EPCOT New Park Entrance coming to Epcot

[TrainsOfDisney]

The light leak on the backwards portion is awful. This can be fixed with some well placed tarps (take them from SSE).

When did you last ride? The only time I remember it being “awful” was when it first opened. I would tried the light leaks for the working fog effect any day but such is life. :-/

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

I'm an EPCOT Center purist (my blog proves it), but even I was hoping they'd demolish both sides of Innoventions and open the whole thing up.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

It would seem that Disney does think this type of attraction belongs in Epcot, because that’s what they are essentially building in the play pavilion. An IP version of innoventions.

A notable difference between Play and Innoventions is that it doesn't rely on the corporate sponsorship model that has become largely unworkable. Rightly or wrongly, Disney also doesn't seem to want to be responsible itself for continually refreshing the area with new technology-based exhibits. So, I guess they could have put the Play Pavillion in there. Would that have really been better, though?

As for putting the festival centre in there, I still think the structures just read too much like a hotel convention centre. Of all the Epcot nostalgia, the defence of these buildings as aesthetically pleasing is the one that puzzles me the most.

 

[RSoxNo1]

When did you last ride? The only time I remember it being “awful” was when it first opened. I would tried the light leaks for the working fog effect any day but such is life. :-/

October of 2019. It's been awful on any daytime ride and it's an easy fix. All they need to do is hang some dark fabric off the structural steel and it would be fixed, it doesn't need rockwork.

 

[UNCgolf]

October of 2019. It's been awful on any daytime ride and it's an easy fix. All they need to do is hang some dark fabric off the structural steel and it would be fixed, it doesn't need rockwork.

I rode it in January and didn't see any light leakage.

Of course, I also had terrible motion sickness and was trying not to throw up, so it's entirely possible I just didn't notice it.

 

[DVCakaCarlF]

The lack of using innovations effectively is as bad as Tomorrowland terrace and stitch not being used...great real estate....how does Chapek sleep.

 

[JohnD]

The lack of using innovations effectively is as bad as Tomorrowland terrace and stitch not being used...great real estate....how does Chapek sleep.

You can keep saying that. It doesn’t change guest behavior. Maybe you can lament FP+ for that. It’s a possible contribution. Need to make your hour window for your first three. No time to linger in Innoventions. Otherwise, it must be guests’ fault for not hanging out in those buildings. Did it ever occur to you it could be guests didn’t spend time in there? So why spend budget on areas guests aren’t visiting?

 

[DVCakaCarlF]

You can keep saying that. It doesn’t change guest behavior. Maybe you can lament FP+ for that. It’s a possible contribution. Need to make your hour window for your first three. No time to linger in Innoventions. Otherwise, it must be guests’ fault for not hanging out in those buildings. Did it ever occur to you it could be guests didn’t spend time in there? So why spend budget on areas guests aren’t visiting?

I agree, in a sense...most people don’t “linger” anymore, unless it’s for free WIFI.

However, Cosmic Ray’s is always slammed, and I think having Tomorrowland Terrace would offset the crowds. There’s no reason for the stitch slot to sit unused. Make it a shop, restaurant, something.

I think a true park setting with benches, fountains, green spaces, etc. would be an appropriate replacement for the Bob & Bob Bar and Sauna.

 

[nicb88]

As for putting the festival centre in there, I still think the structures just read too much like a hotel convention centre. Of all the Epcot nostalgia, the defence of these buildings as aesthetically pleasing is the one that puzzles me the most.

Perhaps the buildings themselves are no longer aesthetically pleasing (they were more so in the past), but from a design and spatial perspective, and the environment they created and the feelings guests felt in that environment when added to the music, fountain and landscaping, they were definitely pleasing.

 

[Bocabear]

I'm an EPCOT Center purist (my blog proves it), but even I was hoping they'd demolish both sides of Innoventions and open the whole thing up.

and then you pass under the Sphere and are faced with a vast open nothingness? I can go to a city park and not pay $100 to enter... The buildings just need new, refreshed and interesting attractions in them...And the footprints are large enough for actual rides

 

[michmousefan]

I'm not a huge fan of the style of the Communicore buildings myself, but hey, if there were entertaining, compelling, "OMG you-gotta-see-this" attractions within them, it wouldn't matter if the structures were constructed from plywood and bailing wire. It's not the buildings, but the degree of the ATTRACT-ions inside.

 

[marni1971]

I'm not a huge fan of the style of the Communicore buildings myself, but hey, if there were entertaining, compelling, "OMG you-gotta-see-this" attractions within them, it wouldn't matter if the structures were constructed from plywood and bailing wire. It's not the buildings, but the degree of the ATTRACT-ions inside.

Let’s be honest over the last five or so years the company hasn’t had any interest in them. North west could have held a sizeable dark ride.

 

[michmousefan]

Let’s be honest over the last five or so years the company hasn’t had any interest in them. North west could have held a sizeable dark ride.

Has it only been five years of disinterest? Feels like ten or fifteen, with the endless band-aids of various Innoventions half-hearted attempts at "something something edutainment."

 

[wdwmagic]

One of the best things about the new entrance is that the trees hide much of the absolutely filthy monorail beam.

 

[KBLovedDisney]

One of the best things about the new entrance is that the trees hide much of the absolutely filthy monorail beam.

View attachment 487560

All that and they can't pressure wash the monorail beams? Sad.

 

[brb1006]

One of the best things about the new entrance is that the trees hide much of the absolutely filthy monorail beam.

View attachment 487560

Yeah the monorail beam deserves some power washing. Looking forward to seeing photos the entrance at night once the fountain is complete sometime in the future.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

Maybe it will be on the maintenance list since you cannot get on a monorail to Epcot.

 

[trainplane3]

All that and they can't pressure wash the monorail beams? Sad.

It's funnier when you realize they cleaned one of the beams entering the park recently (mid to late last year) too. I think they stopped right outside the entrance.

 

[tirian]

That arguably fit the theme, though, since you were supposed to be exploring movies which were filmed on sound stages, and the whole park was at least somewhat built around that concept.

It's harder to make that argument with MMRR since you're supposed to be entering a cartoon world which (obviously) isn't filmed on a sound stage.

Maybe if we consider it a tribute to low-budget TV animation instead of Mickey’s theatrical hits?

 

[jt04]

Maybe if we consider it a tribute to low-budget TV animation instead of Mickey’s theatrical hits?

So many times people on these boards lamented the demise of 2D animation. Then Disney invents a way to immerse people in the art form and still get criticized. Sheesh.