a tone-deaf Disney, that was under the impression that it's own farts smell wonderful but everybody else's stinks.

 

[wdwmagic]

Another site, which is apparently filtered out here, is reporting that a "highly credible" source is telling them that this will reopen with a new film. I guess we'll see...

I would be really surprised if it was closed for two months and came back without any changes.

 

[FutureWorldShowcase]

I would be really surprised if it was closed for two months and came back without any changes.

I hope so! We have never seen it, by choice - walked right on by every time. I considered trying to see it on our upcoming trip because of not having a ton to do in Future World, but quickly disregarded the idea. We may actually stop by if they freshened up the show.

 

[HiYa Pal]

So, is this possibly going to be a new movie to help bridge the themeing gap between Living with The Land and Soarin?

 

[marni1971]

I would be really surprised if it was closed for two months and came back without any changes.

As would I.

Very very surprised.

 

[Haymarket2008]

The aforementioned gradual attraction "plussings" seem to be picking up momentum. This and the Caballeros. I'm liking it.

 

[wdwmagic]

As would I.

Very very surprised.

And I'm intrigued as to what could be taking 2 months, considering the actual front of house theater has already had a refurb.

 

[Unplugged]

Well if it is a 70mm screen and projector could they possibly just show The Hateful Eight from Tarantino on it?? It was the first film made in 70 mm in a couple decades.. or is that not the family friendly show Disney is looking for?

Considering they built a whole land dedicated to Avatar, I'd say this should be a legit option.

 

[Unplugged]

And I'm intrigued as to what could be taking 2 months, considering the actual front of house theater has already had a refurb.

Maybe the truck finally showed up with the new digital projector?!?

 

[FerretAfros]

I'm all for changing the film. It's very dated and rather preachy (without any hint of irony that the storyline is eerily similar to WDW's roots), and a lot of the footage is clearly from ~35 years ago. The characters aren't as popular as they once were, and the audience is much more informed about the issues presented than when the film began its run. There are tons of possibilities to turn this into something worthwhile again

That said, I really hope they don't mess with the wall carpet in the lobby. It screams vintage EPCOT Center, and is still miraculously plush and soft after all these years. That room does a better job transporting me to another era than some of Disney's finest theming. It's just so kitschy that it works

 

[WondersOfLife]

Holy marshmallows... I never thought this day would EVER come!! Refurb OR replacement.. I always thought it was just .... exist! WOW!

You know.. I'd love to see a brand new audio animatronic show similar to Kitchen Kabaret and Food Rocks open in this space... I mean, it's a nice theatre. And there seems to be plenty of space up front. They could even take out a few rows of chairs if necessary because it's a pretty large theatre.

I want a Food Rocks music-style show with the animatronic quality of KK. That would be great! Then they could incorporate the characters from the show into the Food & Wine festival as little mascots!

 

[BrerJon]

My bet would be an emergency replacement as a character meet-and-greet, designed to take some of the pressure off Frozenland. Or maybe a specially commissioned Frozen short film, 'The Land in Winter' or something.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

The cynicism is strong in this thread.

 

[Clamman73]

Fourth Soarin' theater. These seats don't move though.

 

[roj2323]

At this rate they should just close the entire pavilion while soarin' is under referb and save the labor cost while also giving them the opportunity to fix everything that's broken or worn out. Installing a few extra escalators wouldn't hurt either.

 

[BEARSHOUSE4]

Capt EO part III