I think the changes to Epcot was a massive failure. They got rid of the fountain for a garden that is already super boring to look at and for some reason charging ports. They also got rid of innoventions East and West for a Starbucks, a restaurant, a generic store that looks like Apple Store, a character meet and greet spot, demolished part of innoventions west to make a boring concert center, communicore hall which just has merchandise for festivals and some food, etc. They should go back to something like innoventions or communicore and show inventions or something that companies are making to make the world a better place or our lives better. Mission Space should be replaced by a ride like Horizons or probably Horizons. Test Track seems pretty promising and I’m excited to see what parts of the world of motion it adds. I haven’t been on Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind but from videos it seems kind of boring. Journey into Imagination definitely needs to return to the original or at least an updated version of the ride and add back the part where you move on that half circle and have it end where the dvc lounge is now. Epcot should try to focus on inspiring people again instead of just being known as the place people go to “drink around the world”.
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Epcot Center update
- Thread starter greatmovieride
- Start date
Never say never we could get another Eisner or something
networkpro
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
Never. The business of Disney (imagining, designing, budgeting, and building) couldn't keep pace with the changing world.
Jayspency
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Some changes Epcot needs/should get:
New hub, (and epcot overall), needs more kinetic energy to make it feel more alive and less stagnant. The old hub had that energy with the FON. SSE could benefit from a retracking and updated descent. Going off of how implementing "Hip and Modern" IP into Future World turned out in the long term during the Eisner era, Cosmic rewind probably has around 30 years max before it gets some sort of reimagining to where it would be great if they go with something like the original rumored big bang plans. Mission Space can stay overall unchanged, though the screens in the cabins desperately need to be modernized as they make the attraction feel very dated and nauseating IMO. Test Track I'm hopeful is a return to form for Epcot so not much to comment on that. JII is pretty self explanatory unless you have been living under a rock, though I hope for the inevitable JII 4.0 they do more than just "JII 1.0 with updated technology and projection mapping." The Land really could use an interior remodel, one cool idea could be giving the pavilion interior a more environmental theme, and redoing the Soarin queue. LWTL and The Seas are fine as is though should get some updated info as time goes on. Nemo realistically is not going anywhere so I'm not gonna parade on how The Living Seas should come back.
World Showcase is for the most part unchanged since Epcot opened with the exception of the rides. A new pavilion could be cool, maybe put in that small Africa section of WS. Some countries have been tossed around but I think Australia would be a great addition. Plus it gives Disney an excuse to do something Bluey related for something in the pavilion, which would help increase the kid friendliness of WS, which isn't very kid friendly as of now. Speaking of which, more rides in general should be in WS. I'm still advocating for the Mt Fuji coaster but that's never happening, especially since Everest already exists.
Also bring Illuminations ROE back. That's all I need to be satisfied
A lot of people do.
BasiltheBatLord
Well-Known Member
I vastly prefer what's there now to what was there before.
*puts up flame shield*
*puts up flame shield*
Do they work for TWDC?
Some of them yes
Bocabear
Well-Known Member
oh...you're the one.... lol Everyone has different takes on things....
The center right before demolition was not optimal at all, but if you had seen Communicore when the park opened...when there were actual waterways through the hub...and trees and plantings... Which all disappeared over the years being replaced by concrete. If they had reprogrammed Communicore West to actually have an engaging attraction in it along with the Meet and greets and a Flex Hall for Festival use it could have been near perfect... A new central show fountain replacing the original, re-aligned with the central axis...more trees along the re-aligned pathways... It could have been a natural, uncluttered and beautiful central core to the front half of the park...
Epcot82Guy
Well-Known Member
I think there is an important distinction between that and saying it failed miserably at what it could have been (likely for less). There are parts of the new version to enjoy. But I think many agree it was a massive failure of potential and expenditure, let alone overall park concept.
Centauri Space Station
Well-Known Member
Nah i dont think it’s a failure at all, some of it sure but not everything. Cosmic Rewind, Space 220, Ratatouille, Awesome Planet all were new or superior to their replacemeny. The hub is a lot more inviting with more greenery, loads of seating, but a fountain should’ve been placed at the very least.
BasiltheBatLord
Well-Known Member
The first time I ever visited Epcot was 2004. I never experienced original Epcot Center, so that does indeed color my perception.
Epcot pre-2019 was a dying park that had been stagnant and irrelevant for decades. I realize a lot of people aren't happy with the results of the overhaul and I get it, when you compare anything to "what could have been", the end result will always be disappointing. And yes, the focus on IP over edutainment is something that we all are disappointed with.
But personally I'm just happy that Disney finally invested real money into updating the park for the modern day. This was an overhaul that the park desperately needed. It's fair to be unhappy with the final product (keeping in mind it got derailed by COVID), but if the choice is between getting a billion dollar+ overhaul or keeping the dead park from the 2000s indefinitely, I would take the overhaul every time.
The park still isn't "fixed". In some ways Epcot's fundamental challenge is that it's a park based on the future, but theme parks have never had good track records of updating themselves quickly enough to keep that future-focused vision timely and relevant as the world changes. But again, Epcot needed this overhaul very, very badly for a long time. And I'm just going to count my lucky stars that we got it at all.
Centauri Space Station
Well-Known Member
I fail to see any of this as better than the current set up. Even Innoventions had the floor to ceiling windows covered up and filled in sunken floors that Connections restored.
