Epcot's World Showcase- A Different Vision?

[orlando678-]

Honestly though, I think there is still an easy way to make Epcot, Epcot again without having to change every ride into an IP based attraction. I know, it is easier for people to travel nowadays, so the whole culture idea of World Showcase like that doesn't work on its own anymore, especially not the videos, which people could watch at home right now.

Disney just needs to focus on the countries and what they could bring to their parks to give their guests an unique experience, they can not find in the countries themselves, for example a dark ride based on British literature in UK, an indoor Mount Fuji coaster( not bothering the quiet WS atmosphere), or a river raft ride in Canada, just things that make Epcot special and different from just travelling to the different countries(although I personally still respect the park as it is, as you still visit multiple countries in one day and the detaills in the pavilions are just great, just a pity that something like Frozen is kind of disturbing this whole idea of representing a country).

There is even a way out with IP, but just don't let it be all there is, people will get tired of continously added IP rides in WS, but for example using Mulan to teach guests about China's history(so no bookreport dark ride) or Ratatouille about France's culinary side would work perfectly.

 

[MrHappy]

How much would it cost for a monorail express from SSE area to around WS with stops at Mex, USA, Canada. I'd love that. Man, that would help reduce the amount of stress, not to mention sweat, when trying to make an ADR. Front of the park to dinner anywhere in WS is a hike
I know, never going to happen, but maybe there's a way to make going/leaving WS a tad more convenient (other than perhaps staying at Beach Club) with entry/exit next to France).

 

[Princess Leia]

Disney just needs to focus on the countries and what they could bring to their parks to give their guests an unique experience, they can not find in the countries themselves, for example a dark ride based on British literature in UK, an indoor Mount Fuji coaster( not bothering the quiet WS atmosphere), or a river raft ride in Canada.

I would love a Brit Lit ride, but I'm not sure how it would be done. I'm all for a Fuji coaster and raft ride, mostly because they don't have to be tied into any movies (though the recurring Godzilla idea with Japan would definitely make WS 'interesting' to say the least). Japan & Germany should probably have rides added first, since they have the show space right now. I don't want a Tangled or Snow White boat ride in Germany. I'd be all for cruising down the rivers, but since that wouldn't be the biggest seller in today's climate, adapting Grimm Tales like Red Riding Hood, Rose Red, Rumplestiltskin, and Goose Girl, with the Brothers narrating the trip, could definitely be different and fun. I love Disney movies, and I don't mind seeing the characters in Epcot, but they wouldn't be at the top of my list for new ride experiences.

 

[orlando678-]

I would love a Brit Lit ride, but I'm not sure how it would be done. I'm all for a Fuji coaster and raft ride, mostly because they don't have to be tied into any movies (though the recurring Godzilla idea with Japan would definitely make WS 'interesting' to say the least). Japan & Germany should probably have rides added first, since they have the show space right now. I don't want a Tangled or Snow White boat ride in Germany. I'd be all for cruising down the rivers, but since that wouldn't be the biggest seller in today's climate, adapting Grimm Tales like Red Riding Hood, Rose Red, Rumplestiltskin, and Goose Girl, with the Brothers narrating the trip, could definitely be different and fun. I love Disney movies, and I don't mind seeing the characters in Epcot, but they wouldn't be at the top of my list for new ride experiences.

I think a trackless ride or just another dark ride system travelling into a British library, where the books come to life would work. Furthermore I think a German river ride would be really cool maybe like passing by cities until you end up in the Black Forest where the Black Forest witch awaits and stuff, maybe even an Oktoberfest scene just to summarize the most interesting things about Germany and its culture.

 

[Princess Leia]

I think a trackless ride or just another dark ride system travelling into a British library, where the books come to life would work.

Trackless ride spinning in and out of a library would be amazing.
Authors to cover-

• Jane Austen (Probably Pride & Prejudice)
• Charlotte or Emily Brontë
  
• Charles Dickens (if you wanted a scary element of the ride, this could be it right here)
• Mary Shelley (or Frankenstein could be the thrill)
• Shakespeare (maybe around the beginning)
• Oscar Wilde
• J.R.R. Tolkien (doubtful that they could get the rights, but imagine a fully immersive LOTR scene)
• Arthur Conan Doyle
• end with Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland

 

[orlando678-]

I think Dr. Jekyll and Hide, A Christmas Carol and Sherlock Holmes would be cool too. Alice in Wonderland would be a bit doubtful due to the Disney movie I think, perhaps Gullivers travels, Robinson Crusoe and stuff could be represented too.

 

[Mike S]

Trackless ride spinning in and out of a library would be amazing.
Authors to cover-

• Jane Austen (Probably Pride & Prejudice)
• Charlotte or Emily Brontë
  
• Charles Dickens (if you wanted a scary element of the ride, this could be it right here)
• Mary Shelley (or Frankenstein could be the thrill)
• Shakespeare (maybe around the beginning)
• Oscar Wilde
• J.R.R. Tolkien (doubtful that they could get the rights, but imagine a fully immersive LOTR scene)
• Arthur Conan Doyle
• end with Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland

Don't forget H. G. Wells.

Jules Verne would work well in France and Leonardo da Vinci in Italy. Then, a new Greece pavilion with an epic ride based on Homer's Odyssey. That's how you do World Showcase.

 

[Mickey5150]

I think there can be and possibly should be more characters in World Showcase. Nearly every Disney movie is based on the stories, culture, people and architecture of the different countries in this world. Neuschwanstein castle in Germany is the basis for Sleeping Beauty's castle. Scandinavia is the inspiration for the look of Frozen, obviously Mulan takes place in China. There is a way for characters to exist in the countries if Disney does a good job showing how the real world has helped create the fantasy world.

 

[twilight mitsuk]

After all, there isn't really a place for Mulan in MK

 

[NiarrNDisney]

Like it or not it's coming.

Uhh ohh! Even more than M&G's? Really hope the movies continue to be educational versus a cartoonized tour of China by say Mushu

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Uhh ohh! Even more than M&G's? Really hope the movies continue to be educational versus a cartoonized tour of China by say Mushu

or Rutt & Tuke for Canada....

 

[rael ramone]

Aspirational, Yet Accessible....

This should be the goal of all Epcot attractions, whether in FW, or in WC. It has it's roots in some of the things that Walt Disney Productions used to release either to theaters or the anthology shows. And some of these used characters to achieve these goals...

It would still be 'Disney', yet give the park a different identity.

World Showcase specifically - while even the best pavilion pales to the real thing, seeing all these in real life is something else (with the price of a full blown WDW vacation you could pick one or two, but not all in one trip - so the pavilions themselves shouldn't change aesthetics). Attractions should be done to make guests interested in their culture. (And to buy merchandise that represents that culture - merchandise that will remind you of the trip more then a t-shirt or plush). What makes them different. What makes them the same. How we can coexist with them both there as well as here. And want them to go to these countries (maybe replace some of the DVC kiosks with 'Adventures By Disney' kiosks that takes them to some of these places). In addition to QS & TS that is closer to what they eat there, have 'street food' (of the quality that F&W had years ago) that bridges the gap between ethnic food & what's eaten at home by guests. Install more countries, and not just ones that are able to sponsor a pavilion (perhaps a country or region that needs to be understood better).

Let Anna & Elsa tell the story of the movie in a land at the MK devoted to it's IP that has the capacity to give it justice. In Epcot, let Anna & Elsa tell the story of Historical and Modern Norway.

Aspirational, Yet Accessible....

 

[GVentola]

The World Showcase is my favorite place on Earth. It probably (too young then to remember) inspired my interest in countries and culture, leading to my large collection of Berlitz pocket guides. I haven't been able to travel to many of the countries represented in World Showcase--I'm not rich. I like "travelling" in World Showcase from country to country without having to put up with dragging a suitcase around, not being able to understand the language, beggars, and dangers like being robbed. I don't mind the Disney characters finding their way into the pavilions. It's nothing to get hung up about.

 

[SteveAZee]

What I would like to see is more countries with more rides/attractions, and perhaps the best way to do that (to get sponsoring countries) is to allow characters/IP into those pavilions. Perhaps one way to do it is to keep the store(s) and restaurant(s) for each country fairly accurate, but then do a character-based ride as well. You could choose to just enjoy the character of each country, just enjoy the ride, or do both.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I keep saying it's going to go this direction....

 

[cheesecake]

Current events have brought to attention that the world is vastly different now than it was even when the World Showcase was designed. There is much more interaction and codependence between countries than ever before, due to having much more access. I think going forward, the focus of the World Showcase needs to be educating guests about history and different cultures, but also promoting worldwide peace and unity. I think they have a platform to teach adults and children alike, and I hope they don't squander it.

That being said, I'm not against having characters in the pavillions if it is done tastefully, and isn't done in place of teaching real facts. Also, it helps if the characters in question are actually from said country, and not just a fictional country that is kind of similar.

 

[Magenta Panther]

Trackless ride spinning in and out of a library would be amazing.
Authors to cover-

• Jane Austen (Probably Pride & Prejudice)
• Charlotte or Emily Brontë
  
• Charles Dickens (if you wanted a scary element of the ride, this could be it right here)
• Mary Shelley (or Frankenstein could be the thrill)
• Shakespeare (maybe around the beginning)
• Oscar Wilde
• J.R.R. Tolkien (doubtful that they could get the rights, but imagine a fully immersive LOTR scene)
• Arthur Conan Doyle
• end with Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland

Great ideas. I'd add C.S. Lewis too.

 

[Communicore]

I've said it tons of times, since Epcot theme park is basically a hodge podge then why not just desecrate it even more, I mean, that's what people like anyways. As long as the groovy Odyssey bathrooms remain then it's all good.

 

[Robbiemoo]

Trackless ride spinning in and out of a library would be amazing.
Authors to cover-

• Jane Austen (Probably Pride & Prejudice)
• Charlotte or Emily Brontë
  
• Charles Dickens (if you wanted a scary element of the ride, this could be it right here)
• Mary Shelley (or Frankenstein could be the thrill)
• Shakespeare (maybe around the beginning)
• Oscar Wilde
• J.R.R. Tolkien (doubtful that they could get the rights, but imagine a fully immersive LOTR scene)
• Arthur Conan Doyle
• end with Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland

I'd love to see something like this using the sinbad style animatronics from TDS. Traveling into a book and seeing the characters come to life is a fantastic idea for a ride & one I think would be perfect for my home country

 

[brb1006]

Honestly though, I think there is still an easy way to make Epcot, Epcot again without having to change every ride into an IP based attraction. I know, it is easier for people to travel nowadays, so the whole culture idea of World Showcase like that doesn't work on its own anymore, especially not the videos, which people could watch at home right now.

Disney just needs to focus on the countries and what they could bring to their parks to give their guests an unique experience, they can not find in the countries themselves, for example a dark ride based on British literature in UK, an indoor Mount Fuji coaster( not bothering the quiet WS atmosphere), or a river raft ride in Canada, just things that make Epcot special and different from just travelling to the different countries(although I personally still respect the park as it is, as you still visit multiple countries in one day and the detaills in the pavilions are just great, just a pity that something like Frozen is kind of disturbing this whole idea of representing a country).

There is even a way out with IP, but just don't let it be all there is, people will get tired of continously added IP rides in WS, but for example using Mulan to teach guests about China's history(so no bookreport dark ride) or Ratatouille about France's culinary side would work perfectly.

This is a completely random idea, but an attraction starring the main cat characters from The Aristocats would be interesting idea. It would be all AA based and Duchess,Marie, and Berlioz would teach about French Music and famous musician while Toulouse and Roquefort would teach about French Art and famous artists and painters such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Jules Bastien-Lepage.