News Disney Not Renewing Great Movie Ride Sponsorship Deal with TCM ; Attraction to Close

[HMF]

Epcot unfortunately will never be the beautiful and different park it was in the 80's. Nor should it. It should change , and unlike any other park in the world, it should be adventurous and challenge what it means to be a theme park.
It has grown into a park with very few new additions, refurb needed in so many places .
What is so unfortunate, it is now known to so many people as the place with the countries and festivals. Throw any festival over there and it makes money. It should have never got to that point.
I still love the park because when I am there I remember what used to be in that vacant building and what they could do in the day. Hopefully when DHS is finished, it will get its much needed love and be fantastic again.

It shouldn't be exactly what it was in the 80s but it definitely should be beautiful and different.

 

[geekza]

It shouldn't be exactly what it was in the 80s but it should definitely should be beautiful and different.

I would only slightly disagree in that I think that, in concept and mission, it should be exactly what it was in the 80's. Future World should be about revisiting man's progress through history and exploring the possibilities of present and future technologies. World Showcase is great, but the pavilions really need spruced up, with a focus on more than just changing menus. They really need a couple of newer countries, but space is sadly limited due to the layout of the park. There is room for a couple of smaller pavilions, but WS really needs the shot in the arm that at least a single large-scale, spectacular pavilion could bring. The question is, which country and culture could serve as the basis for that? I would say Greece because of their place in the history of civilization, but their economy is in such tatters that it's doubtful they could afford to sponsor it. WS is still very heavy with European and Asian countries. It really needs more African representation but, again, it would be difficult to find one nation that could afford to sponsor a pavilion. If Disney really wanted to, they could forgo a sponsor in the name of creating something different and better representing the diverse cultures of the world. I mean, Equatorial Africa was one of the originally-planned pavilions.

 

[Giants14]

Has there been any recent update on the closure or merely rumours at this stage?

 

[marni1971]

Has there been any recent update on the closure or merely rumours at this stage?

Sadly I still expect it to close.

 

[Kman101]

Sadly I still expect it to close.

 

[WildcatDen]

Sigh.

The shows should have been first on the list

I believe the show changes/replacements were originally supposed to come sooner and one still may, but it looks like they will be later rather than sooner. . .

 

[jt04]

If it evolved we wouldn't be talking about this.

It devolved.

No denying there has need a lack of vision. But Imagineering has been given a green light to fix it. I am optimistic.

 

[Bocabear]

They were also given the green light to fix DHS and we are getting the ultra-lame Toy Story Land regurgitation... I have lost hope.

 

[JS514]

I know this is probably amidst the 230 pages in here, but if it does actually close (which seems extremely likely at this point), how long is it expected to be down before they open up the next attraction? Will it be before the 50th, or is going to FOR the 50th?

 

[EricsBiscuit]

Sadly I still expect it to close.

Any chance they will build it in the ANIMATION Courtyard? Duration of construction? Thanks

 

[Phicinfan]

I know this is probably amidst the 230 pages in here, but if it does actually close (which seems extremely likely at this point), how long is it expected to be down before they open up the next attraction? Will it be before the 50th, or is going to FOR the 50th?

I believe, rumor has the Mickey ride going in to be open at same time or around when SWE opens

 

[marni1971]

Any chance they will build it in the ANIMATION Courtyard? Duration of construction? Thanks

I believe, rumor has the Mickey ride going in to be open at same time or around when SWE opens

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

Sadly I still expect it to close.

The short-sightedness of this management team is baffling. The concept for Great Mickey Ride seems absolutely incredible, but c'mon... location location location! Not to mention the already woefully inadequate amount of rides in that park. The next few years are not going to be pretty for DHS.

 

[geekza]

DHS' numbers were down by 52,000 in 2016. That's not an enormous amount, considering they had approx. 10,828,000 visit the park. Still, it will be interesting to see how much attendance is down this year, as major construction and closing of the Streets of America area didn't happen until April of 2016. (Not that there was a lot to close down at that point.)

 

[marni1971]

DHS' numbers were down by 52,000 in 2016. That's not an enormous amount, considering they had approx. 10,828,000 visit the park. Still, it will be interesting to see how much attendance is down this year, as major construction and closing of the Streets of America area didn't happen until April of 2016. (Not that there was a lot to close down at that point.)

Joe public won't know what state the park is in until they're in. By which time they'd have clicked at the gate.

 

[po1998]

If you're upset with only four rides in DHS, just wait until TSM closes so they can flip the entrance. That's going to take a little time since they're going to need to build a tunnel of sorts to get people from the exit of the original track all-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l the way back to Toy Story Land. I dare say it might even compete with Indy in DL for the longest exit queue (maybe). All that isn't going to take just a day or two either. There's going to be a decent amount of time where DHS has THREE RIDES.

Just wait until SWL opens and the Star Wars fanatics arrive at the park in HUGE numbers, and overwhelm the handful of shows and attractions.

SWL - 2 rides
Mickey Ride
ToT
RnRC
TSMM
TSL - 2 rides(more aimed at the younger generation??)
...and a bunch of outdated shows(VoTLM, IJ Stunt Show, BatB, Fantasmic)...and no parade. The only recent update is the SW Projection Show/Fireworks(whatever it is called).

 

[EricsBiscuit]

Just wait until SWL opens and the Star Wars fanatics arrive at the park in HUGE numbers, and overwhelm the handful of shows and attractions.

SWL - 2 rides
Mickey Ride
ToT
RnRC
TSMM
TSL - 2 rides(more aimed at the younger generation??)
...and a bunch of outdated shows(VoTLM, IJ Stunt Show, BatB, Fantasmic)...and no parade. The only recent update is the SW Projection Show/Fireworks(whatever it is called).

Thou hast forgotten Disney Movie Magic and the temporary Pixar thing. For they are actually really good and cool. Indy isn't outdated! How dare thou! The only difference between that guy and Señor Ford is a paycheck!!!!1!1!1!1

 

[jt04]

Just wait until SWL opens and the Star Wars fanatics arrive at the park in HUGE numbers, and overwhelm the handful of shows and attractions.

SWL - 2 rides
Mickey Ride
ToT
RnRC
TSMM
TSL - 2 rides(more aimed at the younger generation??)
...and a bunch of outdated shows(VoTLM, IJ Stunt Show, BatB, Fantasmic)...and no parade. The only recent update is the SW Projection Show/Fireworks(whatever it is called).

How did you get invited to the meetings where they decided the future?

Or are those just assumptions?

 

[jt04]

Joe public won't know what state the park is in until they're in. By which time they'd have clicked at the gate.

Mickey seems pretty smart at getting guests to return. Even across generations.

 

[Kman101]

How did you get invited to the meetings where they decided the future?

Or are those just assumptions?

Assumptions like you make?

That's the reality of how the park will be come 2019