Imagineering the Future (World): The Living Seas Editiion

[jt04]

I will try to keep this brief at first anyway. The first thing I would do to make this pavilion more viable is apply a "Less is More" reconfiguration. Quite simply I would eliminate the main tank. Not the structure of course but the contents. I know this is definitely out there but by removing the water and critters and all the associated support equipment there would be a ton of savings that could be applied to a retrofit.

Once the tank was empty it would be necessary to fill the windows of the Coral Reef restaurant with something. Fortunately tank technology has evolved in amazing ways. To be honest the 'show' from the restaurant is OK but could be considerably improved. Places like Sea World and even smaller aqariums like the one in Gatlinburg have absolutely amazing tropical tanks. They don't need to be the size of the main tank at Epcot. And it would be easy to build tanks that are only 10 or 15 feet horizontally and only as high and wide as the viewing windows. As I said, these tanks can be mesmerizing and would put the restaurant on everyone's 'must see' list.

But I am sure you are wondering what the point of such a project would be. Well, besides a cost saver and improving the aesthetics at the Coral Reef considerably, it would create large spaces in the now empty main tank. Large areas that can now hold a new major attraction or smaller attractions similar to the rest of the pavilion.

I must point out that I am having trouble conceptualizing just how much space it would create but I have no doubt it would create usable space.

By the way, I realize the ending of the Nemo ride has views into the main take. But again, the same smaller tanks could be added here and the aesthetics improved.

Thoughts? Ideas? Concepts?

 

[ScorpionX]

I could help. The pavilion's name could become The Mysterious Seas.

 

[jt04]

I could help. The pavilion's name could become The Mysterious Seas.

I'm hooked!* I would love to hear your concepts that would live up to such a name. As you can see in the edited post above I have given you a space to Imagineer your magic. Or anyone else who cares to dive in*. All Blue Sky....um. I guess in this case it is "Blue Water concepts' :animwink: welcome.


*See, I just can't help it. :lol::lookaroun

 

[ScorpionX]

We could have a SeaCab ride hosted by Poseidon using the same track as Nemo. It could be something similar to The Great Movie Ride, but featuring marine life instead of movies.

 

[jt04]

We could have a SeaCab ride hosted by Poseidon using the same track as Nemo. It could be something similar to The Great Movie Ride, but featuring marine life instead of movies.

Now that you mention it, the new Mermaid ride will make the Nemo ride through seem novel by comparisson. I have developed the theory lately that Nemo was essentially a beta test for the Mermaid attraction. And once mermaid opens it is possible they may want to update the Epcot pavilion and make it more Epcoty. I can dream can't I? :lol: And your idea has given me other ideas to add to the original post.

Percolating....

 

[thelookingglass]

The tank actually has over 3,000 creatures in it. If you've ever seen the tank when they do feeding, you'll see just how many fish are actually in there.

Also, its still the second largest aquarium in the world by volume, and Disney uses the tank for their animal programs studies, scuba diving, and other things. I don't think they'd be so quick to get rid of the main reason the pavilion was ever built.

 

[jt04]

The tank actually has over 3,000 creatures in it. If you've ever seen the tank when they do feeding, you'll see just how many fish are actually in there.

Also, its still the second largest aquarium in the world by volume, and Disney uses the tank for their animal programs studies, scuba diving, and other things. I don't think they'd be so quick to get rid of the main reason the pavilion was ever built.

Understood and this concept is way outside the box. But I think the pavilion could work better with many smaller tanks and exhibits similar to those that are already in the pavilion. Because of the age and size of the current tank, my guess is it is quite expensive to operate and maintain. My goal would be to add smaller, more numerous and higher quality exhibits at a lesser cost. Ultimately it is about making Future World work again economically and as a cohesive, coherent theme park worthy of the Disney name. This thread is a small portion of rethinking of this half of the park in a manner that makes it the gem it once was in my view.

Many of the features you mention would be a better fit at DAK if they ever did an Austrailia based land. Modern, state of the art technology would be more easily implemented from the ground up. Of course I know that may never happen but this is a Blue Sky exercise for the fun of it anyway.

 

[jt04]

We could have a SeaCab ride hosted by Poseidon using the same track as Nemo. It could be something similar to The Great Movie Ride, but featuring marine life instead of movies.

You had me thinking that extending the omnimover would work but the more I thought about it the more I don't think it would. There is nowhere near the square footage of the GMR and it would inevitably suffer by comparison to the new Mermaid ride. I have an idea that would replace the omnimover with something new that I think would work.

I will contribute that on monday and then the next chapter on fixing FW. I haven't decided if that would be the area's "plazas" (easy) or Energy (extremely difficult).

 

[ScorpionX]

You had me thinking that extending the omnimover would work but the more I thought about it the more I don't think it would. There is nowhere near the square footage of the GMR and it would inevitably suffer by comparison to the new Mermaid ride. I have an idea that would replace the omnimover with something new that I think would work.

I will contribute that on monday and then the next chapter on fixing FW. I haven't decided if that would be the area's "plazas" (easy) or Energy (extremely difficult).

I never wanted it to use GMR technology. I was using it as a comparison for theme. The Seas would become Epcot's counterpart of Hollywood Studios' Great Movie Ride.

As for energy, I had a script that was the current version with the original songs brought back. In it, the ride was sponsored by Hess. http://micechat.com/forums/walt-disney-world-resort/144602-epcot-center-gemini-2.html#post1056363651

 

[jt04]

I never wanted it to use GMR technology. I was using it as a comparison for theme. The Seas would become Epcot's counterpart of Hollywood Studios' Great Movie Ride.

As for energy, I had a script that was the current version with the original songs brought back. In it, the ride was sponsored by Hess. http://micechat.com/forums/walt-disney-world-resort/144602-epcot-center-gemini-2.html#post1056363651

I understood your point about GMR in that you did not mean use the same style ride vehicles but rather you meant a similar style of presentation. I think the original Imagination configuration was more comparable to the GMR. I still think space would be a big problem.

I admire your courage in taking on the Energy pavilion. I agree that bringing back some of the original stuff would be great. I'd be happy to see all the pop culture stuff removed. There is a theme park on property that is perfectly suited for such content very nearby.

OK, I have finalized my concepts for the Seas pavilion. And I'll post that later. Then I will move on to FW's common areas and plazas. I just don't have the energy to armchair imagineer the Energy pavilion.:lol:

Get it?! Energy? :lookaroun See I said I don't have the energy and I am referencing the........ oh nevermind. Sorry

 

[jt04]

Final Concept

OK, so I have come up with a concept for the Seas pavilion....

Imagine if you will the following...

The queue is one of my favorite ever created and so there is now way I would lose that. My backstory is based on a ficticious enterprise based on an individual like Elon Musk or Richard Branson. The backstory would be about such an individual creating a test facility for developing science and technology that would allow humans to work and live under the sea. To raise awareness and capital funding they are having an open house and everyone is invited to see all the developments and technology.

To create the 'magic' the omnimover cars and track would be removed (more operating cost savings). The queue would be lengthened (think Space Mountain without the center rail in scope). As you entered the building you would walk down to the ocean and then enter a tunnel where you then proceed below the water. As you advance through the current 'Nemo' reef displays you would see out through special portholes in the tunnel displaying different research projects on the reef. Similar to Living with the Land but on a smaller scale. Placards and spot audio would explain what you are viewing. Of course all the previous Nemo content would be gone as this is a 'real' enterprise with 'real' technology being tested.

As you reached the end of the tunnel you would enter into the pavilions main tank. After draining and updating it should be a very large space. You have now entered the main research hub of this underwater facility. It is filled with all sorts of hands-on tech. Very similar to the SSE post show but with even more interactive exhibits. Things like remote controlled robots for mining, aquaculture exhibits, life sciences for working and living under the sea, harvesting energy from the sea, etc.

Special 'windows' utilizing high def displays would allow views out into the ocean for watching researchers at work. Of course the original diving tube at the center of the attraction would be a big part of the show.

Turtle Talk would be tweaked to reflect an underwater classroom for the community as the researcher's families would be housed in the facility.

There would be plenty of references to the underwater scenes in Horizons and plenty of ideas lifted straight from that attraction.

Ultimately the pavilion would reflect all manner of technologies related to the ocean and the idea of man utilizing the resources available in a sustainable way.

Building on this there would be a long range goal of building an aquarium facility that focuses on sealife and associated research at DAK. Possibly as part of Austrailia.

Next time I will AI the gardens, fountains and plazas.