The State of Epcot

[SkiBum]

If by "proper rides" you mean roller coasters, don't bother. People like that should just stop going to EPCOT altogether and ruining it for the rest of us who want something more fulfilling, something more to chew on than just dessert. For some of us a """"proper ride"""" is an immersive masterpiece like The Haunted Mansion or Horizons or Journey Into Imagination. If people want g-forces, they can go to Six Flags. This isn't to say that the park can't have the occasional thrill, the best theme parks have a wide variety of types of attractions, but those thrills should be something that contributes towards expanding your understanding of the world.


That is an incredibly simplistic view of people. Most people are a lot more nuanced than just being a brain-dead adrenaline junkie. Most people experience some degree of curiosity and if EPCOT was doing its job right it would be sparking the embers of that curiosity into a roaring flame.

I was/am a full-blown coaster junkie. However, EPCOT provided a place to just enjoy the art of a dark ride in profusion. I agree completely with you that those ride types just don't belong in EPCOT. The various rides in EPCOT really gave a wide variety of things to do and ways to enjoy the park. It was nice not hearing screaming from various areas of the park. It is why I don't want to see UoE become Guardians. I don't think that people have changed much over the years. EPCOT could still have the educational tilt to the rides and be very successful. However, I do like rides and and would prefer EPCOT add rides that tie in to the overall theme.

 

[mimitchi33]

I am OK with the current state of the park. I love most of the rides, and one of the rides there, Journey into Imagination with Figment (yes, the one we have now), was a childhood favorite of mine. I was such a huge fan of that ride that I got a Figment doll one year and brought him EVERYWHERE with me. I also prefer Frozen Ever After to Malestrom-when I was younger, the "Disappear! Disappear!" guy scared me so much I erased the ride out of my memory. However, I wouldn't care if they replaced UOE, despite my parents liking it-it was always too long for me.
I did hear they were replacing Figment with a Bing Bong ride. Bing Bong is one of my favorite Inside Out characters, and if they did that, I'd ride that ride EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE. No kidding.

 

[Alicia]

I am OK with the current state of the park. I love most of the rides, and one of the rides there, Journey into Imagination with Figment (yes, the one we have now), was a childhood favorite of mine. I was such a huge fan of that ride that I got a Figment doll one year and brought him EVERYWHERE with me. I also prefer Frozen Ever After to Malestrom-when I was younger, the "Disappear! Disappear!" guy scared me so much I erased the ride out of my memory. However, I wouldn't care if they replaced UOE, despite my parents liking it-it was always too long for me.
I did hear they were replacing Figment with a Bing Bong ride. Bing Bong is one of my favorite Inside Out characters, and if they did that, I'd ride that ride EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE. No kidding.

I can see Figment and Bing Bong getting along and being best friends.

 

[mimitchi33]

I can see Figment and Bing Bong getting along and being best friends.

He probably already is! How do I know this?

 

[belloq87]

Also queue enhancements (permits filed) and all video upgraded to HD quality. Supposedly the pre-show may change too, but I've heard much less chatter on that.

Sinise better be staying!

 

[Alicia]

Jim Hill talks about future of Imagination pavilion, around 28:00 in.

Pixar Pixar Pixar. Not surprising.

But swapping original plan of a Pixar film and Figment ride -to- Pixar ride and Figment movie.

 

[belloq87]

Jim Hill talks about future of Imagination pavilion, around 28:00 in.

Pixar Pixar Pixar. Not surprising.

But swapping original plan of a Pixar film and Figment ride -to- Pixar ride and Figment movie.

I'm okay with that, actually. Ideally, of course I'd want the ride to be Figment centric, but as long as Figment remains in the picture as part of the pavilion, I wouldn't be totally opposed to seeing what they could do with the INSIDE OUT characters in a fresh imagination-based ride concept.

I doubt either scenario is anywhere close to happening, however.

 

[mimitchi33]

I'm okay with that, actually. Ideally, of course I'd want the ride to be Figment centric, but as long as Figment remains in the picture as part of the pavilion, I wouldn't be totally opposed to seeing what they could do with the INSIDE OUT characters in a fresh imagination-based ride concept.

I doubt either scenario is anywhere close to happening, however.

In my opinion, if they adapted this comic but replaced the mind worker with Figment, but each time they visit a place, they sing "One Little Spark" but the lyrics are about that particular place. I had a dream about a ride exactly like this, and this is the only part I remember:
Figment: It's so much fun to be royalty
Bing Bong: With royal dresses and tiaras so sparkly
Figment: Your imagination can make your dreams come true
Both: With just that spark in me and you!
And no, they weren't crossdressing. They dressed up some female mind workers they come across.

 

[belloq87]

In my opinion, if they adapted this comic but replaced the mind worker with Figment, but each time they visit a place, they sing "One Little Spark" but the lyrics are about that particular place. I had a dream about a ride exactly like this, and this is the only part I remember:
Figment: It's so much fun to be royalty
Bing Bong: With royal dresses and tiaras so sparkly
Figment: Your imagination can make your dreams come true
Both: With just that spark in me and you!
And no, they weren't crossdressing. They dressed up some female mind workers they come across.

I firmly believe that Figment and the INSIDE OUT characters could fit well into one ride together.

I have a feeling Disney doesn't want them to mix in a single attraction, though. Hence why it sounds like one of them will be for the 3D show, and one will be for the ride. If an Imagination revamp even happens.

 

[JungleSkip]

Well my gut was totally wrong about this one. Hopefully they improve upon it for WDW.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

At this point, I am now going to be more curious of any year that D23 has had for Epcot and Hollywood Studios at this point.

Can't wait to bring the popcorn and watch the forums burn with opinions either way.

 

[epcyclopedia]

It's got some brilliant design points.. enters on the Gateway side past the less trafficked perfume shops, queues behind the existing film, does the ride, unloads and exits by Chefs old entrance on the Morroco side, with the possibility of opening a walkway into the main pavilion by the ice cream shop (though cutting through the CM access from the bakery to the restaurants they've used for decades to run croissants back and forth.)

It also "themes" the rear of the pavilion which will be plainly visible from the gondola system.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

It's got some brilliant design points.. enters on the Gateway side past the less trafficked perfume shops, queues behind the existing film, does the ride, unloads and exits by Chefs old entrance on the Morroco side, with the possibility of opening a walkway into the main pavilion by the ice cream shop (though cutting through the CM access from the bakery to the restaurants they've used for decades to run croissants back and forth.)

It also "themes" the rear of the pavilion which will be plainly visible from the gondola system.

If that holds up...that's actually brilliant in many way's, and I'd give props to WDI entirely for that.

 

[epcyclopedia]

If that holds up...that's actually brilliant in many way's, and I'd give props to WDI entirely for that.

I think the entry and general placement is made obvious by the land they're using - but I could be wrong.

The exit is all theoretical but would be a good use of the space.

If it enters on the gateway side they can essentially use all those garden and gazebo areas as extended queue and not mess with the pavilion itself much at all. Long extended queue just zig-zags the poster column and gardens. It doesn't have the issue of nowhere to go like Norway or even Mexico on busy days.

And on the exit side, I can't imagine the front being pure facade for the entire stretch of a pavilion pad. I think there will definitely be a Remy shop with food/cooking items and plush and maybe if we're lucky a cute patio cafe.

 

[Mr. EPCOT]

Well my gut was totally wrong about this one. Hopefully they improve upon it for WDW.

Let's hope your gut isn't wrong about Guardians.

 

[Ryan]

There should be a restaurant like at WDSP, right?

 

[epcyclopedia]

There should be a restaurant like at WDSP, right?

Probably not the same - France has a lot of restaurants and they are run by some very powerful people in the culinary world. I'd expect a sidewalk cafe if anything.

And for illustrative purposes in general:

The bit with no real roof near the yellow lift is the croissant hallway. They can pop through it or not to unload the ride.

Edit:

They are being super shady - in the plans they say there's more work coming, but for the time being they're just making it a big "parking lot."

And where the idea of putting a parking lot doesn't make much sense (wrapping the building) they're like "oh, gravel fire access road!" - which never had such a fire access road before.

The two real things going in are the retention ponds flanking the existing bus route along the canal. So, lob off that from the "usable" area for the ride. The bit behind Morroco relocated trailers and breakrooms. Toward the front of the pad they're adding another trailer for "Entertainment" while keeping the existing Entertainment trailer.. but not saying what it's for (project headquarters!)

A lil bit shady, but there's no reason for a 400-something space parking lot behind France and everyone knows it. And we also know when Disney really builds parking lots they doodle out all the spaces and don't just say "oh, this is about 200-something here, 150-something here.. with all this gravel."

I think the meet/greet might actually go out in front of the empty pad while they do the major construction. Not exactly sure how that area is laid out, but it seems to change a little.

 

[Nick]

There should be a restaurant like at WDSP, right?

No... France already has two busy restaurants, so the restaurant will not be coming with the attraction.

 

[UK-Trigg]

I'll believe it when I see it.

Most seem to think this is a done deal and have been saying so for a while, and as much as I hate seeing more IP being pushed into Epcot even I have to admit it seems a good fit.

So I have to ask, What do you know, or think, that makes you doubt it @Joe ?