Make EPCOT that much better by adding...

rnese

rnese

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Since Disney is all about theming, don't you think it would make sense for there to be some sort of official "entrance" guests pass through as they transition to and from the Future World and The World Showcase? Think about it. If you're in the MK, if you're in the hub and want to go to Fantasyland, you walk through a castle. If you want to go to Tomorrowland, you cross the bridge and there's the outcropping of rocks and futuristic signage. However, in EPCOT one second you're getting off of a car of the future in Test Track, the next...WHAM! (not to be confused with George Michael/Andrew Ridgley/Pepsi/Shirley) you're in Mexico!

Shouldn't there be some sort of entrance or transition that makes it obvious to guests that they're now entering a totally different theme? After all, these were meant to be two separate gates at first. If you were an imaginer, how would you approach this project if asked?
 
minniemickeyfan

minniemickeyfan

Well-Known Member
Interesting thought. Yes, maybe they could add something in the walkway where they used to put those holiday lights. I'm thinking a sign for the country with a little collage of items for a preview of what's to come maybe? Your right there isn't much there to draw you into WS, or maybe we already know about drinking around the world and that's enough, lol.
 
AndyS2992

AndyS2992

Well-Known Member
rnese said:
Since Disney is all about theming, don't you think it would make sense for there to be some sort of official "entrance" guests pass through as they transition to and from the Future World and The World Showcase? Think about it. If you're in the MK, if you're in the hub and want to go to Fantasyland, you walk through a castle. If you want to go to Tomorrowland, you cross the bridge and there's the outcropping of rocks and futuristic signage. However, in EPCOT one second you're getting off of a car of the future in Test Track, the next...WHAM! (not to be confused with George Michael/Andrew Ridgley/Pepsi/Shirley) you're in Mexico!

Shouldn't there be some sort of entrance or transition that makes it obvious to guests that they're now entering a totally different theme? After all, these were meant to be two separate gates at first. If you were an imaginer, how would you approach this project if asked?
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If you have a map there is no need for signs as the maps make it quite clear Epcot is two separate experiences.
 
wdisney9000

wdisney9000

Truindenashendubapreser
Premium Member
I agree with @hakunamatata . Take walking towards Mexico Pavilion for example. When you make that left turn at the beginning of the WS loop walkway (after leaving Future World) and head towards the pavilion you can see a little of whats ahead, not everything. As you get near it, it kind of opens up as if you were in the jungle and you just stumbled across a pyramid. Whether it was designed that way or not, my imagination always gives me that feeling.
MX%201.JPG
 
Pocahontas

Pocahontas

Well-Known Member
The transitions are smooth, in my opinion. It's really self-explanatory... and Epcot is supposed to be spaced out and airy. Signs are definitely unnecessary.
 
CP_alum08

CP_alum08

Well-Known Member
You don't think it was a conscious choice to not have transition signs to enforce the mentality of a "community"? That's how I look at it. MK feels very divided whereas epcot seems like one cohesive park.
 
rnese

rnese

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Many of you are missing the point. There is a Future World...and then a World Showcase. If you don't believe there should be a better "transition" from one to the other, then you're a BORE!;)
 
Uncle Remus

Uncle Remus

Well-Known Member
rnese said:
Many of you are missing the point. There is a Future World...and then a World Showcase. If you don't believe there should be a better "transition" from one to the other, then you're a BORE!;)
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I don't think anyone is missing the point. It's just not needed. It's not like you walk into Mexico and say "Wait a minute! This isn't the future!" Its an obvious enough transition and no reason to clutter something for the sake of doing so. There are dozens of other pressing issues that Epcot, my favorite park, could address instead
 
Beholder

Beholder

Well-Known Member
Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow. It's more community or Worlds Fair. I've never thought of EPCOT being so much "suspension of disbelief", but more of a reality based collection of ideas and concepts. Sort of a combination of who we are and where we come from (Showcase) and the possibilities of our shared future.
 
The Empress Lilly

The Empress Lilly

Well-Known Member
The American pavilion was for a long while planned to be at the juncture of FW and WS. It was still a contemporary looking building back then. Eventually, it was thought insensitive to give the American pavilion such a prominent place, aloof from the other countries. The result was this rather empty klooking transition between FW and WS.


I have sometimes wondered if SSE wouldn't have looked great there, at the center if the park, instead of at the entrance. SSE's ride is also the narrative link between FW and WS, the one that ties it together.
Then again, maybe it would be too large and dominant. At any rate, EPCOT was the anti-MK. If the MK had its icon in the centre, then EPCOT was going to get its icon somewhere else.


There is also the matter of that pesky sinkhole at the juncture between WS and FW. Anything big build there would be in danger of being swallowed up for a snack by hungry mother earth. :hungry:
 
Omnispace

Omnispace

Well-Known Member
The transition is pretty much the bridge where you cross the lagoon in front of Odyssey and come to what is referred to on the maps as "Showcase Plaza". It is at that location where the vista across the World Showcase lagoon opens up to the different world pavilions with the American Adventure beckoning one to continue on. It's subtle, and consistent with exploratory the way the rest of the park is laid-out.

Epcot was never intended to be like the Magic Kingdom parks with the defined gateways to the different "lands" from a hub. I agree that there should be something that acts as an introduction to the World Showcase experience. When the park originally opened, one had Earth Station at the exit to Spaceship Earth that acted as an information and guest services hub for the entire EPCOT center. This included an introductory experience for both Future World and World Showcase with the World Key consoles. Now that Earth Station is gone, along with basically the entire concept that Epcot functions as an integrated thematic experience, there doesn't seem to be any necessity for anything else to happen at the Showcase Plaza other than to meet Duffy and buy souvenirs at the two gift shops there.

As for sink holes, wouldn't it be cool if they could build some floating pavilions on the lakes? Perhaps a beautiful floating pavilion at the entrance to World Showcase would fulfill the need you are looking for??
 
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The Empress Lilly

The Empress Lilly

Well-Known Member
Omnispace said:
The transition is pretty much the bridge where you cross the lagoon in front of Odyssey and come to what is referred to on the maps as "Showcase Plaza". It is at that location where the vista across the World Showcase lagoon opens up to the different world pavilions with the American Adventure beckoning one to continue on. It's subtle, and consistent with exploratory the way the rest of the park is laid-out.

Epcot was ever intended to be like the Magic Kingdom parks with the defined gateways to the different "lands" from a hub. I agree that there should be something that acts as an introduction to the World Showcase experience.
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I somewhat like the way the park transitions between FW and WS. Although there is an awful lot of empty there. I wonder if they simply had no real alternative to build there and sort of settled on the big empty transition out of practical concerns.

The large, modernist American pavilion that was at one point going to be the transition looks a bit unappealing, and woud've prevented several big vistas. Apart from 'America' indeed not feeling like the right transition between the two park halves. I'm happy with the choices they made, even if I do think the transition is a bit empty now.


epcot-model_med.jpg
 

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