The State of Epcot

[randompixel]

It's always been in their hands, it's more a problem of the direct people calling the shots. Namely Bob Chapek and Tom Fitzgerald (Lead Epcot Imagineer). There are some people at WDI that get it, but considering their ideas make sense and fit the original EPCOT Center look and feel, it probably just means they aren't likely to get approved.

What's the problem with Fitzgerald? Wasn't he one of the designers of Horizons (and had a figure in there with his likeness?). Has he messed up since then?

 

[Nick]

What's the problem with Fitzgerald? Wasn't he one of the designers of Horizons (and had a figure in there with his likeness?). Has he messed up since then?

He ruined the original Imagination Pavilion. Twice.

If GotG does actually come to Epcot though, I believe Joe Rhode would be involved as he's the lead for all Disney Marvel attractions, so that gives me some hope at least.

 

[randompixel]

He ruined the original Imagination Pavilion. Twice.

If GotG does actually come to Epcot though, I believe Joe Rhode would be involved as he's the lead for all Disney Marvel attractions, so that gives me some hope at least.

Fair enough. They leave that out of the Disney History books

 

[SeventyOne]

I've never been the biggest fan of the "building the future" storyline. Although I do like the computer scenes that were added better than the tele-video scenes of the AT&T days.

"Think of it as the first backup system," "Rome built the first World Wide Web," and "Thank the Phoenicians" always make me cringe. (No offense to Dame Judy Dench.)

The history of communication and the history of technology, tho intertwined, are ultimately two different things. The Siemens version of the ride tried to do both but ends up being neither fish nor fowl. The Greeks and the Phoenicians have no place any more, but were kept as fan service/cost cutting, and quite a bit of tech history gets lost between Michelangelo and the US Civil War.

And agreed, tho I love Dame Dench's dulcet tones, the script reinforces the "trying but failing to be smart vibe" the ride gives off now. I'd prefer tho go back to a variation on the ATT version, can still keep Woz and his garage to symbolize the internet.

 

[SeventyOne]

If GotG does actually come to Epcot though, I believe Joe Rhode would be involved as he's the lead for all Disney Marvel attractions, so that gives me some hope at least.

That it will fetishize the poor, indigenous peoples of planet Knowhere?

 

[Alicia]

can still keep Woz and his garage to symbolize the internet.

I think most people see Jobs or Gates when they see that scene. I like that you see Woz, much more apt. He's kind of like the unknown Egyptian pounding out reeds to make paper. I've always interpreted the computer inventor as more of a historical placeholder representing multiple people... (people that like pizza clearly!)

 

[Nick]

That it will fetishize the poor, indigenous peoples of planet Knowhere?

Honestly, I have no idea what they could possibly be planning as far as theme for GotG. I know the talk is coaster, but besides that, how the hell does this fit into Future World? Oh yeah, it doesn't.

Of course, the Future World name may not be around for much longer either.

 

[JungleSkip]

Honestly, I have no idea what they could possibly be planning as far as theme for GotG. I know the talk is coaster, but besides that, how the hell does this fit into Future World? Oh yeah, it doesn't.

Of course, the Future World name may not be around for much longer either.

My guess is, if it's Guardians, they'll be repurposing the DCA videos/story just with the preshow edited to reflect whatever the new ride system is.

 

[Mr. EPCOT]

I think most people see Jobs or Gates when they see that scene. I like that you see Woz, much more apt. He's kind of like the unknown Egyptian pounding out reeds to make paper. I've always interpreted the computer inventor as more of a historical placeholder representing multiple people... (people that like pizza clearly!)

I was kind of skimming through the thread and this post conjured a mental image of Woz pounding his Apple to create the Internet.

 

[SeventyOne]

I think most people see Jobs or Gates when they see that scene. I like that you see Woz, much more apt. He's kind of like the unknown Egyptian pounding out reeds to make paper. I've always interpreted the computer inventor as more of a historical placeholder representing multiple people... (people that like pizza clearly!)

When SSE re-opened, there was a controversy on the boards (not sure if Twitter was a thing yet) whether that was Jobs or Woz. Voice of God (I forget exactly who) said it's Woz.

 

[JungleSkip]

When SSE re-opened, there was a controversy on the boards (not sure if Twitter was a thing yet) whether that was Jobs or Woz. Voice of God (I forget exactly who) said it's Woz.

I was working at SSE before it reopened. WDI said Woz, yea

 

[Alicia]

I was working at SSE before it reopened. WDI said Woz, yea

That explains the pizza. Hey-Oh!

 

[s8film40]

"Think of it as the first backup system," "Rome built the first World Wide Web," and "Thank the Phoenicians" always make me cringe. (No offense to Dame Judy Dench.)

The narration always felt to me like they were talking down to the audience, like we wouldn't understand these concepts without a modern analogy. I also really don't like Judy Dench as a narrator, she just doesn't bring that epic quality that SSE should have. Funny thing is I haven't heard the narration since it first debuted, after a few times of it I starting picking a foreign language just so I wouldn't have to listen to it.

 

[Alicia]

The narration always felt to me like they were talking down to the audience, like we wouldn't understand these concepts without a modern analogy. I also really don't like Judy Dench as a narrator, she just doesn't bring that epic quality that SSE should have. Funny thing is I haven't heard the narration since it first debuted, after a few times of it I starting picking a foreign language just so I wouldn't have to listen to it.

Whenever I ride with someone new I make the joke "Hooked on Phoenicians worked for me" after she says the "Remember how easy it was to learn your ABCs" bit. Gets a laugh every time.

 

[Nick]

It's not Judy Dench's fault that she had to read a very, very mediocre script. I always feel like she gets too much heat for something that was out of her control.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

My guess is, if it's Guardians, they'll be repurposing the DCA videos/story just with the preshow edited to reflect whatever the new ride system is.

I would have to assume, they would have to redo the scenes in the terms of the visuals, as it seems that it will be a form of a coaster instead of the ride system that is in-place of DCA/WDSP/TDS's Tower.

 

[s8film40]

It's not Judy Dench's fault that she had to read a very, very mediocre script. I always feel like she gets too much heat for something that was out of her control.

Yeah, I think it was also a bad casting choice. It just wasn't the right attraction for her.

 

[JungleSkip]

I would have to assume, they would have to redo the scenes in the terms of the visuals, as it seems that it will be a form of a coaster instead of the ride system that is in-place of DCA/WDSP/TDS's Tower.

I'm not sure why they'd have to redo the scenes. Instead of going up and down past scenes of Guardians shenanigans, you'll ride by them on a coaster.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

I'm not sure why they'd have to redo the scenes. Instead of going up and down past scenes of Guardians shenanigans, you'll ride by them on a coaster.

I would assume looking at that it won't just be one room for the sake of what they are going to do.

That's why I am saying that in a sense, and that I have to imagine that there will be changes that would have to be made for the attraction itself.

Another thing I think will happen; is that similar to Gringotts in a sense, there will be two Pre-show scenes; one being the first video when you enter the collection and the other being the preshow seen from Mission Breakout.

 

[epcyclopedia]

Honestly, I have no idea what they could possibly be planning as far as theme for GotG. I know the talk is coaster, but besides that, how the hell does this fit into Future World? Oh yeah, it doesn't.

Of course, the Future World name may not be around for much longer either.

It depends... one route is WDI has a plan and wants it to go through and we'll get whatever it is.

The other route, which I would think is more likely in this scenario, is that it goes to research and they formulate a plan based on what comes out of that. Usually if we're debating it, it's not seen as obvious internally either. Rat feels obvious. Something like Frozen had a plan but some doubts lead to research and they learned to carefully tiptoe and respect the culture and not change the pavilion away from Norway in name. The full research-driven project is something like AVATAR where they discovered no one could name a character but they recalled the landscapes and visuals. So the main ride is all visuals and sensory stuff mixed with AK's exploration motifs.

So I think if they bring Guardians to Epcot they know they'll have to reconcile it to the park.