Just a thought on Epcot's 25th...

DavyCrockett74

DavyCrockett74

New Member
I just find it interesting that everyone assumes that a big celebration will happen for Epcot's 25th. Maybe it will, but there is no guarantee anything will be done.
 
speck76

speck76

Well-Known Member
mrtoad said:
The MK got a big 25th party, why not EPCOT?
Click to expand...

MK did not get a 10th, 20th, or 25th.......WDW got a 10th, 20th, and 25th....

All were advertised as the XXth of Walt Disney World......and the big new attraction (the ONLY new attraction) was Test Track at EPCOT....but we all know what happened there.



When MGM had its 15th, nothing was really done except for a few pins and a AP coin.
 
Hakunamatata

Hakunamatata

Le Meh
Premium Member
speck76 said:
MK did not get a 10th, 20th, or 25th.......WDW got a 10th, 20th, and 25th....

All were advertised as the XXth of Walt Disney World......and the big new attraction (the ONLY new attraction) was Test Track at EPCOT....but we all know what happened there.



When MGM had its 15th, nothing was really done except for a few pins and a AP coin.
Click to expand...

I would settle for the removal of the wand myself....
 
nibblesandbits

nibblesandbits

Well-Known Member
speck76 said:
MK did not get a 10th, 20th, or 25th.......WDW got a 10th, 20th, and 25th....

All were advertised as the XXth of Walt Disney World......and the big new attraction (the ONLY new attraction) was Test Track at EPCOT....but we all know what happened there.



When MGM had its 15th, nothing was really done except for a few pins and a AP coin.
Click to expand...

But it does seem like a lot is being worked on at the present time in Epcot...that seems a bit like an indication.

AND while Disney does like to celebrate their anniversaries there is a bit of a difference between 15th anniversary and 25 anniversary.
 
speck76

speck76

Well-Known Member
nibblesandbits said:
But it does seem like a lot is being worked on at the present time in Epcot...that seems a bit like an indication.

AND while Disney does like to celebrate their anniversaries there is a bit of a difference between 15th anniversary and 25 anniversary.
Click to expand...

Epcot has had 2 new major attractions added, and is getting upgrades done to TLS.....in the last three years, but truely, the re-invention of Epcot began in the Mid-90's (remember Epcot '96 being the official name of the park) UoE, TT, JII, Innoventions....they all have to be included in this conversation. Epcot, as a whole, has seen more investment in the last 10 years than any of the other parks.....because it was losing the most attendance, and it has the ability to not only fit a ton of people, but make a ton of money. No other park has the amount of retail, table-service restaurants, or overhead that Epcot has.

Epcot used to run attendance numbers very close to that of the MK...and now those numbers are 5million+ below the MK.....what I see is WDW trying to restore Epcot to its former glory, yet they need to reach new crowds to do so (the start of Food and Wine, Flower and Garden, and CP being moved to Epcot are all inside the re-invention of Epcot timeline).

Now, one might think that celebrating Epcot's 25th would benefit the park and increase attendance....I personally disagree. I do not think it is a strong enough campaign for the average tourist....I do not think it gets the message out to "Visit the all new Epcot"

I do think the marketing campaign following HCOE to be "Epcot focused" in the way that the Millenium celebration was "Epcot focused".....I just do not see the anniversary itself as being the backbone of the marketing campaign.
 
nibblesandbits

nibblesandbits

Well-Known Member
I see what you're saying Speck...and I understand. I guess a lot of this is all new to me b/c I 1. wasn't a huge Disney fan back in 1996 and 2. was only 13 at the time. But what you are saying does make sense as to why they may be doing what they are doing.
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Not being disrespectful (I hope I never seem to be) but EPCOT Center became Epcot in `94 with Epcot`94. Same year Innoventions and Irons SSE opened.
 
G

General Grizz

New Member
marni1971 said:
Not being disrespectful (I hope I never seem to be) but EPCOT Center became Epcot in `94 with Epcot`94. Same year Innoventions and Irons SSE opened.
Click to expand...
What was the official opening of the redone SSE, Marni? I thought it was early 1995 for some odd reason.
 
diddy_mouse

diddy_mouse

Well-Known Member
After reading various posts...I think that the 25th anniversary of EPCOT shouldn't be on the level as the HCOE, but I do think that EPCOT should have its own recognition. Personally I feel that playing up on "old school" EPCOT would be cool. :cool:
 
speck76

speck76

Well-Known Member
To further my earlier point on Epcot (yet not get on a major tangent)

Epcot has had a very distinct phases since opening

1982 - Park Opens

1983-86 - Phase 1 improvements (AKA Capacity Improvements)
-Morrocco
-Horizons
-JII
-TLS
-Captain EO replaces Magic Journeys

1987-1989 - Phase 2 Improvements (first variance from original plans, included more thrilling attractions to fight the "Epcot is boring" thoughts)
-WoL
-Norway
-Illuminations

1990-1993 were bad economy years, and much like the post 9/11 years, no major improvements were made

1994-Present - The Epcot Reinvention ("Center" was dropped from the name, original attractions were all made more exciting, more focus on entertainment, instead of education)
-Innoventions replaces Communicore
-1994 HISTA replaces Captain EO
-1994 The Land rehab brings "Food Rocks" and "Circle of Life"
-1994 Flower and Garden festival begins
-1994 Candlelight Processional moved to Epcot
-1995 "Scar" becomes the new voice of SSE, entire ending changed
-1995 UoE rehab adds humor and a story to a very acedemic attraction
-1996 Food and Wine Festival Begins
-1997 Test Track was due to open, delayed 2 years
-1999 JII replaced, then replaced again
-2000 Millenium Celebration, new Illuminations, Parade, World Showplace
-2003 Mission Space replaces Horizons
-2003-2005 TLS reinvention
-2005 The Land reinvented, Soarin' added


Now, I can not see how anybody would think the current reinvention of Epcot would not continue, but it may slow a bit. After TLS finishes its reinvention, every pavilion will have been touched under the current Epcot operating philosophy......except WoL

The question now is "Do they need the capacity of another attraction?"
 

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