FigmentPigments
Well-Known Member
I don't remember Horizons being that great.
I've looked at the videos to try and find out what I'm not seeing. Seriously, did I miss something? Like whole ride?
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Plans for EPCOT?
- Thread starter Chef Mickey
- Start date
I've looked at the videos to try and find out what I'm not seeing. Seriously, did I miss something? Like whole ride?
FigmentPigments
Well-Known Member
I agree. I'm one of the few who likes the Future World theme, but it has the same problem as Tomorrowland did. The future is always around the corner. It's too expensive to keep updating and frankly a waste of time. A name change, as sad as I am to say it, might be in order. At least then you could keep some of the rides or pavilions people love and just make minor updates (or in the case of the Imagination pavilion, not so minor).
DarthVader
Sith Lord
So much of Epcot really needs a face lift. I do think though with all the money Disney is spending on HS and AK, that there'll not be a lot left for Epcot.
Epcots time - when it comes - will be funded from a different pocket.
YozhikRoth
Active Member
The problem is that the hemorrhaging subscriber base, as well as increased programming costs at ESPN is pulling free cash flow that Disney previously used to fund other areas of the Empire. Disney has always used the free cash flow from the parks to prop up the balance sheet, as opposed to reinvesting more vigorously in the parks.....
yensidtlaw1969
Well-Known Member
Given your pedigree with regards to EPCOT Center, Epcot, and permutations yet to be, I'd be extremely curious to know your opinion of the potential developments. Are you, at this point, optimistic about where the park might be going? Is it just to early to tell?
If we can't yet know what's coming, I would at least sleep easy knowing it has your stamp of approval!
MrHappy
Well-Known Member
I don't think one theme will work for EPCOT as it's greatness are the two distinct areas of Future World and the Showcase, two non-cohesive worlds. Yet they work, it's like when you starting walking back to World Showcase, you are leaving the Future behind (I'm not trying to be poetic) and are reinvigorated after Future World to see the World. With that said, yes, FW needs improvements which have already been discussed. To piggy back, I like adding in Movie/Characters to the rides as previously mentioned. Not sure how, but partnering with (hold your breathe) Apple or Samsung to own a pavilion that boasts new technology seems pretty "futurey", I also think the Magic Band should have special capabilities while in Future World. Also adding in some of those belts (like at airports), well not "futurey" it's a rather unique convenience to a theme park and isn't some of the the Future about inventions for convenience (plus it's a big ol' park, so it would be welcomed).
DarthVader
Sith Lord
I view Epcot as two different parks. The Word showcase is in good shape, and while it can be spruced up. The other part is in dire need, its been a long time since Disney paid any attention
Yes, this is correct.
The contracts were written such that they can be moved anywhere "on property" which essentially means they can put them in a back corner of a parking lot if they want.
I suspect they refuse to move them because they'd have to pay to do it and admit it was a stupid idea, at least to themselves. Most guests wouldn't even notice.
The cost would be minimal though...move them and add landscaping...sooooo much better.
It's really too early to tell yet. At best we should expect substantial investment and alterations. At worst some large and some small scale changes to individual pavilions.
The overall themes and direction are still undecided. At least Burbank have realised something major has to happen. And it couldn't get much worse overall.
And thank you
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UpAllNight
Well-Known Member
Any idea if we will see a gradual refresh of the park or a situation similar to the mess at the studios? Frozen and soarin this year...maybe when they open another pavilion will go down etc? Rather than all at once? I'm thinking immediate upgrades rather than the long term plan, or will they simply hold off until they've decided what overall direction to take?
I want to love Epcot but all I see when I go is the potential of what it could be and it greatly affects my enjoyment.
I've no idea, except from Epcots problems and what DHS became are now acknowledged in Burbank.
raven
Well-Known Member
I don't remember Horizons being that great.
The ride was a total experience and it took up the entire building (no pre/post show areas except the queue and exit). There was great care taken into creating it and you could appreciate the nostalgia of the golden years of Imagineering in this one attraction. Also the way the vehicles were designed it felt like you had the entire attraction to yourself. It was also very relaxing, long ride and rarely had a line do to it's omnimover design. It was iconic "Epcot" at it's best.
Wysdom
New Member
I was on another board and this discussion came up. my thoughts were:
-I have always thought Future world at Epcot should look like Tomorrowland of the Movie at least give it a futuristic feel. We will probably not ever in the life time see the Tomorrowland of the movie in our everyday life, sot he chance of becoming outdated are slim.
Walking around "Future World" now is like living in the past.
However my dreams were crushed by another member:
-Well that's one of the difficulties when they designed EPCOT...it potentially clashes with Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland.
So basically, Tomorrowland had to be more science fiction, where EPCOT was meant to be science fact based.
I totally understand but would love to hear other thoughts!
-I have always thought Future world at Epcot should look like Tomorrowland of the Movie at least give it a futuristic feel. We will probably not ever in the life time see the Tomorrowland of the movie in our everyday life, sot he chance of becoming outdated are slim.
Walking around "Future World" now is like living in the past.
However my dreams were crushed by another member:
-Well that's one of the difficulties when they designed EPCOT...it potentially clashes with Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland.
So basically, Tomorrowland had to be more science fiction, where EPCOT was meant to be science fact based.
I totally understand but would love to hear other thoughts!
Sonconato
Well-Known Member
I wanted to expand on your comment about being a relaxing and long ride. This is exactly what my husband and I loved (clearly past tense) about Epcot. And this is exactly why my husband was originally so impressed by Epcot vs. other Theme or Amusement parks. To us, after waiting in line, and as you said, this and other rides at Epcot rarely had those because of the design, it gave guests great satisfaction to enjoy the ride and soak in the story. I dug up some information to compare then and now regarding ride duration.
The longer ride times is what made Epcot unique in its heyday. I'm guessing that TWDC had a motive when they decided to substantially reduced the ride times but it is in no way for the better. This might be okay for MK, but I feel it has really hurt Epcot.
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Lord Starwalker
Active Member
This makes good sense, except you left out an obvious technology partner, Microsoft. I especially agree with you that our Magic Band should have some type of special features in Future World. In fact, there is an exhibit opportunity for Disney right there: NFC Technology - How The Magic Band works at WDW!
doctornick
Well-Known Member
I don't remember Horizons being that great.
I'm with you. I feel like Horizons gets way more hype than it deserves. I'm sure it was a technical marvel and was certainly ambitious, but I don't really recall it being that fantastic of an experience; in fact, the only thing that really left an impression on me was the choose your own ending.
IMHO, JII and WoM were better rides and bigger losses for classic Epcot (though at least TT is a quality replacement, albeit very different).
OvertheHorizon
Well-Known Member
YES, PLEASE! (Apologize for shouting, but passing through a "graveyard" on the way to a theme park doesn't work for me.)
P_Radden
Well-Known Member
For me what was so cool about it was the concepts of living underwater, the futuristic luxury apartment with the huge windows and the cool city in the background (I'm a huge fan of the retro futuristic apartment scene at the end of Space Mountain as well), the scene with the desert farming.. All that stuff just seemed so far-out to me as a kid. But then again my favorite things about sci-fi shows were the actual sets and technologies. So I guess I just felt at home when I rode horizons. As a kid, it made me feel like I was actually at a set for something akin to ST TNG etc..
I agree with you about JII as well. JII was amazing! Dreamfinder and his ship also blew my mind! Talk about imagination. Also one thing that was so important to that attraction to me was the relationship between Figment and Dreamfinder. That relationship was crucial to the story and theme of the attraction. And also the rainbow corridor was amazing! I remember being upstairs at Imagination and looking up at the glass pyramid ceiling feeling inspired like never before.
And that's what missing from today's Epcot. Back then it was inspiring, exciting, educational and fun. It was like the science fair at elementary school (the funnest day of the year except for field day and maybe the book fair) combined with Disney magic, technologies, excitement, wonder and beautiful architecture/landscaping. I know when you're a kid everything seems bigger to you, and maybe that was part of it as well.
No theme park has ever come close to making me feel the way EPCOT did. Now days when I go to FW, its all nostalgia. And its sad.
But I do still love Spaceship Earth and the Land Pavilion. To me, those are timeless. I hope they remain forever. The only things I'd like to see happen to those 2 attractions are:
Update the scene in Living with the Land with the large screens to newer HD video.
A new ending for Spaceship Earth.