Yep.
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EPCOT New Park Entrance coming to Epcot
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
Magic Feather
Well-Known Member
I know everyone is “rooting” for their least favorite parts to be cut from the Epcot overhaul, but I would strongly caution against that.
Agree or disagree with it’s contents, but the Epcot overhaul for FW that would have gone through without the pandemic was seriously masterplanned, and (while I know it wasn’t everyone’s favorite) marked the return of architecturally ambitious structures (not just showbuildings to Epcot). I’d go as far as to say that structure would have been more “EPCOT” than Mission: Space, Space 220, Rat, and Frozen combined.
While still undecided, the less ambitious plans replacing it aren’t guaranteed to be nearly as interesting or unique. (And no, rebuilding the SW quadrant isn’t on the table from what I’ve seen) In fact, some of the plans I’ve seen look like they’d belong in the West Side of Disney Springs more than Epcot.
I know some people have quibbles over the insertion of new IP into Epcot (admittedly where it rarely belongs), but remember that this project was built to have many elements for place making purposes that, if cut, could leave some very awkward gaps. I know it’s weird coming from someone that never got to know Epcot during it’s prime years, but the Epcot many of us hold onto is gone, and has been gone for quite some time. This originally planned new age of Epcot looked promising, but now I can only hope that, once it goes through its cuts, it emerges in a unique and beautiful way, even if it doesn’t look like a replica of 1980’s Epcot.
Agree or disagree with it’s contents, but the Epcot overhaul for FW that would have gone through without the pandemic was seriously masterplanned, and (while I know it wasn’t everyone’s favorite) marked the return of architecturally ambitious structures (not just showbuildings to Epcot). I’d go as far as to say that structure would have been more “EPCOT” than Mission: Space, Space 220, Rat, and Frozen combined.
While still undecided, the less ambitious plans replacing it aren’t guaranteed to be nearly as interesting or unique. (And no, rebuilding the SW quadrant isn’t on the table from what I’ve seen) In fact, some of the plans I’ve seen look like they’d belong in the West Side of Disney Springs more than Epcot.
I know some people have quibbles over the insertion of new IP into Epcot (admittedly where it rarely belongs), but remember that this project was built to have many elements for place making purposes that, if cut, could leave some very awkward gaps. I know it’s weird coming from someone that never got to know Epcot during it’s prime years, but the Epcot many of us hold onto is gone, and has been gone for quite some time. This originally planned new age of Epcot looked promising, but now I can only hope that, once it goes through its cuts, it emerges in a unique and beautiful way, even if it doesn’t look like a replica of 1980’s Epcot.
Haymarket2008
Well-Known Member
Thank you for this info. It's concerning but I am remaining optimistic. Is there a possibility that they simply pave this area over as a temporary fix before any real work happens on it, say, years down the line? Or will they pick up the shovels with a new plan in the near term?
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UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
The scale/scope is the problem to me. It doesn't have any; you're constantly surrounded by unthemed, empty space. There's no real plot or progression of any kind. It would be a much better ride if they'd spent a little less money on the AAs and more on everything else.
I think it's the worst "classic" dark ride I've been on outside of the Little Mermaid -- it feels like they ran out of money after they built the AAs.
In fact, in thinking about it more, I think the AAs are a big part of the problem overall. It sounds counterintuitive, but I think the ride would work better if the AAs weren't as good as they are, because it makes you wonder why the rest of the ride is so lackluster in comparison.
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aladdin2007
Well-Known Member
This is what I have been worried about all along, it figures its the easier generic route they may prefer to go now, I sure hope something changes for the better. Otherwise the park is just turning into disney springs which is what I think they have wanted all along. Epic fail in my opinion, but of course others would eat it up and Disney gets all their precious revenue they want from food and drink. .
Seems like its been bad news with this project since it began and now its sounding even worse,,maybe we all should not have complained about the bar on stilts so much after all.
Haymarket2008
Well-Known Member
Yes, the concept art is quite an extensive change.....but apart from the Festival Pavilion, the replacements for Mouse Gear and Electric Umbrella and the odd new mini building or two, it looks to be about 75% landscaping. So I think there is a scenario that, should they go cheaper, it won’t be too much of a downgrade?? Am I wrong here?
Surferboy567
Well-Known Member
Is their new concept art? Different from the one we have already?
Haymarket2008
Well-Known Member
No just the same ones. I was just referring to the ones that have been released online/at D23 in the montage videos that were chock full of them.
jt04
Well-Known Member
I think it is reasonable to deduce from magic feathers comments that A LOT of details were held out of the concept art. I had always assumed that and never bought into the doom.
The cynics always are most critical of ideas that would give Uni the most heartburn. Once seen it can't be unseen. Some may even be compensated.
tirian
Well-Known Member
I hope it’s worthy of the 22nd century, definitely not a replica of 1980s Epcot.
I think most diehard fans want Disney to recapture the ideals and aspirations of original EPCOT Center. If the original Imagineers were still here, most of the existing pavilions would’ve been gutted and improved many times by now. But they only believed in change for the better, not change for its own sake.
Clamman73
Well-Known Member
Ear Hat Central....I can‘t wait.You guys should have trusted my plans all along. World Celebration® was going to be the greatest bar on Earth.
Ear hat kiosks it is I guess!
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
Frozen has massive sections of unthemed walls and only a few “look here” sections with animatronics. It’s terrible and a lazy refurb. The Mickey ride is how you do a gut job of a classic ride (if you refuse to keep said classic ride
).
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flynnibus
Premium Member
Sorry... maelstrom has been disappointing people since 1988. The only thing it had going for it for many was “that it was a ride in WS... not another movie”... too bad they got suckered on that point too
flynnibus
Premium Member
While the greenery is nice... i still feel like its just boring city park. Where is the epcot awe? The uniqueness? The part that makes you feel different when you are here verse when you are walking the dog?
I go back to the lawns between the land and imagination... it could just be green hills... but instead there were amazing patterns and designs. Or the topiaries that used to be along the monorail line... or unique takes on pathways and structures..
I’m not saying duplicate those things... i’m saying add some magic and inspiration.
We can always say its better then walking around stone icebergs...
I go back to the lawns between the land and imagination... it could just be green hills... but instead there were amazing patterns and designs. Or the topiaries that used to be along the monorail line... or unique takes on pathways and structures..
I’m not saying duplicate those things... i’m saying add some magic and inspiration.
We can always say its better then walking around stone icebergs...
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
Yeah, figured that went without saying, but to be clear, I'd rather have GMR...or (crazy I know), BOTH?
DreamfinderGuy
Well-Known Member
I dunno, I think I would be perfectly fine if Moana's wet floor walkway gets canned. We have interactive fountains on that side of Future World already, and they've been a fan favorite for nearly four decades now.
jt04
Well-Known Member
Pretty sure magic feather confirmed that was and hopefully will be the plan. The artwork was intentionally vague, apparently.
jt04
Well-Known Member
Looks like the new water feature would function like the Oasis at DAK. If so, it makes sense thematically in front of The Seas pavilion. IMO. Perfect really.
DreamfinderGuy
Well-Known Member
You can still access the Seas normally. This is just needlessly tearing down Innoventions West and killing the symmetry of the central plaza to add in another water feature, which if you count all of Imagination's and the splash pads would be Future World's fourth.