The State of Epcot

[JungleSkip]

Disney absolutely doesn't "need" sponsorship. Part of the original idea was to let other companies "advertise" in their parks to help introduce millions of people to you product in a fun way. It sounds great on paper, it's just an extremely expensive proposition. I do remember Kodak being listed on every park map, and all over the place in the 80s...I wonder what happened to them?

Kodak was on the maps and photo spots up until a few years ago, somehow.

 

[OLSinFLA]

EPCOT was definitely inspired by the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. Since that fair wasn't a real WF (The international organization refused to sanction it since Canada already had Expo 67), the leader turned to corporations instead of countries to build pavilions. The result was what many say was the greatest of all World's Fairs. Unfortunately, not many companies would be willing to shell out that kind of money anymore. (To give you an idea, GM's pavilion cost about $400 million in today's dollars - and was open for a total of 12 months and demolished)

 

[Scott W.]

Disney absolutely doesn't "need" sponsorship. Part of the original idea was to let other companies "advertise" in their parks to help introduce millions of people to you product in a fun way. It sounds great on paper, it's just an extremely expensive proposition. I do remember Kodak being listed on every park map, and all over the place in the 80s...I wonder what happened to them?

They invented the digital camera and didn't capitalise on it.

 

[krazykat]

They invented the digital camera and didn't capitalise on it.

You said it exactly scott_walker. I live in Rochester, NY where the corporate HQ for Kodak is. That company went from employing almost half of all the people here to less then 8000 now. I was not surprised when Kodak dropped being a sponsor with Disney. Many of the buildings here have been torn down and/or leased to other companies.

Sad

 

[deathcab4cutie]

I think that Kodak just was hoping or betting on the fact that it would be just a fad but they were badly mistaken.At the time a lot of people thought combined cameras and printers were the future.A camera that could take a photo and print it there on the spot.Also didn't help that for Epcot Disney made groups not only pay to build the attraction but completely fund it for a full ten years

 

[misterID]

Has there been any word on that Inside Out rumor coming to Imagination? Supposedly Pixar was pushing hard for this.

 

[deathcab4cutie]

pretty much all Epcot rumors died when Disney announced the expansion and since the expansion will have some sort of pixar land it would prob go there now instead.Which may spark Disney to go back to the Phineas and p herb ride at Epcot.

 

[Mad Dog]

Magic said today that Disney is cutting the operating hours of many of the Future World attractions and their main gift shop also. Steve, the moderator, said to expect additional cuts of more shops & attractions soon.

 

[Teebin]

I'm sure Frozen will more than make up for it. :blank: The Disney Co. certainly is batting 1000 these days.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

My understanding is that this is the start of resort wide operations cuts.

But don't worry, the attendance is up all over property even though attractions close, waits stay the same, and now things are closing. Awesome.

 

[awhen]

My understanding is that this is the start of resort wide operations cuts.

But don't worry, the attendance is up all over property even though attractions close, waits stay the same, and now things are closing. Awesome.

Even if they get all these expansions built, someone in that company will find a way to ruin it. And get a bonus.

 

[Mad Dog]

My understanding is that this is the start of resort wide operations cuts.

But don't worry, the attendance is up all over property even though attractions close, waits stay the same, and now things are closing. Awesome.

Yeah, that echoes what the moderator on Magic said yesterday. They cut the summer hours for the two water parks earlier in the week......... Some people on Magic are comparing the new headman with Paul Pressler....... Instead of letting the expansions pay for themselves after they're opened, it looks like their making the parks pay for the expansions on a loan shark model before they're completed.

 

[IzzyB]

Yeah, that echoes what the moderator on Magic said yesterday. They cut the summer hours for the two water parks earlier in the week......... Some people on Magic are comparing the new headman with Paul Pressler....... Instead of letting the expansions pay for themselves after they're opened, it looks like their making the parks pay for the expansions on a loan shark model before they're completed.

Oh great. Sounds like fun. So this guy is no better than the last guy. Great!

 

[Mad Dog]

Oh great. Sounds like fun. So this guy is no better than the last guy. Great!

The new Parks head honcho comes from a similar business background as Pressler.... I'm reading that one of the reasons he appointed Weiss' to head Imagineering was to cut costs also. Of course, that bloated department probably needs it anyway.

 

[Nick]

The new Parks head honcho comes from a similar business background as Pressler.... I'm reading that one of the reasons he appointed Weiss' to head Imagineering was to cut costs also. Of course, that bloated department probably needs it anyway.

WDI is the one division that actually NEEDS to learn to control costs.

 

[blue180]

What I've gathered, just by seeing the current state of each of the individual parks, it just becomes evident that each possess different obstacles and issues that ultimately need to be addressed. I think the exception is MK, just since thats the poster child for the resort. But it just seems like years of neglect and mismanagement that has resulted in conversations about how Epcot and DHS(or whatever they want to call it these days) need serious capital and resources to revitalize them. There hasn't been a steady year after year improvement/new attraction plan in those parks.

I think management needs a serious evaluation of each park. IMO, its almost like WDW expanded too quickly when they rolled out 4 parks, and its now catching up to them how difficult it is to maintain, run and operate.

But I do like a lot of the suggestions being talked about. I think focusing on the science/educational aspects in fun and innovative ways are a stronger position than being a Tech land. Like stated, tech is changing every day.

 

[ynnoj]

The Harambe Market dining at DAK is about the standard I now hold Disney QS to. Good food, decent portion size and local craft beer.

I don't think any of the QS eateries I tried at EPCOT or MK even came close. Although I wish the taco place in Adventureland wasn't seasonal

 

[Brian G.]

The Harambe Market dining at DAK is about the standard I now hold Disney QS to. Good food, decent portion size and local craft beer.

I don't think any of the QS eateries I tried at EPCOT or MK even came close. Although I wish the taco place in Adventureland wasn't seasonal

That Taco place is now a BBQ place.

 

[ynnoj]

That Taco place is now a BBQ place.

:drool:

 

[IzzyB]

That Taco place is now a BBQ place.

And the BBQ place is now a pretty decent taco place with pretty good portions.