Last I heard this thread was about DHS.
Sometimes I think that Steve should make a permanent thread about Epcot. No specific topic - kind of what the Spirit threads eventually devolve into - where people can endlessly debate about Epcot. I am always amazed at how many threads turn into some discussion about the current state of Epcot. It tells me just how many of the super fans on this site looked to Epcot (at that time) as the pinnacle of themed edutainment, how important it is to them, and how Epcot (FW in particular) has been neglected by Disney for too long. I still think that Epcot is next in line for a major redo. Why they would focus on MK, DS, DAK and DHS, but leave Epcot to the dogs would simply make no sense to me.
And before
@ford91exploder pounces on my thread and claims that it is due to money, I will nip that particular line of thinking in the bud. They are spending money in the swamps, and are about to spend a ton more. MK, DS, DAK, DVC, and now DHS have all had - and continue to have - money thrown at them. As far as I am concerned, it comes down to one thing, and that is; does Disney have the nerve to refurb Epcot back to what it was supposed to be, or do they take the easy way out and try to re-imagine it with as many IP related properties as possible. It is so easy to realize that is the quandary. Domestic Disney does not like building things that aren't tied to an uber-popular IP anymore and that is such a shame. And really, that is what almost all of Epcot was in its heyday. What we have to ask ourselves is do we think that the likes of Bob Weiss, Bob Chapek, Tom Staggs and all others involved want to take a chance on doing major refurbing of the pavilions in FW that are not IP-based? Additionally, do they move to add non-IP attractions to the countries in World Showcase? In their minds, maybe the theme park visitor of today could care less about being edutained, and want to experience rides and attractions that are simply eye candy, involving beloved PIXAR and WDAS characters. I fear for those that love what Epcot was, because I believe that Frozen in Norway is the window into what will become of Epcot. If it is wildly popular - and honestly, it is going to be, especially in a park that is starved for quality attractions - I fully expect to see Ratattouille in France, Joy and Sadness in Imagination and Baymax in Innoventions (as examples).
I also think that WDW is in a pickle as far as attendance is concerned. A park like DHS is perfectly setup to handle popular IPs like Star Wars and PIXAR as it is based on movies. Disney can stuff this park full of them and it will make them happy as it has direct tie-ins to merchandising and food/beverage, and they won't be adding the IPs to MK, where so many now exist. If WDW is concerned about figuring out ways to spread out their park visitors, one of the worst moves they can make is to add popular IPs like Frozen to that park, even though it makes maybe the most sense to place them there. You could make Fantasy Land four times as large and add Frozen, the upcoming Moana, Tangled, etc. It would all make sense thematically but would do nothing for crowd dispersement. I know that most on these boards would argue that if they really tried they could make a non-IP park based on culture and science compete against the likes of an IP-stuffed MK. I unfortunately do not. Maybe I don't have enough faith in the expectations of the general park visitor, but instant gratification is what the world trends towards as each year passes. The millenials are a perfect example. Create massive people-movers that are geared towards educating the riders and two minutes in most people will be staring at their smart phones. I have already seen it on rides like SSE and Ellen's - you can see their faces lit up in the dark.
It is unfortunate, and that is the problem that Epcot faces. DHS on the other hand will be able to avoid that level of responsibility. They can make rides that are technically complex but are also straight forward and simple in what they deliver to the riders. And they will be based off of popular brands that are easy to sell. For me, though, I hope that they do take some sort of gamble with Epcot.
