Epcot....doomed from the beginning?

[FettFan]

Epcot was supposed to education people and change views and actions...but is that too much to expect from a theme park?

1. Using a noun as a verb? That's a paddlin'.

2. I don't think it's too much to expect....provided that Disney actually shell out the money to keep it fresh with new ideas and visions of the future coming.
Also...to hell with corporate sponsorships. While an extra influx of money is always nice, there are two problems...a. the pavilion has to promote the ideals of the corporation or entity providing the funding. b. if the sponsorship should end, things go south real quick. (Imagination - Kodak = omgwthlol)

 

[PhilharMagician]

1. Spaceship Earth should be converted to Monstropolis Central complete with Mike Wazowski-ization of the structure itself. The ride is going to be just like Monsters Inc. ride in DCA. After the ride, in the former AT&T area is going to be the main lobby or something like that of the scare factory. The camera center will be retained as a relic to the past, selling real cameras, films, photo albums, and picture frames.

2. Innoventions in its entirety should just be converted to an expanded character spot.

3. World Showcase countries will be renamed to the characters that "live" there.

4. The Land will be called The Air because of Soarin' and then the boat ride will shut down.

I am assuming this was the revival of a 10 Y/0 thread just to show sarcasm at it's highest level?

 

[Goofyernmost]

1. Using a noun as a verb? That's a paddlin'.

2. I don't think it's too much to expect....provided that Disney actually shell out the money to keep it fresh with new ideas and visions of the future coming.
Also...to hell with corporate sponsorships. While an extra influx of money is always nice, there are two problems...a. the pavilion has to promote the ideals of the corporation or entity providing the funding. b. if the sponsorship should end, things go south real quick. (Imagination - Kodak = omgwthlol)

Imagination went south while Kodak was still a sponsor. What went south was the Imagination of the Imagineers.

And yes, it is a 10 year old thread, but, is still more interesting then reviewing non-Disney related TV shows, I think!

 

[Mr Toad]

1. Spaceship Earth should be converted to Monstropolis Central complete with Mike Wazowski-ization of the structure itself. The ride is going to be just like Monsters Inc. ride in DCA. After the ride, in the former AT&T area is going to be the main lobby or something like that of the scare factory. The camera center will be retained as a relic to the past, selling real cameras, films, photo albums, and picture frames.

2. Innoventions in its entirety should just be converted to an expanded character spot.

3. World Showcase countries will be renamed to the characters that "live" there.

4. The Land will be called The Air because of Soarin' and then the boat ride will shut down.

WRONG! It's going to re-themed as Marvel Land as soon as Disney gets the rights from Universal!!!

 

[wm49rs]

WRONG! It's going to re-themed as Marvel Land as soon as Disney gets the rights from Universal!!!

In other words, the far side of never....

 

[Mr Toad]

In other words, the far side of never....

Bingo!

 

[copcarguyp71]

Imagination went south while Kodak was still a sponsor. What went south was the Imagination of the Imagineers.

And yes, it is a 10 year old thread, but, is still more interesting then reviewing non-Disney related TV shows, I think!

I always get this picture in my head of Imagineers being locked away deep within the utilidoors being fed a protein based food source with minimal lighting and working their magic on a Commodore 64 computer where each and every revolutionary idea is passed through a slot in their 1" thick steel "cubicle" door only to be scoffed at and dismissed by people in two thousand dollar suits. Obviously it is all a metaphor for the fact that if the imagineering department was allowed to make the parks what they see as befitting for the public we would have a VERY different experience as guests but...along comes Meg and upper management

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Frankly I find the title in error and plain wrong.

1. The Epcot built by the 3 company leaders after Walt and Roy deaths is nothing at all like what Walt envisioned. Walt's city of tomorrow was to show the world what the future could be like, what cities and American technology could do to make our lives better.

2. What was built was from plans for 2 different parks possibilities, put together. The World Fair part, not a city but showcase of the future and yes in a way something like Walt was thinking.

The World Showcase was a gathering of nations to bring people together, to educate.

Both parts also to have fun Disney style. In this regard they have been very successful.

3. However, today Epcot has been neglected and needs some loving care and renewal. (thank you Mr. Iger and your bean counters).

HOPEFULLY that is coming and not by taking away countries and adding Frozen!

AKK

 

[disney4life2008]

Frankly I find the title in error and plain wrong.

1. The Epcot build by the 3 company leaders after Walt and Roy deaths is nothing at all like what Walt envisioned. Walt's city of tomorrow was to show the world what the future could be like, what cities and American technology could do to make our lives better.

2. What was built was from plans for 2 different parks possibilities, put together. The World Fair part, not a city but showcase of the future and yes in a way something like Walt was thinking.

The World Showcase was a gathering of nations to bring people together, to educate.

Both parts also to have fun Disney style. In this regard they have been very successful.

3. However, today Epcot has been neglected and needs some loving care and renewal. (thank you Mr. Iger and your bean counters).

HOPEFULLY that is coming and not by taking away countries and adding Frozen!

AKK

90% of the people today could probably care less about education at world showcase. They are too busy getting drunk and the kids/teens are too busy complaining they want to leave, lol

I can just imagine what 2 billion could have done to enhance EPCOT and HS - both are falling apart at the seams. Epcot though manages to keep my interest because I enjoy being immersed in the other countries and contrary I like all the future world attractions. HS is just depressing - people speak of AK being a half day but HS is really a half day and late evening for Fantasmic!

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

90% of the people today could probably care less about education at world showcase. They are too busy getting drunk and the kids/teens are too busy complaining they want to leave, lol

I can just imagine what 2 billion could have done to enhance EPCOT and HS - both are falling apart at the seams. Epcot though manages to keep my interest because I enjoy being immersed in the other countries and contrary I like all the future world attractions. HS is just depressing - people speak of AK being a half day but HS is really a half day and late evening for Fantasmic!

Actually I disagree on the 90% figure. I believe most people going to Epcot go not to just see another Uni type thrill park, they go because Epcot is unique.

As I posted early I agree Epcot needs some loving care!

AKK

 

[Kuzcotopia]

While I am a fan of omni-movers, I think the general public's view could have been along the lines of "all the rides are the same".

That was exactly the general public's view. It's also my view. Staring at a bunch of slightly moving mannequins
And listening to narration drone on and in for 25 minutes is boring.

We've moved on, and I fail to understand this nostalgia for the past, especially as it is seen through the memories of childhood. I remember watching Land of the Lost as a little kid and thinking it was amazing. . .

It was not.

 

[Chef Mickey]

EPCOT was an ambitious concept that will take better leadership and maintenance to fulfill its original vision. This type of park needs special attention, more money, and a secondary vision of profits to maintain its dignity. You can't run attractions into the ground and have EPCOT be a land of tomorrow. It's just been ignored and needs a $500M investment to bring back to its former glory.

 

[WDWResort]

Simple, bring back Horizons. And take the darn tarp off World of Motion, erm, I mean Test Track And for EPCOT's sake, team up with Elon Musk, Disney! Imagine the things he can bring to Innoventions.

 

[dadddio]

Actually I disagree on the 90% figure. I believe most people going to Epcot go not to just see another Uni type thrill park, they go because Epcot is unique.

As I posted early I agree Epcot needs some loving care!

I think that a significant number of new visitors visit Epcot because their are four parks at WDW and you have to go to them all.

 

[WDWResort]

I think that a significant number of new visitors visit Epcot because their are four parks at WDW and you have to go to them all.

I concur. I doubt your average guest gets too deep into EPCOT to learn it's history. EPCOT nowadays is known for a few things: drinking around the world and Soarin'.. perhaps TT 2.0 and the fireworks show.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I think that a significant number of new visitors visit Epcot because their are four parks at WDW and you have to go to them all.

There are those that do that I am sure, but remember a new visitor is also likely to do a least some research and will see the unique attractions and the countries and that will generate the visit as well as routine.


However the thread was about Epcot being doomed. I has not been a failure by any means and with the needed up grades is will continue to attract crowds almost any park would love to have.

AKK

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

EPCOT was an ambitious concept that will take better leadership and maintenance to fulfill its original vision. This type of park needs special attention, more money, and a secondary vision of profits to maintain its dignity. You can't run attractions into the ground and have EPCOT be a land of tomorrow. It's just been ignored and needs a $500M investment to bring back to its former glory.

I agree it does need the face lift and big time!

AKK

 

[Tim Lohr]

Actually? I worry about EPCOT's Business model...

I don't see companies "sponsoring" Small World, Pirates, Space Mountain... anything really SERIOUS at MK. I see SOME "sponsorship" at HS - but nothing that an attraction outright depends on for it's life....

WDW "owns" these things, in the purest sense - they WILL absolutely keep 'em alive. It makes sense... in the end, who really makes money from them? WDW.

Now we get to EPCOT - and a VERY serious "sponsorship" model. I guess I keep seeing that when a sponsor croaks, the ATTRACTION also croaks. And I keep asking myself why anyone would "sponsor" something when, to them, it's basically advertising. Again - who actually makes MONEY from the EPCOT attractions?

So - I'm left to wonder... would it just be BETTER for EPCOT if WDW stepped up, and seriously "owned" the EPCOT attractions - ALL of them?

Well Pepsi was the original sponsor for Small World, then for a while it was Mattel, and RCA was the original sponsor for Space Mt. and then FedEx, but they only really paid to have their names associated with those attractions the same way companies buy commercial time during television shows/sports events

The original Epcot sponsors were not just helping to pay for the pavilion, but also helping provide the content, by sharing a look at their prototype technologies with the Epcot guests. This why the Epcot of today is kind of having an identity crisis, Disney doesn't seem to know what to do with those huge FW pavilions without some company/industry working in each of those different fields telling they "this is what we're working on for the future of our business"

 

[Chef Mickey]

Actually? I worry about EPCOT's Business model...

I don't see companies "sponsoring" Small World, Pirates, Space Mountain... anything really SERIOUS at MK. I see SOME "sponsorship" at HS - but nothing that an attraction outright depends on for it's life....

WDW "owns" these things, in the purest sense - they WILL absolutely keep 'em alive. It makes sense... in the end, who really makes money from them? WDW.

Now we get to EPCOT - and a VERY serious "sponsorship" model. I guess I keep seeing that when a sponsor croaks, the ATTRACTION also croaks. And I keep asking myself why anyone would "sponsor" something when, to them, it's basically advertising. Again - who actually makes MONEY from the EPCOT attractions?

So - I'm left to wonder... would it just be BETTER for EPCOT if WDW stepped up, and seriously "owned" the EPCOT attractions - ALL of them?

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...

 

[copcarguyp71]

I have to admit I hearken back to my trip in 1996 as the pinnacle of my experiences at EPCOT and would love to get into a time machine and go back to that time in my life again but I just have to disagree with all of the folks saying "bring back horizons". It was an absolutely sublime attraction...in its' day...which has passed. I think WDW needs to bring something that embodies all of the vision and cutting edge thinking that Horizons presented and brought to the table for it's own time. Bring me something that can instill such wonderment and spirit me away like Horizons did but honestly bringing back horizons would feel as stale as UOE...old, tired and probably unloved.