Do you think you will ever enjoy Epcot again??

[DisneyDoctor]

Wait, people exist that don't have an ounce of enjoyment while visiting epcot? First, why visit? Second, what is wrong with you?

Edit: I understand some people are disappointed that it's different. I think that's stupid, but I get the argument. But feeling a bit sad that something is different is much different than not enjoying it at all.

 

[Nunu]

I've never stopped enjoying EPCOT, specially World Showcase. Yes, maybe some things haven't changed for the better but it still remains my favorite park.

 

[MaximumEd]

I still enjoy the park, but as one of the lucky ones that got to experience it in the 80’s.......wow, it really was incredible.

 

[eliza61nyc]

I almost couldn't have said this any better. Don't forget the other things that have been lost in the last 20 years like Showcase Buses and major Holiday decorations. The wide open spaces that are now occupied EVERYWHERE by those d_mn food service huts.

I wonder if all those saying how happy they are remember (or even know) what it was like. Yes, I do get that crying in your beer for what has been lost isn't worthwhile. But the park has become the poster child for the Peter Principle.

And the sad fat is that the park COULD be so much more. The park didn't get this way by accident.

No I didnt, but unless you've found a way to time travel that argument is akin to a grandfather saying "back in my day....."
It's like my Avatar, I can't live in the past, I firmly believe that when you do, you'll be perpetually dissatisfied. In my experience most view the past with rose tinted lenses. I've watched many of those videos here of old park rides, none of them have made me say "wow, that must have been great". I will say it probably is one of those things one had to experience.

 

[bUU]

One issue that seems to reoccur with Epcot is one of not adhering to the original theme and stuff not "belonging". Is this a major deterrent for the park?? I don't foresee an "about face" with Disney so when all the construction and updates are finished, can Epcot still be a great park without a so called coherent theme?

Absolutely. A pocket of the most fervent fans get attached to certain ideas, sometimes, and that bogs some of them down in malaise, but it is important to keep in mind that it bogs them down - the people who practice the attachment - not the place itself nor (as is unequivocally apparent) the general public.

Let's be clear: A park-wide theme is unnecessary and can be overused as a design motif, just like any other design motif. It is great that they've got it going in the World Showcase: World Showcase has a few theaters and a couple of rides but most of the experience Disney has deliberately crafted for guests to enjoy there is cultural appreciation - food, entertainment, merchandise specific to the nations represented. As a matter of fact, probably no one on this forum would dare make this feeling of theirs about this known, but I've heard from many people who think World Showcase is a big waste precisely because of this park-wide theme aspect of it. It's a credit to Disney that they're appealing to so many of us who do appreciate what the World Showcase offers, yet so many myopically groan about how their preference in that regard isn't always placed above the preferences of other guests to the contrary.

Regardless, contrast that with Futureworld: seven rides and an aquarium. To equate the two there would need to be in Futureworld analogs to the World Showcase's cultural appreciation that most guests would want to spend time enjoying. Whenever they've tried that, too many of us guests have been uninterested (even though a few fervent fans might be interested). Just look at my YouTube history: Loads of travel videos about other countries, but very few videos about science and technology. Perhaps I'm more reflective of the typical guest, or at the very least, perhaps there should be places at Disney World for both people like me and other people, even though we like different things.

 

[bUU]

The sad thing is....I'll probably enjoy it.
But at the same time, I'll complain about it not living up to the ideals of Epcot center.
Which actually makes me part of the problem.
I'm essentially the Walrus.

At least you're honest about it.

I'm really surprised at how many posts I've seen lately saying the food used to be more authentic/adventurous/better quality.

There was a brief period in the 1990s when quality was a bit better. People blow the difference out of proportion because they want their dissatisfaction to sound more grave than it really is.

The wide open spaces that are now occupied EVERYWHERE by those d_mn food service huts.

Those festivals, for which those huts are a significant aspect, are a strong contributor to why we decided to move to Florida. It just goes to show that different people see things differently, and that the parks are being arrayed more so to our preferences than to yours.

And the sad fa[c]t is that the park COULD be so much more.

What you are really saying is that the park could be more to your liking and therefore, probably, less to my liking.

The park didn't get this way by accident.

That's right. It got this way because of the guests for whom how the park is is what they are aiming for.

 

[Communicora]

Those festivals, for which those huts are a significant aspect, are a strong contributor to why we decided to move to Florida. It just goes to show that different people see things differently, and that the parks are being arrayed more so to our preferences than to yours.

I have never been to Food and Wine, but it does sound fun. That said, it makes the World Showcase feel a bit depressing when there are all these disused kiosks sitting around. They shouldn't store them in place. It’s rather like being at a mall with a lot of vacancies.

Epcot will likely never regain the magic it had for me in those first 1980s visits, but it is the reason I have returned as an adult. I hope “Futureworld” can retain some of its sense of wonder and that they strike a good balance with World Showcase. The Coco Mariachi show is an example of how they can do these things thoughtfully. More of that would be welcomed.

 

[graphite1326]

With the addition the GotG, Frozen, and the new rat ride at France, I am not sure if like the direction EPCOT is going. Isn't supposed to be about the world community with Future World being about the future of mankind? If they are going to turn it into a "making money off of Disney films" park, I am uncertain. On the fence as someone previously posted. I was looking more of they need a new country type of person.

 

[Disstevefan1]

What park you want to go to today?
DHS is way too crowded now that we have GE
The Magic kingdom is always crowded but now even more so since folks are avoiding DHS due to GE
It's too hot to go to animal kingdom today.
Let's go to EPCOT, they got the food Boths open. What's is it flower and garden or food and wine or the art festival or whatever festival that have today, no matter, the food booths are open so let's go!

 

[larryz]

With the addition the GotG, Frozen, and the new rat ride at France, I am not sure if like the direction EPCOT is going. Isn't supposed to be about the world community with Future World being about the future of mankind?

That was EPCOT. This is Epcot.

 

[flynnibus]

No I didnt, but unless you've found a way to time travel that argument is akin to a grandfather saying "back in my day....."
It's like my Avatar, I can't live in the past, I firmly believe that when you do, you'll be perpetually dissatisfied. In my experience most view the past with rose tinted lenses. I've watched many of those videos here of old park rides, none of them have made me say "wow, that must have been great". I will say it probably is one of those things one had to experience.

Yes, because as the series of posts you replied to... what made EPCOT great was not just what it was... but what it was IN THAT TIME FOR THOSE PEOPLE. In what the average visitor's life was like vs what EPCOT offered. World Showcase was EXOTIC, it transported you in ways you could not have anywhere else in your life unless you literally were a globe trotter.

FutureWorld had MASSIVE attractions that somehow via magic seemed to fit in these spaces that just seemed impossible (SSE, Horizons). It had grand scale, it had impressive engineering, it had futuristic optimism.

It was innovative - even if not completely successful in the things it showcased.

The world has changed radically in nearly 40 years.. but instead of being out there in front, Epcot has slid further and further back into just being a pretty oversized outdoor food mall.

 

[flynnibus]

Absolutely. A pocket of the most fervent fans get attached to certain ideas, sometimes, and that bogs some of them down in malaise, but it is important to keep in mind that it bogs them down - the people who practice the attachment - not the place itself nor (as is unequivocally apparent) the general public.

Yet, the park with by far the greatest capacity... is not the most popular park. The park that (had) attraction throughput that could dwarf everything... is largely devoid of crowds.

Take away festivals to keep the park busy during more time periods and are more people actually going? Is the park busier on a daily basis than it used to be?

No

Disney's biggest coup in the last 20 years has been getting people to buy theme park admissions to experience festivals that anywhere else in the world are put on in a convention hall or at some open grounds.

 

[Nottamus]

Without a doubt. It still is our favorite park, The first trip, up to the last trip...and beyond.....

Just walk around World Showcase as the sun sets, while sampling a snack, or a drink from a country, with no agenda....and enjoy.

Reconnect with love ones. It doesn't get any better than that....

tell em I sent you.

 

[righttrack]

Epcot remains a marvel (no pun intended). It's problem is that the drive for innovation that built it has left the building. The last great attraction was Mission:Space and it has been some time since then. Things that are great and historic should be maintained. Things that are just meh should be imploded and something new put in it's place. I'm not against various IPs taking over certain areas if that's what it takes. The "classic" attraction at Epcot that must not be changed too much is Spaceship Earth. The rest is fair game, IMO. The cohesiveness of Epcot was never fully realized. We all know, it was essentially two parks shoved together. I wouldn't want to see it become Disney's Florida Adventure but I'm not for paying reverence to something that is not particularly good nor popular. There are a ton of things that I would hold fast to in Magic Kingdom because they have history and because they remain enjoyed by future generations. Epcot which was about innovation and a world's fair put together can't be that without innovation.

 

[wdisney9000]

Neither can I, but Greenpeace activists seem to throw that and similar inflammatory terms about at the mere mention of the company Monsanto. The response is almost Pavlovian.

Im far from a green peace activist, but in fairness, Monsanto does have a decades old revolving door with high level government positions such as EPA, FDA and law makers who have suspiciously ruled in their favor almost every time. Here is a list of just a few of them. Keep in mind, this list only shows a few. The image that shows them all is much larger.

 

[eliza61nyc]

Yes, because as the series of posts you replied to... what made EPCOT great was not just what it was... but what it was IN THAT TIME FOR THOSE PEOPLE. In what the average visitor's life was like vs what EPCOT offered. World Showcase was EXOTIC, it transported you in ways you could not have anywhere else in your life unless you literally were a globe trotter.

FutureWorld had MASSIVE attractions that somehow via magic seemed to fit in these spaces that just seemed impossible (SSE, Horizons). It had grand scale, it had impressive engineering, it had futuristic optimism.

It was innovative - even if not completely successful in the things it showcased.

The world has changed radically in nearly 40 years.. but instead of being out there in front, Epcot has slid further and further back into just being a pretty oversized outdoor food mall.

Ok so again, I'll ask do you think you can enjoy Epcot knowing that the current style seems to moved away from what it was and that it is not returning to 1980. That it in the very near future going to have more Ip and continue with the festivals and restaurants.

Although I don't feel comfortable its like a mall at all. (Sorry for the rhyme)

 

[Animaniac93-98]

yep. perpetually dissatisfied.

You make a thread asking if people "will you ever enjoy Epcot again" and then shrug off any response by people who bother to respond?

That's just trolling. If you're not interested in a discussion, don't start one.

 

[eliza61nyc]

You make a thread asking if people "will you ever enjoy Epcot again" and then shrug off any response by people who bother to respond?

That's just trolling. If you're not interested in a discussion, don't start one.

I most certainly am not. I totally believe what he said. Just a counterpoint. That's a discussion, point, counterpoint, point, counterpoint.

He pointed out how great Epcot was, I believe that. I did not experience that time but I believe folks who did.

I also believe a person will be dissatisfied If they constantly compare it to what it was.

I in no way "shrug" of anything but will go back and edit for the sensitivity

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I most certainly am not. I totally believe what he said. Just a counterpoint. That's a discussion, point, counterpoint, point, counterpoint.

I would hardly call "yep. perpetually dissatisfied." a counterpoint. Like a majority of your posts, not much thought was put into it.

 

[eliza61nyc]

I would hardly call "yep. perpetually dissatisfied." a counterpoint. Like a majority of your posts, not much thought was put into it.

Ok I've expounded and put more thought into it.
Talk about trolling.