The State of Epcot

[epcyclopedia]

The team that has been working on this has been in place for about.. umm.. two years? So in terms of overall project timing that means we're 2-4 years away from anything concrete being open and visited by guests (the creative cycle is a minimum of about 3-5 years, hence 6 years for Pandora with a year of team-assembling).

I met one of the team members, a concept artist, by chance at one point early on. Nothing was settled, and of course nothing could be said to me anyways, but my laments about Epcot and how it wasn't EPCOT Center and things along those lines were a shared sentiment with this particular designer and according to the designer, the rest of the team as well. There was the idea that there was no going back, but that the original ideas weren't bad/wrong/etc either.

I mentioned my usual diatribe about how new designers come in, see what something is, and decide to piss all over it to mark their territory. They make new not because it's good but because they want to leave their own legacy - with little regard for the legacy of the thing they're working to change.

I was told the group on the project had a shared respect and enjoyment of EPCOT Center, Epcot, etc.. instead of the past where people who'd call Jungle Cruise or Tower of Terror the "High Art of Disney Imagineering" would be brought into Epcot and thoroughly muck things up.

So, there's that, so i'm a little optimistic.. but, hesitant because, well, we know of what can happen to the best intentions.

 

[s8film40]

I think it will be their vision of IP driven attractions and food, wine, flower, garden and food festivals.

Well I was right. Despite what was said I think we can expect Epcot to continue with just more of the same.
Disney: New Epcot arts show will start in January - Orlando Sentinel

 

[UniversalCityFL]

I think Epcot could benefit from a renewed and clearer theme of togetherness and understanding of all people and cultures. Not to sound hippie-dippie but that's a theme that will never be outdated.

They should drop the future technology stuff and just focus on the beauty of cultures coming together, experiencing each other's music, food, dance, and arts. Let it be one place on Earth to act as a model for how the rest of the world could be.

That's how it could stay true to the original vision.

 

[Joel]

I think Epcot could benefit from a renewed and clearer theme of togetherness and understanding of all people and cultures. Not to sound hippie-dippie but that's a theme that will never be outdated.

They should drop the future technology stuff and just focus on the beauty of cultures coming together, experiencing each other's music, food, dance, and arts. Let it be one place on Earth to act as a model for how the rest of the world could be.

That's how it could stay true to the original vision.

Agreed, well said.

 

[awhen]

I think Epcot could benefit from a renewed and clearer theme of togetherness and understanding of all people and cultures. Not to sound hippie-dippie but that's a theme that will never be outdated.

They should drop the future technology stuff and just focus on the beauty of cultures coming together, experiencing each other's music, food, dance, and arts. Let it be one place on Earth to act as a model for how the rest of the world could be.

That's how it could stay true to the original vision.

A salute to all nations, but mostly America.

 

[epcyclopedia]

Well, that's just the thing - the park is a monument to human achievement. Art, culture, food, and technology.

"Look at these cool things that people can do."

It's not that futurism and tech doesn't fit, it's that it is poorly executed at the moment.

The seas was about exploration moreso than any particular ocean or sea life. The land has always been about our relationship with the land. Imagination was essentially the "arts" pavilion. Spaceship Earth was about our history of communication and globalism ("our news their's and their news our's.) Energy about innovation to find new sources. World of motion about freedom of movement across the globe. Horizons was the potential for even bigger dreams and accomplishments just in the distance...

Epcot isn't fundamentally broken or anything it just needs to be refocused.

 

[Mr. EPCOT]

I think Epcot could benefit from a renewed and clearer theme of togetherness and understanding of all people and cultures. Not to sound hippie-dippie but that's a theme that will never be outdated.

They should drop the future technology stuff and just focus on the beauty of cultures coming together, experiencing each other's music, food, dance, and arts. Let it be one place on Earth to act as a model for how the rest of the world could be.

That's how it could stay true to the original vision.

While I agree that they should further promote the cultural understanding aspect of the park, I don't think they should do away with the futurism at all. I still think that the technological aspect could work if they put their minds to it. People love new technology, even in incremental updates. Just look at the way people line up for the new iPhone every year, and how much press Elon Musk gets when he announces things like the solar roof tiles and Mars initiative. I think the key thing, though, is that the wonders of technology should only be secondary to and support the message of a potential positive future that could be achieved through the understanding and peaceful cooperation between nations as hinted at by World Showcase. It's actually a shame that the park couldn't be reworked so that you enter the park into World Showcase first, and then have some kind of story device as you transition into Future World that says something to the effect of, "you've just seen the world as it could be today, see what that world of peace, understanding, and hard work could lead to in the future." But, of course, this version of EPCOT would require a company that was interested in doing more than just selling Olaf plushes.

 

[Honor_Knight]

You know what this park needs? CABANAS!!

 

[fryoj]

You know what this park needs? CABANAS!!

Actually, if they could do something like this in the lake, it could be interesting. I mean get there early, get drunk on the world tour, go sleep it off and have a great view for the show. lol

 

[Yabbadabba Doh]

I think Epcot could benefit from a renewed and clearer theme of togetherness and understanding of all people and cultures. Not to sound hippie-dippie but that's a theme that will never be outdated.

They should drop the future technology stuff and just focus on the beauty of cultures coming together, experiencing each other's music, food, dance, and arts. Let it be one place on Earth to act as a model for how the rest of the world could be.

That's how it could stay true to the original vision.

YES, I like this. Focus the pavilions in Future World on Art, Music, Food, etc.
Rather than just the seasonal festivals, use these areas to highlight some of the popular pieces of each of these in a more permanent setting.

 

[SkiBum]

While I agree that they should further promote the cultural understanding aspect of the park, I don't think they should do away with the futurism at all. I still think that the technological aspect could work if they put their minds to it. People love new technology, even in incremental updates. Just look at the way people line up for the new iPhone every year, and how much press Elon Musk gets when he announces things like the solar roof tiles and Mars initiative. I think the key thing, though, is that the wonders of technology should only be secondary to and support the message of a potential positive future that could be achieved through the understanding and peaceful cooperation between nations as hinted at by World Showcase. It's actually a shame that the park couldn't be reworked so that you enter the park into World Showcase first, and then have some kind of story device as you transition into Future World that says something to the effect of, "you've just seen the world as it could be today, see what that world of peace, understanding, and hard work could lead to in the future." But, of course, this version of EPCOT would require a company that was interested in doing more than just selling Olaf plushes.

Completely agree. A ride like Horizons was great but it needed to be updated periodically. Talking today about the importance of microprocessors would only belong if it was in the "the way things used to be" section of the ride. Focusing on green energy, space flight, and other developing technology would keep it futuristic. I think that just focusing on World Showcases minimizes the park's impact and would probably engender further laziness on Disney's part (no rides at all but just meet-n-greets and festivals).

 

[epcyclopedia]

The vibe I've gotten is that Frozen in Norway proved the intended point - if you build it, they will come. For a looong time the thought was that World Showcase had no appeal outside of food/wine.

Frozen is sold out of FP every single day well in advance. This says to Disney that there is demand they're not fullfilling. New Soarin and Test Track are still hard to get. So they need to build.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

You all have great ideas.. but what Epcot needs is a few flat rides, a dive coaster, hyper coaster, replace the ball with a Ferris wheel and BOOM a World's fair.

 

[JoeCamel]

You all have great ideas.. but what Epcot needs is a few flat rides, a dive coaster, hyper coaster, replace the ball with a Ferris wheel and BOOM a World's fair.

CoP and Small World are World's Fair attractions. Hope they don't do more of that :whistle:

 

[Teebin]

Why doesn't Universal use the electromagnetic propulsion system used at the beginning of Mummy for an entire ride attraction? It is so quiet and smooth. Disney's movers are so clanketty noisy.

 

[SkiBum]

The vibe I've gotten is that Frozen in Norway proved the intended point - if you build it, they will come. For a looong time the thought was that World Showcase had no appeal outside of food/wine.

Frozen is sold out of FP every single day well in advance. This says to Disney that there is demand they're not fullfilling. New Soarin and Test Track are still hard to get. So they need to build.

This could be a combination of both lack of rides and a very popular IP>

 

[OLSinFLA]

Why doesn't Universal use the electromagnetic propulsion system used at the beginning of Mummy for an entire ride attraction? It is so quiet and smooth. Disney's movers are so clanketty noisy.

All of the Mummy uses the magnetic drive system.

 

[sonoma15]

All of the Mummy uses the magnetic drive system.

Does gringotts not use this?

 

[Teebin]

All of the Mummy uses the magnetic drive system.

Weeeeeeell, except for the launch, which is more like Hulk as I recall.

For the later question, they use the wheel propulsion system throughout on Gringotts.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Does gringotts not use this?

Nope, all tires. Uses much less power but costs more to maintain.