Iger mentions plans for EPCOT

[UpAllNight]

The issue is however, that Disney could spend hundreds of millions on creating rides which showcase technology, but the follow up to a kids excitement and wonder of what they have seen would not be another trip to Epcot, it would be getting out their phone and looking things up on the Internet. It's a major cultural shift that Disney just can't compete with.

It's been mentioned on here a few times and in various other places, but I truly believe they should give up on the 'future world' tag and focus 'Discovery'. The very notion of future world just sets it up for a fail from the off, when you have 80s/90s relics like UOE headlining the park.

I personally don't mind character tie ins if done well. I cannot for the life of me see what Nemo adds to the party; but a trackless dark ride exploring and encouraging thought about the depths of imagination and emotion using the characters of inside out? Sign me up! An innovations celebrating and promoting design entrepreneurs, celebrating individual success stories of the past, told with the help of Big Hero 6...it could work whilst adding to the pavilion it is in..if done well. This will sound like hell to many people, but Epcot in my opinion can no longer be what it used to be and I don't think it's all Disneys fault.

 

[Herbie]

The "general public" is not some singular all keeping hive mind. It's just an excuse to push whatever is easiest and people buy into its nonsense out of guilt for challenging the mighty public desires.

Not sure we're on the same page here...
Do I agree with the truth I presented? Debatable, because I am atleast open to experiencing the change in Epcot's direction. Should they settle for exclusive IP? No. Should they give up on their original mission? No. But they're going to have to compromise in some ways.

I personally have a hard time believing the younger children and the Brazil tour groups are going to Disney expecting to see the Epcot of years' past. Around 2008, before I moved to Florida, I was planning a Disney trip with my family. I remember my aunt, superficial as she may be, complaining about the lack of rides in regards to Epcot. I believe the trip she took for her sons' sports tournament thing was probably around 2000-2003.

After living in Florida for a few years, my older sister and I travel to Disney a bit, having annual passes and such. She's the Magic Kingdom-type fan, per se. She does love Soarin' though. But I don't think she's even aware that Universe of Energy, Journey Into Imagination, or even Test Track exist. The only reason we've set foot in Innoventions is, surprise, the Sum of All Thrills. I have a feeling that, if these perspectives don't represent the 'general public' as you say, then they at least represent a very decent-sized portion.

 

[celluloid]

I have a hard time believing Iger gives 2 cents about Epcot at all (I'd love for him to accurately name more than one ride at the park - saying "the car one" or "the one in the golf ball" doesn't count). The issues with the park are the same now as they were when he first became CEO in 2005. After 10 years on the job, why would he suddenly care now?

And at any rate, look at some of the changes that were made to Epcot during his tenure:

• Wonders of Life closed permanently in early 2007
• Nemo shoehorned into The Living Seas
• Donald and Co. take over El Rio del Tiempo
  
• Imagination decays into a movie preview space
• Innoventions stagnates and is essentially 2/3 closed
  
• Character spot expands
• 3 new restaurants are added to World Showcase; no new rides are added
• Entertainment cuts across the park
• Frozen is shoehorned into Norway

Now we did get a revamped Test Track and the new Soarin' film is much appreciated (but was done regardless of Epcot), but those pluses are just cancelled out by things like an incomplete SSE refurbishment and decaying UoE that continues to lose effects and animatronics.

But look at that list - is this REALLY the guy we want signing off on any changes to Epcot? Iger doesn't have a creative bone in his body. He only cares about profit margins and "synergy." It's why I can't even advocate for him overseeing Epcot's demise into Magic Kingdom 2.0. With him, all we would get is the Epcot version of Toy Story Playland: character overlays of anything and everything at the lowest cost possible.

Epcot is hurting, no doubt. But I'd rather let it hurt another 2-3 years if it meant there was a chance of a getting a new CEO who sees the parks for what they should be: a space for creative and technological achievement rather than places to showcase trendy IPs and acquisitions.

Don't forget Living With The Land losing its spieling Cast Members for automated narration among other declines.

 

[gdrj]

For our trips EPCOT unfortunately became a drinking and dining park (not that there is anything wrong with drinking and dining). There has not been a financial reason for Iger to invest in EPCOT. After multiple trips for years, we have no plans pending for a Disney Trip. I'm tired of old and tired exhibits. I could but I won't turn this into a rant as many have posted the woe's in the past. With Soaring and Frozen opening attendance will bump up and the powers to be might see it as "all is better".

I was at DHS on my last visit in March. I found it strange that there were CM's walking around with bins near Fairfax Faire and Tower of terror selling beer like you would see at baseball game. It just made me shake my head and wonder how off message the park had become.

 

[FigmentForver96]

Not sure we're on the same page here...
Do I agree with the truth I presented? Debatable, because I am atleast open to experiencing the change in Epcot's direction. Should they settle for exclusive IP? No. Should they give up on their original mission? No. But they're going to have to compromise in some ways.

I personally have a hard time believing the younger children and the Brazil tour groups are going to Disney expecting to see the Epcot of years' past. Around 2008, before I moved to Florida, I was planning a Disney trip with my family. I remember my aunt, superficial as she may be, complaining about the lack of rides in regards to Epcot. I believe the trip she took for her sons' sports tournament thing was probably around 2000-2003.

After living in Florida for a few years, my older sister and I travel to Disney a bit, having annual passes and such. She's the Magic Kingdom-type fan, per se. She does love Soarin' though. But I don't think she's even aware that Universe of Energy, Journey Into Imagination, or even Test Track exist. The only reason we've set foot in Innoventions is, surprise, the Sum of All Thrills. I have a feeling that, if these perspectives don't represent the 'general public' as you say, then they at least represent a very decent-sized portion.

If they updated the rides properly people would make sure to notice and would love Epcot. You can make learning and education fun because they did it for almost fifteen years. Also Magic Kingdom fans can keep the Magic Kingdom, they don't need to be spreading the same themes and IPs over into parks that have no business being there.

 

[jrogue]

I wish they'd bring back the World Showcase Players

 

[IowaHawks7]

The sad reality of EPCOT today is that, most guests view it as an adult oriented park. The drinking and dining aspects of WS even prove that point to some extent. As much as it hurts me to say it, if bringing in some IP in order to update some attractions and experiences means that we get some much needed love for the park. Then I am all for it. The EPCOT of yesterday is no longer. Sure, there will continue to be some original concepts. But the IPs will come. And I know people are against it, myself included, but if it means we get new experiences and much needed refurbishments, then bring it on.

 

[Mike S]

The "general public" is not some singular all keeping hive mind. It's just an excuse to push whatever is easiest and people buy into its nonsense out of guilt for challenging the mighty public desires.

Yeah. If amazing attractions were made at Epcot I don't think the GP would mind much. I think it's been proven before that EPCOT Center actually had higher attendance than Epcot. Imagine that.

Eddie Sotto? I think he would be perfect.

I missed when he was a regular around these parts. Anyone able to ask him come back? Lol.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

The sad reality of EPCOT today is that, most guests view it as an adult oriented park..

When the park first opened it bascially was as mentioned in this Today Show report when Epcot Center opened..

 

[habuma]

I'm ashamed to admit that, when I set aside my mostly-purist attitude toward Epcot and imagine what the referenced attractions could be like if reimagined the way described here, they could be pretty awesome.

Then, after slapping myself really hard I come to my senses and beg that this never actually happen.

Future World will become Star Wars Land part 2. Attractions will include Soarin' Over the Galaxy, Death Star ride through, and the Seas with Jar Jar and Friends.

 

[FigmentFan3]

Yep- I was thinking Tony Baxter. The two together though... aw man. Now I'm sad.

Wow that got me good. How I'd love to see each park have someone that cares about it like Joe cares about AK. Maybe give Lasseter Disney's Hollywood Whatever-It-Is-This-Week.

 

[Filby61]

...The issue is however, that Disney could spend hundreds of millions on creating rides which showcase technology, but the follow up to a kids excitement and wonder of what they have seen would not be another trip to Epcot, it would be getting out their phone and looking things up on the Internet. It's a major cultural shift that Disney just can't compete with...

Gotta respectfully disagree with that logic. You're essentially saying that there's nothing Disney can do to make Epcot as innovative, entertaining and compelling for today's audiences as it was for the audiences of 1982, because the culture of today's audiences has changed.

That's a closed-loop argument with no basis.

The reason it has no basis is that Disney hasn't even tried to make Epcot as innovative, entertaining and compelling for today's audiences as it was for the audiences of 1982. They haven't spent "hundreds of millions." They haven't spent squat! Their attitude of "We Don't Care" is so obvious they may as well stencil it on every wall and walkway and sell it as a slogan on their generic Disney Parks® t-shirts.

Whether the entertainment medium is theme parks, motion pictures, stage musicals, stand-up comedy, shadow puppets, finger puppets, sock puppets or a shaman telling stories around a campfire 30,000 years ago, it's up to the showman to tell the story in a manner that compels and entertains the audience. Any showman who claims he can't compete with "the culture of the audience" is completely bogus.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Wow that got me good. How I'd love to see each park have someone that cares about it like Joe cares about AK. Maybe give Lasseter Disney's Hollywood Whatever-It-Is-This-Week.

...Yep, I'm OK with Lassetter having his way with DHS. I think that'd be awesome, actually.

Tony Baxter for Epcot ...the idea blows my mind. I bet he could make that park the #1 destination in Floriduh.

 

[ToTBellHop]

With a Team America E Ticket.

I envision a show entitled "America F-Yeah" hosted by Sam Eagle. Two IP birds with one stone. Everyone finds The American Adventure boring anyway, right?

 

[FigmentFan3]

...Yep, I'm OK with Lassetter having his way with DHS. I think that'd be awesome, actually.

Tony Baxter for Epcot ...the idea blows my mind. I bet he could make that park the #1 destination in Floriduh.

Oh absolutely. Tony is one of the last of the true old guard. I remember some of his early thoughts on nextgen. He said something to the effect of: "when it comes to the point where you're texting your name in so the pirate says it on PotC, maybe we've gone too far." He understood the true value of immersive experience.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

I envision a show entitled "America F-Yeah" hosted by Sam Eagle. Two IP birds with one stone. Everyone finds The American Adventure boring anyway, right?

Might as well. If we're going to be drinking around the world, might as well dumb down the stage show to the drunken levels of Team America.

'Murica.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Oh absolutely. Tony is one of the last of the true old guard. I remember some of his early thoughts on nextgen. He said something to the effect of: "when it comes to the point where you're texting your name in so the pirate says it on PotC, maybe we've gone too far." He understood the true value of immersive experience.

Absolutely. And personally? I don't want my name displayed inside *any* ride. I get mildly embarrassed having my name called for a reservation at a restaraunt ...let alone a theme park environment. That's not my idea of immersive.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

The things you see when you dont have a gun.

 

[UpAllNight]

Gotta respectfully disagree with that logic. You're essentially saying that there's nothing Disney can do to make Epcot as innovative, entertaining and compelling for today's audiences as it was for the audiences of 1982, because the culture of today's audiences has changed.

That's a closed-loop argument with no basis.

The reason it has no basis is that Disney hasn't even tried to make Epcot as innovative, entertaining and compelling for today's audiences as it was for the audiences of 1982. They haven't spent "hundreds of millions." They haven't spent squat.

Whether the entertainment medium is theme parks, film, stage musicals, stand-up comedy, shadow puppets, finger puppets, sock puppets or a shaman telling stories around a campfire 30,000 years ago, it's up to the showman to tell the story in a manner that compels and entertains the audience. Any showman who claims his problem is "the culture of the audience" is completely bogus.

You make good points and it's hard to argue against most of the points you make. I will however have to disagree with the notion that the culture of people and way we have developed over the decades has no impact, in regards to this specific point on a futuristic theme of Epcot that it is more difficult for Disney to achieve what they could in the past.

I do however think they could have done much better had they pursued a more thoughtful path and I largely agree with your comments on show, and definitely agree with the fact they haven't made the effort they should have done. Any effort they have made over the years has been misguided; to go back to my previous post, Nemo to me is a shining example of this.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

There's one who would be back in a flash if he had the right terms.

Sadly a lot of today's management wouldn't even know who he is.

Tim Delaney?