Epcot Christmas tree failures - it's getting embarassing

[ptaylor]

The Epcot tree has been having sporadic failures on parts of the tree since the season began, well tonight it took a turn for the worst and it had a total outage throughout the night. Guests at Epcot tonight had very little holiday decor as they walked around Future World. No Lights of Winter, no lit Christmas Tree, and I have to say, it's embarassing. For a park that is based on technology and the future, with Sylvania Siemens as principal sponsor, it's unbelievable to me that they would let it get to this state. An unlit tree is for me worse than no tree - it looks awful sitting there in pitch black. The only lit decorations in Future World are a few trees on the fountain stage (that you could buy at the local store), and a few recycled topiary from previous years lit with some lights.

Many of us wondered what would happen when Jim was replaced with Dan, well I think we are starting to see. Epcot is falling apart if this holiday season is anything to go by. If management can't get the park show ready to the Disney standard, they should be moved on, as they clearly aren't doing their job.

Here is a photo of tonight's tree and how it looked.

On another note, I posted a few days ago about Peace on Earth having a lot of pyro cut - same again tonight - pyro cut.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

The Epcot tree has been having speradic failures on parts of the tree since the season began, well tonight it took a turn for the worst and it had a total outage throughout the night. Guests at Epcot tonight had very little holiday decor as they walked around Future World. No Lights of Winter, no lit Christmas Tree, and I have to say, it's embarassing. For a park that is based on technology and the future, with Sylvania Siemens as principal sponsor, it's unbelievable to me that they would let it get to this state. An unlit tree is for me worse than no tree - it looks awful sitting there in pitch black. The only lit decorations in Future World are a few trees on the fountain stage (that you could buy at the local store), and a few recycled topiary from previous years lit with some lights.

Many of us wondered what would happen when Jim was replaced with Dan, well I think we are starting to see. Epcot is falling apart if this holiday season is anything to go by. If management can't get the park show ready to the Disney standard, they should be moved on, as they clearly aren't doing their job.

Here is a photo of tonight's tree and how it looked.

On another note, I posted a few days ago about Peace on Earth having a lot of pyro cut - same again tonight - pyro cut.

So much fail....and we thought it was getting better and all.:brick: Really hope that's not the case when I am there. :lol:


How bad were the PoE cuts?

 

[Victoria]

I thought this was bad enough back on December 5th. Little did I know it could become a total Failmas tree.

 

[s8film40]

Maybe the tree is using obsolete technology. Hope they don't decide to get rid of it also.

 

[jmuboy]

I am becoming more and more certain execs from Six Flags are running WDW. Its like the twilight zone compared to DL (which is still run the way a Disney park should be run).

 

[Figment1986]

meanwhile both Universal Studios and SeaWorld have wonderful lovely trees with LEDs.. I know Universal's could dance if it wanted to... (I know the one at my mall does dance to lovely christmas music nightely..)

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I thought this was bad enough back on December 5th. Little did I know it could become a total Failmas tree.

That's not too bad. :lol:


Did you see Marcia's pic of the blotch of doom?

Maybe the tree is using obsolete technology. Hope they don't decide to get rid of it also.

:ROFLOL:

I am becoming more and more certain execs from Six Flags are running WDW. Its like the twilight zone compared to DL (which is still run the way a Disney park should be run).

Really says a lot about TDO, and Maint, IMHO.

 

[protiius]

sigh

 

[AdLibSean]

Pathetic.

 

[Captain Hank]

Oddly enough, the American Adventure building was going through its Illuminations lighting show cycle for quite a while around 5:00. Sounds like lighting was wonky all around the park.

 

[WDW1974]

meanwhile both Universal Studios and SeaWorld have wonderful lovely trees with LEDs.. I know Universal's could dance if it wanted to... (I know the one at my mall does dance to lovely christmas music nightely..)

SW has done an amazing job with Christmas this year. They have 4-5 new shows and pyro. They have decorations ALL OVER the place. Great lighting at night.

Other than Ozzy and Sharon's Ozark Cousins (and really, who names their kid Breezy??!?) Dancing Light Spectacular at TPFKaTD-MGMS, SW by far was the most impressive 'holiday' park I visited. Wish I could have made it back a second day.

Disney really needs to step up their act at the holidays as the financial faucet has been turned on now that Sea World's sale is complete.

I also hear they have hired some guy with a great track record to put on some amazing night spectaculars at all their parks nationwide.:xmas:

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I think Disney should be appluaded for this obvious attempt at reducing emissions and energy waste.

I also noticed a similar program at Osbourne lights a week or so back.

Well done.

 

[Figment1986]

SW has done an amazing job with Christmas this year. They have 4-5 new shows and pyro. They have decorations ALL OVER the place. Great lighting at night.

Other than Ozzy and Sharon's Ozark Cousins (and really, who names their kid Breezy??!?) Dancing Light Spectacular at TPFKaTD-MGMS, SW by far was the most impressive 'holiday' park I visited. Wish I could have made it back a second day.

Disney really needs to step up their act at the holidays as the financial faucet has been turned on now that Sea World's sale is complete.

I also hear they have hired some guy with a great track record to put on some amazing night spectaculars at all their parks nationwide.:xmas:

didn't he do the spectacular work for Christmas town at Busch Gardens Willamsburg... that whole concept and display is amazing in photos and video...

 

[wm49rs]

The best way to describe the decorations at EP during our visit was half-a$$ed. Half of them were up, the tree wasn't functioning properly, LoW was a memory, and overall the park looked like a neglected stepchild as opposed to the others.

 

[Figment82]

How pathetic. When I was there a few weeks ago, a good 1/3 of the lights were out. But on Sunday the tree was fully lit so I assumed they had gotten their act together. And now this... The park feels empty and barren this holiday season, when in the past it was my favorite holiday destination. I just hope next year is better (I shudder to think how they could make it any worse).

 

[roadtripper]

I had decided long ago, after reading LOW was cut, that I did not need to go to Epcot to see the lights this season. Will hit MK and HS only. If lights are still at Epcot on the 4th then it's a bonus.

 

[RSoxNo1]

When I was at DHS in early December there was a 3 foot gap in lights near the top of the tree.

 

[SoccerMickey]

Disney's Hollywood Studios' tree has had a whole entire circut out since its been open. Sorry for not posting a pic but if anyone has seen it has to notice how embarrassing that looks.

 

[CrashNet]

Its sad...I just came back from a trip down there. I worked at Epcot back in 2005, and I've visited every year since around Christmas. Epcot was always the first park I visited and visited often. This year, and not purposefully, I didn't do anything in Epcot until my last day before I left. I walked into the park once during the week to see Illuminations. MK, DHS, and DAK all put me in a Christmasy mood. Epcot did nothing for me this year, and it was always my favorite. I just didn't have the desire to really go back multiple times. It was an afterthought.

One other thing...the Choir stage show, was awful. People looked and listened while they walked by, but few actually stopped. To me, it was just like any other day.

Someone above mentioned Sea World. Went there too, and was incredibly impressed with their decor and Christmas offerings. They went all out, so props to them.

 

[MeandMickey]

Maybe they should start using "B" mode holiday lighting as with the Yeti in EE. Just light the trees up with giant strobes and maybe nobody would notice anything wrong. We were there ten days ago and Epcot was a mess. Lights out all over the place, including the tree, and no LoW. What a shame. We did enjoy the park, but not the same as years past.