Original Epcot In 2018

[ppete1975]

The thing is that when EPCOT Ctr. opened there was a national sense of optimism. It actually existed at the time. We had so much to look forward to it was incredible. And everything we looked forward to was something that we could envision in our heads and see happening. It was an incredible time. We were between heavy duty killing sprees both domestic and far away places. Things were finally where we felt comfortable in helping people less fortunate, projecting and living the American dream. The last few years that has been pulled away in favor of a me, me, me society. There is nothing that can be done that will satisfy everyone, so we just have given up even trying. I am hopeful that this is just another cycle in what we call life and it will let us get to that again. But, a whole lot of attitudes and entitlement has got to be cast to the wayside before that can happen. I am not hopeful that it is going to happen in what is left of my lifetime, but, I do hope that my grandchildren can make it happen. My children certainly haven't. I guess things were to good for them when they were growing up. So here we have my generation that rejected anyone over thirty, now in a position of power and we obviously suck at it. Our children that don't seem to think of anything besides "what's in it for me" and our grandchildren who haven't reached the age yet to be a strength (survivors of school shootings the exception) that can make things happen. It's going to be a bumpy ride. Try and build a theme park around that!

1950s- end of ww2 tons of new inventions and disposable income (increasing fears of communism)
1960s- the jet age (cold war)
1980s- computers, NASA and new inventions left and right (remember the cold war was still very real at this time)

I'm glad I was there for the 80s. It seems new technology and expanding our knowledge brings excitement. I don't think we can go back to that now. Outside of a new smart phone every other week that further distances away from reality and away from caring about anyone but ourselves, now that we have the internet we know everything within seconds of it existing. There is no need to go somewhere to see or learn. I also see that as a failing for world showcase, and why it needs rides. Its so easy to travel to these places, to have them as basically tourism centers is no longer viable. Unless you get to drink and eat their food at a festival.

 

[Goofyernmost]

1950s- end of ww2 tons of new inventions and disposable income (increasing fears of communism)
1960s- the jet age (cold war)
1980s- computers, NASA and new inventions left and right (remember the cold war was still very real at this time)

I'm glad I was there for the 80s. It seems new technology and expanding our knowledge brings excitement. I don't think we can go back to that now. Outside of a new smart phone every other week that further distances away from reality and away from caring about anyone but ourselves, now that we have the internet we know everything within seconds of it existing. There is no need to go somewhere to see or learn. I also see that as a failing for world showcase, and why it needs rides. Its so easy to travel to these places, to have them as basically tourism centers is no longer viable. Unless you get to drink and eat their food at a festival.

I agree completely. I remember going to the 67 Worlds Fair in Montreal and then again to the 70 Worlds Fair in Osaka, Japan and it was so exciting. So many new things, so many discoveries, course it helped that I was in Osaka for my R&R from Vietnam, but, I loved it from Montreal. I really thought, at the time, that I would try to get to every single Worlds Fair after that. Then life got in the way and along came Epcot which at the time was pretty exciting as well. But, after that, even though they still held World Fair's the time had passed. I was amazed that WDW was able to maintain it for as long as they have, but, do we ever hear about World Fair's anymore?

You forgot the 70's and Disco Fever... Stayin alive, stayin alive! That was also the decade that my daughters were born so I was pretty busy, no time for dancin.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

I'll echo the technology sentiment. Remember that in 1982, there was no Internet (well at least not one that was commercialized for personal consumption). There were no smart phones (and very awkward cell phones that weren't suitable to lug around in public), tablets, social media etc.

People got information from various sources; print media, television, or happening across some type of product demonstration at their local Woolworth's, Sears, Macy's or the like - touting the latest and greatest.

Future World was to be that place where people could see, learn, feel, experience -all these new advancements. It was wildly popular when it opened.

Kids today have the attention span of a Gnat. I don't think in today's environment, it could be replicated to achieve the end result of the original version. And it would be difficult to maintain and to keep it current.

 

[Disstevefan1]

The point I was trying to make is that if Epcot still existed with the same intent and vision that it originally had, would people in 2018 still enjoy it? .

I agree with you.

I think today its very hard to achieve the same intent and vision of the original EPCOT because technology is moving so fast, Disney cant keep up, by the time they open a new attraction, the technology is old already. and with the World Wide Web, you can learn/see anything you desire and also because of the World Wide Web, companies do not need a place to showcase their newest technology. Before the WWW, Epcot was the perfect place to showcase their newest technology

Even if we Put aside the WWW, speed of tech, the lack of sponsors, an attraction showing any new technology must be FUN and engaging. This is the hard very hard today as we walk around with the most amazing technology in pockets, the smart phone.

I agree, as also stated in other posts, guests are starved for anything NEW. When its new, the stand by is MOBBED, for example the Frozen attraction in Norway... a very nice overlay of the original Norway attraction, but does not deserve the traffic it gets, but people go because its NEW.

And, yes, I am looking forward to the Guardians coaster... I like technology, but I love coasters

 

[LUVofDIS]

People still want to learn, I see it all the time. You just need to give it to them. Updating in a smart way would have saved many of the old EPCOT attractions. Instead the updates that were done were not even close in quality to the originals. Tech was moving faster in the 80's and nineties than it is today I think. Not because we as a society are moving slower, but a doubling in tech today has less meaning than doubling did back than.

Many of Disney's high end animation movies have a lesson to learn and people still eat that up. Attractions about the body, autos, space travel and the world we live in could be amazing, the original era of EPCOT laid the ground work, Disney just screwed up by not evolving it.

To answer the question, yes, if the original idea of EPCOT as a park was maintained and upgraded it would be more amazing than it was and people would be very interested in what it would have to teach.

 

[ppete1975]

I agree completely. I remember going to the 67 Worlds Fair in Montreal and then again to the 70 Worlds Fair in Osaka, Japan and it was so exciting. So many new things, so many discoveries, course it helped that I was in Osaka for my R&R from Vietnam, but, I loved it from Montreal. I really thought, at the time, that I would try to get to every single Worlds Fair after that. Then life got in the way and along came Epcot which at the time was pretty exciting as well. But, after that, even though they still held World Fair's the time had passed. I was amazed that WDW was able to maintain it for as long as they have, but, do we ever hear about World Fair's anymore?

You forgot the 70's and Disco Fever... Stayin alive, stayin alive! That was also the decade that my daughters were born so I was pretty busy, no time for dancin.

I wish i could have seen a real worlds fair from 67 or before. Part of the reason we don't hear about it anymore is the us pulled out of BIE which is the official worlds fair group, I think in 2002, and if we aren't a part of it we don't care it seems. I think they recently rejoined but I might be wrong. Also worlds fairs have moved from the future and technology to peace and how to feed the world. Certainly not the big events they used to be where you would build something amazing and awe inspiring.... Eiffel tower, the unisphere, or the space needle (Although the Eiffel tower was only supposed to be temporary).

 

[danyoung56]

As much as I loved Horizons and World of Motion and the original Imagination ride, and wish I could still ride them today, I don't remember a time when there were lines for any of them. Problem is that Disney didn't replace any of them with attractions that were in any way comparable.

 

[geekza]

As much as I loved Horizons and World of Motion and the original Imagination ride, and wish I could still ride them today, I don't remember a time when there were lines for any of them. Problem is that Disney didn't replace any of them with attractions that were in any way comparable.

I do. Long lines. It was before they stopped taking care of them and let them get hopelessly outdated, though. Honestly, Imagination was timeless. All it needed was TLC and occasional tech updates, when necessary. It was a marvelous attraction.

 

[danyoung56]

I gotta say that, while the original Imagination ride is far superior to either of the subsequent versions, it was my least favorite attraction in Future World. It just seemed like they ran out of money and, well, imagination, about 2/3 of the way through.

 

[geekza]

I gotta say that, while the original Imagination ride is far superior to either of the subsequent versions, it was my least favorite attraction in Future World. It just seemed like they ran out of money and, well, imagination, about 2/3 of the way through.

I'll forgive you for your transgressions.

 

[Hayley In Wonderland]

I understood, I just think knowledge, discovery and creativity aren't terribly important to theme park swarms no matter how its packaged. Unless you can really fool them into thinking they aren't being educated. And with such a general disregard for science and creativity these days, it'd be a hard sell.

I'm in my early 20's, love my mobile phone & have most of the up to date technology. I admit I am guilty of staring at my phone for too long, sometimes. I also get annoyed when people complain about people enjoying technology, but I digress.

I would absolutely love to see EPCOT go back to being educational and creative (you say we have a disregard for this, yet there are more people with creative job roles then ever, YouTube is included in that). A lot of us still love history, we still love learning and we still love being immersed into experiences. It's not just about rides. I could happily go to Harry Potter Land and not ride anything, just look around and take everything in.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I'm in my early 20's, love my mobile phone & have most of the up to date technology. I admit I am guilty of staring at my phone for too long, sometimes. I also get annoyed when people complain about people enjoying technology, but I digress.

I would absolutely love to see EPCOT go back to being educational and creative (you say we have a disregard for this, yet there are more people with creative job roles then ever, YouTube is included in that). A lot of us still love history, we still love learning and we still love being immersed into experiences. It's not just about rides. I could happily go to Harry Potter Land and not ride anything, just look around and take everything in.

True, but, the point is that it is now available at your finger tips. You don't have to pay $100 per day to have someone force feed you their biased opinion on the nature of things. You can sit in your chair, move your thumbs in a very small pattern and get all that information almost free. Why would you travel to see it? That is the problem for everyone that would, there are about 25 (guess) that wouldn't and I'm sure you wouldn't be willing to pay the admission difference between 1 and 25 which would be needed to stay in operation.

 

[Hayley In Wonderland]

True, but, the point is that it is now available at your finger tips. You don't have to pay $100 per day to have someone force feed you their biased opinion on the nature of things. You can sit in your chair, move your thumbs in a very small pattern and get all that information almost free. Why would you travel to see it? That is the problem for everyone that would, there are about 25 (guess) that wouldn't and I'm sure you wouldn't be willing to pay the admission difference between 1 and 25 which would be needed to stay in operation.

Personally, I would happily pay to experience it. I still visit museums, attractions, countries. Seeing it on a phone screen isn't satisfactory. Take the WW - the reason why is was as successful as it is, despite it being loved by us phone addicts, is because of the experience and the immersion. We can have mobile phones and still enjoy learning outside of that. Maybe because I am not so much a "young one" anymore (I was born in 95 and the first nokia was released when I was 7) so I have grown up around developing technology, whereas my sister in law was born with an iPhone in her hand.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I do. Long lines. It was before they stopped taking care of them and let them get hopelessly outdated, though. Honestly, Imagination was timeless. All it needed was TLC and occasional tech updates, when necessary. It was a marvelous attraction.

So do I. Fortunately, that was before they screwed up the whole experience with FP. The line was long in physical length, but, it moved fast, so time wise, it move pretty fast. But, by the end of the 80's, they were all walk-on's except for special holidays or traditionally busy times. Once Disney/MGM opened the lines shortened considerably. By the mid 90's to the best of my actual witness, they had no particular time when they were backed up unless there was a breakdown.

 

[Mickey5150]

And I think people are losing a major grasp on humanity because our attention spans have been captured by technology.

We as humans once celebrated being human, but now it seems we celebrate the next best technology. So yeah, I think we've lost touch with just celebrating humanity itself.

Technology is one of human's greatest creations. Celebrating technology is celebrating humanity. One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind, doesn't happen without technology.

 

[KBLovedDisney]

Technology is one of human's greatest creations. Celebrating technology is celebrating humanity. One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind, doesn't happen without technology.

We used to celebrate the human behind it. Now we just celebrate the accomplishment itself.

 

[OneofThree]

communicore- should still wow you.. and the space given to our most technically advanced companies to keep updated

I recall Communicore back when I first visited as a middle-schooler in the early 80's. It wasn't an attraction on the level of a Spaceship Earth or Universe of Energy, and so may have lacked that "wow" factor. At the same time, and in hindsight, the Communicore experience embodied the original focus of Epcot, IMO. Today, that space is almost completely allocated to sales-per-sq-ft. nonsense. The entire park has lost the original "feel" and "spririt". Having just returned from a trip during F&W, I can attest to the fact that the place is a disgusting cesspool in the evenings. To the OP's question -would the original focus engage the audience today, should it even be possible to continually present that sort of cutting-edge tech? Maybe. We'd have to consider the overall business model and who Disney's current target market is. Since Epcot's golden years, I'd be willing to bet the interests of the average guest have changed significantly. IP's, huge gift shops, and the sale of food and alcohol dominate the business model, and it is working for them. Offering that clientele the original experience at what would be an exorbitant cost would be incredibly risky.

 

[crxbrett]

As much as I loved Horizons and World of Motion and the original Imagination ride, and wish I could still ride them today, I don't remember a time when there were lines for any of them. Problem is that Disney didn't replace any of them with attractions that were in any way comparable.

I can remember waiting 30-45 for Horizons in Aug '89, 25-35 minutes for World of Motion in Jul '93 and 35 minutes for Imagination that same summer in '93. There were definitely long lines on those attractions into the early/mid-90's during busy times. I also remember waiting in a 40-minute line for Listen to the Land that summer and then again for like 30 min in summer '95.


***Just wanted to add that if you went in the early morning or the last couple of hours before FW closing, yes, those attractions usually were walk-ons or less than 15-minute waits***

 

[danyoung56]

That all fits with my memories. My first visit ever to E.P.C.O.T. was in 1982, but I didn't start regular visits till '95 or so.

 

[NutsForFlorida]

I recall Communicore back when I first visited as a middle-schooler in the early 80's. It wasn't an attraction on the level of a Spaceship Earth or Universe of Energy, and so may have lacked that "wow" factor. At the same time, and in hindsight, the Communicore experience embodied the original focus of Epcot, IMO. Today, that space is almost completely allocated to sales-per-sq-ft. nonsense. The entire park has lost the original "feel" and "spririt". Having just returned from a trip during F&W, I can attest to the fact that the place is a disgusting cesspool in the evenings. To the OP's question -would the original focus engage the audience today, should it even be possible to continually present that sort of cutting-edge tech? Maybe. We'd have to consider the overall business model and who Disney's current target market is. Since Epcot's golden years, I'd be willing to bet the interests of the average guest have changed significantly. IP's, huge gift shops, and the sale of food and alcohol dominate the business model, and it is working for them. Offering that clientele the original experience at what would be an exorbitant cost would be incredibly risky.

I agree. After the last time I returned from Disney, I thought the same thing about Epcot. There were drunk people all over the place, spilling their drinks, falling over, swearing. I love this park. But how did it become the new Pleasure Island?

But I too agree that they could have updated the rides to still be futuristic. Aren't they called Imagineers for a reason??? Use your imagination and come up up some futuristic ideas, even though they might not ever be real in the future.