Epcot suffering

[cpeterstx]

:lookaroun

I cannot stop laughing... :ROFLOL::ROFLOL::ROFLOL:

I want this in a T-Shirt!!!

 

[vintageepcot]

1. Vintage Epcot was the ultimate theme park masterpiece.

2. Modern Epcot is the greatest theme park in the world.

I believe both these statements to be true. I further believe that neither statement would be true without the park having existed in both forms. I further believe that the park having both forms does not diminishes the greatness of either.

And if the OP compares Epcot to Six Flags again, I might have to drop a triple MousDad :fork::fork::fork:.

Imagin them both put together.

 

[vintageepcot]

Um, no. It's not dead or on life support. Keep thinking that though.... :hammer:

Well since the name Epcot Center is no longer used and a lot of EC classic attractions are gone yes it is dead.

Its not dead I just wish the imagineers would put more thought and detail into the whole park like they used to.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Imagin them both put together.

They tried that...Epcot'94. If they would have kept up with it, it might have worked.

 

[wolf359]

I think in some cases it would have been great to keep the older attractions while still getting the new ones, and if that would have been financially possible we would have seen more of it.

But Disney in general, and EPCOT specifically has had a hard time getting and keeping sponsors for the attractions it has already, even before adding any more attractions to the mix.

And Disney knows that even when they do get outside sponsors to help fund the initial building of a new pavilion or attraction, and perhaps a contract for x number of years of additional funding, in the end they'll end up having to staff and maintain it themselves as sponsors depart.

So even if every new attraction or pavilion is completely paid for out of someone else's pocket, just the increased amount of labor to operate and maintain even more attractions would seem daunting to Disney's bottom line. Which is why, even with the amount of land Disney has just for expansion, we haven't seen too many dramatic changes in the usage of that land for new attractions. The bottom line is it's much more cost-effective to have old things rehabbed and re-purposed than to blindly increase the raw number of attractions.

 

[durangojim]

Anyone else besides me want an "I LOVE MAMOTIES!" tshirt (sounds like there's something a little dirty about it).

I understand what the OP is saying, in that Future World IMO should always be cutting edge and about the newest technological and scientific developments and make the attractions in a fun, educational, and sometimes exciting way. Mission Space I think accomplished that, but most of the other rides are just poor rehashes of the originals. WS is still the best place for an adult at WDW to be in the evening and adding more countries would only be icing on the cake, as far as I'm concerned, although I would love to see a new attraction or two.

 

[goreesha]

I have to disagree with most of the hate that is tossed in Epcot's direction. It is my favorite park. When I went there as a teenager (circa 86-91) I remember that I liked it but I was also, after a few hours of vintage Epcot Center, desperate for a thrill. The addition of more thrilling rides has been a huge plus.

The touch screens in SSE get slammed a lot, but those touch screens really engaged my kids in that ride in a way that the old version would not have. In fact, SSE became my 5 year old son's favorite ride in all of WDW. We rode it four times in one day at his request. And the touch screens were what got him really invested in the ride. He gets the point of SSE, at least to this extent: we're going through human history and at the end we go to the future, and I get to help decide the future. I guarantee the old TV screens with prancing children and "Tomorrow's Child" would not have generated the same level of interest in him.

Adding Nemo to the Living Seas accomplished the same thing. Seeing Nemo in ride so enchanted my kids that they fell in love with the rest of the pavilion and wandered around looking and learning about the different marine life for a long time.

I will agree with two things: Future world is way too cluttered these days with tombstones and random stuff everywhere. EPCOT Center had a nice, open, futuristic and clean look that is missing now.

And I do miss Horizons. The last time I rode it was in 1991, and I have to admit, it was kind of empty then even in the middle of July and it was looking kind of dated, but a major refurbishment would have been preferable to knocking the building down. Still, I don't resent Mission: Space. It's a fun ride, and my son loves Green Team. He was all excited that he got to press a button during the ride, and he still to this day talks about how we almost crashed into the canyon on Mars (he thinks he saved the day with his button press).

Epcot was and is the best park at WDW IMHO

 

[mcjaco]

Epcot was and is the best park at WDW IMHO

Amen.

Kids bashing the new "Epcot" when they weren't ever really old enough to appreciate (or actually went) the old "EPCOT" is getting a wee bit tiresome around these parts.

 

[Main Street USA]

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 am not opposed to change I just think the imagineers need to get it together and put their all into the attractions instead of just throwing them together. They need to replace great work with something just as good or better. If they put in their all like they did on the replaced attractions they would be just as good or even better.

Please don't ever think that the Imagineers are to blame for any dumbing down or cheap areas of the parks. If given a decent budget, they would do what they have always done. Unfortunately, a decent budget (when given any money at all) is VERY hard to come by these days with the current management.


To summarize:

Imagineers = GOOD
WDW Management = BAD


Also, I'll work on a t-shirt to SAVE THE MAMOTIES!

 

[Fade_to_Blah]

SSE touch screens dont bug me that much. I enjoy them. However, I wish they had something else if I preferred not to look at the screens. Just put some set pieces back. Now I just find myself trying to see where the old set pieces used to be!

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Amen.

Kids bashing the new "Epcot" when they weren't ever really old enough to appreciate (or actually went) the old "EPCOT" is getting a wee bit tiresome around these parts.

For instance...I think SSE had a bit more than just two versions.:brick:

Please don't ever think that the Imagineers are to blame for any dumbing down or cheap areas of the parks. If given a decent budget, they would do what they have always done. Unfortunately, a decent budget (when given any money at all) is VERY hard to come by these days with the current management.


To summarize:

Imagineers = GOOD
WDW Management = BAD


Also, I'll work on a t-shirt to SAVE THE MAMOTIES!

Well said.

 

[Figment632]

So because the name has been changeed the park is dead? Good lord....when does school start back up again?



MousDad for the WIN! :sohappy:

Well seeing how I graduated college I don't attend school. But I was just being technical. Epcot Center is gone and not coming back. Epcot is not dead yet but in my opinion it is headed in the wrong direction.

 

[EPCOTPluto]

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 tears me up to see what they have done to Epcot. The Imagineers replaced all the attractions with not cheap but lazy creativity. They don't put their all into it like they used to.

Spaceship Earth: Went on a massive rehab, but gutted the ending which was once a total masterpiece with the sets and the music. In 2007, it was left with 3 new sets that weren't that great and a boring tunnel that has screens with distasteful cartoons. Keep the screens, but why take away the beautiful sets and set up black walls? Make new sets and keep the old music. The new music sounds a bit too commercial.

Imagination: Get rid of a well loved ride, and replace it with a ride that is just cheap and boring, 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 gone! At least the glass remained and made it more walking space. I remember looking for the manatees and finding that spot. The last time I went there, I looked at the ride and I could picture the smell of a daycare and didn't even bother.

Wonders of Life: They better be putting Horizons in that spot, but I bet if they do it will probably be cheap, but I will still check it out anyway.

EPCOT: Cheap and is getting run down. They took away all the unique art. Things are getting ruined down. The flowerbeds are getting sloppy and it is becoming a mess. I am glad they finally are fixing the fountain. I love the fountain, but besides the fountain, I am almost ready to kiss Epcot goodbye. Nothing beats the vintage EPCOT. It was an adult park but that's no longer now; it is just like any other Six Flags.

I am not opposed to change I just think the Imagineers need to get it together and give a better all into the attractions instead of just throwing them together. They need to replace great work with something just as good or better. If they put in their all like they did on the replaced attractions, they would be just as good or even better.

I do agree on EPCOT going rather downhill, but as well-known in some circles:

"Yesterday's memories may sparkle and gleam,
Tomorrow is still but a dream..." :animwink:

Not everything is permanent at Disney. As stated by Walt Disney:

"Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world."
"I do not like to repeat successes, I like to go on to other things."
"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."
"Whenever I go on a ride, I'm always thinking of what's wrong with the thing and how it can be improved."
"It's no secret that we were sticking just about every nickel we had on the chance that people would really be interested in something totally new and unique in the field of entertainment. "

For the first quote, it can apply to EPCOT or any other Disney park...

Those who rode the extinct attractions we clamor for had the best luck ever. Seriously.

 

[Testtrack321]

MouseDad FTW. This thread made my head hurt.

 

[Digger R US]

I will agree with two things: Future world is way too cluttered these days with tombstones and random stuff everywhere. EPCOT Center had a nice, open, futuristic and clean look that is missing now.

Well, I have to agree about the clutter. I was there only 3 weeks after the Epcot opening and have been there about every 3-5 years since. This last time, I spent a lot of time bench sitting around the fountain area, SSE, ect. There was stuff everywhere. Spinning, moving, it was like if someone saw an empty spot over the past 20 years, they thought let's fill it. No rhyme or reason. It reminds me of my parents home. After 30 years, the old house is still there with most of the things I love and cherish. Now, it is all covered up with yard sale junk and brick-a-brack. Just like Epcot, the park I love is still there, you just have to get past all of the random fill. And about that hand and wand....:lol:

 

[PhilharMagician]

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 am not opposed to change I just think the imagineers need to get it together and put their all into the attractions instead of just throwing them together. They need to replace great work with something just as good or better. If they put in their all like they did on the replaced attractions they would be just as good or even better.

I'm sorry, have you been to Epcot in WDW?? Just like Six Flags??:hammer:Some of the best technologies that Disney has produced reside in Epcot. The park is not perfect, but nothing is perfect. Epcot is merely the greatest all around theme park.

...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*

Another vote for thread of the day!!:wave:

1. Vintage Epcot was the ultimate theme park masterpiece.

2. Modern Epcot is the greatest theme park in the world.

You could not have said it any better than that!!

 

[EpcotServo]

Ah, summertime in the Forums.

 

[GizmoDuck]

Noun

Singular
mamoty

Plural
mamoties

mamoty (plural mamoties)

1. (Indian, Sri Lanka) A kind of hoe used for digging, especially for coffee planting.

 

[mcjaco]

Well seeing how I graduated college I don't attend school. But I was just being technical. Epcot Center is gone and not coming back. Epcot is not dead yet but in my opinion it is headed in the wrong direction.

Not sure how anything you said was "technical."

As for the direction, I think you'll find most people that have watched EPCOT (and the Center) evolve over the past 25 years, would say it's about to make a re-emergence into being what it used to be. Basically, your opinion of it being dead, is about four or five years to late.

 

[Chezman1399]

Ehh, well I think Space ship earth is much better now than it was before. No dirty curtains or dim glowing lights, it's interactive, sleek looking lighted ending( i know most people don't like it), enhanced animatronics, and updated info about communication. Horizons I never was on and from videos I've seen I don't think i'd be interested in it anyway. I do miss dreamkeeper, but even without that they could have done so much more, to me cutting out a large section of the ride track is the big mistake.

Lastly, Epcot is suppose to be dedicated to tomorrow, not SciFi tomorrow like tomorrow land, Futureworld is dedicated to continuing change, innovation, and education in the real world. It's going to change, it has to change or it's purpose is lost.