trainplane3
Well-Known Member
*peers over at them painting Tomorrowland '94 elemtents white*
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Updates to the Seas Pavilion
- Thread starter P_Radden
- Start date
FigmentJedi
Well-Known Member
The Nemo ride still called the aquarium area SeaBase at the very end from day one, even with most of the signage within the SeaBase de-emphasizing its identity as a SeaBase, so there's always been a disjointed combination of CGI Fish and futuristic technology. It's something that crept into almost every Nemo attraction that's been installed in the parks.
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
My guess is that the signs say "aquarium" instead of Observation level because ever since the Nemo ride opened, they struggled to get people to actually explore the aquarium instead of just heading straight out. But more likely, the people who made the sign simply just don't get it.
It bothers me how much potential the pavilion has, even with the Nemo tie-in. Especially with the aquarium being a huge setpiece in Finding Dory, there's really no excuse. The ride itself could have been an educational adventure, like a field trip with Mr. Ray, or anything other than what they did, which was go for the easiest, laziest possible concept of covering the cliffnotes of the movie.
It bothers me how much potential the pavilion has, even with the Nemo tie-in. Especially with the aquarium being a huge setpiece in Finding Dory, there's really no excuse. The ride itself could have been an educational adventure, like a field trip with Mr. Ray, or anything other than what they did, which was go for the easiest, laziest possible concept of covering the cliffnotes of the movie.
Steph15251
Well-Known Member
They really need to improve this ride.
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
The other thing that bothers me about the signage is that it's an example of the bigger picture of what their new approach to EPCOT is. By using the classic designs, symbols, theming, and other elements we're nostalgic for, they're attempting to have their cake and eat it too by saying "see? It's just like the classic EPCOT Center you love!", but its more of a lipstick on a pig situation when you have a Moana garden instead of just a garden, Ratatouille in France because the film takes place in Paris, etc.
We went in December and didn't even realize there was an aquarium, looking forward to seeing that area of Epcot for the first time
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
The worst part is that the ride track goes through a tunnel where the aquarium is around you on all sides! Instead it's all covered up by fabric so we can see projections of turtles.
UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
I think it has a strong argument as the worst ride Disney has ever built. Something like Superstar Limo was almost certainly a worse ride if you only consider the actual ride itself and no other factors, but when you consider that they blocked up views into the aquarium through a tunnel custom built specifically for that purpose, well...
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
It's definitely near the top in terms of short-sightedness. I would still say gutting the original, brilliant Journey Into Imagination for a terrible, followed by mediocre replacement was worse, whereas the actual Living Seas ride portion was nothing spectacular. Still, it baffles me that these projects get greenlit.
UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
Actually yes, you're right. I have no idea how Imagination slipped my mind. I think the Nemo ride takes second place behind Imagination, which was an abomination.
You're also right that the original Living Seas ride was nothing special on its own, but it was special when considered as part of the cohesive whole of that pavilion. It was the best pavilion at EPCOT in terms of overall cohesion and commitment to a theme.
BoarderPhreak
Well-Known Member
Once Nemo went in, everything else kind of went by the wayside. Disney needs to justify keeping such an immense (and costly) aquarium running - by visitor counts.
I truly hope these little signs (pun intended) point to at least a semi-return to Seabase Alpha. While I doubt we'll see hydrolators again any time soon, I have hope for at least some of the rest. It's going to take more than a new carpet and some aquarium spruce-ups to get people to wander throughout the pavilion.
I truly hope these little signs (pun intended) point to at least a semi-return to Seabase Alpha. While I doubt we'll see hydrolators again any time soon, I have hope for at least some of the rest. It's going to take more than a new carpet and some aquarium spruce-ups to get people to wander throughout the pavilion.
UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
It was changed to Finding Nemo in 2006, so that would track if you didn't visit until 2008.
wdwtopten
Well-Known Member
Two years too slow! Story of my life!
trainplane3
Well-Known Member
Even then, you'd have to be a few years earlier to catch the Seacabs!
UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
Oh yeah, the Seacabs stopped several years earlier, didn't they?
I think the hydrolators were still there until the Nemo transformation, though.
wdwtopten
Well-Known Member
Stop rubbing it in!
Phineas
Well-Known Member
Thank you! I thought my brain made up there being a ride through the aquarium before Nemo. Like others have mentioned, I remember them being-fine, nothing spectacular, but appreciated.
trainplane3
Well-Known Member
Exactly. I remember it being a REALLY slow omnimover that was extremely short but gave you a nice view of the aquarium. Then a few trips later, being greeted by a wall when stepping out of the Hydrolators. And then finally, walking in the "exit" through glass doors. It completely wrecked the whole idea of a unique, totally contained experience and turned it into a generic aquarium with Nemo plastered everywhere. As a little kid (ok, I was like 12/13 by the time it was obvious Nemo was taking over) I was bored by Nemo takeover. Nothing more then an aquarium with characters all over the place.
