EPCOT World Showcase Rotational Pavilion

[The90skid]

I love EPCOT! I'm only 17.. But when I was little, everything that's outdated now was new back then!! Heck, even Ellens energy adventure and Nemo were kinda new! Soarin had JUST opened. Wonders of life JUST reached its seasonal stage. But 9 or 10 years later.. Everything is still there. Unchanged. Not updated. Or closed and shuttered.

I absolutely understand! I'm not much older than you, and I feel the same way.

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

I'd like to see that.

 

[networkpro]

You really like EPCOT, don't you? Actually, you really like what EPCOT used to be, and what EPCOT should have been. Come to the dark side! Let your hate run through you! *Emporer Cackle*

Be prepared for the Death Star overlay

 

[blueboxdoctor]

That's only because it does not have hardly any attractions. American Adventure will always be great as long as maintenance is kept up. 3 Cabelleros, O Canada and reflections of China are three often over-looked attractions that people couldn't care less about, TBH. Impressions de France is also over-looked, but a tad bit more loved on these forums.

There aren't any real attractions in world showcase. So there's nothing to mess up.

There was maelstrom. But even THAAT was starting to become outdated and in terrible shape. So now we get frozen.

️World Showcase essentially never became outdated because it's a giant shopping mall with beautiful scenery.

Which is fine, at least they had a vision for it, which is more than they can say for Future World. Though, yes, some of those shows you mentioned are forgotten (don't think I ever watched the one for France, and everyone always walked right through the theatre for the former Norway one). While I am not exactly thrilled with Norway becoming Arendelle, they at least are addressing Maelstrom.

 

[yedliW]

I think changing annually would be too often.. they should rotate every 3-5 or 5-7 years or so.. that way, they could be there long enough to justify some thorough theming/investment.. besides, if it is every year.. how long before you run out of countries that would have interest?

Some suggestions would be Brazil (imagine what they could do with carnavale, and would love to have a or Peru (or a more generic South America), an Egypt, South East Asia (Laos, Cambodia, etc..), maybe India, Polynesia (Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, etc..). I'd say Australia, but that should really be done as a 'land' at AK, and not as a pavilion at EPCOT..

 

[The90skid]

Be prepared for the Death Star overlay

Better yet, scrap EVERYTHING in Epcot, get rid of the DHS ideas, and turn all of Epcot into Star Wars Land. The golf ball becomes the death star, future world is Coruscant, and world showcase takes you to several different planets, such as Tatooine, Hoth, and Kamino. Epcot is fixed. Everyone go home now, we don't have to complain about Epcot ever again!

 

[aladdin2007]

Which is fine, at least they had a vision for it, which is more than they can say for Future World. Though, yes, some of those shows you mentioned are forgotten (don't think I ever watched the one for France, and everyone always walked right through the theatre for the former Norway one). While I am not exactly thrilled with Norway becoming Arendelle, they at least are addressing Maelstrom.

just for the record, not that we need to go into this here since its already overload discussion in the frozen thread. Norway is not becoming Arendelle, thankfully that plan was scrapped thanks to certain individuals. I know it feels that way though with the frozen ride being crammed in, but still.

 

[blueboxdoctor]

just for the record, not that we need to go into this here since its already overload discussion in the frozen thread. Norway is not becoming Arendelle, thankfully that plan was scrapped thanks to certain individuals. I know it feels that way though with the frozen ride being crammed in, but still.

There were legitimate plans to actually make it be Arendelle? Did not know that.

 

[WondersOfLife]

Which is fine, at least they had a vision for it, which is more than they can say for Future World. Though, yes, some of those shows you mentioned are forgotten (don't think I ever watched the one for France, and everyone always walked right through the theatre for the former Norway one). While I am not exactly thrilled with Norway becoming Arendelle, they at least are addressing Maelstrom.

"At least" yea.. But it's an attraction out of a bunch in the park that needs to be addressed. If World Showcase had just as many attractions at Futurd World did, it would be just as depressing.

Future World did have a vision... Disney was just too lazy to update attractions when they needed to.. 10 YEARS LATER.

 

[blueboxdoctor]

"At least" yea.. But it's an attraction out of a bunch in the park that needs to be addressed. If World Showcase had just as many attractions at Futurd World did, it would be just as depressing.

Future World did have a vision... Disney was just too lazy to update attractions when they needed to.. 10 YEARS LATER.

Well that's the thing, they abandoned the vision, much as they abandoned the timeless theme they wanted for Animal Kingdom. Avatarland will be so out of date in the next ten years it won't even be funny. It's already not trendy, and even though three more movies are on the way, they now have a ton of Marvel, DC, and the big one, Star Wars to compete against. Should have just stuck with the old idea of a fantasy creature land, which is a timeless theme. Get dragons and all that cool stuff. It's been around in mythology and cultures forever, and people are still interested in it. So much potential just thrown away for a passing trend.

 

[The90skid]

Well that's the thing, they abandoned the vision, much as they abandoned the timeless theme they wanted for Animal Kingdom. Avatarland will be so out of date in the next ten years it won't even be funny. It's already not trendy, and even though three more movies are on the way, they now have a ton of Marvel, DC, and the big one, Star Wars to compete against. Should have just stuck with the old idea of a fantasy creature land, which is a timeless theme. Get dragons and all that cool stuff. It's been around in mythology and cultures forever, and people are still interested in it. So much potential just thrown away for a passing trend.

Whole-heartedly agree. Beastly Kingdom was a far superior idea to Avatarland. I day dream about how awesome the Dragon coaster could have been.

 

[copcarguyp71]

"At least" yea.. But it's an attraction out of a bunch in the park that needs to be addressed. If World Showcase had just as many attractions at Futurd World did, it would be just as depressing.

Future World did have a vision... Disney was just too lazy to update attractions when they needed to.. 10 YEARS LATER.

Disney's huge and vital mistake was developing a park (I kind of think of Futureworld as it's own entity) where the attractions were dependent on sponsorship. In the 80's when we were all enjoying the falsely inflated dollar and wallstreet booming due to junk bonds and imaginary corporations I guess it made perfect sense but there was no way it could be sustainable long term. It is a park that was conceived in opulence and is now living in squalor. For Futureworld to move forward Disney needs to move it from the past to the present and allocate their own funds instead of continuing to hold onto their business model from the past. Sometimes I wonder if that song "Everything is Awesome" from The Lego Movie (yes I know it is not Disney) is piped through the corporate offices in an effort to continue living in their own bubble.

 

[WondersOfLife]

Well that's the thing, they abandoned the vision, much as they abandoned the timeless theme they wanted for Animal Kingdom. Avatarland will be so out of date in the next ten years it won't even be funny. It's already not trendy, and even though three more movies are on the way, they now have a ton of Marvel, DC, and the big one, Star Wars to compete against. Should have just stuck with the old idea of a fantasy creature land, which is a timeless theme. Get dragons and all that cool stuff. It's been around in mythology and cultures forever, and people are still interested in it. So much potential just thrown away for a passing trend.

There is no doubt in my mind that Avatarland is a bad idea.. However.. If it is done correctly, and the rides are done amazingly.. Then it won't matter how "trendy" Avatarland is compared to say, Harry potter. Just look at Splash Mountain themed to a horrible movie to be based on in a theme park.. Yet, it works. Because the ride was very well done.

 

[The90skid]

There is no doubt in my mind that Avatarland is a bad idea.. However.. If it is done correctly, and the rides are done amazingly.. Then it won't matter how "trendy" Avatarland is compared to say, Harry potter. Just look at Splash Mountain themed to a horrible movie to be based on in a theme park.. Yet, it works. Because the ride was very well done.

Not to go off topic, but since you went there, some people think Song of the South was actually a decent movie. That is kind of a sensitive topic, though, so I would avoid it, bro

 

[iYazmo]

Going from memory, all I can recall from there last December was the fire safety house thing and a bunch of walls that said IBM on them but not much to actually interact with, so it was painfully boring. Like I said in another thread, tech is so accessible and user friendly today that everyone embraces it. So why not perhaps have something like an iPad/Surface Pro set up to demonstrate real world applications people may not think of (basically, using it for things other than angry birds, an alarm clock, and dropbox). Split it up for different age groups.

Oh, I also recall years ago when they had PS3s, Xbox 360s, and I think Wiis set up in there. Not sure why, but they were there.

The consoles are there to promote Disney games. In most stores, Disney hands-on demos are nonexistent so this gives people the opportunity to try their games. I noticed they were still there on my last trip when I was waiting for the cardmember meet and greet.

 

[DisneyFans4Life]

Yeah...the PS3s are still there and you can play all you want.

 

[The90skid]

The consoles are there to promote Disney games. In most stores, Disney hands-on demos are nonexistent so this gives people the opportunity to try their games. I noticed they were still there on my last trip when I was waiting for the cardmember meet and greet.

Yeah...the PS3s are still there and you can play all you want.

Nothing better than going to EPCOT to play some video games, amiright?

 

[Chef Mickey]

Because with this administration, it's too difficult for Disney to do anything that needs annual updating/maintenance.

It doesn't fit into their "set it and forget it" model.

 

[The90skid]

Because with this administration, it's too difficult for Disney to do anything that needs annual updating/maintenance.

It doesn't fit into their "set it and forget it" model.

Especially with a concept like "Future World", which essentially demands constant updating as new technology comes out. Back to the original point of the thread, World Showcase fits well with the " set it and forget it" mantra, which is why I doubt we will ever see the rotating pavillion (although I think it is a really great idea).

 

[Ralphlaw]

Big Hero 6, Meet the Robinsons and Tomorrowland glorify science fairs. Why don't they do such things in the real Tomorrowland or Future World? There seems to be plenty of space, and it would attract families just like the music things and the sports things. Overall, here are a few ideas, brainstormed this very instant, that could lend some legitimacy and bling to Future World:

1. Grade school, middle school and high school national science fair competitions.
2. Presentations by Nobel Laureates. (Let's use the Odyssey for something. Flights, lodging and speaker fees are cheap.)
3. College Engineering Competitions. Simple stuff, like, how high can you drop an egg from before it breaks? MIT would be all over that.
4. Wind power, solar power and water treatment displays that are actually fun to look at--and interesting. This can be done.
5. Live talks by actual astronauts. Again, speaker fees are cheap.
6. A "water tunnel" so you can actually walk through the Living seas. Many lower budget museums and Rainforest Cafes have these.
7. Actual hang gliding displays at Soarin". Strap yourself in and get pulleyed up for a view.
8. Why can't we buy actual seeds at the Land pavilion?
9. CERN has an upward wind tunnel where you can actually float in the air. Why doesn't Epcot?
10. Maybe Lego areas would be impossible due to trademarks, but why not Erector sets or other such fun toys and mega displays?
11. Big Hero 6 had microbots. Why can't Disney do something with that at Epcot.
12. I still think a Dr. Who tardis attraction would be awesome, with random time travel destinations like Rome, China, the future, etc . . .
13. Some kind of science fiction tie-in, pointing out how great fiction can inspire future reality.
14. How about hosting a National Science teacher convention at the Contemporary, with events at Tomorrowland, AK and Future World.
15. How about live camera feeds from the other Disney parks around the world. Big Screens showing them, and you, across the globe.
16. Beer, wine, beer, cheese and beer making displays, with samples for purchase thereafter. Wonders of Life could be tweaked to this.
17. A Guinness World record attraction, with cool things, not freak show things.
18. Catapults. Need I say more?
19. In Canada, a Red Green handyman/invention hands-on area.
20. A perpetual motion display somewhere. Kids could add stuff to spinny things to see if it helps them spin longer.

Some of these are probably doable, and perhaps even exciting. Will they inspire? Will they sincerely bring real science to Epcot? Will they portray Disney as a true partner in innovation? Will they do something that Universal and Sea World would never come close to? Could they blurb them on the Disney channels?

I think so, and I doubt that they would even be a blip on Epcot's budget.