Dragon Coaster for EPCOT?

[jmuboy]

Below is a description of the ASIA section of WESTCOT, a West Coast version of EPCOT proposed before DCA was built. What do you guys think about the Dragon coaster being added as part of the China Pavilion in the World Showcase? The WS needs more attractions and this would be a great e-ticket for EPCOT.

[Slide #9] Going on to Asia, this [building] combines the Indian palace in the back, which is a hotel stretching over into China and Japan. In the foreground is SE Asia and there's a carousel of mythic Asian animals primarily for the children as well ethnic foods along the lake. There's a Japanese show in the main pavilion over here and Ride the Dragon, which is a Chinese festive dragon that travels up and down over the Dragon's Teeth Mountains. When it gets up to the higher altitudes, so you won't see the Emerald Hotel, we have silks that come down over the side of the coaster and enclose the guests in a festive dragon. . . . The silks will be in the up position when you load and then when it gets going really fast we'll bring them down and it will be like in a worm hole from a Star Trek movie. That'll keep you from seeing things that you shouldn't see too. . . . It will be a striking piece to see both from Disneyland Drive on the outside as well as providing a rather effective backdrop inside the park. . . . A lot of these ideas were lifted from the original EPCOT concept so we'll bring back The Temple of Heaven for China.

 

[tnchefbear]

I like the concept, but I would much rather they utilize the building and space behind Japan... That space was origionally going to be a shopping area and e-ticket roller coaster... And since the majority of that building is not being utilized (except for the maintance crews) then it would be good to see it made into more of a guest area

 

[TestTrack]

I like the concept, but I would much rather they utilize the building and space behind Japan... That space was origionally going to be a shopping area and e-ticket roller coaster... And since the majority of that building is not being utilized (except for the maintance crews) then it would be good to see it made into more of a guest area

I think any rollercoaster in WS would ruin the serene feel. I like the current trend they have at EPCOT of having all enclosed/indoor rides

 

[Madison]

Where did that description come from? It makes WESTCOT seem awful.

 

[juan]

first off there is no room behind China for any type of development

the only places where a ride could go would be from behind the African Outpost to right before the American Adventure

the extra space at Japan is now used for repair shops and storage

 

[CThaddeus]

Where did that description come from? It makes WESTCOT seem awful.

The idea for WESTCOT did seem pretty awful. From what I read of it, Future World was completely dropped, and for the most part, the World Showcase was to be little more than shops and restaurants. No Spaceship Earth (I believe the centerpiece was to be just a large crystal formation), itty bitty Park space. The item I read on it never even mentioned any attractions... yikes. Of course, this was just one proposal. Some of the others might have been better, but this one truly saddened me. I want EPCOT here, but not at the expense of the good attractions that make EPCOT EPCOT.

 

[Madison]

The idea for WESTCOT did seem pretty awful. From what I read of it, Future World was completely dropped, and for the most part, the World Showcase was to be little more than shops and restaurants. No Spaceship Earth (I believe the centerpiece was to be just a large crystal formation), itty bitty Park space. The item I read on it never even mentioned any attractions... yikes. Of course, this was just one proposal. Some of the others might have been better, but this one truly saddened me. I want EPCOT here, but not at the expense of the good attractions that make EPCOT EPCOT.

I meant to say that the particular description included above really makes even the best description of WESTCot (is that the nomenclature? was it WESTCOT?) unappealing. The writing is terrible, evokes nothing interesting and presents some really bad ideas. I'd be surprised to learn that it didn't come from the internet, basically, because I can't imagine any official or internal communication containing anything as bad as that.

I'm in love with the romantic notion of something like Epcot appearing anywhere else on the planet, but unfortunately like with many World's Fairs, that ship has sailed. The internet has made it very difficult to engage people in emerging technologies or foreign cultures when it seems like everything is just a mouse click away.

 

[Herk]

For me anyway the world showcase is about the feeling of calm. A dragon coaster at the AK, would be a good move moreso than WS. But a flight with a dragon over the UK would be great addition. You climb on the back of a dragon as it swoops and dives over the UK, where you get narration by the dragon explaing the history of that particular part.

Dragons meet soarin meet WS.

Great:king:

 

[napnet]

I agree that any outdoor coaster in the World Showcase would ruin it. Indoor rides are the way to keep the theming. I think most of the proposed rides at WS that never made it would have been indoor too (rhine river, bullet train, etc). Mount Fuji would have been the exception i think...

 

[Timothy Q Mouse]

I think any rollercoaster in WS would ruin the serene feel. I like the current trend they have at EPCOT of having all enclosed/indoor rides

A dragon coaster at the AK, would be a good move moreso than WS.

I agree that any outdoor coaster in the World Showcase would ruin it. Indoor rides are the way to keep the theming.

Yes, yes, and yes. I love coasters, but none at Epcot, please.

 

[kcnole]

Westcot was going to have a futureworld area but it was all going to be underground. You would get to it through the tall golden tower weine they were going to have in place of Space Ship Earth.

 

[hokielutz]

I'm in agreement with most everyone here that a coaster is not a good idea for any pavillion in the WS. First off.. as many on this board know through personal experience... there really isn't plot of land behind the WS to accomodate a large coaster similar in size to the RnRC building's footprint.

Also... WS is mostly about culture exploration... If China's booming economy enables them to sponsor a ride... then we can talk about a dark themed ride to be built that doesn't require so much space or ruins the horizon sightlines.

How about something themed from the movie Mulan??

 

[TestTrack]

I'm in agreement with most everyone here that a coaster is not a good idea for any pavillion in the WS. First off.. as many on this board know through personal experience... there really isn't plot of land behind the WS to accomodate a large coaster similar in size to the RnRC building's footprint.

Also... WS is mostly about culture exploration... If China's booming economy enables them to sponsor a ride... then we can talk about a dark themed ride to be built that doesn't require so much space or ruins the horizon sightlines.

How about something themed from the movie Mulan??

No more movie rides please...I can hardly handle seeing "with nemo and friends" on "The Seas" sign

 

[Bluewaves]

No more movie rides , that comment just wants to make me smack some people. The one reason the Disney parks are so succesful is that they are able to capitalize on the fact that they are a media company and then can use that in their parks and create corporate synergy, Its the way they have been doing business for years. Walt himself was a proponent of that philosophy and one of the reason he created Disneyland and that sleeping beauty's castle is the logo of the Disney film division. God only knows that WS could use a new attraction or two something in Japan or in Germany, because there just isn't all that much to do on that side of the lagoon.

 

[prspeppers]

No more movie rides please...I can hardly handle seeing "with nemo and friends" on "The Seas" sign

I agree. And a roller coaster (especially outside) would kill the world showcase. I wouldn't mind seeing a small ride go in there though...something similar to what is in Norway and Mexico maybe.

 

[thedisneyfan]

No more movie rides , that comment just wants to make me smack some people. The one reason the Disney parks are so succesful is that they are able to capitalize on the fact that they are a media company and then can use that in their parks and create corporate synergy, Its the way they have been doing business for years. Walt himself was a proponent of that philosophy and one of the reason he created Disneyland and that sleeping beauty's castle is the logo of the Disney film division. God only knows that WS could use a new attraction or two something in Japan or in Germany, because there just isn't all that much to do on that side of the lagoon.

Although I agree that WS needs some additional attractions for the different nations and one or two more nations, I disagree with your comment about everything being based off of the movies. We all know that some of the greatest Disney attractions, even to this date, are ones that are not derived directly from a movie such as HM, PoC, IaSW, CBJ, ETR(pre-new management), etc. Yes some definitely should be based off of movies, but look at Pixarland....errrr..I mean Tomorrowland. I think that that was what the OP's message was generally referring to along with THE LIVING SEAS. Nemo should have been an enhancement rather than a total overkill, but I will reserve final judgment after I have seen the redo for myself.

 

[CelticRose]

I think any rollercoaster in WS would ruin the serene feel. I like the current trend they have at EPCOT of having all enclosed/indoor rides

I agree, I like the ambience and the feeling that I am back in Europe again. If I want a roller coaster I will go to the MK/AK/Studios.

210 days and I am there, sitting in Mexico having a margarita, sitting in France with a crossiant, England - Shandy and my fish and Chips:sohappy:

 

[bassman]

a good concept but it sounds a little tricky to pull off,what with the cloths hanging down the sides of the coaster,what would happen if the cloth got stuck in between the coaster wheels and the track.
i really like the idea of some sort of coaster in the china pavillion,just not this one.
i would like to see some sort of indoor coaster,similar idea of universals mummy attraction,that takes you through a story about good v evil with mythical chinese beasts and legends.

 

[Lewis Carroll]

i would like to see some sort of indoor coaster,similar idea of universals mummy attraction,that takes you through a story about good v evil with mythical chinese beasts and legends.

but...but..but wouldn't you rather see a less extravagant attraction that ties into a popular release from the Walt Disney Company? Maybe a Mulan ride with plastic figures with moving parts? or how about a "talking with *insert charecter here* show?"

 

[Tim G]

Maybe a Mulan ride with plastic figures with moving parts?

Those figures are called a whole different name... :lookaroun