EPCOT Aesthetics Then and Now: Discuss!

[tirian]

This references a fantastic Yesterland article about Epcot:

http://www.yesterland.com/fwthennow1.html

Although the article isn't comprehensive, Werner reviews enough of old-school EPCOT Center to illustrate the aesthetic differences between the original minimalism and the cluttered 90s version.

For those who never experienced EPCOT Center or don't understand why so many of us here at WDWMagic [loudly] prefer the original aesthetics, check out the article. Sure, Epcot by its nature should constantly be progressing, but this article clearly shows how the 90s-era clutter that's currently being removed was a huge design misstep.

I know there are some here who insist the Innoventions triangle screens and Leave a Legacy monoliths are "just fine." Please look at the pictures and tell me whether or not you still think so.

 

[wizards8507]

Eh, I don't see much difference. If people want to complain about Future World by citing things like Horizons or Imagination (in its various forms), then I think they might have a valid complaint, but as to the aesthetics, I'll take them in one form or the other.

IMHO.

 

[njDizFan]

Wow, see that line for World of Motion

 

[Master Yoda]

My design tastes tends to lean towards minimalism but the only things that really stick in my craw a bit are the entrance and the stage built over the fountain. The stage irks me more than the entrance. The rest of it I could take or leave.

 

[tirian]

Eh, I don't see much difference. If people want to complain about Future World by citing things like Horizons or Imagination (in its various forms), then I think they might have a valid complaint, but as to the aesthetics, I'll take them in one form or the other.

IMHO.

That's nice for you, but luckily for the rest of us, Imagineers care about these things.

 

[ElvisMickey]

Wow, see that line for World of Motion

Lol...I was going to say the exact same thing. Ha ha!

Definitely prefer 1983. Simple and colorful...

 

[DocMcHulk]

I wouldnt call myself an "Epcot Center purist", but I would say the park was much more esthetically pleasing in the 1980s. (I can only go off of photos since I was born in 1983 and have little memory of Epcot as a child).

With that being said

• The entrance area looks better without the tomb stones.
• I kinda like the new look of the SSE entrance, but I can see the appeal of the old way.
• I don't care so much about the reflecting pools, but the overhead tarps need to go
• I don't remember World of Motion, but i do like Test Track
• The change in signage doesn't bother me really.
• The fountain stage doesnt bother me, but i can see the "purist" view on it.

 

[xdan0920]

That stage is terrible. How often is it used besides for the Gospel Choir during Christmas? If it is only used at Christmas, why not take it down the rest of the year?

 

[Master Yoda]

I wouldnt call myself an "Epcot Center purist", but I would say the park was much more esthetically pleasing in the 1980s. (I can only go off of photos since I was born in 1983 and have little memory of Epcot as a child).

With that being said

• The entrance area looks better without the tomb stones.
• I kinda like the new look of the SSE entrance, but I can see the appeal of the old way.
• I don't care so much about the reflecting pools, but the overhead tarps need to go
• I don't remember World of Motion, but i do like Test Track
• The change in signage doesn't bother me really.
• The fountain stage doesnt bother me, but i can see the "purist" view on it.

My beef with the stage is more function than form. Had they placed it a bit further towards WS and not covered up a section of the fountain I would not really have an issue with it.

 

[Krack]

Wow, see that line for World of Motion

Yeah, and you can't even see the switchbacks in the photo! In my experience, once you got to the World of Motion sign (in the far distance, right in front of the building), you still had at least an hour wait going through all the rope switch backs underneath the spiral ramp outside the building. The line in this photo is at least an hour and a half.

 

[rkelly42]

I wouldnt call myself an "Epcot Center purist", but I would say the park was much more esthetically pleasing in the 1980s. (I can only go off of photos since I was born in 1983 and have little memory of Epcot as a child).


With that being said

• The entrance area looks better without the tomb stones.
• I kinda like the new look of the SSE entrance, but I can see the appeal of the old way.
• I don't care so much about the reflecting pools, but the overhead tarps need to go
• I don't remember World of Motion, but i do like Test Track
• The change in signage doesn't bother me really.
• The fountain stage doesnt bother me, but i can see the "purist" view on it.

Couldnt agree with you more. I second this response.

 

[jakeman]

I will say that if you look at the satellite picture the mess of tarps does look pretty impressive.

I always have imagined that getting approved in a meeting where they had a scale model to look down on and some concept art.

It just didn't quite pan out that way in real life.

 

[flavious27]

Meh, the problem with FW is that it is suppose to project what the future will look like, staying with 70's style dates everything. Though the logos could work.

 

[Krack]

Meh, the problem with FW is that it is suppose to project what the future will look like, staying with 70's style dates everything. Though the logos could work.

I don't know. Looks futuristic to me. When I look at photos of original Future World and early 80s Tomorrowland, I think it looks far more futuristic than what we have now. It's a clean minimalist look - I don't think that will ever go out of style because most people hope their future world (no pun intended) will be clean with a sense of style.

 

[flavious27]

I don't know. Looks futuristic to me. When I look at photos of original Future World and early 80s Tomorrowland, I think it looks far more futuristic than what we have now. It's a clean minimalist look - I don't think that will ever go out of style because most people hope their future world (no pun intended) will be clean with a sense of style.

I feel that the architecture at epcot has the same look of TNG, at the time it looked like the future but after awhile it looks more dated. It is the same way when you compare the look and style between the original trilogy and the sequel trilogy.

Look at Kirk's apartment:

Does starfleet academy look familiar

 

[Krack]

Yes, but is it dated because you're bored with Star Trek or because it doesn't look believably futuristic? The reason I ask is because aside from Kirk and Spock I know almost nothing about Star Trek (to the point that I wouldn't recognize the bottom photo - looked like the original V series, to me). And if I saw that San Francisco image, I'd immediately think of the future.

I don't know, maybe it's generational.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

OK, adding things that turned out to be less appreciated after the fact (fountain stage, LaL tiles, etc.) I can see, but what exactly is the point of removing reflecting pools? Did the area seem a little too serene?

There's plussing gone wrong, and then there's...for lack of a better term...minusing.

And I agree that the original ethos looks fairly timeless. Clean architectural designs, understated tones, generous use of water and landscaping...if the future doesn't look like that, I'd rather not go personally.

 

[Lord Pheonix]

i showed all this a while back when i posted my 1980s home video collection on http://www.youtube.com/allmightypuff

HOWEVER, i dont hate all of the "clutter". i like the way the countrys look now. dont mind future world, just a few cluttered spots around the park. in my videos the park looks so sterile.

 

[Silver Figment]

I love Epcot the way it is now, but i can also see why people may like the original setup. I was born in 92' so i'd never been to Epcot to see it in the 80's but i'm sure i would've loved it then too. I think that i may have an opinion prefering the original if i had experienced that first, but having grown up with the newer aesthetics that's all i know.

 

[wayneway]

I prefer the 80's design, however we should all remember that even if they had kept the minimal design it would still be different by now. It would not be dated if it had been plussed correctly to update the look.