EPCOT Center 35th Anniversary Events?

[Texas84]

Someone was selling Figments while I was in the pop-up line. Asking for $40. Was able to see the characters from the line. Went over to Odyssey to get a handwich (no breakfast and two hours in line) and it was awesome. Stuffed my face for a few hours at F&W then took the boat over to DHS.

Approaching DHS, the cast member says, "used to be about the movies, now it's just Star Wars." Another CM sees my button and says, "That's the way to celebrate Epcot's 35th. At Hollywood Studios!"

 

[WDW862]

I THINK I SAW YOU! I watched IROE from France behind the fountain on the dock was any body near there?
Plus I AM GROOT!

I saw him shortly after they let us in the entrance and then while I was waiting for the ceremony to start.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

I was surprised to see no lasers for the illuminations tag.

 

[Thelazer]

lasers were after the tag, on spaceship earth... 3 or 4 of the original pavilion themes got the laser treatment.

 

[Magenta Panther]

From one of the D23 Fanniversary panels, it's "The Landkeeper", the host of The Land pavilion in its early "Balloon ride through the ecosystem" concepts.

Not impressed by his "Fat Mark Twain wearing a Captain EO rainbow shirt" design, but hey, solves a mystery and it'll be something for @marni1971 to slot into his upcoming Land video.

I agree with you that the guy looks unimpressive (to me, he resembles Colonel Sanders, only way more fabulous), but I do think a hot-air balloon ride through the various ecosystems is an interesting idea for an attraction, especially if guests get to go through a rainforest ("You WILL get wet!")

 

[Magenta Panther]

It was to be pretty impressive on the WS Skyline...

And here's what it would have looked like with the scale model...The Cancelled Switzerland Pavilion with it's Matterhorn is to the left....

Aw damn, what could have been...

 

[Magenta Panther]

Brave ride for UK confirmed.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[doctornick]

It was to be pretty impressive on the WS Skyline...

And here's what it would have looked like with the scale model...The Cancelled Switzerland Pavilion with it's Matterhorn is to the left....

I still thinking adding that Mt Fuji coaster would be a no brainer. Adds some thrill to WS, thematically appropriate, new cool visual (if they theme it 360, you would see the outside from the gondolas I would think) and would really help to spread out the crowds among rides with France/UK also getting some.

 

[FigmentForver96]

I'm glad I didn't make the trip for this. It seems like they did the absolute bare minimum in order to get all the bloggers and rabid Disney fans to come lick up the slop while dropping hundreds of merch honoring the original EPCOT Center, because clearly they care so much. They come up talk about how great EPCOT Center was when it opened, thank the cast, of and then talk about how they plan to make EPCOT more "Disney" and more "family" as if EPCOT Center was not that. Hey let's sing some songs from old amazing EPCOT Center attractions so you'll go buy a 30 dollar vintage shirt oh and then hear our plans for the new coaster taking over energy! Even the firework tag was copied and pasted over with less pyro than the 30th.

 

[alphac2005]

The bottom line is that akin to politics, what we think is irrelevant to the gigantic corporation that is The Walt Disney Company. Only if in mass the public stops frequenting WDW, nothing will change outside of new leadership that "gets it" and the odds of that are incredibly slim. So, the choice is to either stop visiting or enjoying it for what it is at this point. That's reality whether one likes it or not.

Our family just returned from our first trip to the property in six years and I'm looking forward to doing a trip report shortly. There's no question that the feeling of Walt's company has been sucked out and at every turn, you know that a multibillion dollar corporation operates the property. How they even keep the Studios open or have the audacity to charge a full day's rate is beyond ridiculous, but I digress....

 

[G8rchamps]

We live close and my son and Epcot share a birthday (except he is only 13). We did not bother with the 3 hour line for bad shirts and sold out Figment Pops. Did grab our AP Pin, Starbucks mug, and F&W freebies. Fun day and tolerable crowds.

 

[NearTheEars]

We live close and my son and Epcot share a birthday (except he is only 13). We did not bother with the 3 hour line for bad shirts and sold out Figment Pops. Did grab our AP Pin, Starbucks mug, and F&W freebies. Fun day and tolerable crowds. View attachment 235355

Where did you get the tiny buttons? I’ve never seen those before.

 

[tirian]

I’ve been out of the country and couldn’t make the 35th celebration, but I’m glad to see I didn’t miss anything other than pyro. Of course, if I could have been there, I would’ve been there.

Hearing Disney say they’re going to make Epcot “more Disney” is like saying the All Stars resorts are more Disney than the Contemporary. Epcot itself is an IP. What a bunch of morons running P&R.

I felt the same way as you on my most recent trip to DL. Walt’s original park was barely better than an AP hangout, and MUCH too crowded to be enjoyable. DCA is becoming the West Coast’s DHS, where anything fits if Disney slaps characters on it.

The bottom line is that akin to politics, what we think is irrelevant to the gigantic corporation that is The Walt Disney Company. Only if in mass the public stops frequenting WDW, nothing will change outside of new leadership that "gets it" and the odds of that are incredibly slim. So, the choice is to either stop visiting or enjoying it for what it is at this point. That's reality whether one likes it or not.

Our family just returned from our first trip to the property in six years and I'm looking forward to doing a trip report shortly. There's no question that the feeling of Walt's company has been sucked out and at every turn, you know that a multibillion dollar corporation operates the property. How they even keep the Studios open or have the audacity to charge a full day's rate is beyond ridiculous, but I digress....

 

[G8rchamps]

Where did you get the tiny buttons? I’ve never seen those before.

AP buttons at the Future world Food Kiosks (with food or beverage purchase)

 

[ford91exploder]

The bottom line is that akin to politics, what we think is irrelevant to the gigantic corporation that is The Walt Disney Company. Only if in mass the public stops frequenting WDW, nothing will change outside of new leadership that "gets it" and the odds of that are incredibly slim. So, the choice is to either stop visiting or enjoying it for what it is at this point. That's reality whether one likes it or not.

Our family just returned from our first trip to the property in six years and I'm looking forward to doing a trip report shortly. There's no question that the feeling of Walt's company has been sucked out and at every turn, you know that a multibillion dollar corporation operates the property. How they even keep the Studios open or have the audacity to charge a full day's rate is beyond ridiculous, but I digress....

Well I went the opposite direction and stopped visiting because corporate sucked all the joy and value from a WDW vacation.

 

[trainplane3]

Apparently this is the official cast member shirt for the 35th. Why couldn't the public get this? Of all the $35 shirts they sell, I would've bought this with eBay tax. And I don't take kindly to aggressive eBay markups either. It's tasteful and clean. I'm glad they acknowledge DF and Figment without some massive "EPCOT 35" logo over top in neon text.

Anyone want to do me a favor? Not even joking. If someone can get me two (can't forget about the person that got me into Epcot), I'll give you internet points (aka reasonable asking price plus shipping).

Source: https://twitter.com/guyselga/status/915244067591786497

 

[Amused to Death]

I'm glad they acknowledge DF and Figment without some massive "EPCOT 35" logo over top in neon text.

Seeing as Journey into Imagination didn't open until March of '83, they probably shouldn't be acknowledging Dreamfinder and Figment with a slightly more subtle EPCOT 35th logo either.

In addition to having Figment plastered all over everything, I was also surprised to see Horizons ('83), Morocco ('84), The Living Seas ('86), and Norway ('88) represented on various pieces of 35th anniversary merchandise.

The Dreamship shirt IS pretty cool, though.

 

[trainplane3]

Seeing as Journey into Imagination didn't open until March of '83, they probably shouldn't be acknowledging Dreamfinder and Figment with a slightly more subtle EPCOT 35th logo either.

In addition to having Figment plastered all over everything, I was also surprised to see Horizons ('83), Morocco ('84), The Living Seas ('86), and Norway ('88) represented on various pieces of 35th anniversary merchandise.

The Dreamship shirt IS pretty cool, though.

Oh true for sure. But then again, Horizons and CC were missing from one of the pins but The Seas was on there. I don't think their merchandising department knows what they're doing aside from "stick as many Epcot Center logos on stuff".
Figment and DF are one of the very few IPs I want to see used in Epcot because...well...they belong there. They just need a better ride but I have a feeling that's not going to happen.

 

[FigmentJedi]

Clip shown at the D23 panel where Pete Docter talks about working on Cranium Command

 

[disney1023]

Apparently this is the official cast member shirt for the 35th. Why couldn't the public get this? Of all the $35 shirts they sell, I would've bought this with eBay tax. And I don't take kindly to aggressive eBay markups either. It's tasteful and clean. I'm glad they acknowledge DF and Figment without some massive "EPCOT 35" logo over top in neon text.

Anyone want to do me a favor? Not even joking. If someone can get me two (can't forget about the person that got me into Epcot), I'll give you internet points (aka reasonable asking price plus shipping).

Source: https://twitter.com/guyselga/status/915244067591786497

Do you know if the shirt is still available?