Epcot suffering

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vintageepcot

New Member
Original Poster
People have been complaining about the new attractions. Yes where all bummed about horizons and we all want it back, Spaceship earth ending is depressing after going down backwards being able to look up at the future the stars, and the fiber-optics now its been replaced with screens on the carts and 2 walls on both sides with no fiber-optics and amazing stages with scenery go the future with robot actors playing their roll in the scene and all if it in sink with an amazing music loop looking up at the city with the fiber-optic radio waves swooping over the city with the music. Yes, there is no point of replacing all that with a wall and they could have kept it all along with the screens. I agree spaceship earth needs scenery at the end along with the screens. Maybe put in some old horizons stuff in put it in little by little.

I think What people want are the heartwarming sets synchronized to a music score and the robots instead of rides ran by screens. I have to admit the old rides were more realistic and real life. Spaceship earth still has that. Nothing beats dream-finder looking straight at you on his time machine. There is nothing warm about a screen now you watch eric idle on an LCD screen talking directly at you. Some say the problem isn't the change and I agree with this I think when they replace a ride or attraction they need to replace it with another memorable attraction just as fulfilling as the old one.

Its is also theory that the Imagineers just dont have that touch or are just not putting their all in to it and just throwing the rides together without pride. Everyone has an opinion but the question is are the Imagineers being lazy or do they just have less to work with. So is epcot suffering or are some of the rides just loosing that feeling. It does feel like epcot used to be filled with more attractions like the Cristos and the random hidden treasures that just wander the park. The fountain is still there and hopefully forever. They just need to do adjust some hardware but the music is perfect and it is a great attraction that is relaxing after a long day. But I do feel epcot is lacking.

Some people love the new attractions and dont really notice the stuff that we miss the most. The good thing is that epcot still has allot to offer the world showcase hasn't changed a bit at least what I see except for the annoying ringtone of the kimpossibul phones I really wish they would vibrate instead. It is better than Kim Possible signs everywhere. I am going to say lets just think of Nnemoemo as the living seas version of dream-finder. Mission space is good, test track is a great ride and does fit epcot. I think the economy killed wonders of life but they need to make it something (cough horizons cough LOL :) ) But besides that it isn't so bad but "dont demolish a masterpiece unless you are going to replace it with a better one". Kind of like illuminations they changed the whole caracter of the show but everyone loves Reflections of earth and noone is complaining to epcot to bring back illuminations 25 those are the standards the rides have to live up to. I am afraid of what skydance will be like if there is one still.
 

Mukta

Well-Known Member
I agree with much of what you are saying.
My opinion is that the old Epcot was not as profitable as the-powers-that-be would like. I feel like everytime a park isn't as profitable, they throw some characters at it.
The had a wonderful theme there. I ever prefer the world of motion over test track. Visitors are looking for thrills and things for their children to enjoy. This is the result.
 

Brommy

Member
Disney is like any company, it is there to make money. If the old Epcot wasn't making money - it was always going to change
 

Susan Savia

Well-Known Member
I agree with 'some' of what your saying, but they are always going to be changing things, whether we like the changes or not. Epcot is and always will be our favorite park no matter what they do to it. If your unhappy with the park as a whole - don't go.
 

Mr Toad

Well-Known Member
Sometimes change is needed. When people stop visiting attractions, changes have to be made in order to draw people back. Sometimes the changes work, sometimes they don't.
 

petersenjp

Well-Known Member
Epcot did have some classic rides. But, with Epcot trying to keep up with technology, the rides must change. I agree somethings at Epcot seem a little cheap. In my opinion, they could have done so much more with Nemo, but just kind of threw it together.
 

sittle

Member
Whats going on at epcot is davistating. they got rid of so many beautiful classics and great masterpieces like Horizons,Wonders of life, Dreamfinder, They destroyed the Living Seas and to finish it all off they destroyed Spaceship Earth. It tenders me up to see what they have done to epcot. The imagineers replaced all the attractions with not cheap but lazy creativity. They dont put their all into it like they used to.

Spaceship Earth: Went on a massive rehab Gutted the ending which was a total masterpiece with the sets and the music. 2007 it opended up left with 3 new sets that werent that great and a boaring tunnel with a screen with horribul cartoons. Keep the screens but why take away the beautiful sets and out up bllack walls. Make new sets and keep the old music. The mew music sounds comercial.

Imagination: Gte rid ov a well loved ride and replace it with a ride that is just cheap and boaring but does the job.

The Living Seas; I remember going to the Living Seas and seeing the aquariums and a ride that focuses on the environment. Last time I went there was a big statue of Nemo the tanks were gon at least the glass and made it more walking space. I remember looking for the mamoties and finding that space. The last time i went there I looked at the ride and I could picture the smell of a daycare and didnt even bother.

Wonders of life: They better be putting horizns in that spot but I bet if they do it will probaly be cheap but i will check it out anyway.

EPCOT: Cheap and is getting run down.they took away all the unique art. Tings are getting rined down. The flowerbeds are getting sloppy and it is becoming a mess. I am glad they finally are fixing he fountain I love the fountain but besides the fountain I am almost ready to kiss epcot goodby. Nothing beats the vintage epcot. It was an adult park but thats no longer now it is just like any other 6 flags.

...I believe we are all tendered up about the changes... I am especially tendered up about the mamoties, I love mamoties! Now, no more mamoties.... *sigh*
 

Jaytrod

New Member
...I believe we are all tendered up about the changes... I am especially tendered up about the mamoties, I love mamoties! Now, no more mamoties.... *sigh*


lmao... I still love EPCOT but I do miss a lot of the old EPCOT center.. I don't think things are as bad as you are making them out to be, but there definitely is a certain "charm" that is now missing. We are starting to see some new "improvements" being thrown into the works for the Orlando parks. Hopefully they have a few things up their sleeves to start bringing the old EPCOT back. Perhaps the repainting of UOE is a step in the right direction. We will just have to wait and see, but until then I will keep going there and enjoying what it has to offer.
 

Figment632

New Member
Epcot Center is dead and never coming back. Epcot is on life support with two gaping holes torn in it's body aka TLS and WOL. If it keeps going in this pitiful direction they should change the parks name.

It's not to late like I said Epcot is on life support and can be saved. Nemo is new so for the time being is a lost cause here is how they can save Epcot.

SSE: just freaking finish it
JII: gut the entire thing and start over also reopen the upstairs
WOL: reopen with new attraction like ATIS dark ride or a weather pavilion.
UOE: some slight upgrades the Dinos and Ellen can stay but as the ride progresses it needs to be about alternate energy sources.
WS: add new countries

There is still time before it is known as Deadcot!
 

Goofy69

New Member
SSE: just freaking finish it
JII: gut the entire thing and start over also reopen the upstairs
WOL: reopen with new attraction like ATIS dark ride or a weather pavilion.
UOE: some slight upgrades the Dinos and Ellen can stay but as the ride progresses it needs to be about alternate energy sources.
WS: add new countries

Figment632 you have come up with some really good and interesting ideas. Now if only Disney would listen. I also believe Epcot can be saved.
 

WDW Monorail

Well-Known Member
About 2 months ago, I may have agreed with you about SSE and the Seas. But after last vusut in June, I realized how my opinion had been skewed by all this online chatter. I really liked both updates. The only thing I didn't like about SSE was Judie Dench's voice. The narration is fine to me.

I liked the original Seas pavilion, but it lacked one thing. There was just one creature that seemed to be present all around the Nemo version which I did not see in the original... the -sapien.

EPCOT is still the most amazing park NOW. I did not really like it 10 or so years ago. But it has changed for the better. Much better.
 

SMRT-1

Active Member
Whats going on at epcot is davistating. they got rid of so many beautiful classics and great masterpieces like Horizons,Wonders of life, Dreamfinder, They destroyed the Living Seas and to finish it all off they destroyed Spaceship Earth. It tenders me up to see what they have done to epcot. The imagineers replaced all the attractions with not cheap but lazy creativity. They dont put their all into it like they used to.

Spaceship Earth: Went on a massive rehab Gutted the ending which was a total masterpiece with the sets and the music. 2007 it opended up left with 3 new sets that werent that great and a boaring tunnel with a screen with horribul cartoons. Keep the screens but why take away the beautiful sets and out up bllack walls. Make new sets and keep the old music. The mew music sounds comercial.

Imagination: Gte rid ov a well loved ride and replace it with a ride that is just cheap and boaring but does the job.

The Living Seas; I remember going to the Living Seas and seeing the aquariums and a ride that focuses on the environment. Last time I went there was a big statue of Nemo the tanks were gon at least the glass and made it more walking space. I remember looking for the mamoties and finding that space. The last time i went there I looked at the ride and I could picture the smell of a daycare and didnt even bother.

Wonders of life: They better be putting horizns in that spot but I bet if they do it will probaly be cheap but i will check it out anyway.

EPCOT: Cheap and is getting run down.they took away all the unique art. Tings are getting rined down. The flowerbeds are getting sloppy and it is becoming a mess. I am glad they finally are fixing he fountain I love the fountain but besides the fountain I am almost ready to kiss epcot goodby. Nothing beats the vintage epcot. It was an adult park but thats no longer now it is just like any other 6 flags.


and you must be suffering from a lack of spell check.
 

RWilliams

Premium Member
...I believe we are all tendered up about the changes... I am especially tendered up about the mamoties, I love mamoties! Now, no more mamoties.... *sigh*

It's ok...no need to get tendered up. The mamoties are still there, they haven't been replaced by Nemo. :sohappy: At least that's one less thing to be tendered up about anyway!
 

GoofyDadKB

Missing my mind...
Premium Member
spellchk.JPG It's your friend.
 

wolf359

Well-Known Member
While I'll admit that EPCOT's track record for "perfect" updates to attractions is spotty at best, the case could be made that at least EPCOT is getting updates. The Magic Kingdom is just starting to see its classic rides getting more than just fresh paint, and Hollywood Studios is an odd mixture of completely brand new attractions standing among completely un-updated originals.

Spaceship Earth has been updated three times in 25 years, which is pretty remarkable considering the similar flagship attractions in all the other theme parks have been updated far less. I agree the descent is still lacking, but the brand new animatronics and special effects added throughout the ride, and the brand new scenes more than make up for losing some fiber optic tubes, blinking lights, and static vignettes in the descent to me.

Horizons was a masterpiece, no dispute from me there, but I think Mission: Space is a great attraction too. I wish we didn't have to lose one to gain the other, because I think they both belong at EPCOT.

I miss certain elements of The Living Seas too, but that pavilion has received a new lease on life since the Nemo theming has been added. The Living Seas had become a worn-out ghost town, but the updates seem to be working, because every time I've visited since the re-opening the whole place has been crowded with people that seem to actually be enjoying themselves.

Even though I never found the original Journey Into Imagination very memorable, the current show couldn't be any more awful even if they added Stitch to it. It is easily the worst thing at EPCOT, and a new show can't come soon enough. I used to have a real soft spot for Honey, I Shrunk The Audience, but my last trip really showed me that it's time for something new.

I have really mixed feelings about the Wonders of Life. I hate that the pavilion is essentially boarded up with all of the attractions shut down, but that pavilion had ceased to be a real draw long before Disney decided to close it. Wonders always seemed to have a "designed by committee" vibe to it that made it feel haphazard and disjointed. I never felt the theming was as immersive as the other pavilions, nor the actual shows that compelling. I think the only two options left are either an overlay to give a stronger, more unified theme like Living Seas and Nemo, or a complete bulldoze and start from scratch like Mission: Space.

I know it wasn't in the first post, but it's worth mentioning World Of Motion, since it was the first of the "complete-gut-and-replace" rehabs EPCOT received. And I'm actually glad they did it, too. I don't have any dislike for the old World Of Motion show, because I thought it was amusing and fun, but Test Track was a bold first step in EPCOT's new direction.

When EPCOT first opened, it had no thrill rides, and every single attraction was another "dark ride into the past" look at whatever the theme of the pavilion was. While I think each of those dark rides were creative and interesting on their own, the Imagineers were definitely stuck in a rut of how to present those ideas. Up until Test Track (finally) opened every attraction at EPCOT was either an Omnimover-style dark ride, a dark ride in a boat, or a theater show.

So, in taking the good and the bad together, I think EPCOT offers a much more diverse range of entertainment now than it did back in the "good old days." And keeping in mind that we know they're looking at yet another Imagination and Universe of Energy update makes it hard for me to agree that EPCOT is suffering.

Actually, I think just the contrary: I see evidence of a much greater commitment to keep EPCOT growing and changing than any of the other theme parks. The biggest problem is that change takes time, far more time than it take to criticize the changes (or perceived lack thereof) than it takes to actually design and implement those changes.
 
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