Update on WoL status:

[marni1971]

Martin, you had me up until this sentence LOL.

I agree with your sentiment, but I will never understand your love for that loathsome pavilion. I was bored in ten minutes as a kid...and I loved every other pavilion to death. This one - the odd blend of psudo-clinical ______ talk with lighthearted goofiness and inaccurate represntations of the human body...I just never "got it".

I'm glad someone did though, LOL.

AEfx

I know - Life was a strange one. Personally I enjoyed it (though I didn`t see CC until `93) and know many others who did and many who didn`t. Maybe I was just an 80`s kid, born a decade too late :lol:

There again, The Land, though interesting, didn`t do much for me. I never saw Symbiosis for real (tut tut) and only saw KK once a visit. But I know many who loved it (the Kraft version) - and that was one of the beauties of EPCOT center. The main pavilions (and in 3 cases their CCore offshoots) had something for almost everyone, and you could spend hours in each.

 

[PhilharMagician]

amen brother martin.

jimmy: for me it isnt a true fuss over dead attractions, but dead pavilions that are going to waste. i hate seeing convention space. can we say Innovations

You want convention space then there is the rarely used Millenium BLDG.

 

[ImaYoyo]

You want convention space then there is the rarely used Millenium BLDG.

Actually, that space is frequently used. As in, almost every day, many times twice a day.

 

[PhilharMagician]

For what?

I have not seen the gates open during any of my visits.

 

[ImaYoyo]

For what?

I have not seen the gates open during any of my visits.

Private events (family reunions, meet-and-greet locations, catered luncheons and dinners, ect, you get the picture). The gates will not be open because most events there are early-morning, after-hours, or use backstage access to get to the pavilion.

 

[AEfx]

I know - Life was a strange one. Personally I enjoyed it (though I didn`t see CC until `93) and know many others who did and many who didn`t. Maybe I was just an 80`s kid, born a decade too late :lol:

I think culturally there is a difference as well. I know Brit's aren't quite as free on some of those topics as perhaps more liberal parts of the EU, but certainly isn't as puritan as the U.S. is in so many ways. Man was I ever uncomfortable even going near "The Making of Me" with my family, LOL. That and the fact that Body Wars made me sick to my stomach as a kid (back when I could ride *anything*) has really dulled any love I had for it just because it was old-school Epcot, LOL.

There again, The Land, though interesting, didn`t do much for me. I never saw Symbiosis for real (tut tut) and only saw KK once a visit. But I know many who loved it (the Kraft version) - and that was one of the beauties of EPCOT center. The main pavilions (and in 3 cases their CCore offshoots) had something for almost everyone, and you could spend hours in each.

Now you've pegged me - I am one of those "The Land" people. Always liked that place - and always thought it was the coolest that the ride and restaurant were together. Garden Grille is the only WDW restaurant that for whatever reason I have never eaten a full meal in, and I have reservations on our family trip this November (I love solo, but when I'm solo I just can't do character dining). The thought of it makes me giddy, hehe, so I can totally identify with you geeking out over WoL.

I was disapointed that Cranium Command wasn't working when I visited WoL last December when it was open. I vaguely remember the show, and know that people talk about it like it's the second coming and wanted to see it just once. The day I was there the only thing in operation was Body Wars. I took a ton of pics of the empty place - but it was sad, LOL. Oh, and Body Wars made me sick again, so I guess you can tell why my affection for this place just doesn't exist.

AEfx

 

[Epcot82Guy]

Perhaps Odyssey is going to be the 25th Anniversary Headquarters, so they needed a new space... :lookaroun

Well... I can dream.

Anyway, I am fine with WOL being events space if Disney is trying to court new sponsors. I actually agree that, like a house, if they neutralize the space, they may be able to pull some new interest in that want to avoid the "Health" direction. As long as it is VERY TEMPORARY, this is at least a use.

 

[nelsonj3]

Darn - does this possibly mean The Odyssey won`t be used for F&W, or could both be used? I`m hoping to document the Odyssey interior - it`s been 14 years since I`ve been inside.

GEEKY!

I guess I should have shot some video for you when I was there a couple weeks ago during the F&G Festival. It was really busy inside though.

It has been so long since I was inside of the Odyssey Building that I couldn't remember what it used to look like to even begin to document changes.

 

[Figment571]

I don't know, the medical world is full of possibilities at this day and age nano technology , cures being developed for things we had no idea could be cured. The possibilities are nearly endless.
I believe they can rebuild him.... I mean it.:lookaroun They just need to find a good sponsor, show it some tlc, and viola! It could be one of the most fascinating pavilions they have ever created. That is if they don't bring back a certain dragon's friend back on a grand scale.... I can dream, can't I.

 

[Testtrack321]

They should put the wine/beer tasting right where Goofy About Health used to be... oh the irony.

 

[TinkerBell9988]

Darn - does this possibly mean The Odyssey won`t be used for F&W, or could both be used? I`m hoping to document the Odyssey interior - it`s been 14 years since I`ve been inside.

GEEKY!

I was inside the Odyssey a few weeks back for F&G Festival...

Jealous? Haha.

I geeked out, too. Its ok. :lol:

 

[Jimmy Thick]

No, if Disney didn`t insist on not being able to update the pavilion without corporate assistance it`d be in far better shape - and possibly open too.

The building itself is a fantastic structure. I`ll take it over the industrially-bland shed that is behind the fancy facade of Mission: Space. The roof may leak a little - nothing some TLC couldn`t fix (also see Energy, Seas, Land) but it`s the inside that needs updating. Remember this was the last pavilion built where you could spend a half day alone. So much potential. Save your dynamite for the wand.

Good points, but I remember when it was open, and the place was dead, there were no waits for anything, and I don't think a corporate sponser would have fixed it.

The structure is majestic, but destroy the bits, keep the whole and do something with it.

 

[AEfx]

Okay, can someone please fill me in on what made the Odyssey such a great place? What exactly happened there? Why was it so magical?

I never saw it open, never knew what it was - just know it now because of the pathway around it and the fact that people talk about it so highly. So tell me - what did I miss that was so spectaular, LOL?

AEfx

 

[Xadllas]

Darn - does this possibly mean The Odyssey won`t be used for F&W, or could both be used? I`m hoping to document the Odyssey interior - it`s been 14 years since I`ve been inside.

GEEKY!

Basically the ceiling is extremely dirty, there are small abstract murals on the upper back walls with curtains below. Bar lights on the ceiling still forming hexagons and the stage is still there thats basically what I remember (I was in there durring this years Flower and Garden Festival they had a shop set up in there).

 

[marni1971]

Okay, can someone please fill me in on what made the Odyssey such a great place? What exactly happened there? Why was it so magical?

In a word - nothing. It was simply a very nice, relaxing restaurant with good views and plenty of comfortable seating. The memories I have of it are of a more relaxed, darker, homely place to eat rather than the noisy environment of the Communicores Stargate and Sunrise. Not to mention it`s a great multi-tiered building design. Me and my architecture... trivia note; 60% of the building is suspended on legs above the East lake.

Clap your hands....there`s a party going on....

 

[JWG]

I'll see it on July 23. They do the Grand Gathering Illuminations dinner/dessert and preferred seating at Odyssey.

So there's one way to get inside. I can't even remember this place, but I also don't remember when it closed.

 

[mousermerf]

Okay, can someone please fill me in on what made the Odyssey such a great place? What exactly happened there? Why was it so magical?

I never saw it open, never knew what it was - just know it now because of the pathway around it and the fact that people talk about it so highly. So tell me - what did I miss that was so spectaular, LOL?

AEfx

To actually answer the question.. Counter service eatery, standard American fare with pizzas ans burgers and such. It has stage and on that stage it had the Fab 5 perform a show every so often and then come out into the seating area to shake hands and such. So it was essentially a counter service character meal with a show.