Plans for EPCOT?

[TBrooker11]

Honestly there is a lot that needs to be done to fix EPCOT in my opinion.

• Replace Universe of Energy, ton of space that could fit something much more enjoyable. At the very least it needs a major overhaul with more animatronics and new videos.
• Do something with Innoventions East and West. There is already a building used for Meet & Greets in the area so get all the Meet & Greets you want indoors in that building. Also fix the smell in said Meet & Greet Building. A good amount of space being wasted between the two sides of Innoventions that could be something much better.
• Get rid of the things in the front of the park (Not sure what they are called) if you don't have somebody on there that you know, you really don't know what they are as a new guest or one time visitor. They can be moved somewhere else, so that they don't have to be destroyed and the people who are on there can continue to visit them. Would look so much better with plants or fountains or something there.
• Expand Journey Into Imagination. Get the 2nd floor opened back up. Another huge waste of space.
• Figure out something to do with the old Captain EO theater. The current Pixar Short Film Festival is cool but not something that needs to be there permanently.
• Update Lion King in the Land or replace it with something else.
• Get more countries into World Showcase, enough empty spots to get more stuff in there.
• Open World Showcase along with the rest of the park, sucks that it doesn't open until 11.
• Get more rides in World Showcase. The place is beautiful but is basically a pretty mall with some shows mixed in. I know it is meant to showcase the nations that are in it, but I am sure some rides could be put in there somewhere.
• Put some kind of permanent restaurant or something in the Odyssey Center instead of leaving it as a huge eyesore.
• Open the Festival Center year round and get some attractions in there like there used to be. Most people don't notice it, but it is just more empty space that could be used for stuff.

 

[Lord Starwalker]

...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.

That is a very interesting idea. However, I don't think Disney will abandon Walt's original vision of EPCOT so quickly. What if they scaled Future World down though and expanded the World Showcase. Of course an issue with expanding the World Showcase will be once the current layout of all the countries being around the same lagoon is broken... how will this impact IllumiNations?

 

[The Empress Lilly]

And after all that, much of it (particularly Future World) would be outdated again in 10 years. That is a huge problem with fixing the current them of EPCOT

But the irony is, the two rides in FW that are the least outdated are the two original ones, SSE and LwtL. Whereas the rides that did get outdated in a decade are the ones that tried to make FW 'relevant', such as Jeopardy's Dinosaur Adventure, TT - which had to be redone it was so ugly and 90s, and M:S, which looks like your grandpa's video computer games - all that's lacking is your Atari 2600 game controller set.

EPCOT Center could be resurrected today and it would be vintage, authentic, mind-blowing awesomeness that would uplift the whole of the Disney World experience. The idea that a park with King Kong and steel coasters and explosions could be competition to WDW was unthinkable once.

Failing resurrection (not holding my breath, but a man can pray), I'll settle for grand, unified, optimist vision again.

 

[Sonconato]

But the irony is, the two rides in FW that are the least outdated are the two original ones, SSE and LwtL. Whereas the rides that did get outdated in a decade are the ones that tried to make FW 'relevant', such as Jeopardy's Dinosaur Adventure, TT - which had to be redone it was so ugly and 90s, and M:S, which looks like your grandpa's video computer games - all that's lacking is your Atari 2600 game controller set.

EPCOT Center could be resurrected today and it would be vintage, authentic, mind-blowing awesomeness that would uplift the whole of the Disney World experience. The idea that a park with King Kong and steel coasters and explosions could be competition to WDW was unthinkable once.

Failing resurrection (not holding my breath, but a man can pray), I'll settle for grand, unified, optimist vision again.

You're right on the money. When you compare the original FW rides with the replacements, you'll realize that the original rides would first take you way back in time, such as SSE still does, to first give you a foundation of how the particular subject started. Then, the ride would carry you through progress and finally some dreams of the future. It seems the problem with rides like Mission Space and Test Track is that it positions you in a "moment of time" which oddly becomes dated and stagnant. The only draw is that they are thrill rides which Epcot used to NOT have which is, IMO, what made it so interesting and desirable. Even the Living Seas didn't change 100% but with the introduction of Nemo, it seemed to have stopped time and now it seems dated.

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

I think the first step should be aesthetic changes to FW's central area:

• Remove the open-air gift shops from the walkway between WS and FW
• Remove the stage next to Fountain of Nations
• Remove the triangular tarps, and perhaps replace them with something more aesthetic
• Redo the entrance to Mouse Gear so that it's less tacky (including the sign and all the colored gears)

 

[wdwfan4ver]

I think there needs to be a certain order for fixing Epcot, but rather or not Disney does this is a whole different thing. Here is my order:
1.) Imagination Pavilion - While Disney and Pixar Film Festival is new, It screams short term. The ride itself needs to be replaced.
2.) Innoventions - I put this so high, due what is left. I think Innoventions East and West at this point is needs to be turned into dark rides or new Pavilions.
3.) Universe of Energy - This attraction needs to be updated, but I doubt it would be this high up for Disney themselves. The problem right now is Alex Trebek's contract is up for his show after 2017-2018 with him turning 78 in 2018. I'm guessing this one the hold up since no one know if Alex is going return after 2017-2018.
4.) Wonders of Life - This building needs to be open all year round with rides
5.) Mission: Space - It needs to be updated. The screens of the ride are best compared to a Playstation 2, a N64, or a Dreamcast being compared to now in graphics.
6.) China and Frances Films - While China's was updated in 2002, it is getting long the years with France never updated theirs.
7.) Odyssey Building - This needs to be open all year round.
8.) Empty World Showcase Plots - They need to be turned into countries or attractions for existing Countries.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

• Get rid of the things in the front of the park (Not sure what they are called) if you don't have somebody on there that you know, you really don't know what they are as a new guest or one time visitor. They can be moved somewhere else, so that they don't have to be destroyed and the people who are on there can continue to visit them. Would look so much better with plants or fountains or something there.

The Problem is where to put them in Epcot and I don't know they can be moved due to the Nature of the Contract. Leave a Legacy is the name of it. What I do know is those things have a 20 years contract with the first ones being created in 1999 with the final ones being created before June 16, 2007.

Disney really can't do nothing about this before June of 2027.

 

[TBrooker11]

The Problem is where to put them in Epcot and I don't know they can be moved due to the Nature of the Contract. Leave a Legacy is the name of it. What I do know is those things have a 20 years contract with the first ones being created in 1999 with the final ones being created before June 16, 2007.

Disney really can't do nothing about this before June of 2027.

I forgot about the contract. But for me they don't need to be in the park. They could be moved outside somewhere close to the front of the park, or just moved somewhere where there is room for them and people can go see them there. But of course with the contracts there is nothing that can be done with them at this point. I think the idea was bad in the first place to be honest. Could have gone with bricks like MK has outside in my opinion.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Honestly there is a lot that needs to be done to fix EPCOT in my opinion.

• Get rid of the things in the front of the park (Not sure what they are called) if you don't have somebody on there that you know, you really don't know what they are as a new guest or one time visitor. They can be moved somewhere else, so that they don't have to be destroyed and the people who are on there can continue to visit them. Would look so much better with plants or fountains or something there.

I think it's some Leave a Legacy junk. TOTALLY agree that it looks awful and needs to go, but it was a money grab gone wrong.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

I think it's some Leave a Legacy junk. TOTALLY agree that it looks awful and needs to go, but it was a money grab gone wrong.

Very true. The sad thing is this project was Disney Legend John Hench was responsible for it as an imagineer. John did a lot of great things in his 65 years as a Disney employee including being of the imagineers responsible for Epcot Center a first place.

 

[KCheatle]

I think priority number 1 for Epcot should be solidifying the World Showcase; it's what makes Epcot so cool. Each country should have something memorable - something besides a restaurant and shops. I think it's time they updated the experiences within the countries. Who wants to walk around Epcot and then stand for a 20-minute movie about China or Canada? Not me! And certainly not my kids! Its time that they updated these countries and made the interactions within them more exciting and memorable for kids and adults.

As for the front of the park - I think it's overall focus should be how to make the world a better place. I think it's important that the world showcase introduces people to the world, and that this experience inspires people to help make it better. Now - how to do that - I think you easily fit the theme with living with the land. I think Universe of Energy easily fits that theme (although it needs some updating). Mission space doesn't really fit right now, but with a mini-overhaul like TT had, it could easily fit. And SSE and TT definitely fit with the science they have incorporated in the rides at and the end. I think Nemo fits with respect to how to maintain our oceans and wildlife, and figment could fit it if it was re-conceptualized to teach children (and adults) not to be afraid to use their imaginations when coming up with creative inventions. As for Innoventions, that could easily be re-structured into an area where kids and adults could experiment with science and technology to build things; improve things. There could be demonstrations and scientists that come in an teach people about how the world works.

If they went this route, I think Epcot would feel more invigorated, have a legitimate and educational purpose, and, possibly, could inspire some young people out there to change the world!

 

[JEANYLASER]

I feel Universe of Energy could use a major update. And I feel Imagination could use a major update. Also update to the Circle of life film to The Iion Guard about the circle of Life!

 

[rkleinlein]

Update the substance of nearly every attraction (and in so doing return some (Imagination) to their former glory), and update the sadly outdated look and feel of all Future World buildings (with one exception: Spaceship Earth).

As for new attractions, having given up any hope that Epcot will somehow find (or return to) its true mission and resigning oneself to its continued themeparkification (Frozen), how about an attraction inspired by a universally loved Disney masterpiece; one that actually has good songs (not Frozen); one that is sadly absent in any Disney park: Mary Poppins. In England. Ride vehicles of umbrellas flying over the rooftops of London (too Peter Pan?) or horses that leave the carousel and ride through the chalk-drawing countryside? Surely somebody's already thought of this.

 

[marni1971]

The Problem is where to put them in Epcot and I don't know they can be moved due to the Nature of the Contract. Leave a Legacy is the name of it. What I do know is those things have a 20 years contract with the first ones being created in 1999 with the final ones being created before June 16, 2007.

Disney really can't do nothing about this before June of 2027.

It's been discussed before. They can be moved.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

drink heavily

 

[Beholder]

Lot of great ideas here, lot of wonderful imaginings going on, so adding my 2 cents in that regard would be redundant I think. However, my opinion about the direction of EPCOT is rather simple. Choose a direction, vision, overall message and an overarching "theme", and do it. Unify the pavilions with continuity and purpose, set the narrative in whatever fashion or style they agree on, and do it. Stop waiting for these sponsors who will never show up, stop waiting for the "right" time, make a plan and for the love of Walt, do it already. Retro future, space opera, speculative future, hard science, whatever it is, focus on a timeless message that can easily be modified or gently updated through the years so we won't have this conversation 10 years from now about how dated everything looks. Yes, it sounds much easier than it is, yes, I'm being a bit naive, and yes, I'm doing more than a little wishing here, but since when is doing nothing an option? Rhetorical question, but EPCOT deserves better, the patrons deserve better and the legacy deserves better.

 

[KingOfEpicocity]

1. New horizons
2. New horizons
3. New horizons
4. New horizons
5. New horizons
6. New horizons
7. New horizons
8. New horizons
9. New horizons
10. Everything else

 

[YozhikRoth]

This goes back to what the Board is willing to commit to make all the parks cutting-edge. When I was last at Universal, I saw a park that churns its older attractions, and commits to introducing cutting edge experiences. With the commitments a DHS and AK, I don't see how the Board will OK the expenditures to truly reinvent EPCOT.

 

[KingOfEpicocity]

This goes back to what the Board is willing to commit to make all the parks cutting-edge. When I was last at Universal, I saw a park that churns its older attractions, and commits to introducing cutting edge experiences. With the commitments a DHS and AK, I don't see how the Board will OK the expenditures to truly reinvent EPCOT.

Really its about a strategy. if you give the board a good reason to sya BRING BACK HORIZONS, they will

 

[montyz81]

It's not near but is being planned.

"It's not near" means that a $1 billion budget will get cut down to $200 million. I am not hopeful that any planning will help bring some cohesive theme back to Epcot. I anticipate that the planning will be all about overlays.. Energy = The Good Dinosaur, Mission Space = Miles from Tomorrowland, Test Track = Herby the Love bug, Imagination = Inside Out, The Land = A Bugs Life, Spaceship Earth probably stay the same. Each of the lands in World Showcase will map to another Disney movie somehow.