What is still "original" at Epcot?

R

rdour@techminds

New Member
Original Poster
I'm curious, what atractions are still the original versions at Epcot? After having a conversation with a friend who hadn't visited since the late 80's, I realized to my surprise that nothing I know of is still original.

What restaurants are still original, what shops are still original? Do they play any original music anywhere? Not including the 25 anniversary stuff.

Thanks,
Ryan
 
Captain Hank

Captain Hank

Well-Known Member
The Land's exterior background music loop is the same as opening day. Also, most of Living with the Land is the same as opening day, with the only exceptions being the opening and closing scenes and the movies in the barn theater, along with the automated narration. As far as I know, Gateway Gifts and the Camera Center, both under Spaceship Earth, are more-or-less as they were on opening day, and the costumes worn there are (I think) the only remaining opening-day Future World costumes (they were originally used at the Centorium and Teachers' Center).

Up until recently, most of the original 9 World Showcase pavilions were more-or-less as they appeared on opening day, but not quite so much any more. Germany, France and the United Kingdom are the closest to opening day condition, with Italy not far behind. I think many of the Showcase music loops are as they were on opening day.

Edit: Oh, and the Electric Umbrella is not much changed from the days when it was the Stargate Restaurant.
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Pretty much what Captain Hank said. SSEs ascent is very similar minus the ascent tunnel effects, dawn of time, & old animatronics (and the tweaked Islamic scene from `86)

The park layout itself is mostly intact, save for the plazas either side of SSE (and the fountain) and the UoEs diorama - apart from the warpaint dinos - is the same apart from various effects that no longer work.

The Odyssey is the same virtually inside and out, with some cosmetic changes, and a lot of showcase is the same too, France being the biggest hold-over from 1982 (the restaurant loosing its sidewalk seating is the biggest change) if you don`t look at International Gateway.

Like the Camera Center and Gateway Gifts, I`ve found the old group sales building (between the bus station and the monorail station) to be the most stuck-in-a-timewarp if you look through the windows.
 
joel_maxwell

joel_maxwell

Permanent Resident of EPCOT
wow. talk about an open ended mega thread question. :lol:

these guys summed it up nicely though. you did ask it properly though, what is still original is a lot easier to answer then what isnt original at Epcot. :D
 
Fade_to_Blah

Fade_to_Blah

Member
Has Maelstrom changed much since opening? I know the boat doesnt back out of the tunnel quite as much as it used too....but I dont remember many changes from when I was visiting as a kid.

And this thread topic kinda made me sad that there isnt one original thing at Epcot anymore (as far as attractions goes). I really didnt realize either
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Maelstrom.... a lot of the effects no longer work. On the backwards section there were a lot of smoke machines that`d blast the boat as you passed them. And of course the Tessla coil was removed from the oil rig to be replaced by a strobe light and plastic tubing.
 
TheBeatles

TheBeatles

Well-Known Member
The Universe of Energy mosaic tile is from 1982.

The signs for gateway gifts and camera center are from 1982.

France's film is very much 1982.

marni1971 said:
Like the Camera Center and Gateway Gifts, I`ve found the old group sales building (between the bus station and the monorail station) to be the most stuck-in-a-timewarp if you look through the windows.
Click to expand...

What does the inside look like?
 
Figment82

Figment82

Well-Known Member
marni1971 said:
Like the Camera Center and Gateway Gifts, I`ve found the old group sales building (between the bus station and the monorail station) to be the most stuck-in-a-timewarp if you look through the windows.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, when I walked by last weekend, the windows had all been covered over with black. The original flower logos are still etched on the door, but everything else is hidden away.
 
MousDad

MousDad

New Member
Captain Hank said:
The Land's exterior background music loop is the same as opening day. Also, most of Living with the Land is the same as opening day, with the only exceptions being the opening and closing scenes and the movies in the barn theater, along with the automated narration. As far as I know, Gateway Gifts and the Camera Center, both under Spaceship Earth, are more-or-less as they were on opening day, and the costumes worn there are (I think) the only remaining opening-day Future World costumes (they were originally used at the Centorium and Teachers' Center).
Click to expand...

Is this the only truly original music left in the park?

What about American Adventure's music?
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Figment 82.... you`re joking? Damn. I knew I should have taken pics last year. The glass was heavily tinted but you could still see the desk and the silver-beamed ceiling (same as in Gateway Gifts)

Oh well....
 
bjlc57

bjlc57

Well-Known Member
the universe of enery used to be sponsored by...

Exxon used to sponsor the Universe of energy..

and then the Exxon Valdez incident..

I was there right after it happened. People were booing the Exxon symbol.

it was something to see.
 
R

rdour@techminds

New Member
Original Poster
In a way it is good that change happens. Walt wanted it that way. But, to not keep anything around from opening day shows that Epcot's attractions don't have traction for every day guests over a period of many years. Look at the Magic Kingdom. Many attractions are not only original, but are cherished by new and old visitors alike.

Another aspect is relying on sponsorship. If a sponsor goes, must the attraction also go or change? Too bad Disney never put their foot down and said "you choose to sponsor this attraction, but it has a life of its own. If guest demand is high, we'll keep the things you sponsor even if you quit. If a contract requires change, but guests are happy already, we will forgo change until guest interest changes." Imagine if that was the policy. I'm sure Energy would have changed to be its current self, but Horizons? The original JII? I bet the fountain of nations would be in place as it is now, that was a "good" addition. Innoventions probably would be there as is today, because we've moved beyond marveling at computers, aside from Macs.

Something tells me we would have a new film to replace Honey I Shrunk the Audience. But maybe we would still have the original ride in Mexico. However, which Spaceship Earth would be there today? I'd bet we still would get the new version, simply because a lot happened between 94' and 2008. Too bad the new attraction doesn't really mention much of it though. Just a little blurb like every other time computer history shows up. Two guys in a garage. It may have started there, but what about the geniuses who invented the first web browser? The ride may simply have seen different direction.

Oh well, I still like Epcot the most. Probably memories have a ton to do with that.
 
Little Green Men

Little Green Men

Well-Known Member
Well it doesn't HAVE to change. When GE pulled out of Horizons, they closed it a year later, because without a sponser "they couldn't afford repairs". But when UOE and WOM both closed for renovations, Horizons reopened due to a fluke. If it was closed, WOL would have been the only pavillion available in Future World East. Then they decided they put their Space pavillion there after years of planning to have one, because they could get a sponser for that. Then Living Seas went to a rehab without a sponser, but it stayed in it's original state for 7 years after United Technologie pulled out (minus the Sea cabs which only lasted three years). And WOL stayed opened for three years after Met Life pulled out because Mission: SPACE wasn't opened yet. The rest of the pavillions where rehabed WITH sponsers.
 
K

KaliSplash

Well-Known Member
I can't begin to tell you which shops are basically unchanged.

In terms of attractions, not much has changed on the Maelstrom, other than the effects that no longer work that Marni mentioned. (Of course, there was no Norway when Epcot opened in 1982.

The film in France is unchanged.

In terms of restaurants, not sure much has changed in Mexico. Not sure a lot has changed at the Rose & Crown but I could be wrong.
 
iheartdisney91

iheartdisney91

Well-Known Member
unchanged... um..

the universe of energy... i dont think that changed.
and the leaping water near figment...
thats what comes to my mind. but i might be to young for this thread. lol
 

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