Will Epcot be pronounced dead soon?

[marni1971]

Well, from the comments here and personal experience, it could use a lot of improvements. How many of those 11.8 million visitors are there mainly for the food and alcohol available at the World Showcase?.

A huge amount. With Food and booze and Flowers and Booze the figures would collapse. They know that. We know that.

 

[marni1971]

There is a lot of misconception about EPCOT - What Walt's vision was and what actually opened in 1982. Walt's vision was admirable, and frankly would have been pretty cool if Disney could have pulled it off. But it wasn't what opened in October 1982.

EPCOT (Future World specifically) opened as a promise of tomorrow. Not a prototype of tomorrow -- as many think.

Spaceship Earth was about re-visiting the advancements throughout history...leaving us with "a hope" of what tomorrow would bring. There was/is nothing futuristic about it. In fact its more historical in nature.

World of Motion was a trip through the past recalling advancements in the transportation and automotive industry leading to a walkthrough showcasing concept cars of the future. A lot of history, but again...nothing futuristic other than a glimpse of a concept car that may or may never make it to production.

The Original Universe of Energy has dinosaurs in it. Not exactly futuristic. But harnessing that energy again leads to the "promise" of tomorrow.

In hindsight COP fits in much better at EPCOT than it does in the MK.

Everything about World Showcase is historical or cultural in nature. Nothing futuristic in WS.

The fact they brought in Frozen and are talking about Guardians, doesn't bother me in the least. I just wish they'd open another pavilion or three. WS has always been the draw. If they want to spruce things up by adding a couple of IP's throughout the park......great. F&W and F&G which span about half the year and then add the summer, Easter and Christmas time crowds (with things like the Candlelight Processional).....I don't see attendance being much of an issue.

There was a huge amount of future both in Futureworld and its pavilions. Read my earlier post.

 

[Maerj]

Well at leat The Land is coming thru for us, besides guardians of the galaxy I think where going to see an Epcot 18,19 or 20 phase.

You mean "The Land featuring Groot and the Guardians of the Galaxy."

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

There was a huge amount of future both in Futureworld and its pavilions. Read my earlier post.

Communi-Core was a very small piece of Future World. Often overlooked. It was centered around computers (which had been around..but were not mainstream...yet) Was closed 12 years after opening in favor of Innoventions which met a similar fate. Horizons was probably the most "futuristic" ride in FW. But in general..there was nothing too futuristic about Future World. Just like "If You Had Wings" wasn't all that much about Tomorrow.

 

[marni1971]

Communi-Core was a very small piece of Future World. Often overlooked. It was centered around computers (which had been around..but were not mainstream...yet) Was closed 12 years after opening in favor of Innoventions which met a similar fate. Horizons was probably the most "futuristic" ride in FW. But in general..there was nothing too futuristic about Future World. Just like "If You Had Wings" wasn't all that much about Tomorrow.

Thanks for reminding me. I forgot to mention Communicore in my post. Of which the vast majority was futuristic.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Thanks for reminding me. I forgot to mention Communicore in my post. Of which the vast majority was futuristic.

Futuristic to who? Computers had been out for several decades prior to EPCOT opening. The entire concept of CommuniCore was based around computers. The fact that something wasn't mainstream does not make it futuristic.

 

[marni1971]

Futuristic to who? Computers had been out for several decades prior to EPCOT opening. The entire concept of CommuniCore was based around computers. The fact that something wasn't mainstream does not make it futuristic.

To me for a start. As was the whole half of the park.

 

[ArchieAndrews]

There is a lot of misconception about EPCOT - What Walt's vision was and what actually opened in 1982. Walt's vision was admirable, and frankly would have been pretty cool if Disney could have pulled it off. But it wasn't what opened in October 1982.

It was still highly inspired by the concept for it, the idea was deemed financially implausible but they wanted to find a way to still bring Walt's big idea forward.

The fact they brought in Frozen and are talking about Guardians, doesn't bother me in the least.

It does for me personally, I think it really takes away from what makes Epcot so unique. I mean if people are happy with that, that's cool. But I feel the focus on education and a more realistic look into the world is what separates Future World from Tommorowland, and it also is what makes the entire park so special.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

It does for me personally, I think it really takes away from what makes Epcot so unique. I mean if people are happy with that, that's cool. But I feel the focus on education and a more realistic look into the world is what separates Future World from Tommorowland, and it also is what makes the entire park so special.

Why? Because it's an IP? So then there should be no Nemo, Crush, Three Caballeros, Frozen, or any character meals at Akershus, or meet and greets with Alice, Snow White, Baymax, Anna and Elsa, or Mickey, Minnie and Pluto at the Visa Character Spot?

 

[Matt_Black]

I'll judge IPs in Epcot on a case by case basis. Nemo was good in concept, not so good on execution. Frozen is a beautiful fit aesthetically, and there are many, many Norse influences in the film (there's even Norwegian singing). Now, if they were to put a Tangled ride in Germany, I'd be against that, because Tangled doesn't scream "German" the way that Frozen screams "Norway".

 

[marni1971]

Norway just screams.

 

[Goofyernmost]

It does for me personally, I think it really takes away from what makes Epcot so unique. I mean if people are happy with that, that's cool. But I feel the focus on education and a more realistic look into the world is what separates Future World from Tommorowland, and it also is what makes the entire park so special.

It may very well have been what made Epcot unique, I agree! It is also what made it so they were forced to have the booze, burp and blossom festivals to be there. As much as we all like to think about it's uniqueness, it still had to be able to sustain itself and it's audience. I believe that it just wasn't doing that anymore. After a while you have eaten and drunk all that you can hold and every flower starts to look the same. In my opinion, whether I agree with the substance or not, changes had to be made.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Norway just screams.

It's not that bad....but I hear what you are saying. They could have done a lot more with the Norway addition other than a bathroom, character meet and greet, and a gift shop.

But "Gift Shops" are what Disney does better than any other company in the world.

 

[ArchieAndrews]

Why? Because it's an IP? So then there should be no Nemo, Crush, Three Caballeros, Frozen, or any character meals at Akershus, or meet and greets with Alice, Snow White, Baymax, Anna and Esla, or Mickey, Minnie and Pluto at the Visa Character Spot?

Nemo you only really learn stuff once you leave the ride itself, but it still fits the pavilion's theme and it works. I'd say it's not quite as good as something like Living With the Land, Spaceship Earth or Universe of Energy obviously, but the family crowd would probably much rather a Nemo ride than something that's just a tour of fish.

But really, what will the Guardians of the Galaxy ride offer? Education on Space? That's highly unlikely with that IP, even with its setting. Even if they did do that, Mission Space as much as it's viewed fairly mediocrely already does that.

It's clear that Epcot's new direction they were doing is instead of teaching you while there, they're trying to get kids interested in the subject matter at said pavilions (which there has always been an element of but it's much stronger now). If they can go and add IPs, while still retaining the educational aspects or ones that make people feel interested in the subject matter rather than just the ride itself I'm fine. Though, I highly doubt Disney said "wouldn't Guardians of the Galaxy be a great way to teach people or make people interested in Space?"

 

[The_Jobu]

Why? Because it's an IP? So then there should be no Nemo, Crush, Three Caballeros, Frozen, or any character meals at Akershus, or meet and greets with Alice, Snow White, Baymax, Anna and Elsa, or Mickey, Minnie and Pluto at the Visa Character Spot?

Well, therein lies the rub, as they say. I think people feel the meet and greet spot is fairly contained, I doubt anyone would kick up a fuss over a GOTG meet and greet. The rest are all Disney IPs, which is a distinction from GOTG (even though Disney owns Marvel) but even then people are quite cross of Frozen being added as it's seen by some as just an IP-shoehorn. The other Disney examples are more obvious, they just throw a Nemo sticker on top of the Seas but it's still an aquarium and sealife exhibit, etc.

My $0.02 anyway, don't mean to speak for others.

 

[POLY LOVER]

Well, therein lies the rub, as they say. I think people feel the meet and greet spot is fairly contained, I doubt anyone would kick up a fuss over a GOTG meet and greet. The rest are all Disney IPs, which is a distinction from GOTG (even though Disney owns Marvel) but even then people are quite cross of Frozen being added as it's seen by some as just an IP-shoehorn. The other Disney examples are more obvious, they just throw a Nemo sticker on top of the Seas but it's still an aquarium and sealife exhibit, etc.

My $0.02 anyway, don't mean to speak for others.

Do you think Disney will get out of the aquarium also . I mean at some point this Epcot stew is going to get pretty confusing as far as the Epcot parks identity goes.

 

[The_Jobu]

Do you think Disney will get out of the aquarium also . I mean at some point this Epcot stew is going to get pretty confusing as far as the Epcot parks identity goes.

I've given up trying to predict modern Disney, but you'd think at some point someone's going to complain they have dolphins in captivity and they'll have to go.

 

[arielsgrotto]

I went to Epcot for the first time on my trip last week. It seemed fine to me, but I've never experienced it properly before that. Keep in mind, Epcot is kind of like two halves--the showcase and the rest of it. The showcase was never wholly sanitized of Disney IPs. You can meet princesses there and buy your pins. While I agree that shoving Disney IPs in there gets hamfisted, I don't think it's worth panicking over.

Imo it's better for Epcot to change and fail and then change for the better later than for it to stagnate, I think. Attraction changes don't last forever, and you never know what could end up being awesome.

(I say all this as I get irrationally angry over pandora in animal kingdom :T)

 

[BaconPancakes]

As soon as they announce guardians to replace Ellen will that signal the end of Epcot as we know it? And will the cause be the lack of imagination by Disney to bring fresh ideas that work with the intent of Epcot?

Didn't you also claim the Magic Kingdom was dead because they started serving Starbucks in the bakery?

 

[POLY LOVER]

Didn't you also claim the Magic Kingdom was dead because they started serving Starbucks in the bakery?

You exaggerate , I didn't claim they will go OOB just like Epcot will not go OOB. However it will change the feel of both places as they change from the unique to the ordinary. No one change will do it but it will be a slow bleed until the real fans of Disney suddenly realize it just not that special anymore. I kind of relate what's happening to Disney the way Classic movies get edited for tv. They remove parts for time constraints and to add more commercials to make more money. As time goes on the movie is just ok and folks no longer remember the actual intent or greatness of the original movie. No, Disney will be around for the crowds who have short attention spans and need to keep their heads down peering into their phones constantly. Yes have a cup of Starbucks and a average pastry and the good news is when you leave Disney and go home you can get one on any corner in America. You'll never tell your friends about something you had in Disney that you can't find at home.