The General's Call to Arms: Epcot's future -- SAVE THE EARTH!

[ToTBellHop]

That line at Living With the Land is superficial. When Disney added Fastpass to that ride, they greatly decreased the number of boats they run on this attraction in an effort to drive up the stand-by waits to get people to get Fastpasses and eat at the food court while they wait. I'm not saying it's not a popular ride (I always see it), but it is by NO MEANS more popular than Mission: SPACE.

By the way, Mission: SPACE has the old Horizons circular logo

 

[General Grizz]

By the way, Mission: SPACE has the old Horizons circular logo

Unofficially, yes. But I think staring at it for 40 minutes in that tiny queue could have some Horizons music back it up. I hear that staring at the space wheel for so long is the factor that can make guests dizzy?

 

[ToTBellHop]

While I don't agree with the type of music you want, I do wish there were music in that queue. I absolutely love the music they play outside of the attraction as well as in the centrifuge hallways, and wish they would play this in the room w/ the Gravity Wheel (its name escapes me...).

 

[General Grizz]

While I don't agree with the type of music you want, I do wish there were music in that queue. I absolutely love the music they play outside of the attraction as well as in the centrifuge hallways, and wish they would play this in the room w/ the Gravity Wheel (its name escapes me...).

Oh, no, I'm just saying the place needs music. And to think with all that space around, they could have built a queue more like Space Mountain. :brick:

 

[ToTBellHop]

think about it...there is no sound in space The great vacuousness.

 

[careship]

think about it...there is no sound in space The great vacuousness.

Have you been in Space yourself? Can you truly tell me that there is no music there?

Just kidding!!!!!!! :fork:

 

[ToTBellHop]

no, but I know sound needs matter to be dispersed lol...in space, no one can hear you scream But, you know? How much would Star Wars movies suck if they followed the rules of physics? All the fighting scenes would have no sound effects and there would be no explosions! No oxygen = no fire Just little bursts of light engulfing the miniscule amounts of oxygen in the ships...how blah! Thank you, George Lucas, for doing the impossible...literally.

 

[careship]

See....so there, we can so to have music in space.

 

[cloudboy]

Of course there's music in space! Ever watch 2001? It's always this waltzie music. : )

Which is weird, when you think about it; for most, the de facto disney experience is classic Americana; getting an ice cream on main street, the wonder of seeing storybook characters brought to life in fantasy land with that wonderful disney twist, or the occasional only-in-WDW high-quality thrill of the "mountains".

That's one of those steryotypes - I don't know if it comes from the media, or the marketing, or what - that has gotten to the point that so many people, including people in Disney, believe it and end up missing the point entirely. It's not about Disney itself, or of a certain retro time period. It's about imagination. First, it is a place where you can let go of the real world and pretend - Your'e in the jungle - you're in the Old West. Secondly, and more importantly, it inspires you to start imagining. What would it be like to live in the future? What was the world like back when Rome Burned? IT's not the rides themselves that make Disney. It's what is BETWEEN and AROUND those rides. you don't just get on a boat with a Pirate story - you find your way through a carribean harbor, and explore a carribean marketplace. You aren't just looking at a new gadget - you are experiencing a celebration of the future and optimism.

You know, I don't think that a lot of the problem with EPCOT has anything to do with the rides themselves. It has to do with the fact that, particularly in Future World, it is not a place. There's nothing there that really makes it anything more special than a shopping mall. While I love the fiber optic pavers and teh kinetic mobiles in the center - they don't do a whole lot for the over all story of Future World. Whilke a lot of people hate the idea of the World's Fair, I think that they could really capitalize on a showcase celebration type of thing. That is why I keep going back to trade shows - there's a lot of hype and show going on for the future. Instead it has this take it or leave it, static feel. If anything it almost saboutages the idea of the future - the future is this old thing that is passe - here's a few sensation jolts to get you through till you make it to World Showcase.

 

[ZHoyt]

Is it just me or has the food fair degraded greatly in quality over the last 5 or 10 years? I used to always look forward to eating there, now I can barely stomach any of the crap they try and sell.

 

[speck76]

Is it just me or has the food fair degraded greatly in quality over the last 5 or 10 years? I used to always look forward to eating there, now I can barely stomach any of the crap they try and sell.

As a whole, I think the counter service food at the parks has greatly improved over the last few years....as for the finer dining areas, I never ate there much before a year or 3 ago, and it seems good to me, but I am really not very picky.

 

[careship]

Is it just me or has the food fair degraded greatly in quality over the last 5 or 10 years? I used to always look forward to eating there, now I can barely stomach any of the crap they try and sell.

I actually think it is great food there. I wasn't thrilled with some of the additions, but in general the food there is the greatest counter service in the parks really. A lot healthier things can be found there. There potatoes and strawberry shortcake are fabulous. My kids love the corn on the cob. It's our favorite place in the parks.

 

[cloudboy]

In general, I think that the fast food has improved over a few years ago. I still thin there is a lot more they can do. It seems they are a little stuck on the efficiencies of large scale and unfortunately that a lot of times is where quality goes. But they are making progress on that front. I also noticed that they are very slowly adding a little more choice.

 

[TinkerBell9988]

I support this act of saving the Land 110%, and I myself am very upset at the idea that the Sunshine Season Food Fair will be going... That is my favorite fast food place in all of EPCOT, ever since they closed Pasta Piazza.

Can anyone tell me what is to become of the Garden Grill? Will that restaurant be long forgotten too? Please tell me no...

To me, it seems ridiculous to add an attraction to a pavillion with a theme, and NOT have that attraction FIT the theme. Will they turn the Land pavillion into the Aviation pavillion? Puhleeze... It seems that all of the pavillions are loosing their unique focuses, and that to me is a big shame, and it makes me very disappointed in the future of EPCOT and its Future World.

 

[garyhoov]

To me, it seems ridiculous to add an attraction to a pavillion with a theme, and NOT have that attraction FIT the theme. Will they turn the Land pavillion into the Aviation pavillion? Puhleeze... It seems that all of the pavillions are loosing their unique focuses, and that to me is a big shame, and it makes me very disappointed in the future of EPCOT and its Future World.

Respectfully, I disagree with this point. On the "Living With the Land" ride, you ride in a boat. That doesn't make it the "Boating Pavillion" or the "River Pavillion". The circle of life seems more about the animals than the land to me. Sure they live off the land, but the animals are the stars, and I think most of us would agree that Food Rocks might be fun, but it's a real stretch to connect it to the Land.

Sure you're "Soarin" but you're Soarin' over the land. I'd say Soarin' fit's the theme of the Land as well or better than many, many attractions at Disney World. Does the Haunted Mansion really belong in "Liberty Square", for example.

I realize I'm pretty much alone on this, and I'm not trying to argue or change anybody's mind. Just stating my opinion on it.

 

[Fievel]

Respectfully, I disagree with this point. On the "Living With the Land" ride, you ride in a boat. That doesn't make it the "Boating Pavillion" or the "River Pavillion". The circle of life seems more about the animals than the land to me. Sure they live off the land, but the animals are the stars, and I think most of us would agree that Food Rocks might be fun, but it's a real stretch to connect it to the Land.

Sure you're "Soarin" but you're Soarin' over the land. I'd say Soarin' fit's the theme of the Land as well or better than many, many attractions at Disney World. Does the Haunted Mansion really belong in "Liberty Square", for example.

I realize I'm pretty much alone on this, and I'm not trying to argue or change anybody's mind. Just stating my opinion on it.

I agree Gary...what do they think they're "soarin'" above? Cheddar cheese? It's not like the camera in the theater will have just clouds and sun....

Face it, they don't even have the full facts yet, nor have they seen the finished product, but they're twisting rumors to gain their advantage. Just because the food fair closes doesn't mean it won't reopen....we need to have faith.

This traditionalist stuff gets at me...particularly when it's a huge improvement.

 

[cloudboy]

Now I had thought that The Land had ended up becoming more of a pavilion about agriculture, which the boat ride and food rocks and Kitchen Cabaret all fit nicely, along with the food court.

It all depends upon what ends up going into the ride after California. I have a feeling it will end up dying rather quickly, and if they decide that they are just going to throw some other film in there it could kill the pavilion. I think the Land was the last true pavilion left once they got rid of the sea cabs - now everything is basically becoming rides. What is the actual ridership figure on living w/the land? Is it high enough to keep it going?

 

[General Grizz]

On the "Living With the Land" ride, you ride in a boat. That doesn't make it the "Boating Pavillion" or the "River Pavillion".

Tink is referring to the themeing that may alter the land. i.e. hang glider or airplane decor, not the method of transportation in the individual ride. I think we're both for Soarin' over, but, plain enough, we just don't want the THEME of the Land to change (i.e. the Land isn't themed to boats, it just uses them).

This retheming to handgliders, etc. is only rumor. However, it's in stone that we'll be dealing with the California film. Sure, we're looking at the Land(marks) of CA. No harm done if the film were based on our relationship with it, habitats, etc.? (I mean, seriously, what does the Golden Gate Bridge have anything to do withe Land? It's not this alone; it's the overall theme of the film).

The circle of life seems more about the animals than the land to me. Sure they live off the land, but the animals are the stars, and I think most of us would agree that Food Rocks might be fun, but it's a real stretch to connect it to the Land.

Circle of Life is actually about habitat destruction, and it really only stars animals. But I'll agree with you about Food Rocks. However, the Land was initially the "food pavilion" by Kraft (Sunshine Season, Listen to the Land growing crops, and Good Turn Restaurant), so the Kabaret show fit in this thread.

You're not alone, Gary! And I appreciate the time that you've put into writing this. It makes this debate all the more intriguing, especially in the respectful way that you and others have clearly made your points.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Soarin' die down? If it hasn't at California Adventure, it certainly won't at an Epcot with quickly growing popularity. It has the potential to be the most popular ride at Epcot, easily, and Disney knows it.

 

[General Grizz]

Soarin' die down? If it hasn't at California Adventure, it certainly won't at an Epcot with quickly growing popularity. It has the potential to be the most popular ride at Epcot, easily, and Disney knows it.

Who said it would?