Plans for EPCOT?

Chef Mickey

Chef Mickey

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
With the other parks seemingly getting some TLC, is the announcement for EPCOT somewhat near?

Is there any credible source or rumor of what we could get at EPCOT other than Frozen and Soarin' Over the World?

What do you think EPCOT needs, in order?

I think basically everything is on the table. My order by most pressing:

1) Universe of Energy - Keep the same dino/energy theme please!
2) Imagination, a meaningful update, keeping Figment and opening the entire pavilion.
3) Do something with Wonders of Life and open it consistently
4) World Showcase needs a ton of updating, particularly in the films. China and France for sure.
5) Some kind of update to Mission Space. The video can be changed without changing the ride. I know a new mission could be programmed using the same ride system and updating the "movie."
6) Odyssey restaurant - Let's do something with that space.

I know Test Track just got an update, although I don't like it and Universe of Energy is a classic I love, but I do think the ending should be updated again.
 
blueboxdoctor

blueboxdoctor

Well-Known Member
I do love a good EPCOT thread. Here's what I'd do, and it's mostly along your lines, but not in any particular order:

- Wonders of Life needs to be opened again, as of right now it's hidden enough that it doesn't feel like a giant empty building, but for the majority of the time it is a giant empty (or at least shut down) building.
- Innoventions is about the least innovative place in WDW, it feels very out dated, about as out dated as the 2009 laptop I'm writing this on.
- The Odyssey building is horribly depressing. This is a big empty building that looks like a big empty building. To most people it's a glorified bathroom. Surely they can use it for the general public. Right now it's just depressing to look at, and being brown doesn't help it get any sort of charm being there.
- Journey Into Imagination, as you said, needs serious updating. I vote for an Inside Out makeover.
- Universe of Energy is another area that is sort of out of the way so people don't realize it's something they miss and don't mind missing, but it needs updating to become relevant again.

Other than that I can't really think of much. I mean, it's a lot, but I do think the World Showcase is pretty good still, no real complaints. You are on to something about the shows they have, most people skip them and they rarely have a decent crowd. But that's likely because they are shows that are a giant promo for the countries, which is like sitting through a boring lecture hall type class. Though, I still enjoy the rest of the World Showcase.

I think the thing is, many people see the potential for EPCOT, but Disney won't capitalize on that potential, so it's just in this weird sort of space right now (though, I agree they needed to address Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, so no complaints there, but I would have liked for them to have kept some of the old movie props in Hollywood Studios, I always liked going through the warehouse of props and the walk through after the back lot tour).
 
The Tuna

The Tuna

Well-Known Member
Hard to argue with anything mentioned above. EPCOT needs a boost. The films in my opinion should be removed for something more worthwhile. Do we need movies in a theme park to tell us about a country in the age of the internet? We can learn anything we want to via books, articles and videos online for free. Actually experiencing the country via rides or other attractions would be much more worth while.
 
Fox&Hound

Fox&Hound

Well-Known Member
I still argue that they need a unified vision for Epcot before they begin to make changes and improvements. Just decide once and for all: will it be an exploration of world cultures with a few nods to films, is it about innovation and how it changes the world, or is it the new Fantasyland??? Just commit to one vision and go with it.
I still argue that FutureWorld should be scrapped for more countries. Make the whole place themed to world cultures and add in some movie IP's in the various countries if they fit the area. At least the park would have more cohesion then...
I think if when they add a new Soarin, new Frozen ride, and do something with Horizons and Imagination, it will start to feel fresh again.
 
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jhastings74

jhastings74

Well-Known Member
I agree with everyone else that there needs to be some updating around the park. As I walked around with my wife last week and was showing her different things, I was almost embarrassed to bring her into Impressions de France. Since we are both fans of France in general (she was in Paris last year), we still sat for the show (I personally love the music in it), but the CLOTHES the people were wearing in the film.... I mean...really..

Go home, France, and don't come back until you've updated your film wardrobe.
 
Beholder

Beholder

Well-Known Member
I think @Fox&Hound nailed it, I'd like to see an overriding "vision" to sort of tie it all together. I think the proliferation of I.P.'s have (and will) muddy those waters. Not at all trying to start up the pro vs against argument with I.P.'s, just making an observation. Linking all the pavilions together through a futuristic (although speculative in nature) imagining, or perhaps leaning on a theme of "retro" futuristic or even what WoM did, a historical look at our "progress". A little cohesion would go a long way.
 
DfromATX

DfromATX

Well-Known Member
I enjoy Epcot and Living with the Land is one of my favorite rides, but I will say that all 4 of my kids put Epcot as their least favorite park.
 
raven

raven

Well-Known Member
Besides updating, which it desperately needs, all available space needs to be used. And NOT for offices or storage.

I feel that the 2 hours that Future World is open before World Showcase doesn't make much difference anymore because guests are getting bored there.

I may be the only person who thinks adding another country isn't the best option. There was once a buffer zone between countries so that they don't blen together. But those are almost gone now. I'd rather like to see the countries expand to offer more things to do. Morocco and Mexico both added onto the lagoon side in the past several years and I think the other countries could do with some added space as well.

The 9pm closing time almost needs to be extended to 10pm anymore. It's a small detail that could easily allow guests to experience the park at nighttime more than just tacking down a viewing spot for ROE.
 
KikoKea

KikoKea

Well-Known Member
Epcot was the park we relaxed at, taking our time to look around. Now, when we get to Epcot we hit a few places, but skip UofE and Figment. We will ride TT if the single rider line is under 15 min and Soarin' only if we have a FP. And, in the past 2 years we've simply taken to spending the morning at HS then heading to Epcot/WS after lunch, so spend even less time there now. We always ride SSE- it is our sentimental favorite- and must visit Coke's Cool Spot.

It is a shame that so much space is wasted, including Innovations. I'm hoping they do right by Epcot in the coming years...and I know it will be years before they get around to it.

WS is still interesting, but new movies would be welcome. I like seeing the movies of places I haven't been, but they are too old now. The real charm of WS is when it gets dark! I agree that an extra hour would be great. It's probably too expensive to do, but new countries would be great. And, I would rather WS not encroach on the Epcot area. Having two different themes is OK with me.
 
disney4life2008

disney4life2008

Well-Known Member
I used to LOVE EPCOT. As recent as 2009, I could literally spend an entire day there and "take it easy." I would spend the first half of the day in Future World taking in the attractions. Then head back to my resort and relax. Then head back to World Showcase around 4 and spend the rest of the evening there. The real winner (for me) of EPCOT has always been World Showcase. However, with all the entertainment changes in recent years and not being replaced with equally better but substandard things - World Showcase has become a bore. You can only watch the films so much. While the food is a great puller even that has been on a decline in recent years (not to mention the prices). And with the increase in booze festivals World Showcase has lost my attention. I know a lot is riding on the new Frozen ride in EPCOT but little girls have seemed to reverted back to the old princesses (and I was just there for NYE). I am sure the attraction will have maximum waits but it seems to be a unnecessary filler to me.
 
D

dizda

Well-Known Member
I would like to see The Seas updated and expanded. When it opened it was a cutting edge aquarium, but it has not been kept up-to-date in the face of newer, regional and super-regional facilities. There is room for expansion. I would not even mind keeping the Nemo overlay if it were updated and tweaked some to actually integrate with the pavilion's theme instead of serving as something of an extended queue. If people want more rides at Epcot, there are additional Nemo rides that could be cloned to save on development costs. (I know not everyone wants more rides or cartoon IP in Epcot, but I do not mind if it is properly integrated and makes needed updates to an under-appreciated pavilion feasible.)
 
Sonconato

Sonconato

Well-Known Member
View attachment 125246 Those of you that are old enough to have visited EPCOT in the 80's and early 90's I think would agree that EPCOT was very much a unique and special place to visit unlike anything else in the world. However, in my opinion and my family's opinion, EPCOT has drifted so far from its original concept, that it no longer has the cohesion it once did. In our opinion, the only attractions that fit are those that have remained mostly unchanged, especially in the Future World part of EPCOT. They do need updates, but they still fit in concept. We believe the foundation that EPCOT was built on simply has disappeared and it's become a conglomeration of thrill rides rather than the Edutainment it once used to be. When my husband first visited EPCOT in 1989, he was so impressed he bought a book called "Walt Disney's EPCOT Center - Creating the New World of Tomorrow". I scanned a page out of the book that provides an overview of the vision which is now clearly lost. In my opinion, TWDC needs to pull this book out, step back and revaluate the concept and get this park back on track. At this point in time, minimally modifying what is there simply isn't going to work. I believe TWDC still has that ability because they accomplished it at Animal Kingdom, however, they have now strayed by introducing Avatar. IMO, it's like oil and water. With the type of rides and their lack of concept and meaning, this park has become more of an Amusement Park sporting thrill rides rather than the Theme Park that once encouraged guests to dream of what the future might be. I'm eager to know what others might think after reading this scan (hopefully it's legible). After reading this part, 25 years later, sure made me start thinking what a current day EPCOT really could be. All of the original themes for the different pavilions could easily be resurrected and built on with the future in mind. Look how things in real life have changed so much in that same span of time, yet EPCOT has become so stagnant. It's so very sad.
EPCOT Center.jpg
 
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aladdin2007

aladdin2007

Well-Known Member
raven said:
Besides updating, which it desperately needs, all available space needs to be used. And NOT for offices or storage.

I feel that the 2 hours that Future World is open before World Showcase doesn't make much difference anymore because guests are getting bored there.

I may be the only person who thinks adding another country isn't the best option. There was once a buffer zone between countries so that they don't blen together. But those are almost gone now. I'd rather like to see the countries expand to offer more things to do. Morocco and Mexico both added onto the lagoon side in the past several years and I think the other countries could do with some added space as well.

The 9pm closing time almost needs to be extended to 10pm anymore. It's a small detail that could easily allow guests to experience the park at nighttime more than just tacking down a viewing spot for ROE.
Click to expand...

the hours are a ripoff to paying guests, so many are wandering through the areas of world showcase where they can such as UK and Canada throughout the mornings esp from 10am onward, but everything is closed and locked up till 11, its ridiculous, there's so many people in the park all the time now and hardly anything is open. Once frozen opens they are going to have to do some kind of change to accommodate the hordes in WS.
 

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