Epcot Center was built during a different time..an entirely different era- before smart phones and technology rapidly exceeded. You can't keep up anymore, and the idea of the "one idea theme park", whether it be about movie making or the future/the past colliding or animal encounters alone...it just doesn't work anymore. I grew up with all of you- riding Figment, enjoying Universe of Energy and World of Motion. But back then we had an unbridled optimism about science, nature and everything. Now every statement or new idea creates controversy because too many people have voices and can type at a keyboard. Back then there was only 3 Disney parks, 1 Universal park, and SeaWorld. That's it. There wasn't a whole lot of competition. You could innovate, excite, and explore. Epcot stood out because it was different.
However, things we built on 80s and 90s philosophies have disappeared from mainstream culture. Remember the big movie studio park boom? Universal, Disney MGM, Paramount, and even MGM alone created parks based on how movies are made. It was fascinating! We could learn how things were created from the VHS stocks we had at home.
Well, that idea is now overhauled because you can learn everything about movie making from Buzzfeed and any blu-ray disc. Epcot is the same- there's an app that shows you the constellations from anywhere you stand and you can literally pull it out of your pocket,, for example. On top of that Uof E was originally created as a love letter to the fossil fuels industry and now that fossil fuels are passe and clean energy is the future, the idea of UoE is dead.
Disney is a business at the end of the day. It has to compete with other businesses. It's going to make business decisions whether we like it or not. Sure, they could've tossed some dimes and created a fantastic, educational and original concept for an attraction that would've harkened back to the glory days of Epcot....but when you have Harry Potter to compete with down the road, you don't do throwbacks..you pull out the big guns.
My only hope is that the base idea keeps going- these attractions will continue to create wonder and excitement, even if the basic idea of edutainment has changed. People will continue to be inspired whether its dinosaurs or Groot, to create new things. Kids will love the thrills of Epcot, but grow up to appreciate the culture, foods, wines and shows that it showcases as they become adults. That maybe these attractions will save Epcot and new ideas will come to fruition as attendance climbs again.
