On layoffs, very bad attendance, and Iger's legacy being one of disgrace

[_caleb]

I think we've seen perfect evidence over the past few decades that Disney is not going to put that kind of money in ride updates. They're far more likely to trash the old ride and build something completely new.

For these less-than-timeless attractions, wouldn’t it have been better for Disney to do incremental updates over the years (change wigs/clothing, update CRTs to LCDs, etc.) and larger upgrades (change the moon farming scene to moon tourism, for example) after several years—rather than neglecting an attraction until it’s really outdated and then letting it sit abandoned, and then bulldozing it and spending $250M to build something new? Seems like they could have gotten a lot more mileage out of these major attractions had they put in the time and care.

 

[marni1971]

To be honest, anything other than the future city seems very left of field from where visions of the future have been for decades now. Is anyone really imagining living in an underwater habitat or a space city anymore?

I guess it's a sad commentary on where we are, but it seems that the focus when thinking about the future at the moment is to avoid destroying destroying the planet too much or, failing that, figuring out how to live on a destroyed planet. If you got rid of the conceit of showing current visions of a potential future I suppose it could work.

One thing Horizons promoted was hope. And dare I say dreams?

Two things today’s world seems sadly lacking.

 

[flynnibus]

Agreed.

I think the biggest issue with Horizons would be the gigantic screen showing 1980s CGI. I think they would have had to completely remove and redo that entire section of the ride. Updating the future habitat scenes would have been a simpler undertaking.

ehh... WHAT?

Maybe you mean the shuttle isn't impressive anymore... nor are IMAX domes like they were in the early 80s

 

[Sir_Cliff]

One thing Horizons promoted was hope. And dare I say dreams?

Two things today’s world seems sadly lacking.

I do agree and was a little depressed when reflecting on where we are for the last post. The present moment provides evidence enough for why the notion of humanity pulling together united by a shared purpose seems more like a new proposal for Journey Into Imagination than a realistic glimpse of the future.

Not sure how or if you could recapture that optimistic spirit of EPCOT Center in the present.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Not when you make it such that it could really be called "Wolverine and Others."

I never liked that approach. But Jackman never complained.

Fox never brought in gambit...cable...Bishop...

Also made many of the core team bit characters. There’s an opportunity there.

Maybe they can have magneto kill a hologram of luke Skywalker?

 

[UNCgolf]

Only one shot was CGI. It was revolutionary at the time - the largest CG IMAX animation to date.

Yeah, it was amazing back then. It would look terrible now.

Also, I could be wrong, but I think the whole screen itself would be significantly outdated technology today.

 

[UNCgolf]

To be honest, anything other than the future city seems very left of field from where visions of the future have been for decades now. Is anyone really imagining living in an underwater habitat or a space city anymore?

I guess it's a sad commentary on where we are, but it seems that the focus when thinking about the future at the moment is to avoid destroying the planet too much or, failing that, figuring out how to live on a destroyed planet. If you got rid of the conceit of showing current visions of a potential future I suppose it could work.

I think plenty of people still imagine space colonization. Underwater habitat may be slightly outdated, but it's not like companies aren't still spending tons of money to construct underwater hotel rooms etc. and I read just recently that a group is planning to build the world's largest underwater sea base/habitat in the Caribbean. The Horizons scene was also a research facility.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Re-capturing that spirit will be difficult. So much of the optimism of early EPCOT was fueled by events happening outside of it. The national mood in the early 80s was on an upswing as the economic doldrums of the 70s were left behind, the space shuttle program took off, the cold war was winding down with the democratic west victorious, and the digital age began to dawn with cool new advancements in consumer entertainment technology.

I even remember when I first visited in 1994 that the optimistic vision of the future seemed quite in tune with the general mood. I was a little young to understand it, but I suppose we were still fresh out of the Cold War, technology seemed to be bounding forward, and the talk was all about globalisation bringing humanity together.

 

[UNCgolf]

SSE remains relevant (and World of Motion would have remained relevant) because it's (their) primary focus on is/was the history and evolution of a technology with only a mere, somewhat vague glimpse into the future. Like Carousel of Progress, this approach prevented it (them) from becoming dated and thus made it (them) relatively timeless. Only the final scene(s) need(ed) refreshed every decade or so to stay current as opposed to the entire experience.

Exactly my point. I forgot to mention World of Motion along with Spaceship Earth, but as you said, it falls under the same umbrella, although not quite to the same extent as SSE.

 

[Mac Tonight]

I'd rather ride Horizons in it's original form than anything current WDI is putting out.

 

[peter11435]

I'd rather ride Horizons in it's original form than anything current WDI is putting out.

Ok

I loved horizons. But we really need to stop ignoring some of the recent achievements.

 

[_caleb]

I think the future is X-men. They need to bring that in and take the mcu a different direction. It will allow them to not strangle the avengers characters 4x a year and let it breath a little

I agree. X-Men with MCU treatment (funny, with character development) would be great.

I’m also waiting for everything MCU to be multiverse-ified so they can break out of the serial approach.

 

[_caleb]

Ok

I loved horizons. But we really need to stop ignoring some of the recent achievements.

Has Disney had any Epcot-worthy (edutainment celebrating culture, innovation) recent achievements? I think this is why people keep going back to Horizons.

 

[marni1971]

Yeah, it was amazing back then. It would look terrible now.

Also, I could be wrong, but I think the whole screen itself would be significantly outdated technology today.

Works for Soarin’

 

[Lilofan]

Has Disney had any Epcot-worthy (edutainment celebrating culture, innovation) recent achievements? I think this is why people keep going back to Horizons.

Does Epcot Food and Wine count? Education in all things alcohol is still education. . I like the sessions on beer making , free samples , wine and spirits education last time we were there.

 

[UNCgolf]

Works for Soarin’

Is it the same tech? That's why I was asking; literally didn't know. I'm fine with being wrong! Sounds like they would have just needed a new movie to play on the screen rather than having any need to replace the screen itself.

Personally I would happily ride the original Horizons right now, but that's because I rode it in the late 80s/early 90s and have such fond memories of it. It almost certainly wouldn't work for the vast majority of people if they rode the original incarnation today for the first time (not directed at you specifically; you've already said it would have needed significant work).

 

[_caleb]

Does Epcot Food and Wine count? Education in all things alcohol is still education. . I like the sessions on beer making , free samples wine and spirits education last time we were there.

I like those sessions, too. The educational stuff can be found around the park(s) today, but it‘s usually used as a cheap “show” or as a way to get you to buy more stuff.

 

[Robbiem]

Horizons or the rest of future world was never about a real future, it was about the dream of a possible future we could work to achieve. To me living in space or underwater is still just as exciting a goal as it ever was.

most of the original future world rides were easy to be updated periodically. Horizons would probably have needed the most work but even then its mainly new imax movies, decor for the tour of the future and the end sims.

the main reason they weren’t was probably that a new attra was more marketable

 

[_caleb]

Is it the same tech? That's why I was asking; literally didn't know. I'm fine with being wrong! Sounds like they would have just needed a new video to play on the screen rather than having any need to replace the screen itself.

Personally I would happily ride the original Horizons right now, but that's because I rode it in the late 80s/early 90s and have such fond memories of it. It almost certainly wouldn't work for the vast majority of people if they rode the original incarnation today for the first time (not directed at you specifically; you've already said it would have needed significant work).

I took his comment as a crack about the terrible/cheap/outdated/laughably bad CGI in the Soarin’ around the World film, not the screen tech itself.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Does Epcot Food and Wine count? Education in all things alcohol is still education. . I like the sessions on beer making , free samples , wine and spirits education last time we were there.

Ehhh:..I know everyone feels all “brave” for going booth to booth...

But it’s not really that exotic.