Soarin' Expansion and new Soarin' Around the World film

[French Quarter]

I'm all for fun, too! And I DO enjoy the characters- but the original EPCOT Center theme park created a real sense of adventure and exploration (and fun!) without shoving characters down our throats. The new direction may be a new vision for a park that lost its way from the original grand one of educating and creating a desire for exploring real countries. It just seems like the WS pavilions are becoming a backdrop for the animated character based attractions. Its nothing personal- and certainly not directed toward you or anyone else by the way- just my opinion.

Why do people keep quoting the original goals of Epcot Center? This isn't Epcot Center any more. The park has changed. Some people like the changes and some don't. But to hold on to some 1980s vision of a theme park to the point of not being able to enjoy it any more seems pointless to me.

 

[rucifee]

Then don't visit? Why are people acting like they must go to Epcot? Why be angry over something so trivial.

Well, since I've already paid for access to Epcot and that access is non-refundable I think it's justifiable for me to be annoyed. You're welcome to put me on ignore if you don't like what I have to say.

 

[RSoxNo1]

sorry, but I don't get the hate for adding an IP attraction to some WS pavilions? Its not like they are bulldozing France and erecting an attraction on its footprint? If they added it, it would be off to the side of in the back of the existing area, hopefully hide the queue. There is a generous amount of hidden (behind trees) space between France and Morocco that could be used.

Why do you feel that adding animated anything is 'talking down to kids?" Didn't it all start with a mouse in the first place? There is no reason why I should feel ashamed about taking my kids on a attraction for some fun, and then walking them around the pavilion to experience some history and foreign culture. I mean we ARE in Disney, right? If I want to immerse kids that badly into French culture, then take them to to the real France!

From a business standpoint, anything that generates more foot traffic is a good thing. And I'd rather an IP attraction vs another gift shop where I wouldn't be buying anything anyway.

People complain about Soaring going down and how it hopefully highlights the parks problems—specifically the need for more attractions—but then we will complain if anyone thinks about adding something to WS?? Honestly, I would love for better FW attractions... I'd love for the WoL to be great again, but if we have learned anything from MK's Tomorrowland, is that attractions based on 'future technology' soon grow outdated. Why would anyone fight against an attraction that has general staying power, in an area that thematically fitting, just because its "got cartoons" and in "world showcase"?

It's a thematic break. Not everyone will consciously recognize it as a thematic break, but it's a thematic break nonetheless. These types of things are important and Disney has been ignoring it quite frequently in Epcot.

I wrote this in a Mice Chat article recently:

The best theming transports guests to a new reality. When Frozen Ever After opens, the Norway Pavilion will have conflicting theming. As we learned at the D23 Expo, the new exterior facades will thankfully maintain the look and feel of Norway, but when guests enter the new buildings the theming will shift from Norway to Arendelle. It will be jarring to some guests and subtle to others but regardless, it will be there.


Great theme park lands like Diagon Alley at Universal Studios, Cars Land at Disney California Adventure or Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom all have cohesive theming. That theming is a type of non-linear story telling that satisfies guests both consciously and subconsciously. A guest can walk through Diagon Alley and feel 100% satisfied, but not know why. Similarly, that same guest could walk through Hogsmeade and feel 95% satisfied and also not know why. For Hogsmeade, perhaps their satisfaction was reduced subconsciously by the exposed steel at Dragon Challenge or the unthemed parts of the Forbidden Journey show building. These types of things, while subtle, help tell the story. When there is a break from that story, guest satisfaction suffers.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

Why do people keep quoting the original goals of Epcot Center? This isn't Epcot Center any more. The park has changed. Some people like the changes and some don't. But to hold on to some 1980s vision of a theme park to the point of not being able to enjoy it any more seems pointless to me.

Please don't put words in my mouth. I still enjoy Epcot. I just miss what it was and its original mission.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Why do people keep quoting the original goals of Epcot Center? This isn't Epcot Center any more. The park has changed. Some people like the changes and some don't. But to hold on to some 1980s vision of a theme park to the point of not being able to enjoy it any more seems pointless to me.

Not caring isn't really a change. It's a great example of Disney's complete lack of faith in themed entertainment as a creative medium.

 

[alissafalco]

Now that Soarin in closing in January it's the perfect time for WDW to introduce a new winter festival at Epcot.

 

[rucifee]

Now that Soarin in closing in January it's the perfect time for WDW to introduce a new winter festival at Epcot.

Ooh a Frozen themed dance party at Epcot????

 

[French Quarter]

Well, since I've already paid for access to Epcot and that access is non-refundable I think it's justifiable for me to be annoyed. You're welcome to put me on ignore if you don't like what I have to say.

I do want to hear what you have to say. Sorry...I quoted you but I was asking the question to the group.

But what kind of pass do you have that you have to use at Epcot? (Not being sarcastic...I just don't know what you mean.)

 

[rucifee]

I do want to hear what you have to say. Sorry...I quoted you but I was asking the question to the group.

But what kind of pass do you have that you have to use at Epcot? (Not being sarcastic...I just don't know what you mean.)

I have a full annual pass, so everything they close or take away reduces the value of my pass vs what I paid them for it. Soarin definitely needs a refurb, Epcot is in bad shape.

 

[French Quarter]

Please don't put words in my mouth. I still enjoy Epcot. I just miss what it was and its original mission.

I quoted you because you made reference to Epcot Centre but my question wasn't directed only at you.

 

[englanddg]

Ooh a Frozen themed dance party at Epcot????

 

[Andrew C]

Dancing with an AA Sven would actually make it worth it....

 

[englanddg]

Dancing with an AA Sven would actually make it worth it....

In all fairness, the dance party and parade at HS weren't that bad...and the fireworks were some of the most (if not the most) amazing I've ever seen.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

I quoted you because you made reference to Epcot Centre but my question wasn't directed only at you.

Thank you. I try to keep my comments from becoming personal- I mean, they are theme parks after all. It isn't a life or death situation.

 

[raven]

sorry, but I don't get the hate for adding an IP attraction to some WS pavilions? Its not like they are bulldozing France and erecting an attraction on its footprint? If they added it, it would be off to the side of in the back of the existing area, hopefully hide the queue.

Um, there is plenty of room between Mexico and Norway as well but you see what they did to Maelstrom, right?

They don't "add" anymore, only replace.

 

[unkadug]

The ostrich syndrome...bury head in the sand and pretend the problem doesn't exist.

 

[Baloo62]

It's official. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever for me to arrive at Epcot before lunch during our March visit...nor any reason to dedicate a second day to what was, at one time, my very favorite park at WDW. If it weren't for Le Cellier and Teppan Edo I'd skip it all together. Looks like another trip to the vastly more entertaining Busch Gardens that day. Sad.

 

[Andrew C]

It's official. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to arrive at Epcot before lunch during our March visit...nor any reason to dedicate a second day to what was, at one time, my very favorite park at WDW. If it weren't for Le Cellier and Teppan Edo I'd skip it all together. Looks like another trip to the vastly more entertaining Busch Gardens that day. Sad.

If you feel this way now, shouldn't you have felt this way BEFORE Soarin was going to be taken down for refurb?

 

[Anthony Carter]

Epcot bar crawl it is as a replacement for Soarin during my visit in May

 

[Horizons '83]

It's official. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to arrive at Epcot before lunch during our March visit...nor any reason to dedicate a second day to what was, at one time, my very favorite park at WDW. If it weren't for Le Cellier and Teppan Edo I'd skip it all together. Looks like another trip to the vastly more entertaining Busch Gardens that day. Sad.

This seems to happen ever so often at Epcot. When I was there in the early 2000's, they were in the process of tearing down Horizons (I died inside a little after seeing it partially demo'ed) and Mission Space was just an idea, Journey to Imagination was being refurbed, there wasn't much there in my opinion back then. Soarin was conceived yet, Spaceship Earth was in shambles. Every decade or so I feel this happens.