21stamps
Well-Known Member
Morocco is my favorite Epcot pavilion-no ride.
Harambe is my favorite part of AK- just for the street shows and food.
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Possible Attraction in France pavilion (Epcot) Update - new Attraction Greenlit
- Thread starter doctornick
- Start date
Harambe is my favorite part of AK- just for the street shows and food.
Let's agree to disagree. Each to their own and all that. But I'm sure TDO would like more guests like you.
GoofGoof
Premium Member
I never said I was arbiter of anything. There are people here far more knowledgeable of the history of WDW who would be much more qualified than me to do that. I presented my opinion as to why I think Frozen and other random IPs do not fit with the original theme of WS. Maybe the issue is we don't agree on what the theme actually was. Since I'm not qualified to say what the theme was, here's a pretty good summary of the history and original intent of World Showcase at EPCOT that I found on this website:
https://sites.google.com/site/theoriginalepcot/world-showcase
At today's Epcot themepark, World Showcase - a permanent World's Fair featuring the look, feel, cuisine, entertainment and shopping from countries around the world - is the final adaptation of the proposed enclosed international shopping center that was supposed to be built below the cosmopolitan hotel deck of E.P.C.O.T. Despite not being built in an enclosed building, the result is in line with Walt Disney's description:
"Shopping areas where stores and whole streets recreate the character and adventure of places ‘round the world…theaters for dramatic and musical productions…restaurants and a variety of nightlife attractions."
(Walt Disney)
World Showcase is the second major area of Epcot themepark after "Future World". This large area is reminiscent of a permanent world's fair containing eleven pavilions, each themed and dedicated to represent a specific country. The eleven pavilions surround the World Showcase Lagoon, a large man-made lake located in the center of World Showcase with a perimeter of 1.2 miles. In clockwise order, the eleven pavilions include: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, United Stated, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom and Canada. Of the eleven pavilions, Norway and Morocco were not present at the park's opening, and were added later after park opening. Each pavilion contains themed architecture, landscapes, streetscapes, attractions, shops, and restaurants representing the respective country's culture and cuisine. In an effort to maintain the authenticity of the represented countries, the pavilions are primarily staffed by citizens of the respective countries as part of the Cultural Representative Program through J-1 visa agreements. Some pavilions also contain themed rides, shows, and live entertainment representative of the respective country. The only pavilion that is directly sponsored by the government of its respective country is Morocco, the remaining pavilions are primarily sponsored by private companies with affiliations to the represented countries.
Irish and Asian areas for the International Shopping Center. 1966.
(c) The Walt Disney Company
So the original concept for WS was intended to be a nod to Walt Disney's original idea for an international shopping area as part of his E.P.C.O.T concept. It was intended to a permanent World's Fair featuring the look, feel, cuisine, entertainment and shopping from countries around the world. The pavilions were intended to be an authentic representation of the culture and cuisine of the host countries including hiring CMs from those countries. So far this is all fact and not my opinion.
Assuming that we agree that the above is an accurate description of the original theme of the WS then a new ride or attraction would need to represent the culture or cuisine of the host country. Does Frostrom fit that goal? Do you feel the ride reflects the culture of Norway? It's a story about fictitious characters from a fictitious land which is set in Norway (I'll concede it's set in Norway for the sake of argument). It doesn't fit. If you think I am wrong then please explain why it is a good fit.
Now if you don't care about the original theme or think it's ok to break with it that's fine and a valid opinion but not the question at hand.[/quote][/quote]
21stamps
Well-Known Member
Ok..I'm so lost. Half of this thread has been about rides/themes/characters fitting or not fitting in WS. I've already stated my opinion on Frozen several times- I'm indifferent.
But an actual pavilion celebrating a culture and nation with good (non ride based) fun is a bad idea?
I give up trying to figure out the goal posts that people set on this site.
Nickels5
Well-Known Member
Give me an actual attraction any day over a street performer. Is that really even a debate worth having? I get you like the little extra details, but without a headline attraction it is meaningless.
21stamps
Well-Known Member
I understand that point of view. I just thought this thread was mostly comprised of people saying WS was good as it was..better pre FEA. So now we're for rides in the World Showcase and less about the culture.
Ok, I'm caught up. Confused, but caught up.lol
Nickels5
Well-Known Member
People are saying that because FEA doesn't have anything to do with Norway. Which is I point of view I agree, but I will also say I am ok with it being there because its a quality D-ticket ride. Most people are advocating for rides that aren't IP based.
It simple. A new pavilion with no ride is a bad idea. A new pavilion with a good ride is a good idea.
You can still have your knees up fiesta area too. Nothing to do with Norway.
Mike S
Well-Known Member
China? AK's Asia looks more like India/
Edit: scratch that. I thought Tibet was a country but now I looked it up.
21stamps
Well-Known Member
[/quote][/QUOTE]
Maybe you can help me understand the following..
So the "general" thought process on this site is that we need more attractions (as in rides) in the WS to make it more interesting and attractive, as long as those rides have nothing to do with Disney characters?
One is intellectually unappealing, but the other is not? This is interesting to me and I'm trying to understand that point of view.
Don't get me wrong, I love rides, I'm just attempting to understand how something is deemed as fitting or not in the WS.
Nickels5
Well-Known Member
[/QUOTE]
Maybe you can help me understand the following..
So the "general" thought process on this site is that we need more attractions (as in rides) in the WS to make it more interesting and attractive, as long as those rides have nothing to do with Disney characters?
One is intellectually unappealing, but the other is not? This is interesting to me and I'm trying to understand that point of view.
Don't get me wrong, I love rides, I'm just attempting to understand how something is deemed as fitting or not in the WS.[/QUOTE]
World showcase was built with the intention to highlight each individual country not a Disney Character. Some people are really passionate about that point I am not, I am ok with them putting IPs in world showcase as long as it fits that country and is a well done ride.
Maybe you can help me understand the following..
So the "general" thought process on this site is that we need more attractions (as in rides) in the WS to make it more interesting and attractive, as long as those rides have nothing to do with Disney characters?
One is intellectually unappealing, but the other is not? This is interesting to me and I'm trying to understand that point of view.
Don't get me wrong, I love rides, I'm just attempting to understand how something is deemed as fitting or not in the WS.[/QUOTE]
World showcase was built with the intention to highlight each individual country not a Disney Character. Some people are really passionate about that point I am not, I am ok with them putting IPs in world showcase as long as it fits that country and is a well done ride.
21stamps
Well-Known Member
@Nickels5
Ok. I understand that. It makes a lot more sense than being passionate about the country and culture, and original idea..but yet thinking that it needs to be full of rides.
I'm indifferent. Build rides- I'll go on them. Have fun and interactive Street Shows- I'll participate in them.
The people who are saying "it's an intellectual, educational, and interesting space, that shouldn't insult us by dumbing down our children..a place where Walt wanted us to experience a taste of culture from the represented countries.. but we need more rides- such as Ratatouille!!" is a bit of a contradictory statement in my opinion. Even if those rides are void of characters.
Ok. I understand that. It makes a lot more sense than being passionate about the country and culture, and original idea..but yet thinking that it needs to be full of rides.
I'm indifferent. Build rides- I'll go on them. Have fun and interactive Street Shows- I'll participate in them.
The people who are saying "it's an intellectual, educational, and interesting space, that shouldn't insult us by dumbing down our children..a place where Walt wanted us to experience a taste of culture from the represented countries.. but we need more rides- such as Ratatouille!!" is a bit of a contradictory statement in my opinion. Even if those rides are void of characters.
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HauntedMansionFLA
Well-Known Member
That's how these threads go. Starts out with a question or rumor and it turns into a lot of armchair comments.
HauntedMansionFLA
Well-Known Member
That's why the WOL pavilion is a crying shame.
I actually play soccer with Brazilian friends which allows our conversations to have more substance than random stereotypical chit chat. Our last discussion was in regards to the Cisplatine War which has actually fueled the rivalry between the two soccer clubs (Argentina & Brazil) and we discussed gas prices as well. Im sure when you hang out w/ your friends from Brazil it is all margaritas and dancing. My Brazilian friends must be odd or perhaps they just did not materialize from a tourism poster.
Try leaving the safety of your hotel next time your there and experience a Brazil beyond what the Mariot Hotel bar and beach has to offer.
DDLand
Well-Known Member
Oh, that makes sense. I thought you were alluding to some new attraction for Japan at Epcot. This makes far more sense!
I just assumed Tokyo's attraction would be a ride System loosely related to Mystic Manor. Is that correct?
yensidtlaw1969
Well-Known Member
Guests today, by and large, consider Epcot - with particular emphasis on World Showcase - to be too light on rideable attractions. The general consensus among the kind of guest you'll find on a Disney Forum is that more rides rather than fewer is basically a good thing, since we are the kind of people who like rides more than the average guest.
The divide comes from what kind of attraction we think is suitable for that area of the park - the average guest is fine with Frozen in Norway, as evidenced by its popularity, whereas Forum members tend to want the theme held to the standard of realism that World Showcase was developed on and maintained healthily for the majority of its lifespan.
If you're wondering where things like support for Ratatouille within World Showcase on this board is coming from, despite its seeming similarity to Frozen as an animated IP "invading" World Showcase, I suspect that it is largely coming from a place of compromise. If 'toons are coming to the showcase, at least Ratatouille is one whose film centered around Showcasing a major cultural contribution of one country to the World. It is a film about a character exploring France, the French, and French Cuisine.
Frozen is a story about characters using their sisterly bond to break a magic spell, which is set in a fictional country that mirrors but does not replicate a real-world location. They do not explore Norway or Norwegian culture, and neither does the (admittedly cute) ride.
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21stamps
Well-Known Member
@wdisney9000
You may want to stop your always argumentative off base assumptions. They're foolish.
You may want to stop your always argumentative off base assumptions. They're foolish.
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JenniferS
When you're the leader, you don't have to follow.
She won't.
