Epcot....doomed from the beginning?

[Goofyernmost]

It's truly a joke they even get sponsors involved, in my honest opinion. They just aren't needed...Disney is too strong to need any money, input, or influence for an outside source. It's just a cheaper model...

Well, they are a company and if they have a way to make extra money from it, they would be fools to not take advantage of it. But to go back to the original EPCOT Ctr., the early 80's were a different time, with different outlooks. The internet, if it did exist, wasn't common place, people didn't have cell phones or giant screen TV's. It was, indeed, a worthwhile investment because there was no other place, with a captive audience that gave them more exposure then EPCOT did or MK or whatever you care to name in the high traffic theme park business.

As time and communications evolved (who knows, maybe partially because of EPCOT exposure) they no longer saw it as a decent return on investment. The same thing applies to World Showcase. World's Fair existed because countries saw them as a way to get people to know about their cultures, their products and their hospitality in an effort to lure people to, at least, visit them or if nothing else to brag a little. Disney seemed to go out of its way to downsize the attractions in an pursuit of lower costs and maybe being able to keep the "helping hand" of outside financing in place. It didn't work and I don't think that they have adjusted completely to that yet.

Of course, it was a self fulfilling action. When you downgrade, you lose your prime audience and revenue drops and so on and so on. Also when it started, Disney was not as wealthy and powerful as it is today. They just haven't been able to justify spending the extra money yet. They also have kept up hope that companies would still jump at the chance to have a connection to Disney. Hope that they do figure it out soon. And the need is in both directions. Companies do not benefit from that investment and Disney sees no reason to pump more money into something that will not show a huge increase in people. (i.e. money)

 

[Chef Mickey]

Well, they are a company and if they have a way to make extra money from it, they would be fools to not take advantage of it. But to go back to the original EPCOT Ctr., the early 80's were a different time, with different outlooks. The internet, if it did exist, wasn't common place, people didn't have cell phones or giant screen TV's. It was, indeed, a worthwhile investment because there was no other place, with a captive audience that gave them more exposure then EPCOT did or MK or whatever you care to name in the high traffic theme park business.

As time and communications evolved (who knows, maybe partially because of EPCOT exposure) they no longer saw it as a decent return on investment. The same thing applies to World Showcase. World's Fair existed because countries saw them as a way to get people to know about their cultures, their products and their hospitality in an effort to lure people to, at least, visit them or if nothing else to brag a little. Disney seemed to go out of its way to downsize the attractions in an pursuit of lower costs and maybe being able to keep the "helping hand" of outside financing in place. It didn't work and I don't think that they have adjusted completely to that yet.

Of course, it was a self fulfilling action. When you downgrade, you lose your prime audience and revenue drops and so on and so on. Also when it started, Disney was not as wealthy and powerful as it is today. They just haven't been able to justify spending the extra money yet. They also have kept up hope that companies would still jump at the chance to have a connection to Disney. Hope that they do figure it out soon. And the need is in both directions. Companies do not benefit from that investment and Disney sees no reason to pump more money into something that will not show a huge increase in people. (i.e. money)

They might have made some money from sponsorships, but they have truly been a contributing factor in hurting the park's growth, development, and forward thinking ideas. Contracts that have tangible value are always easy to quantify because the numbers are black and white. However, how much better could EPCOT be if the attractions were managed and updated with the times and when necessary versus getting Kodak (Imagination) involved, for example?

I'm not saying it can't work, but it hasn't worked for EPCOT and I'd argue they are leaving harder to quantify profits on the table by attracting fewer guests and keeping them there.

 

[LAKid53]

My vision of EPCOT was formed from Walt's announcement and so I was expecting this awesome amazing innovative and imaginative park. And WS would be a totally immersive visit to each country putting its best dress on - countries that I would never have considered visiting but would now want to go see and experience.

Sadly, our first visit a few years ago didn't live up to my dream. Soarin' had a black spot on the screen (shame on you Disney, that is easily repaired). How does Test Track fit into the concept of EPCOT? Many of the rides are no better than the kiddie rides (excluding HP) at IOA.

WS has become a drink around the world contest with very little attention paid to the richness of culture and food each country presents. I love Morocco - the smell of exotic spices in the air. There is a stunning blown glass model of the Castle in Mexico that if I ever win the lottery....

It's time to go back to the original concept of EPCOT, updated for the 21st century, before EPCOT is nothing more than Soarin', Test Track and drinking around the World, because that would be very, very sad.

 

[Kristamouse]

I think it's interesting that even 10 years ago there was hope World Showcase was getting a new attraction. One of the OP's talked of Canada getting a Brother Bear ride, wouldn't that have been great? So for the last 10 years still no movement on a new attraction in World Showcase and now we might get an overlay but nothing new...whatever
My DD loved that movie from the DVD and got to meet Kota and Keni and ask them about thier totems about 5years ago. She well remembers and tells us that was her favorite her character encounter ever and we haven't scene them since...