News Disney to reveal more about the future of Epcot at D23 Expo 2019

[JohnD]

While I give the rumor almost no credence whatsoever, I have seen this kind of thing happen before, different departments making decisions. Also, replacing the movie with a different one and some small refurb of the existing theater isn't exactly a huge budget issue.

Guess we'll have to wait until D23, won't we?

I noticed how the east side of FW contains the thrill rides (GOTG, M:S, TT) while the west side are slow moving one way or the other (Imagination, Soarin', LWtL, Nemo). I wouldn't mind it staying that way with a refurb of Imagination (1.0?) and LWtL (those movies before entering the greenhouses is VERY dated). They could slightly re-theme Seas to be the Marine Life Institute aquarium from Finding Dory and update the ride. My two cents. Obviously, Disney has their own ideas.

 

[trainplane3]

While I give the rumor almost no credence whatsoever, I have seen this kind of thing happen before, different departments making decisions. Also, replacing the movie with a different one and some small refurb of the existing theater isn't exactly a huge budget issue.

Key example is UoE getting one of the theaters carpeting replaced about 3-4 months prior to it closing for good.

 

[Haymarket2008]

In regards to Future World at D23, apart from 1) the central spine project, 2) more info on Guardians, the Play Pavilion & the Space Restaurant, 3) SSE refurb, what else are they gonna talk about?

Info on The Land & The Seas has been said to be further down the timeline. And Imagination is bottom of the list/years away (according to insiders). Hm.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

In regards to Future World at D23, apart from 1) the central spine project, 2) more info on Guardians, the Play Pavilion & the Space Restaurant, 3) SSE refurb, what else are they gonna talk about?

Info on The Land & The Seas has been said to be further down the timeline. And Imagination is bottom of the list/years away (according to insiders). Hm.

Pssst...nobody has a clue what they are gonna do ...

Likely nothing more since they have spent a lot lately and it’s enough to limp to 2025 (when they’ll all be gone)...

But there was an ambiguous promise a year or two ago that “changes” to Epcot are coming...so the bloggers go nuts, and the WDI optimists start believing their own hype.

Then we get “confirmed” stuff that never happens. It’s the cycle

 

[lazyboy97o]

For movies, Disney still experiments with smaller, unknown movies, and many times they don't do very well. In theme parks, though, many seem to expect every new attraction to be E-ticket caliber. So if you're Disney, do you invest $100 million in a new attraction based on that "risky", unknown entity, or something proven to be popular?

$100 million doesn’t even buy Pixar Pier. Disney can’t experiment with small attractions because their costs are completely out of control and leadership doesn’t understand why attractions are such an obsession for their idiot customers.

 

[jt04]

And there it is.


You are completely wrong about the construction of Disneyland in regards to IP. That wasn’t what happened at all. It was 100% about financing for procuring additional funding, sponsorship and money to stay in business.

The real “core” attractions are non-IP based were built when the park proved it would succeed and were installed 1959-1969.

Installing IP laden rides in all parks makes them no longer “themeparks”...because the theme has to be consistent with the design of the park. IP is not.

So if you want movie rides and IP in Epcot and DAK...instead of where they belong thematically...the parks are actually regressing towards amusement parks. WDW would be a very expensive cluster of 4.

Oh I thought Walt's version of Peter Pan, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Mickey Mouse had some presence on opening day. Plus other of his IPs. But I guess you know they weren't. Were you there?

 

[ChrisFL]

$100 million doesn’t even buy Pixar Pier. Disney can’t experiment with small attractions because their costs are completely out of control and leadership doesn’t understand why attractions are such an obsession for their idiot customers.

Yeah, my numbers are a bit outdated

 

[Animaniac93-98]

$100 million doesn’t even buy Pixar Pier.

It cost Disney $90 million in 1995 to build DLP's Space Mountain.

$100 million in 2006 bought Expedition Everest.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Oh I thought Walt's version of Peter Pan, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Mickey Mouse had some presence on opening day. Plus other of his IPs. But I guess you know they weren't. Were you there?

Those movies were new/in development when they built the park and they had to beg banks and sponsors for the cash. Disney was not in good shape financially from 1945-1955.

I was not there..:but I can read

Using the IP was against Disney’s desires/judgement. But he had to sell it and needed familiarity to attract people. Frontierland was immensely popular in radio, movies, and developing tv, sci-fi was up and coming

What didn’t have an obvious tie in?

Pirates....haunted houses...tiki birds.

There was also no Mickey Mouse/Snow White tie ins when the park opened - the two big properties by far...why would that be?


Truth is a great thing

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It cost Disney $90 million in 1995 to build DLP's Space Mountain.

$100 million in 2006 bought Expedition Everest.

Everest was WAY over Budget...I think it was more like double. Test track cost between $200-300 due to problems

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

$100 million doesn’t even buy Pixar Pier. Disney can’t experiment with small attractions because their costs are completely out of control and leadership doesn’t understand why attractions are such an obsession for their idiot customers.

And that’s why you get elaborate facade and giftshop lands with maybe two new actual attractions...which is what you market to the majority of a potential customer base.

$500 mil of not much because of budget blows by idiots like joe rohde.

 

[WDWbuff2001]

Haven't been on the forums in like forever.. But I hope they mention something about world showcase, although I feel that they will stick with future world this year and maybe mention something about rat. I can see maybe a new pavilion announcement at the next D23. I swear by the time D23 arrives this year, I'm gonna end up with anxiety from waiting to see what they announce. Disney does it on purpose, like why! Haha...

 

[jt04]

Those movies were new/in development when they built the park and they had to beg banks and sponsors for the cash. Disney was not in good shape financially from 1945-1955.

I was not there..:but I can read

Using the IP was against Disney’s desires/judgement. But he had to sell it and needed familiarity to attract people. Frontierland was immensely popular in radio, movies, and developing tv, sci-fi was up and coming

What didn’t have an obvious tie in?

Pirates....haunted houses...tiki birds.

There was also no Mickey Mouse/Snow White tie ins when the park opened - the two big properties by far...why would that be?


Truth is a great thing

I'm definitely not a Disneyland history buff. If the banks had to force Walt to put his creations in the park it makes sense Roy handled the financial aspects then.

Worthy of a Ripleys museum exhibit. Amazing.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Oh please let the directional signs with the pavilions look like they did in the 80's oh please oh please oh pleeaase..

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I'm definitely not a Disneyland history buff. If the banks had to force Walt to put his creations in the park it makes sense Roy handled the financial aspects then.

Worthy of a Ripleys museum exhibit. Amazing.

Well that’s how it went down. Luckily the concept worked...but what’s made Disney parks iconic is NOT rides based off of movie characters.

And when the did do that...it was used very carefully.

What they’ve done in Epcot has been reckless...of late.

 

[marni1971]

Disney and Iger are as much a Hollywood Movie/TV company as a theme park company..

So was Eisner and Wells. But the difference is that team actually realised the difference.

 

[jt04]

Well if combining IPs with theme parks gives us more immersive lands like SWGE and the Potter lands then that seems like a good way to go.

Just like DAK is a mixture of the real and the mythical of the animal world, I could see Epcot (including Future World) becoming a mixture of real and imagined mythical lands. But I'm a dreamer.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Well if combining IPs with theme parks gives us more immersive lands like SWGE and the Potter lands then that seems like a good way to go.

Just like DAK is a mixture of the real and the mythical of the animal world, I could see Epcot (including Future World) becoming a mixture of real and imagined mythical lands. But I'm a dreamer.

But that’s not the THEME!!!

you honestly need “Microsoft logic checker” on your keypad....

Even dak...which gambled and won...stretched beyond cohesion for avatar. If you don’t have a high spending stickler like James Cameron involved...it’s just as likely you get cheap like “nfl” and toy story land slapped in Epcot.

I bet this guardians ride will be fun...but it doesn’t fit the theme.

T. H. E. M. E. Park

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Well if combining IPs with theme parks gives us more immersive lands like SWGE and the Potter lands then that seems like a good way to go.

Just like DAK is a mixture of the real and the mythical of the animal world, I could see Epcot (including Future World) becoming a mixture of real and imagined mythical lands. But I'm a dreamer.

That’s a way to put it.

 

[AJDMB05]

Guess we'll have to wait until D23, won't we?

I noticed how the east side of FW contains the thrill rides (GOTG, M:S, TT) while the west side are slow moving one way or the other (Imagination, Soarin', LWtL, Nemo). I wouldn't mind it staying that way with a refurb of Imagination (1.0?) and LWtL (those movies before entering the greenhouses is VERY dated). They could slightly re-theme Seas to be the Marine Life Institute aquarium from Finding Dory and update the ride. My two cents. Obviously, Disney has their own ideas.

The real difference with west and east is the architecture and general theming of the pavilions as designed on opening day. East was Energy, Horizons and Motion, very technical concepts with a STEM-type theme, and the walkways, planters, etc. were all very angular. West was/is Imagination, Land and Seas, lighter, more freeform concepts, and the walkways and general design of West have the same vibe, more wide open, rounded corners, etc. Pretty cool to see on Google Maps.