Is Tomorrowland dated to you?

[Redsky89]

An interesting discussion I've seen not only brought up here but with my friends is if Tomorrowland still has a future feel to it. Some people say it has a dated feel and doesn't depict the "future" while people like me love it and think the sci-fi feel it depicts is amazing. It almost has a 1950's-60's sci-fi feel to it. But even still the music and building structure even to this day doesnt feel dated to me.

What do you all think?

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

I think some of the designs are dated for my taste, but like you I do enjoy it still. It's impossible to keep up with the future (of yesterday and tomorrow??) so whatever they do will never be right. So I'll enjoy it for what it is.

 

[Bairstow]

Dated? No. I think the Sonic the Hedgehog meets Jules Verne with neon tubes look they put together in the '90s has held up surprisingly well. It only really comes together at night, but overall it's the best-looking of the various Disney Tomorrowlands.

The problem is that the look and theme of 90's Tomorrlowand has been diluted and confused by the influx of too many cartoony attractions (Monsters Incorporated, Stitch, Toy Story, etc.)

The design language of the land still suggests more manic, slightly dangerous attractions like Timekeeper and Alien Encounter, so the current attraction lineup creates a dissonance between the interiors and exterior of the land.

 

[Scooter]

The only real problem I have with Tomorrowland aside from the final scene in COP needing to be updated is the gift shops. They used to be filled with futuristic toys, games, and Holograms and such. Now they have pretty much the same crap...oops...I mean items as the shops on Main St. I don't mean to sound rude or ungrateful because I Love being in Disney World as a whole, but in my humble oppinion, I don't think they should sell Mickey Mouse toasters, iPhone covers, dishes, and other such items that you can find in every shop in every park on property in a shop thats supposed to be in a future world like Mickeys Star Traders.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

An interesting discussion I've seen not only brought up here but with my friends is if Tomorrowland still has a future feel to it. Some people say it has a dated feel and doesn't depict the "future" while people like me love it and think the sci-fi feel it depicts is amazing. It almost has a 1950's-60's sci-fi feel to it. But even still the music and building structure even to this day doesnt feel dated to me.

What do you all think?

Personally I think the nineties Sonic the Hedgehog front half is dated and the mid-century back half is timeless. I think tht is owing to the difference between realism and toontown design.

 

[ZodIsGr8]

My only problem with Tomorrowland is Stich, but everything else is wonderful. I take that back. I HATE the new TTA recording but that is a thread for another day!
Nothing in my opinion looks better than Tomorrowland at nighttime!!!!!

 

[marni1971]

Not bad. Could use some plussing to celebrate its 20th anniversary (!)

Ironically, the Disneyland and Shanghai directions of theming now point more to the WDW original. What was once dated could now seem timelessly futuristic again with minimal work.

 

[donaldtoo]

1994-Present New Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland went through a drastic change starting in 1994. It now resembles Tomorrowland (Disneyland in California slightly, but with more color. Many of the attractions changed. Some classic Tomorrowland attractions that have closed in Disneyland still live on at the Magic Kingdom Park include the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover and the Carousel of Progress, which was moved from Disneyland to Walt Disney World in 1975. Walt Disney's model display of the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, the first incarnation of what would become Epcot, is also used as a display visible only from the Tomorrowland Transit Authority.

For most of its history, Tomorrowland's color scheme was predominantly white with soft blues, creating a retro-modernist landscape. Huge monolithic towers, spires, and clean lines completed the futuristic look. In 1994, using inspiration from Tomorrowland at Disneyland in California, Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort & Shanghai Disney Resort, Tomorrowland was completely re-built and altered to resemble a galactic spaceport as it would have been envisioned by the science-fiction comic strips of the early 20th century, like Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers. Tomorrowland has since been given a much more metallic look, along with new darker blues and purples, especially along its main concourse leading from the central hub.

This is pretty much the point where the future, in terms of how we generally tend to think of it, was replaced by what we have now. It would, Indeed, take some serious investment to keep ahead of the actual future. Much more practical, although not nearly as exciting to most, to go this direction.
And, after all these years, I still don't have a flying car parked in my garage...

 

[BigTxEars]

To a degree it could use an "update" but I do not think it's too dated.

 

[MMDVC]

I find it interesting everybody is so critical of the final scene in the Carousel of Progress. I am guessing it is because we have actually lived in that era most recently. Each scene is a compilation of years of inventions that seemed to make lives easier. It also focuses on a particular holiday. In the final scene I honestly would love to live in a kitchen/dining/family room that was as modern with solar windows. I love that it shows Granma playing a vintage computer game that reminds me of the action you experience on Space Mountain. Watch the activity on the computer battle scene the next time you are so bored in that scene. My biggest fear is they change the final scene and then we will miss the retro vintage vibe.
I do agree they need to modernize the seating and carpeting so it does not feel so creepy to sit down.

As for the gift shops... if Disney stocked these shops with all this exclusive merchandise it would be very very expensive. Every year at Christmas 3 of our more expensive department stores stock some very unique clothing and gift items with Disney designs. Really unique items that were so expensive they ended up on the discount racks except for the few items I did buy of course.

 

[EpcoTim]

I wouldn't call it dated, but certain parts of aspects of the place just seem somewhat tired and worn out.

 

[Tim Lohr]

I preferred the original WDW Tomorrowland, but don't think the 90's remodel looks bad or dated I just wish it all looked a little a little more cohesive. Space Mountain is kind of the main attraction but it doesn't look like it relates to the new stuff

But the 90's version of WDW's Tomorrowland was apparently inspired by un-used concepts from the 1950's for DL's Tomorrowland... and I think some of these simpler designs below would have fit a little better with Space Mountain and the original 1970's Tomorrowland

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

I find it interesting everybody is so critical of the final scene in the Carousel of Progress. I am guessing it is because we have actually lived in that era most recently. Each scene is a compilation of years of inventions that seemed to make lives easier. It also focuses on a particular holiday. In the final scene I honestly would love to live in a kitchen/dining/family room that was as modern with solar windows. I love that it shows Granma playing a vintage computer game that reminds me of the action you experience on Space Mountain. Watch the activity on the computer battle scene the next time you are so bored in that scene. My biggest fear is they change the final scene and then we will miss the retro vintage vibe.
I do agree they need to modernize the seating and carpeting so it does not feel so creepy to sit down.

As for the gift shops... if Disney stocked these shops with all this exclusive merchandise it would be very very expensive. Every year at Christmas 3 of our more expensive department stores stock some very unique clothing and gift items with Disney designs. Really unique items that were so expensive they ended up on the discount racks except for the few items I did buy of course.

Haha oh well I wouldn't worry about that at all. They'll invest more time and money into attractions that bring in a lot of guests.

Trouble is, people complain about the final scene as it is "outdated". The final scene is meant to be current and the truth is it just isn't. No hint of an iPad, no marble kitchen countertops, no non-voice activated oven that still doesn't exist in typical American middle class homes. I think that's the rub here.

 

[acishere]

The attractions could use an update (Looking at you Stitch and the more enjoyable, but still out of place Monsters Inc.), but the retro futuristic design holds up well. It is a bit plain during the day, but at night it becomes the most visually striking land in the park.

I like using retro depictions of the future. Innovation moves and changes quickly and trying to base a land on the current prediction of the future is extremely hard to accomplish.

 

[Magenta Panther]

I think that, without Walt around to interest companies and investors in adding new innovative projects to the park, Tomorrowland is a land without a clear identity. Perhaps it would be best to characterize it as a futuristic fantasyland, the flip side of the fairy-tale-based Magic Kingdom. I think any new attractions for it should be based on TRON, The Black Hole, Treasure Planet (a very underrated film, BTW) and...well, Star Wars, I guess. Just make the area heavily sci-fi. That would, at least, give it a reason for being. As it is, it's very dated and kinda, well, corny.

 

[Bairstow]

I find it interesting everybody is so critical of the final scene in the Carousel of Progress. I am guessing it is because we have actually lived in that era most recently. Each scene is a compilation of years of inventions that seemed to make lives easier. It also focuses on a particular holiday. In the final scene I honestly would love to live in a kitchen/dining/family room that was as modern with solar windows. I love that it shows Granma playing a vintage computer game that reminds me of the action you experience on Space Mountain. Watch the activity on the computer battle scene the next time you are so bored in that scene. My biggest fear is they change the final scene and then we will miss the retro vintage vibe.
I do agree they need to modernize the seating and carpeting so it does not feel so creepy to sit down.

The only real problem I have with Tomorrowland aside from the final scene in COP needing to be updated is the gift shops. They used to be filled with futuristic toys, games, and Holograms and such. Now they have pretty much the same crap...oops...I mean items as the shops on Main St. I don't mean to sound rude or ungrateful because I Love being in Disney World as a whole, but in my humble oppinion, I don't think they should sell Mickey Mouse toasters, iPhone covers, dishes, and other such items that you can find in every shop in every park on property in a shop thats supposed to be in a future world like Mickeys Star Traders.

Yeah, I remember as a kid that Merchant of Venus had all kinds of neat little science-related gizmos like you would find in the gift shop at a children's science museum. Centorium in EPCOT had similar offerings.

Now it seems like Disney just throws a bunch of Star Wars stuff around whenever they need to stock any "future" related gift shop.

It's disappointing that retail is managed as a separate (competing?) branch of the theme park operation. It seemed like in the '80s and early '90s the retail selection was subservient to the themeing objectives of the land, rather than its own master... then again this may be rose colored glasses on my part. I wish I had some pictures of the merchandise these places stocked 20 years ago.

 

[ryguy]

I think the theming is okay. I do think the speedway doesn't really fit with the theme. Would love to see a redo of the speedway incorporating electric vehicles or something that is futuristic. Kids love to drive so I would keep the ride concept, but bring it up to date.

On the flip side, its a major piece of land that is begging for a nice e-ticket, but don't see that happening anytime soon.

 

[bubbles1812]

I think that, without Walt around to interest companies and investors in adding new innovative projects to the park, Tomorrowland is a land without a clear identity. Perhaps it would be best to characterize it as a futuristic fantasyland, the flip side of the fairy-tale-based Magic Kingdom. I think any new attractions for it should be based on TRON, The Black Hole, Treasure Planet (a very underrated film, BTW) and...well, Star Wars, I guess. Just make the area heavily sci-fi. That would, at least, give it a reason for being. As it is, it's very dated and kinda, well, corny.

Wait a second... You would be ok with attractions based on a property Disney bought and didn't originally create? Well now I've seen everything...

(Tron could be cool. I would be ok with Tron. And I agree that Treasure Planet is underrated but not sure I want or need to see a ride based on it.)

 

[Redsky89]

The only real problem I have with Tomorrowland aside from the final scene in COP needing to be updated is the gift shops. They used to be filled with futuristic toys, games, and Holograms and such. Now they have pretty much the same crap...oops...I mean items as the shops on Main St. I don't mean to sound rude or ungrateful because I Love being in Disney World as a whole, but in my humble oppinion, I don't think they should sell Mickey Mouse toasters, iPhone covers, dishes, and other such items that you can find in every shop in every park on property in a shop thats supposed to be in a future world like Mickeys Star Traders.

Im so happy you mentioned the gift shops because that is one thing I NEVER thought of. I agree with you 100% on the merchandise they sell in there.

 

[roj2323]

Dated? No. I think the Sonic the Hedgehog meets Jules Verne with neon tubes look they put together in the '90s has held up surprisingly well. It only really comes together at night, but overall it's the best-looking of the various Disney Tomorrowlands.

The problem is that the look and theme of 90's Tomorrlowand has been diluted and confused by the influx of too many cartoony attractions (Monsters Incorporated, Stitch, Toy Story, etc.)

Exactly!