The State of Epcot

[graspthesun]

Honestly, if they could theme Future World to be the future as it was thought of in 1982 and just update the back of house architecture or ride tech to modern day technology, it would be a cool retro futuristic park.

 

[Mad Dog]

Actually, I like Epcot, but after a few trips there it gets old real quick. The problem with theme parks having "Future Worlds" or "Tomorrow Lands" is that technology advances move so quickly, that the future becomes the past nearly overnight. It's really a theme that parks should steer clear of in this time of rapid change. Epcot should probably accept/embrace the reality that it's a Festival park and slowly retheme Future World into something that's compatible with the rest of the park. Why keep beating a dead horse when it has "no future". :horse:

 

[belloq87]

I'm one of those (apparent) weirdos whose favorite park is Epcot, but even I'm fully aware that nostalgia plays a big part in that. However, setting that aside, there's still so much of the park that I legitimately love, particularly World Showcase (and for the record, I'm not really a drinker, so the "booze" is not a factor for me), which has the most incredible atmosphere, particularly at night.

The park is heavily flawed, and I'm not blind to that, but I can't sit here and write the place off as somewhere I don't still really enjoy visiting. Aside from Imagination, I enjoy all the rides (and think Spaceship Earth is one of the pinnacles of the grand dark ride), and I enjoy all the WS shows, too.

But, do I think the park needs some major love, particularly in Future World? Absolutely.

 

[ChrisFL]

Future World is the main problem with Epcot. World Showcase may be stagnant relatively, but it still fulfills its original purpose IMO.

Here's the state of Future World:

Wonders of Life- Closed
Spaceship Earth- Updated in 2007 with questionable ending and dumbed down script
Mission:Space- Opened in 2003, no updates since then, except for the green side
Test Track- Updated in 2012- some reliability issues with the screens
Innoventions- Barely worth mentioning as most of it is closed
Universe of Energy/Ellen's Energy Adventure - Updated in 1996...two decades ago
Journey into Imagination- Updated in 2000, people still hate it, movie is now pixar short films
The Land- Soarin' finally getting an update and a third theater, Living with the land is there, still somewhat futuristic
The Seas with Nemo- Completely abandoned the future theme for a cartoon fish, but still has a few educational things

 

[belloq87]

I think if Disney gave us a new pavilion in Wonders of Life, refurbed Energy to bring it into the 21st century, gave Imagination its due, and maybe redid the ride film for Mission: Space, I'd be incredibly satisfied with Future World.

 

[Scott W.]

I think if Disney gave us a new pavilion in Wonders of Life, refurbed Energy to bring it into the 21st century, gave Imagination its due, and maybe redid the ride film for Mission: Space, I'd be incredibly satisfied with Future World.

The big problem with Disney updating EPCOT is that they're going to want a sponsor and somebody else to pay for it and I think every company has now learned that it's a waste of money as the rides go out of date very quickly.

The bigger problem is that technology moves so fast now. 10 years ago, Facebook and YouTube were just emerging, iPhones didn't exist, so who knows what will be out in the next 10 years.

 

[Herman]

I think World Showcase is the strongest part of Epcot now, with that in mind I'd like to see another country added Brazil perhaps

 

[Teebin]

Are sponsors even a business model these days? It seems like a very antique idea today.

Is any part of the FL expansion sponsored? Is any part of UOR sponsored?

 

[Nick]

Are sponsors even a business model these days? It seems like a very antique idea today.

Is any part of the FL expansion sponsored? Is any part of UOR sponsored?

A lot of WDW is under a sponsor model still... not all rides, but just different areas of the resort. Even the First Aid place is sponsored. TT is Sponsored, Living With The Land, Disney Jr, Rock n Roller Coaster, Photopass, Spaceship Earth, Great Movie Ride, Star Wars Launch Bay, the few remaining exhibits in innoventions, etc, etc. Mission Space was sponsored but I think it ran up.

 

[Teebin]

A lot of WDW is under a sponsor model still... not all rides, but just different areas of the resort. Even the First Aid place is sponsored. TT is Sponsored, Living With The Land, Disney Jr, Rock n Roller Coaster, Photopass, Spaceship Earth, Great Movie Ride, Star Wars Launch Bay, the few remaining exhibits in innoventions, etc, etc. Mission Space was sponsored but I think it ran up.

Thanks. Odd. Shutterfly on the Ellen Show makes a whole lot more sense to me!

 

[UK-Trigg]

What's happened to Epcot is tragic, I remember being awe inspired by the place as a kid in back in 89. The rides, the tech, the countries, the abstract buildings filled with learning and wonder and of course Figment all left an imprint on my young mind, it was the park I remembered and talked about the most after that first trip.

Now with more years and many trips under my belt that original inspiration has been replaced with sadness and frustration.

The future caught up with future world, World showcase has hardly had any investment since that first trip and toons are taking over the place, whats happening at Norway seriously angers me.

Nowadays I skip through future world , maybe FPing TT or Soarin if a time slot is available and head straight for World Showcase, I do still enjoy a stroll around WS and the festivals do add a certain level of interest, there are some fabulous restaurants and Illuminations is still one of the best night shows around, but is this worth the entry fee? Absolutely not and no way would I pay to attend if it wasn't on my AP or multi day ticket.

Back in 89 it was easily a two day park, rich with attractions, marvelous sights and was educational without being boring. I fear for the future of Epcot and I really hope that Norway and Character Spots are not an indication of the direction Disney will take this park, but I fear the worse.

Character spot is now in two locations, Frozen is taking over Norway and toons are all over World Showcase, not just subtly like Snow White in Germany or Aladdin in Morocco, this last trip as I walked by America and Italy pavilions I was gob smacked to see crowds gathered down the path which leads backstage, the crowds were drawn by toon after toon after toon, Pinocchio, Rafiki, Pluto plus at least 6 others, I just walked by shaking my head in disgust.

We all want investment at Epcot, hell it needs it but I do worry how Disney's management would spend such investment and what they would do with the park, Magic Kingdom 2 would be my guess. One things for sure, it won't be the great The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

 

[Mad Dog]

What's happened to Epcot is tragic, I remember being awe inspired by the place as a kid in back in 89. The rides, the tech, the countries, the abstract buildings filled with learning and wonder and of course Figment all left an imprint on my young mind, it was the park I remembered and talked about the most after that first trip.

Now with more years and many trips under my belt that original inspiration has been replaced with sadness and frustration.

The future caught up with future world, World showcase has hardly had any investment since that first trip and toons are taking over the place, whats happening at Norway seriously angers me.

Nowadays I skip through future world , maybe FPing TT or Soarin if a time slot is available and head straight for World Showcase, I do still enjoy a stroll around WS and the festivals do add a certain level of interest, there are some fabulous restaurants and Illuminations is still one of the best night shows around, but is this worth the entry fee? Absolutely not and no way would I pay to attend if it wasn't on my AP or multi day ticket.

Back in 89 it was easily a two day park, rich with attractions, marvelous sights and was educational without being boring. I fear for the future of Epcot and I really hope that Norway and Character Spots are not an indication of the direction Disney will take this park, but I fear the worse.

Character spot is now in two locations, Frozen is taking over Norway and toons are all over World Showcase, not just subtly like Snow White in Germany or Aladdin in Morocco, this last trip as I walked by America and Italy pavilions I was gob smacked to see crowds gathered down the path which leads backstage, the crowds were drawn by toon after toon after toon, Pinocchio, Rafiki, Pluto plus at least 6 others, I just walked by shaking my head in disgust.

We all want investment at Epcot, hell it needs it but I do worry how Disney's management would spend such investment and what they would do with the park, Magic Kingdom 2 would be my guess. One things for sure, it won't be the great The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

Good thoughtful post. :thumbsup:

 

[misterID]

Well, now I'm depressed.

 

[epcyclopedia]

Well, now I'm depressed.

Welcome to my life. After a while the sadness turns to anger.

 

[Cheezbat]

I think Future World needs to become Discovery World. There were plans many years ago to go this route. I say make the land about discovery, technology, and wonders of the world. Imagination could still be relevant, Soarin' and the Land Pavillion would be fine, as would pretty much everything else. Just update and add a few new attractions and the place could be amazing again.

 

[IzzyB]

I think Future World needs to become Discovery World. There were plans many years ago to go this route. I say make the land about discovery, technology, and wonders of the world. Imagination could still be relevant, Soarin' and the Land Pavillion would be fine, as would pretty much everything else. Just update and add a few new attractions and the place could be amazing again.

Agreed. I always thought making it revolve around the sciences would be best. Some of it already fits in pretty well. Test Track can be slightly modified to be physics. Just don't do any sciences that would out date the park quickly, but do more of the ones that last forever.

 

[Nick]

I know Epcot isn't really likely to get a huge investment until DHS is done (unfortunately), but I do really hope Mission: Space gets a real refurb soon. Not even a new movie or anything, just a good polishing and fix everything that's broken, because a lot of stuff doesn't work on that thing now.

It also just looks very beaten up. A nice little refurb would go a long way.

 

[IzzyB]

I know Epcot isn't really likely to get a huge investment until DHS is done (unfortunately), but I do really hope Mission: Space gets a real refurb soon. Not even a new movie or anything, just a good polishing and fix everything that's broken, because a lot of stuff doesn't work on that thing now.

It also just looks very beaten up. A nice little refurb would go a long way.

Agreed.

We hear rumors of Dino Land in AK and Phase 3 in DHS. But I really hope after SWL is done that they are already in full swing construction at Epcot to fix it. I think it can be fixed if they put a vision together and broke it into phases.

 

[Teebin]

I remember the spaceship earth future scene that had a projected fake flat screen tv for years after flat screens were being sold. It was pitiful.

 

[UK-Trigg]

I remember the spaceship earth future scene that had a projected fake flat screen tv for years after flat screens were being sold. It was pitiful.

Did they used to beam a world map onto SSE? or am I getting confused with the Illuminations globe?

I have vague memory of walking out and seeing a green laser projection.