I was originally going to just focus on the WDWRR, but now I have decide to the whole of Magic Kingdom, so stay tuned for more additions to come.
- With the W.D.W.R.R closed for the construction of Tron Lightcycle Power Run, an opportunity has arisen for the railroad to receive an extensive overhaul. The concrete overpass; for example; will be redesigned to a more ornate brick tunnel. The stretch between Frontierland and Fantasyland (more specifically between the Native American campsite and the backstage overpass) will have a new diorama, unique from the diorama at DL, TDL, or DLP. This diorama will have the setting of a fantasy forest and will feature a blend of practical and digital effects. It is here that the overpass is reutilized to also serve as the exist of the diorama. The railroad would also be renamed to the Magic Kingdom Railroad.
- Over in the southwest corner of the park, the expansion pad once planned to be home for Fire Mountain will now be reused for
- Aladdin's Magic Carpets and the surrounding Agrabah theming are removed as the theming clashes with the South Seas aesthetic brought by Aloha Isle and The Tiki Room and the attraction itself creates a bottleneck. Replacing the spinner is a Polynesian inspired garden area with interactive features for younger guests to experience, including water elements to cool down explorers in the heat of the Floridian sun.
- Pirates of the Caribbean is given some more improvements; which includes removing all film references, updating SFX and AAs, and making Tiny a pirate like in the Parisian PotC. If it was a possibility, I would also expand the show building, but this would probably not be all that feasible.
- Inspired by @Pi on my Cake 's submission to Redo A Land in last year's Time For a Disney Overhaul Competition, Liberty Square becomes Sleepy Hollow.
- The medieval tent facades in the older parts of Fantasyland make way for new storybook inspired facades that we see in the other parks, as well as new Fantasyland.
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I'll do an EPCOT overhaul. I personally have always been intrigued by the park's original premise to be a kind of permanent World's Fair. World Fair's are notoriously difficult to get right; it's an ambitious idea. The fact the last American World's Fair was in 1984, makes the concept of any kind of World's Fair, permanent or not, difficult to conceive. So with this project, I want to bring EPCOT back to basics and really restore the original idea.
I'm assuming this prompt is unlimited in budget and ambition. Two things severely limited in the WDC these days. So without further delay, here's my proposal:
Entrance: The biggest addition to the entrance is a new futuristic hotel/transportation center. Paying homage to the original EPCOT concept, the hotel will feature shops and restaurants for hotel guests and a conference center. Garden courtyards will be located in each wing, adding a secluded point of nature for hotel guests. The monorails to the Magic Kingdom area and the new line to Disney Springs will pass through the park-side lobby of each hotel. Additionally, the new Epcot People Mover system will pass through the parking lot-lobby of each hotel (there will not be a people mover station in the hotels for security concerns).
The hotel frames the entrance plaza and the planned flower/gardening renovation goes through. No major changes are made to Spaceship Earth aside from a new script and updated music. The ride will still send the general thesis and concept behind the park.
World Expo: The former Communicore Plaza becomes World Plaza, a global neighborhood. The four separated communicore buildings are replaced by two semi-circular buildings with a shared pathway under each building. This pathway, providing access to World Discovery and World Adventure will be three stories tall and covered with a mix of interactive screens and hanging gardens. The pavilion styled buildings that frame World Plaza will be called Terminal East and Terminal West. Inside will be three floors of shows, restaurants, and shops. The rooftops will feature immersive gardens like those found on the Highline in New York City. The EPCOT People-Mover will pass through each terminal on the second floor. Each terminal will have its own People-Mover station. A total of ten restaurants (five per-terminal) will feature cuisine from nations not present in World Showcase. The shops, twenty in total, will feature prominent global/futuristic brands. A set of two annually rotating shows will be in the terminals. Live shows, they will offer guests the opportunity to see a Disney broadway-style show.
Park Transporation: Now would be a convenient time to discuss Epcot's expanded transportation options. In this rebuilt EPCOT there will be a people-mover system, ferry, Skyliner, and monorail. There are two loops to the people-mover system, one encircling World Expo (formerly FutureWorld) and the other World Showcase. Set a floor above the mainland (like in Tomorrowland), the people-movers will go through each major pavilion and nation in Epcot. A central station will be constructed at EPCOT Plaza (formerly Showcase Plaza).
World Adventure: Formerly Future World West, World Adventure explores the different landscapes of the earth and celebrates the human imagination that has inspired mankind to explore the world. Three pavilions fill this land
The Land: Emerging from a sunken tropical garden, the Land pavilion invites guests to explore four exciting biomes of the earth.
The Atrium: The central gathering point for the pavilion, this serves as the core entrance and exit to the pavilion. three stories tall, the atrium soars above the pavilion. Featuring the relocated Sunshine Seasons restaurant on the "ground level", the portals to each biome on the entrance level, and on the third level an immersive garden (and people-mover station), the Atrium is an exciting spot filled with energy and life. The Desert: The first biome is one of the hottest! Sponsored by the Tourism Commission of Dubai, the environment of one of the earth's many deserts are recreated. This biome's attraction is "Through Sands of Time" and takes guests on a journey through the science behind a desert, and explains how humans; plants; and animals, have all found ways to thrive despite the difficult conditions. The Arctic: Sponsored by Iceland and Canada, the Arctic biome invites guests to explore the always winter wonderlands of the arctic poles. A circle-vision show by Canada's Inuit people teaches guests how humans have inhabited the arctic. In the aftershow area, guests are taught how to make traditional survival tools used for generations by the Inuit. In a boat attraction, guests are taken on a journey to Antarctica where they experience its unique environment and species. The Rainforest: Sponsored by Brazil, this biome features the diversity and beauty of the rainforest. Boarding a paper airplane, guests will fly through the Brazilian rainforest, exploring its biodiversity and importance to the world's ecosystems. The Forest: Where a majority of us live, the Temperate Forest biome will explore how human civilizations have come to inhabit the planet. Soarin will be relocated to this biome and receive a new film that features important global locations on every continent.- The Sea: This Pavilion returns to its original concept. The front of the pavilion gains a new entrance called Port Mare. This entrance is two stories tall and contains the people-mover station. From here guests can choose to either ride the original attraction planned for the Sea pavilion, or take a "Sea-Elevator" to Seabase Alpha. All elements of Disney Character is stripped, aside from the Turtle-Talk With Crush which instead becomes themed around Dory and is located in Seabase Alpha. Seabase Alpha becomes much more of a "Seabase".
- The Imagination: A favorite of fans, The Imagination Pavilion gets a proper overhaul. Encouraging adventure of the mind and intended to inspire kids and adults, this pavilion becomes the heart of EPCOT. The lower half of The Imagination Pavilion is repainted purple, and the grounds are covered with new interactive water elements (like those proposed for the Moana thing). The lush greenery provides shade, ties the pavilion to the rest of World Adventure, and helps the iconic pyramids stand out. Spread-out on three floors, the newly renovated pavilion offers many exciting experiences:
- Ground Level: Located in the former Captain EO theater, a new Inside Out interactive walk-through attraction brings guests through the inner-workings of the mind. Combining smart technology, guests will be able to explore how the mind/imagination works. This attraction will bring guests up to the first, main level.
- First Level: The original "Journey into Imagination" ride is back with updated graphics, audio-animatronics, and scenes. Aside from slight script changes, the ride remains the same as it once was, all 14 glorious minutes of it.
- Second Level: ImageWorks is revived but with a distinctively modern twist. More interactive technology is used and new creative experiences are offered. The showpiece will be a real-life virtual reality Minecraft station. New art-making spaces are added, sponsored by Adobe Creative Suite; from drawing spaces to music-making activities, to even video making. For younger guest's there will be plenty of sensory experiences. This peak of the pavilion will allow guests of all ages to create, play, and explore their imagination.
World Discovery: Formerly Future World East, World Discovery has three large pavilions that celebrate and encourage synergy between the worlds of; Energy, Space, and Transportation.Note: This is not complete. I need to get some sleep, but I will update this post before the 11/30 deadline with my planned changes to World Showcase.
- Energy: Vital to the continued development of human civilization is access to renewable sources of energy. The only Exxon sponsored celebration of fossil fuels is out. Replacing it is a more interactive pavilion that explores the exciting world of energy production and imagination. Spread across two levels, this pavilion features two attractions, one show, and one interactive exhibit.
- Level One: On the entrance to the first level guests will find the first attraction and show. The key attraction here, "Power Through" takes guests through the history of human energy. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, the ride begins with the first hunter-gatherer tribes, then continues to the first known uses of water as a source of energy, continuing through history until concluding with the Industrial Revolution and looking towards what the future may hold for energy. Across the way from the attraction is the show "Here's the Deal". This circle-vision film narrated by Ellen Degeneres (because of duh), explores the reality of climate change and how renewable forms of energy can not only help the earth but push humanity forward.
- Level Two: Featuring the station for the People-Mover, this floor of the pavilion has a new attraction and interactive exhibit sponsored by Tesla. On "A Journey to Tomorrow", guests will board a cybertruck and go on a trip to the future. Inspired by the fan-favorite attraction "Horizons", this ride will show guests how renewable solar energy is powering human settlements on land, sea, and space. This will serve as an opportunity to showcase Tesla's groundbreaking technology in solar energy. Adjacent to the ride will be "Future-Lab", this exhibit shows Tesla's rotating technological inventions and allow guests to create their own solar-powered creations, design their home of the future, and purchase Tesla products.
- Space: Humanity's next great frontier will be celebrated in this pavilion. Mission Space is gone, replaced by a Space Port and International Space Station. Interconnected and accessible separately, these buildings will create a unique and immersive pavilion.
- Space Port:Three stories tall, this building is the largest in World Discovery. Sponsored through a consortium of; NASA, SpaceX, and the European Space Agency, Space Port features three ride attractions, two shows, and three interactive exhibits.
- 1st Floor: Upon entering the Space Port, guests are given the backstory. Created by NASA, SpaceX, and ESA, the Space Port was constructed to allow humanity to explore the universe and begin space colonization. This floor celebrates that goal by exploring the history of human space exploration. First, a dark ride attraction based on the silent film a "Trip to the Moon" will show guests how humans of just a century ago imagined space exploration would look like. The ride's finale will give-way to showing you the moment man finally reached the moon. From there, guests can attend a circle-vision show that tells the story of that first mission to the moon and chronicles the human achievements in space since. An interactive exhibit will feature a large rotating globe with projected live weather patterns, and Satelite orbits, along with smaller exhibits that have historic artifacts on display and invite guests to begin their mission to the new International Space Station, recently built above the Walt Disney Resort.
- 2nd Floor: ascending to the second level, guests will find the People-Mover Station and a key interactive exhibit that will train guests to make the trek up to the new Space Station.
- 3rd Floor: This top floor features two key attractions and a final interactive exhibit. The interactive exhibit brings guests into an observatory where they will be able to see the real-time night sky (insert Carl Sagan Blue Dot). The first attraction, "Voyager", revives the original ambitious concept for EPCOT's space pavilion, but brings it to a new level. Guests will board a Star Tours style vehicle to travel to the Mars Colony. Following the ride guests will leave the vehicle and enter the two-story-tall Mars Habitat Complex. This will act similar to Seabase Alpha. To leave Mars guests will board another Voyager vehicle. Back in the main Space Port, guests can choose to ride the third attraction, the "Space Elevator". This elevator will bring guests to the International Space Station (observatory adjacent to the pavilion). Like the elevator in Freedom Tower, this elevator will utilize screens to give guests the impression they are leaving the atmosphere.
- International Space Station: A real celebration of international cooperation, this space station, located in an observation tower-like structure will bring guests into space. Featuring an interactive exhibit focused on STEM activities and the currently planned rotating restaurant, the Space Station will be a great component to this pavilion.
- Transportation: Retaining its classic circular design, the Transportation pavilion will be retrofitted completely. Though Test-Track is an interesting ride, it can be better. The new main attraction is now a hyperloop ride. Inspired by the planned attraction for Japan, this attraction will take guests on a thrilling journey on an imaginative hyperloop journey from Disney World to New York to Beijing, this ride will thrill and excite guests. A secondary attraction sponsored by the Congress on New Urbanism will bring guests to a hypothetical America of 2100. Inspired by the legendary Futurama exhibit at the 1939 NYC World's Fair, this attraction will show guests how America's future can be one of passenger rail, public transport, walkability, and sustainability. Traveling across the country recreated in painstaking miniature guests will see the America of tomorrow.
If it's not too late or too much, I would like to ask if the people-movers for Expo and Showcase share the the same design or if they are individualized to better fit the land they circle.Park Transporation: Now would be a convenient time to discuss Epcot's expanded transportation options. In this rebuilt EPCOT there will be a people-mover system, ferry, Skyliner, and monorail. There are two loops to the people-mover system, one encircling World Expo (formerly FutureWorld) and the other World Showcase. Set a floor above the mainland (like in Tomorrowland), the people-movers will go through each major pavilion and nation in Epcot. A central station will be constructed at EPCOT Plaza (formerly Showcase Plaza).
This something I would love to see you expand upon in future; even if it might not be covered here. Just as I've been captivated by new attractions, lands, hotels, water parks, shopping districts, and theme parks, I've always been interested in seeing the WDW transportation systems expanded and improved upon; especially the monorails; even if there are those opposed to it.The monorails to the Magic Kingdom area and the new line to Disney Springs
You're too kind, haha.
So, I envision them being the same design but utilizing different car colors. The people-movers for Expo are a purple color while those in Showcase are a golden yellow color. They would all be sleek and minimalist. To prevent any thematic clashing, the people-movers in Expo will be visible between the pavilions, but the people-movers in Showcase will pass through the back half of pavilions. As a result, the showcase people-movers would not be visible from the front halves of the national pavilions.If it's not too late or too much, I would like to ask if the people-movers for Expo and Showcase share the same design or if they are individualized to fit better the land, they circle.
I'm a history and Landscape Architecture major, my history focus is cities, and my landscape focus is urbanism. Long story short, I love mass transit system and I LOVE transit system maps.This something I would love to see you expand upon in the future, even if it might not be covered here. Just as I've been captivated by new attractions, lands, hotels, water parks, shopping districts, and theme parks; I've always been interested in seeing the WDW transportation systems expanded and improved upon, especially the monorails; even if there are those opposed to it.
There is just something about the Car Park that destroy's the appeal of a park. I always wanted to design a parking garage that look and felt like a mountain entrance with parking in the cave. This would lead to the ultimate reveal as the you exit the darkness of the cave, past a small waterfall and see the resorts in front of you. Basically making it a magical/mythical reveal.You're too kind, haha.
So, I envision them being the same design but utilizing different car colors. The people-movers for Expo are a purple color while those in Showcase are a golden yellow color. They would all be sleek and minimalist. To prevent any thematic clashing, the people-movers in Expo will be visible between the pavilions, but the people-movers in Showcase will pass through the back half of pavilions. As a result, the showcase people-movers would not be visible from the front halves of the national pavilions.
What inspired this idea were a few key things:
I'm a history and Landscape Architecture major, my history focus is cities, and my landscape focus is urbanism. Long story short, I love mass transit system and I LOVE transit system maps.
- I think the People-Mover system is an innovative form of transport
- It meshes well with themes of futurism and human connectivity
- EPCOT is by far one of the largest park's and its lack shade makes it difficult to transit. The people-mover makes it easier to move around for all guests--including those differently-abled.
The new Skyliner is definitely a cool form of transportation, but I find it best for short-range transit. I think Disney should adopt a kind of tiered approach to transit planning:
I have a rough map of how I envision an expanded monorail system. Combined with this map is a general application of my "region" idea:
- Tier One: Tier one is your park centric transit; think MK's Railroad or people-mover system. These forms of transit-only extend to area's within a single park and do not go beyond the park it's located in.
- Tier Two: Tier Two is your immediate range transit; think parking lot trams.
- Tier Three: Short-range transit; thinking Ferries and Skyliner. These forms of transit do not independently cover the entire resort, but instead, connect regions of the resort together.
- Tier Four: Medium-range transit. This would include the Monorail. Connecting every region of the park together through the use of a few key hubs, from the monorail every other transit tier would diverge.
- Tier Five: Long-range/personal transit; your personal car and airport shuttles that basically can take guests off and on property.
Note: Most, Americans aren't familiar with large mass-transit systems, as a result we're used to all forms of transit linking together in some kind of loop. In the case of WDW, this perception isn't helped by the fact the current monorail line does loop together. With that said, most major transit systems are really just a series of separate 'lines' that stretch to a central hub or station. I've adopted this model for the map above:
Ideally, the Skyliner, Busses, and Ferries would fill the gaps between and within different hubs. The goal would be for guests to park their cars at an airport or hotel and never use or come into contact with a car for their entire vacation. It would be environmentally friendly and fulfill Walt's intended goal of WDW which was to provide a model for what the city of tomorrow could look like. Expanding the monorail and developing a tiered public transport system would completely fulfill that vision.
Red Line: Connects Epcot to the Ticket and Transporation Center (North Station, MK, Grand Flo, Poly, and Contemporary Blue Line: Connects Epcot to its resorts, DHS, Coronado Springs, Blizzard Beach, and All-Star Yellow Line: Connects Epcot to Caribbean, Pop Century/Art of Animation, and ESPN WWoS Purple Line: Connects Epcot to Port Orleans, Key West, Disney Springs, and Saratoga Springs Green Line: Connects the Ticket and Transporation Center to Shades of Green, DAK, and DAK Lodge
I too abhor parking lots. Big fan of New/Traditional Urbanism here.There is just something about the Car Park that destroy's the appeal of a park. I always wanted to design a parking garage that look and felt like a mountain entrance with parking in the cave. This would lead to the ultimate reveal as the you exit the darkness of the cave, past a small waterfall and see the resorts in front of you. Basically making it a magical/mythical reveal.
Hahah I would agree with this. If I had more time I would say hey wanna design a system with me. lolI too abhor parking lots. Big fan of New/Traditional Urbanism here.
As far as WDW goes, I think all car traffic should have to park in one central location. From there they would have to utilize public transportation to get around. By expanding the Monorail system, adding people-movers, and other modes of transit, I think Disney would be able to achieve it.
A mountain would be a dope way of hiding the parking garage...maybe make a kind of mountain range? Rising from some water? That could look cool.
This does sound like a good, eco-friendly plan but something tells me that this might not be all that foolproof.As far as WDW goes, I think all car traffic should have to park in one central location. From there they would have to utilize public transportation to get around. By expanding the Monorail system, adding people-movers, and other modes of transit, I think Disney would be able to achieve it.
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