EPCOT Epcot Forever to debut as interim show before full Reflections of Earth replacement

[Figment82]

This is coming from someone who hasn’t seen the show yet, only the comments here, but why didn’t they go with a layout similar to Remember: Dreams Come True? I remember seeing that during DL’s 50th and literally being in tears - even though it was my first time in that park. It was a beautiful trip around the park, celebrating past and present. It gave each land its own moment and had great pacing of slow and crazy segments. I made special trips out to DLR in the following years to see it again, it touched me that much. How could they have been so successful then, and completely miss the mark now?

 

[tomast]

When people talk about IP use in the parks they are not using it in the general sense but instead are referring to creating attractions based on existing movies and tv shows as opposed to having a clean creative slate to come up with original ideas. Figment is an IP but he was created specifically for the attraction he appeared in.

Yeah, i know, but what I mean is that EPCOT by itself is more Disney than GoG or Star Wars or Avatar. Its a shame Disney directives dont see the value of the EPCOT IP. There is no need for an external IP on EPCOT . Instead DHS (now) is "IP-land" and is kind of ok if you want to think it like that.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Do they have to pay to use people’s voices in a fireworks show? I wonder if that’s why they had the kid quoting everything rather than figment, or even the “soarin to tower” quote.

I mean “Remember” wouldn’t have been the same if some kid was reciting all the attraction lines would it?

 

[tomast]

For me its ok.
You can notice how it is not a full show, its only in between while they finish the real show (Harmoious) and is a way to say goodbye to the old epcot center idea. its a farewell and its a nice touch. I dont like the childrens voice and I think it is missing something on the water as the old illumination Globe, like a place to center the nighttime spectacular. By no way it has the same quality as illuminations but I am sure it is not intended to have.

 

[OSUBMac555]

I swear some people are more angry a Disney song made it's way into a Disney theme park and the fact the original Epcot model which failed at nearly every turn. IP's at Epcot are fine, let's all settle down.

 

[trainplane3]

Fun fact, grabbing a spot by one of the Gateway Gifts stores and leaving when "a whole new world" starts will get you a huge jump on the exit rush. Guaranteed spot on the monorail and no reason to listen to the least interesting song? What a bargain!

 

[Yert3]

I swear some people are more angry a Disney song made it's way into a Disney theme park and the fact the original Epcot model which failed at nearly every turn. IP's at Epcot are fine, let's all settle down.

We’re angry about it because it doesn’t fit. For the next MK fireworks, let’s add this...



it would make just as much sense.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

All the Epcot specific IP is just a reminder of what we used to get..... park specific stories and songs. Also.... I wanted to hear some captain e o in that show!!!

 

[VJ]

Also.... I wanted to hear some captain e o in that show!!!

james horner? sure. michael jackson? ...you're gonna have to get through sony first.

 

[aladdin2007]

I swear some people are more angry a Disney song made it's way into a Disney theme park and the fact the original Epcot model which failed at nearly every turn. IP's at Epcot are fine, let's all settle down.

you missed the entire point and the original model did not fail at every turn...really???

 

[MrMcDuck]

It's a disjointed mess with kiddie voices and a genie-shaped middle finger thrown in to drive home what lies ahead for Epcot.

The kites are cool tho.

 

[techgeek]

I would like to build from there.
I, too, understand why they put in “A Whole New World” for the finale, but the execution...what they should’ve done was make it more of a medley of those past Epcot songs - “with new horizons to pursue/new horizons for you and for me...” - and then finish with the big “We’ve just begun to dream” at the end.

My wife and I have a special connection to A Whole New World. Aladdin was our first date, the song was our first dance at our wedding. It’s our ‘love song’, and I suspect we’re not alone in that... in our 40ish age group at least.

To have our Disney-happily-ever-after song co-opted out of that context to help radically change the spirit of a place that means so much to me... I don’t even have words. Over the years, I've taken very little the company has done personally. I understand the business strategy. I understand the synergy. I understand the original EPCOT was in many ways a product of its time and place, that luckily I happened to fall into. I understand you can't really go back... you never can. I didn't have high expectations, but I figured at least Forever was going to be a fun nostalgia trip. I'm the target audience, after all.

It's very, very hard for me to not to take the last moments of this show personally. The use of AWNW was an incorrect and tone-deaf choice on many levels.

 

[Yert3]

you missed the entire point and the original model did not fail at every turn...really???

Seriously. What are they even talking about? 1980’s era Epcot is considered by a lot of people to be the best theme park in history.

 

[britain]

My wife and I have a special connection to A Whole New World. Aladdin was our first date, the song was our first dance at our wedding. It’s our ‘love song’, and I suspect we’re not alone in that... in our 40ish age group at least.

To have our Disney-happily-ever-after song co-opted out of that context to help radically change the spirit of a place that means so much to me... I don’t even have words. Over the years, I've taken very little the company has done personally. I understand the business strategy. I understand the synergy. I understand the original EPCOT was in many ways a product of its time and place, that luckily I happened to fall into. I understand you can't really go back... you never can. I didn't have high expectations, but I figured at least Forever was going to be a fun nostalgia trip. I'm the target audience, after all.

It's very, very hard for me to not to take the last moments of this show personally. The use of AWNW was an incorrect and tone-deaf choice on many levels.

I hear you, but haven’t they been using AWNW with a double-meaning (“Come to a whole new Disney World this year!”) from time to time since the ‘90s?

Like they do with Be Our Guest too.

 

[britain]

Its a shame Disney directives dont see the value of the EPCOT IP. There is no need for an external IP on EPCOT.

Look to 37 years of the “EPCOT is so boring! Unless you’re drunk!” reputation.

They definitely see some value in the EPCOT IP, that’s why they’re having this funeral service. Otherwise it would be shoved off unceremoniously.

It’s just that other IPs are MORE valuable to the company. Why try to convince tourists to spend their vacation dollars on Buzzy, Bonnie Appetite, or Dreamfinder when the mere utterance of the name “Moana” will get ten fold the attention from the 3-10 year old demographic?

 

[techgeek]

I hear you, but haven’t they been using AWNW with a double-meaning (“Come to a whole new Disney World this year!”) from time to time since the ‘90s?

Like they do with Be Our Guest too.

Well, that falls into my 'taking it personally' angle. That's a marketing gimmick. A wink-wink-nod-nod that doesn't mean anything outside the context of the 30 second ad. I can let that slide, it's not like marketing ever listens to the creatives anyway.

When you tag it as the climatic moment of your signature in-park show, you make it part of Disney and now EPCOT canon. They've changed the context in a way I'm not sure they've ever done in a formal entertainment production before.

 

[techgeek]

It’s just that other IPs are MORE valuable to the company. Why try to convince tourists to spend their vacation dollars on Buzzy, Bonnie Appetite, or Dreamfinder when the mere utterance of the name “Moana” will get ten fold the attention from the 3-10 year old demographic?

It's a very big world. I would like to think there is room enough for both. If you make 4 parks thematically feel the same, why bother having 4 parks?

 

[britain]

It's a very big world. I would like to think there is room enough for both. If you make 4 parks thematically feel the same, why bother having 4 parks?

Easier to charge for 4 days.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

So what’s the tech. Of the show like? Like it seemed pretty low budget pyro wise to me. Is it? I’m not an expert on which shells / effects are more expensive.

 

[Surferboy567]

After having some more time to digest Epcot Forever, I have to say it’s starting to grow on me. Sure, it’s no illuminations and I have to see it in person to pass judgment but after seeing it a few more times I’ve enjoyed the show a lot more. The kiddie voices are still weird though. One of the coolest parts for me is definitely the “spring” fireworks during the second time one little spark is played, with makin memories and, veggie veggie fruit fruit. Of course, fire kites are awesome. Can’t wait to see this in person in January. Very excited for HarmonUS (still need to work on that acronym.