Journey of Water featuring Moana coming to Epcot

[trainplane3]

(And by all means watch the whole thing for a sense of what was and what was lost)

Fun fact, you got a shout out from Tom the other night. Not sure if the word was passed on to you. I jumped to the end of a stream they did from in the park and he said instead of listening to him try to describe CC to just "go watch Martin Smiths video on it. He did a beautiful job with it". To sum it up.

 

[Kman101]

Despite the IP tie-in, I think a water trail isn't the worst to lead into The Seas. But what I see is compromise between those who want to stay true to EPCOT Center and those who want IPCot. Moana as a tie in can always be removed. As long as the bones of what comes is nice.

If we're stuck with IP, then use it well and tie it into EPCOT. Isn't that what they're doing? (Guardians aside, but then again, do we have a storyline spoiled yet?)

If this didn't have "Inspired by Moana" most would welcome this ...

 

[Timothy_Q]

I think everything Disney Animation has made this decade has ranged from “Just okay” to “Decent”. The only one I see being a cult classic staple is Frozen, which in itself was a “Just okay” film imho. I prefer Moana over it, and it’s well more deserving of being remembered, but I doubt it’ll stay relevant in the coming years.

"Cult Classic" usually means movies that didn't reach a wide audience upon its release, and are embraced by a relatively small group of people initially, and then consistently gain more popularity as the years go on.

Frozen is the highest grossing animated movie of all time (or 2nd if you're counting the new Lion King), hardly anything cult about it.

Tangled, Frozen and Moana are already regular Disney classics, regardless of personal opinions on their "quality"

 

[RobWDW1971]

Me too. Had I not experienced it I may not be on this site now let alone have the interests I do.

So true. Epcot is what took my relationship with the parks from a fun, entertaining experience at MK and DL to an entirely different level of what was possible in themed entertainment. I remember getting that great hardcover book about the making of Epcot and poured over every page before having the chance to go there the first time. It was magical, inspiring, and amazing.

Anyway, back to the new Moana water feature and big bar overlooking World Showcase. Sigh.

 

[networkpro]

Despite the IP tie-in, I think a water trail isn't the worst to lead into The Seas. But what I see is compromise between those who want to stay true to EPCOT Center and those who want IPCot. Moana as a tie in can always be removed. As long as the bones of what comes is nice.

If we're stuck with IP, then use it well and tie it into EPCOT. Isn't that what they're doing? (Guardians aside, but then again, do we have a storyline spoiled yet?)

If this didn't have "Inspired by Moana" most would welcome this ...

What pays the bills ? More purple dragon and chipmunk plushies since coffee sponsorships are sooo lucrative.

 

[doctornick]

That's one of the big drawbacks to me in SWGE. You actually get to see some interesting ships and speeders around the land, but they're all behind walls so you can't touch them. I guess in a park at least you're used to seeing railings in a lot of places

Do they not have any you can get onto like the old speeder bike that was across from Star Tours? I wouldn't think something like that for photos would be a logical thing for the land.

 

[sedati]

They had water features in the central courtyard? Why did they take them out? My whole life its felt somewhat like a sea of cement. That design also seems to drastically improve crowd flow. Instead of aimlessly walking around a circle of cement, there were clear arteries- the fountain of nations almost is hub like. There were no random tree islands. That makes way more sense.

This was always a "maps out" area for anyone but those like ourselves who had committed this place to memory. Keep in mind how monochromatic the area was originally. Now or then, I don't think this area was ever intuitive.

 

[EJ96]

Community Core was like the Main Street of EPCOT Center. You can’t see Tomorrowland or Adventureland from most of Main Street, and you can’t see FW East and West pavilions from the CommuniCore plaza. I have zero complaints about how that was designed, navigating Future World has never been a problem. Ironically, all the concept art for new EPCOT makes it look difficult.

 

[sedati]

Community Core was like the Main Street of EPCOT Center. You can’t see Tomorrowland or Adventureland from most of Main Street, and you can’t see FW East and West pavilions from the CommuniCore plaza. I have zero complaints about how that was designed, navigating Future World has never been a problem. Ironically, all the concept art for new EPCOT makes it look difficult.

You can’t see the lands from Main Street because there are no entrances to those lands from Main Street. The park has a hub. Communicore was both Main Street and hub, and I’m not sure it worked as either. The comparison would be to stand in front of the main street cinema and somehow intuit that you would pass through there to enter the world of tomorrow. Or look at the fire station and know that leads to Adventureland.

 

[Casper Gutman]

The other absurd thing about this project is that it seems to be intended as a kind of build-up to Seas, creating what amounts to almost a minor land around that ride. Seas is a mildly cute little ride - emphasis on the little. It has less substance then even the FL dark rides. It seems very silly to build a large, fairly elaborate new area around a minor little ride that is showing its age. It’s a bit like tearing out Tea Party to build a large new themed entrance garden for Pooh.

 

[EPICOT]

The other absurd thing about this project is that it seems to be intended as a kind of build-up to Seas, creating what amounts to almost a minor land around that ride. Seas is a mildly cute little ride - emphasis on the little. It has less substance then even the FL dark rides. It seems very silly to build a large, fairly elaborate new area around a minor little ride that is showing its age. It’s a bit like tearing out Tea Party to build a large new themed entrance garden for Pooh.

Good point. This really should be paired with a major update/refurb to the Seas and, ideally, a refresh to the Land.

 

[marni1971]

This was always a "maps out" area for anyone but those like ourselves who had committed this place to memory. Now or then, I don't think this area was ever intuitive.

That’s the same for any theme park.

 

[mouse_luv]

The other absurd thing about this project is that it seems to be intended as a kind of build-up to Seas, creating what amounts to almost a minor land around that ride. Seas is a mildly cute little ride - emphasis on the little. It has less substance then even the FL dark rides. It seems very silly to build a large, fairly elaborate new area around a minor little ride that is showing its age. It’s a bit like tearing out Tea Party to build a large new themed entrance garden for Pooh.

Don't give them any ideas, please.

 

[bUU]

I never thought about that. I've said before that the best view is from the place we spend the least amount of time in, but yes, for those who come in from International Gateway, even that is lost.

We've almost always entered through the IG (staying at the BoardWalk, typically), and never felt that we were missing anything (except the monoliths, the missing of which I think was actually a bonus). SSE's a sphere, and is equally impressive from all sides. Besides, entering through the IG you get that big reveal of the wide world laid out in front of you. I like that quite a lot, especially since we typically spend 90% of our time in EPCOT there in the World Showcase.

 

[MisterPenguin]

The other absurd thing about this project is that it seems to be intended as a kind of build-up to Seas, creating what amounts to almost a minor land around that ride. Seas is a mildly cute little ride - emphasis on the little. It has less substance then even the FL dark rides. It seems very silly to build a large, fairly elaborate new area around a minor little ride that is showing its age. It’s a bit like tearing out Tea Party to build a large new themed entrance garden for Pooh.

Well, I hate the Nemo ride at the Seas pavilion, so, that being said, I'd guess the water park leading to Seas was to get guests there. It is so out of the way and easily forgotten and the ride is not one that one would want to do again and again, and thus, not a good attractor to the pavilion. I've experienced being at Epcot several times wondering what shall we do next and completely forgetting the Seas exist until I see Nemo pop up on the FP list.

I think WDW's hope is that once they follow the water park path and wind up in front of The Seas, they'd remember (or learn for the first time) that there's a big aquarium there, and a ride, and a Crush show, and a restaurant.

Ellen's on the other side had the same problem, but I don't think WDW is worried about people finding the new coaster.

 

[bUU]

One of the failures of the current layout is a lack of direction. The paths don’t lead you anywhere and the Innoventions buildings act like a wall keeping the guests view of the visual cues hidden. Which way do you go? How do I get to the attractions? Everything is actually surprisingly ambiguous. As a first time guest you should be feeling very confused. This design seems to be much much more clear.

Yes, the changes that they're making are aimed directly at that, getting rid of half of those walls and thereby making the path forward much more clear. I almost wish they would get rid of them all but I realize that what'll be left needs to be there to house some things that need to be there. I think the fact that they're actually including that purple path shows that they're addressing that confusion directly.

In its current form, the visual cue leading you to the heart of future world is obscured by the pin trading station and the banners. The banners also clutter up the ability for guests to see down the path.

I don't think it is necessary, or even a good thing, to be able to see down a path. I think it is better to simply make clear what the path is for, and thereby let the traverse down the path be more of a reveal than an express train. That's one of the things we like best about Animal Kingdom Park.

Man, I never realized how bad they messed up the Spine. It’s really a poorly designed add on.

It wasn't actually any better in the beginning. I think part of the issue is generational: We changed. Back in the beginning, there was a lot of talk about how to highlight beauty within the urban form (because that's really what Communicore and Innoventions is). Now, it's more a matter of how to transform the urban form into something beautiful by way of obscuring its urban nature. We even see some remarkable skyscrapers being designed now covered with trees or gardens.

 

[mikejs78]

The other absurd thing about this project is that it seems to be intended as a kind of build-up to Seas, creating what amounts to almost a minor land around that ride. Seas is a mildly cute little ride - emphasis on the little. It has less substance then even the FL dark rides. It seems very silly to build a large, fairly elaborate new area around a minor little ride that is showing its age. It’s a bit like tearing out Tea Party to build a large new themed entrance garden for Pooh.

We've almost always entered through the IG (staying at the BoardWalk, typically), and never felt that we were missing anything (except the monoliths, the missing of which I think was actually a bonus). SSE's a sphere, and is equally impressive from all sides. Besides, entering through the IG you get that big reveal of the wide world laid out in front of you. I like that quite a lot, especially since we typically spend 90% of our time in EPCOT there in the World Showcase.

If I remember right, @marni1971 indicated that a Seas redo was being planned after the spine work. Now, whether it ever gets greenlit or not is another matter, but Journey of Water may be forward looking to that future state.

 

[gustaftp]

The other absurd thing about this project is that it seems to be intended as a kind of build-up to Seas, creating what amounts to almost a minor land around that ride. Seas is a mildly cute little ride - emphasis on the little. It has less substance then even the FL dark rides. It seems very silly to build a large, fairly elaborate new area around a minor little ride that is showing its age. It’s a bit like tearing out Tea Party to build a large new themed entrance garden for Pooh.

Except The Seas is much more than just a "mildly cute little ride" - it is a pavilion with multiple things to do. It is still one of the largest aquariums in the world.

That's not to say the whole pavilion couldn't use some work or that it's the best that it can possibly be. The ride is the mechanism that delivers you into the pavilion. I personally still enjoy watching the fish and exhibits in there. It's very relaxing and generally peaceful.

 

[marni1971]

If I remember right, @marni1971 indicated that a Seas redo was being planned after the spine work. Now, whether it ever gets greenlit or not is another matter, but Journey of Water may be forward looking to that future state.

Proposed. Not approved or funded yet. I’d hazard if the current timelines are followed it’d be after Imag.

 

[pdude81]

Proposed. Not approved or funded yet. I’d hazard if the current timelines are followed it’d be after Imag.

We're planning to go during the arts festival in the new year and wondered if we should bother while the place is all walled up.... but it seems like Epcot might be under construction for the next 10 years anyway.