does UoE need to be more relevant?

[Yankeeplex]

First of all, take Exxon/Mobil off the name plate...are there any more detested companies now than the oil companies. Partner up with George Lucas and Microsoft and create a high-tech 3d movie tied to the ride with more of a scientific spin like it used to be. The whole Ellen/Bill Nye/Jamie Lee Curtis is very dated. Have you seen Jamie Lee lately doing the Activia commercials? Ooffaa.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Ooffaa?I think she's pretty cool.


Stupid Judy.:lol:

And yeah,I've always thought the attraction to be pretty random even for a dream but yes,it IS dated.Esp. that cell phone.LOL

But I do like the partnership ideas....(just use Macs though)*cough*

 

[Astro_Digital]

Universe of Energy when gas is over $4.00 a gallon is more important than ever. Maybe add part of the problem is people refuse to conserve...

Now the guy that said dinosaurs did not contribute to fossil fuels if I remember right the line was "So we run on dino soup", and Bill said "No not really, they are just very cool."

Please Universe of Energy and maybe Space Ship Earth are the only attractions that reminds me of EPCOT, all the others were butchered.

Please stop saying "Boring" great it is just a tourist film that you watch from a swinging seat. Not exciting at all.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Boring is great?Not really.Apparently that's why poor EPCOT Center got the boot.


I think you meant Soarin'.

And yeah,UoE still needs to have that Epcot feel.I think it's the only unchanged attraction still there from the '90's save TT.

 

[k.hunter30]

Frankly, I think the attraction needs to drop Ellen and Bill Nye.

Bill Nye isn't relevant anymore, Ellen isn't as popular as she was in the 90's and Alex Trabek shaved his mustache.

It's dated, poor and simple.

Ellen is definitely more popular in this decade than she was in the 90s--no question. Her day-time talk show has made her more of a household name, no matter the ratings. We're talking popularity here; and hers has definitely gone up since 2000.

Though I agree with you on Bill Nye.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

It just occurred to me that Ellen is taking over FW...She already has the Seas and UoE.What's next?!?

 

[wickedfan07]

It just occurred to me that Ellen is taking over FW...She already has the Seas and UoE.What's next?!?

I hear they're going to cast her as the new Dreamfinder. :lookaroun

All kidding aside and back to UoE. In the immedate future, the films definitely need updating. I like ellen, and I like Jeopardy. Since both of those aspects of UoE are still quite popular in America, I don't see why the basis needs to change. Bill Nye's role is questionable since you don't see much of him anymore, but I don't know anyone else off the top of my head who could replace him in that role.

In the long term, I think the whole ride systm needs to be changed. Preshow - Theater - Diorama - Theater - Theater... there are only so many possibilities. If they're going to make this pavilion interesting and engaging to as many people as possible, I think the old system (as cool as all of the unseen moving parts may be) needs to go the way of those dinos in the diorama. (I do really like those dinosaur AAs though, and I think they should move them to DAK's dinolad. just a thought.) Like a good teacher, if Epcot wants to teach anyone anything, it needs to reinvent itself constantly.

 

[mickeymatt]

Think about how amazing it would be if Epcot tied into the "green" thing. They could do a whole media campaign. First, they should build a Solar Tower (like they have in Seville, Spain) which can power up to 60,000 homes. They should use that to power all of Future World, and if possible, all of Epcot. Now, obviously, a refurb of UoE would fit in with this. So, they need to go all out, IMO.

First, they should replace the solar panels with more efficient ones. Then, they should add these vertical axis wind turbines around the pavilion where they can display whatever they want, AND conserve energy. Now, obviously, they need to refurb the actual ride. I say, get rid of the big celebrity draw and just have and just have a narrator (I like a previous poster's idea of Morgan Freeman). Then, change the pre-show back to an updated version of the original, complete with the return of the Radok Screens. Then, Theater 1 would be the same idea as it has always been, and so would the dinosaurs (with revamped AAs of course:animwink. In my opinion, Theater 2 currently needs the most help, and so I would do a complete overhaul of the theme. Instead of alternative energy (which most people don't-or feel like they don't-have any control over), it could instead talk about ways that the average person can help. Maybe show what exactly COULD happen if every person in the country switched only one bulb to CFL. I think that people respond better to that sort of thing because it lets them feel like they have the power instead of a "now write a letter to your local representative" type of thing. The finale back in Theater 1 could be sort of a slideshow thing like the one at GMR, going back from the beginning and recapping, and then leaving it up to you.

Now, for the post-show. The problem now is, there isn't one. I feel like this ride could have an AMAZING interactive post-show. These are my ideas so far:
-Touchscreen computers where you can calculate the difference your household has already made. Then, you can say what sort of things you would be willing to do in the future, and it could show you how much more of a difference that would make. It could also email you the list, so you get to take it home and actually do those things.

-Dioramas on how energy efficient devices work (CFLs, solar panels, etc)

-A more kid-friendly area where kids could make a promise to do something like turn off the lights when they leave a room, and get a certificate.

-An area where they explain the solar tower they would have just put in



Now, these are all just my ideas. I do want to hear feedback, but please remember that I know it is all just a fantasy. While it could happen, I doubt Disney is willing to spend that much money on the refurb or the solar tower (but think of all the money it would save in the long-run!)

Also, which I forgot to mention earlier, here is the link to the solar tower:
http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/05/21/sevilles-solar-power-tower/

Um... Morgan Freeman is a celebrity is he not?

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I hear they're going to cast her as the new Dreamfinder. :lookaroun

All kidding aside and back to UoE. In the immedate future, the films definitely need updating. I like ellen, and I like Jeopardy. Since both of those aspects of UoE are still quite popular in America, I don't see why the basis needs to change. Bill Nye's role is questionable since you don't see much of him anymore, but I don't know anyone else off the top of my head who could replace him in that role.

In the long term, I think the whole ride systm needs to be changed. Preshow - Theater - Diorama - Theater - Theater... there are only so many possibilities. If they're going to make this pavilion interesting and engaging to as many people as possible, I think the old system (as cool as all of the unseen moving parts may be) needs to go the way of those dinos in the diorama. (I do really like those dinosaur AAs though, and I think they should move them to DAK's dinolad. just a thought.) Like a good teacher, if Epcot wants to teach anyone anything, it needs to reinvent itself constantly.

So what could they do with a huge facility like that?Just another dark ride.I LOVE the current setup in there.It gets the job done...Why change it?

Oh and at least we would have DF back that way...

 

[Timmay]

Universe of Energy when gas is over $4.00 a gallon is more important than ever. Maybe add part of the problem is people refuse to conserve...
.

YES!! Tell people that just spent $4000 ($1500 of that on a flight) on a vacation, flew half way across the country and left a carbon footprint the size of a soccer field to stop wasting energy. Brilliant!!!

:hammer:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

YES!! Tell people that just spent $4000 ($1500 of that on a flight) on a vacation, flew half way across the country and left a carbon footprint the size of a soccer field to stop wasting energy. Brilliant!!!

:hammer:

Not telling them kinda defeats the purpose and message of EPCOT and UoE.Don't sugar coat it but don't make it to serious.Inform them.

Inform is on the dedication plaque no?

 

[Timmay]

Not telling them kinda defeats the purpose and message of EPCOT and UoE

Yeah, thankfully.

 

[wickedfan07]

So what could they do with a huge facility like that?Just another dark ride.I LOVE the current setup in there.It gets the job done...Why change it?

If the ride is to focus on the future of energy use and possiblities offered by alternative fuels, the dinosaurs and the associated fossil fuels don't need a huge diorama all to themselves. Sure that diorama could just be changed out in favor of new sets, but its still a framework you have to work with creatively. If they had the entire building at their fingertips, they could do a lot more.

Let me put it this way... I'm studying to be a teacher. I've only been through one year of college so far, but in my fairly limited experience I've gathered that good teachers don't just stand there and lecture their students. Sure, most do, but that doesn't make it right. It seems the key to educating people is involving them in the lesson. If Epcot is going to educate anyone about anything, interactivity (and not just a touchscreen) is key. As it stands right now, there's no space in that building for anything that isn't the ride. The way the ride is structured, there's very little room for anything but the diorama and films. If you take that out, you've got a big empty canvas to work with.

That does not mean I would like to see every Epcot attraction be like a classroom. That's not the point. "Entertain" comes first in the dedication, followed closely by "inform and inspire." But "inform and inspire" are still there, waiting for their turn.

Steps off soapbox. :wave:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Here we go....

Yeah, thankfully.

Seriously,what's so bad about "edutainment"?Yeah,it's vacation.Yeah,it's supposed to be fun,but what is so bad about learning something?!?

If you don't want to learn then don't go or complain about Epcot.Simple as that.

If the ride is to focus on the future of energy use and possiblities offered by alternative fuels, the dinosaurs and the associated fossil fuels don't need a huge diorama all to themselves. Sure that diorama could just be changed out in favor of new sets, but its still a framework you have to work with creatively. If they had the entire building at their fingertips, they could do a lot more.

Let me put it this way... I'm studying to be a teacher. I've only been through one year of college so far, but in my fairly limited experience I've gathered that good teachers don't just stand there and lecture their students. Sure, most do, but that doesn't make it right. It seems the key to educating people is involving them in the lesson. If Epcot is going to educate anyone about anything, interactivity (and not just a touchscreen) is key. As it stands right now, there's no space in that building for anything that isn't the ride. The way the ride is structured, there's very little room for anything but the diorama and films. If you take that out, you've got a big empty canvas to work with.

That does not mean I would like to see every Epcot attraction be like a classroom. That's not the point. "Entertain" comes first in the dedication, followed closely by "inform and inspire." But "inform and inspire" are still there, waiting for their turn.

Steps off soapbox. :wave:

I agree but I was just wondering,what they could do besides the theater cars.

 

[Timmay]

Here we go....

but what is so bad about learning something?!?.

I don't want Disney to provide education to me in a 15 minute attraction/lecture about a subject that takes years of study to fully understand.

...then don't go or complain about Epcot.Simple as that.

Did you actually just say that?

 

[wickedfan07]

Here we go....
I agree but I was just wondering,what they could do besides the theater cars.

Well, without ripping the whole thing out and starting over, not much. As far as getting people involved goes, they might be able to do something with Theater 2. Maybe they could use something siimilar to the Living Character technology? There are ways of doing things. If WDI hadn't discovered or invented new technologies for the parks, we probably wouldn't have Epcot at all.

And don't get me wrong, I really do like the travelling theaters. But maybe their time is passing.

I guess we'll have to leave it up to WDI and see what happens. :shrug:

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

there is nothing wrong with edutainment in and of itself, it's just that most people that come to FL and to WDW wanted to ride rollercoasters and get wasted. Learn about communication and energy, please.......

That doesn't mean people can't walk away with "mmm didn't know that, now I know" feeling. I have seen tons of children and young adults attend museums and other education-based places and still have fun and a good time.

Luckily Epcot offers a variety, whereas EPCOT Center didn't.

That doesn't mean the park can still have some edutainment value.

Test Track entertains and informs, and I'd say to some extent inspires. Same with M:S. WoL is dead, but it could make room for new ideas. UoE would be a great example of modern day edutainment, and relevant to the problems we face today as a nation and even the world.

Innoventions is more or less the gadgets and gizmos of tomorrow, fun and interactive. SSE is more informative than it is inspiring, the post show is supurb, but the ending of the ride,well....lots of curtains ye bees telling yer.

The seas IMO could have been more of a balance between education and nemo, but alteast it is getting the kids and familes in there once again.

Soarin' is great and I'm sure there will be new films in the years to come, living with the land still informs and inspires....just don't eat the tomatoes, circle of life seems tired and old to me, as does imagination, but those could easily get revamped

world showcase could easily use some new rides and pavilions

with that said, there is a balance of things to see for all sorts of people and all levels of fun and entertainment, I don't see why it would be wrong for Epcot to still try and be relevant to the problems we face today with updating the UoE into an informative, but somehow dramatic and inspiring experience, especially with an interactive post show

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

one problem with the traveling theatre is its use in the current version of UoE....it isn't all that amazing, especially with the ending, let alone theater 1 is a dark cavernous abode of black curtains (haha wow black curtains became an Epcot tradition starting with UoE than SSE).

the diorama has very little left from all the amazing effects it used to have during the original show

theater 2 isn't the energy information theater these days like it used to be

and the preshow is standard flat screens and radokless

and the theater cars are pink/tan/omg why haven't they been repainted color :lol:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I don't want Disney to provide education to me in a 15 minute attraction/lecture about a subject that takes years of study to fully understand.



Did you actually just say that?

Yeah, I did.I'm really getting sick of the constant bickering on this site over Epcot.Usually it's me and Legacy going at it in a civilized manner but the snarky comments are really getting on my nerves.Not yours per-say but all of this....Sheesh!Epcot and EPCOT Center's purpose is to Entertain Inform and Inspire.Yes,I relise that you can't teach a college class in a 45 min attraction but it is EPCOT.Let's at least keep some of the "Edutainment" around.
Would you rather have SGE in FW because it just looks futuristic?

Ok...My rant is done.

*gasp*Ok,back to UoE.

Well, without ripping the whole thing out and starting over, not much. As far as getting people involved goes, they might be able to do something with Theater 2. Maybe they could use something siimilar to the Living Character technology? There are ways of doing things. If WDI hadn't discovered or invented new technologies for the parks, we probably wouldn't have Epcot at all.

And don't get me wrong, I really do like the travelling theaters. But maybe their time is passing.

I guess we'll have to leave it up to WDI and see what happens. :shrug:

Oooh...That would be cool.I like.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

there is nothing wrong with edutainment in and of itself, it's just that most people that come to FL and to WDW wanted to ride rollercoasters and get wasted. Learn about communication and energy, please.......

That doesn't mean people can't walk away with "mmm didn't know that, now I know" feeling. I have seen tons of children and young adults attend museums and other education-based places and still have fun and a good time.

Luckily Epcot offers a variety, whereas EPCOT Center didn't.

That doesn't mean the park can still have some edutainment value.

Test Track entertains and informs, and I'd say to some extent inspires. Same with M:S. WoL is dead, but it could make room for new ideas. UoE would be a great example of modern day edutainment, and relevant to the problems we face today as a nation and even the world.

Innoventions is more or less the gadgets and gizmos of tomorrow, fun and interactive. SSE is more informative than it is inspiring, the post show is supurb, but the ending of the ride,well....lots of curtains ye bees telling yer.

The seas IMO could have been more of a balance between education and nemo, but alteast it is getting the kids and familes in there once again.

Soarin' is great and I'm sure there will be new films in the years to come, living with the land still informs and inspires....just don't eat the tomatoes, circle of life seems tired and old to me, as does imagination, but those could easily get revamped

world showcase could easily use some new rides and pavilions

with that said, there is a balance of things to see for all sorts of people and all levels of fun and entertainment, I don't see why it would be wrong for Epcot to still try and be relevant to the problems we face today with updating the UoE into an informative, but somehow dramatic and inspiring experience, especially with an interactive post show

one problem with the traveling theatre is its use in the current version of UoE....it isn't all that amazing, especially with the ending, let alone theater 1 is a dark cavernous abode of black curtains (haha wow black curtains became an Epcot tradition starting with UoE than SSE).

the diorama has very little left from all the amazing effects it used to have during the original show

theater 2 isn't the energy information theater these days like it used to be

and the preshow is standard flat screens and radokless

and the theater cars are pink/tan/omg why haven't they been repainted color :lol:

You have a wonderful knack for hitting the nail on the head.:animwink::lol: