Other festivals at Epcot...

[epcotisbest]

We love F&G and F&W...any ideas for other festivals at Epcot?
I think a travel festival would be a natural.

 

[luv]

The WS kind of is a travel festival, isn't it?

I just want more F&G. There can't be enough for me.

 

[epcotisbest]

The WS kind of is a travel festival, isn't it?

I just want more F&G. There can't be enough for me.

Yeah, I think you are right.

 

[RedFurredCadet]

Perhaps a festival dedicated to health and well being might appeal to a select few? (However he have a problem... Remember what the previous role of the festival centre was?)

 

[aladdin2007]

Back in the 80s they use to have one called 10 Nation Celebration, that was prior to Norway opening and Im guessing the focus was heavy on the cultures, with extra entertainment and what not, long before TDO only cared about alcohol profits.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Yes, EPCOT organises science fairs, teachers fairs, world fora, cultural events.

Oh wait, it doesn't. Only bingedrinking fests, like any rundown lower class Mediterranean resort.

 

[MarkTwain]

How about an art festival? Showcasing painting and sculpture from up-and-coming artists from each country. Would add a lot of color and visual interest to each pavilion. If they wanted to hire some artists to create large installations pieces (work by Cai Guo-Chiang for the China pavilion, for example), there could be some serious national public interest, write-ups in the New York Times, etc. It'd be nice to see Disney get some artistic street cred again.

Similarly, a music festival. Have bands representing each country (a la UK's British Revolution) play on temporary stages in each pavilion, showcasing to the public music from around the world. It could become a major nighttime event, especially considering France and Germany's reputation for electronica or Norway's penchant for metal. Or go the other way completely and have opera singers singing Puccini arias at the Italy pavilion, or string quartets performing Beethoven at Germany.

Or just have an annual event where, in the style of Food & Wine, Disney puts up some mini-pavilions or booths showcasing the culture of countries not represented in World Showcase. With accompanying merchandise of course. Disney certainly has the international staffing to do so.

Yes, EPCOT organises science fairs, teachers fairs, world fora, cultural events.

Oh wait, it doesn't. Only bingedrinking fests, like any rundown lower class Mediterranean resort.

I think it'd be amazing if Epcot were to host an annual inventor's convention, or if they wanted to get really ambitious, see if they can get TEDtalks to be hosted for a year in World Showplace. There's so much potential in Epcot to become the global learning and culture center it was designed to be... some in ways which have the potential to be seriously profitable.

EDIT: Aaaaaaaaand post #2000!

 

[bethymouse]

IMHO Epcot has enough "festivals". Time to put more into the other parks and have "festivals" there.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

How about an art festival? Showcasing painting and sculpture from up-and-coming artists from each country. Would add a lot of color and visual interest to each pavilion. If they wanted to hire some artists to create large installations pieces (work by Cai Guo-Chiang for the China pavilion, for example), there could be some serious national public interest, write-ups in the New York Times, etc. It'd be nice to see Disney get some artistic street cred again.

Similarly, a music festival. Have bands representing each country (a la UK's British Revolution) play on temporary stages in each pavilion, showcasing to the public music from around the world. It could become a serious nighttime event, especially considering France and Germany's reputation for electronica or Norway's penchant for metal. Or go the other way completely and have opera singers singing Puccini arias at the Italy pavilion, or string quartets performing Beethoven at Germany.

Or just have an annual event where, in the style of Food & Wine, Disney puts up some mini-pavilions or booths showcasing the culture of countries not represented in World Showcase. With accompanying merchandise of course. Disney certainly has the international staffing to do so.



I think it'd be amazing if Epcot were to host an annual inventor's convention, or if they wanted to get really ambitious, see if they can get TEDtalks to be hosted for a year in World Showplace. There's so much potential in Epcot to become the global learning and culture center it was designed to be... some in ways which have the potential to be seriously profitable.

EDIT: Aaaaaaaaand post #2000!

All of this!!!

Such a shame, isn't it? I really think that EPCOT has so much potential. If only Disney would dare, would know what to do with this park!

And not just for the sake of fanboi pipedreams. Art fairs, succesful festivals have amazing effects on tourism in European cities. Just think of the Bilbao effect after they opened their Guggenheim. I think EPCOT could be the engine of - very profitable - high-end tourism to WDW. Why would the resort be turned into a lower class trash resort? There must be a huge market for EPCOT tourism that does not revolve around drinkfests and celebs in rides.

 

[luv]

They have Festival of the Masters every year at DTD. FWIW.