Originally posted by Michael72688
I know Epcot is a "discovery" park, but that is not what people are really interested in. Today I was watching Local 6, Orlando's local news station and they did a story from Epcot and it looked like there were about 10 people there! They need to do something. I also understand about the land idea, we could change it for example when you are walking through the line you could learn about how pesticides are killing birds, fish, bugs, etc. Then different suggestions through out the ride could be made to help the enviornment!
I dont think the problem is that people aren't interested in learning (although that is usually the case), the problem lies in how Epcot is trying to educate the guests. When Epcot opened, it was a truly unique experience, completely different from the idea of a "themed lands" park like Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom. It wowed people with all the pavillions and their high-tech shows, and the brand new World Showcase, where people could interact with peopel from all over teh world.
Well, fast forward to 2002. Epcot can no longer rely on the "High tech-ness" of the old rides to interest people. A moving vehicle through old AA dinosaurs and a slow narrated ride through a bunch of gardens is not going to hold many peoples attentions, unless Disney can find some great ideas for the future, and can come up with the money to redo all the pavillions. And I do mean all the pavillions.
When Epcot was made, each pavillion fit so perfectly into Epcot. Even though each was about different things, they all were equal in how the pavillion informed people, all indoors, similar AAs of the time, etc. Now, WoM has been turned into an up to date thrill ride. Imagination's central ride, although nice for what they could do on the budget, hardly stands up to the name of being the "central ride" for the pavillion. The Living Seas have yet to change. Wonders of Life, a pavillion obviously created some time in the middle of Epcots lifespan, is starting to get old. Some of these additions are alright, but the main problem I think is that for Disney to make Epcot have a period as exiting to the public as it did when it opened, they would have to re do every pavillion at the same time.
Think about it, why did the first Epcot work so well? Everythign was built at the same time. Every pavillion each had the same, up-to-date technology, the same type of architecture (although each pavillion was designed different, you could tell that each was made at the same time), and they all had the same, great music themes.
As Epcot has gone through the years, people can tell which pavillions were added later, which are beginning to show age, up to date technology in one ride (Test Track/M:S) and next door, old, out of date technology (Spaceship Earth, UoE). I know it will be practically impossibe for Epcot to ever update itself all at the same time with the same technology, but that is my guess as to why the park seems to be lacking somethign it once did, even with all the "improvements" going on.
But, yes, Michael, people do not seem to be interested in "discovery" or future and stuff. But if Epcot is going to add thrills to the park, they should do it with the idea of how the rest of the park will look if they were to add one. They should try to keep each pavillion telling a story of something along the lines of technology, etc., then they can use that to make a great thrill ride to keep everyone happy. Test Track was a good start. If they can make the rest of the pavillions up to date, with attention to detail as Test Track did (including the slower attractions) then we should be seeing some of the spirit of the original Epcot coming back.
