The State of Epcot

[IzzyB]

They still have the lasers that are green. They are after the fireworks and say good bye. Pretty cheesy and outdated, they should stop that but I also think Siemens advertises too with the green lasers.

 

[UK-Trigg]

They still have the lasers that are green. They are after the fireworks and say good bye. Pretty cheesy and outdated, they should stop that but I also think Siemens advertises too with the green lasers.

Wow, I haven't noticed LOL. I was remembering back to my childhood trips

 

[ChrisFL]

yep, they still use the lasers on SSE...I think they're fine. They also do a massive clock for NYE

 

[UK-Trigg]

yep, they still use the lasers on SSE...I think they're fine. They also do a massive clock for NYE

No idea how I've missed this in recent years.

 

[Brian G.]

I went Saturday and just....

It used to be my favorite park. That's all I'll say.

 

[Nick]

I went Saturday and just....

It used to be my favorite park. That's all I'll say.

Fix Energy, Imagination and WoL and FW should be solid again. Right now it's a train wreck, though. Also, give SSE another refurb and this time finish the damn ride!

 

[Brian G.]

Fix Energy, Imagination and WoL and FW should be solid again. Right now it's a train wreck, though. Also, give SSE another refurb and this time finish the damn ride!

What's that saying about "Wish in one hand.. "



I only went because I was in an artsy photo mood and was just let down by Flower & Garden (a.k.a. Food & Wine Lite).

Went on SSE, walked around countries, and left. It was a buzzkill.

 

[IzzyB]

What's that saying about "Wish in one hand.. "



I only went because I was in an artsy photo mood and was just let down by Flower & Garden (a.k.a. Food & Wine Lite).

Went on SSE, walked around countries, and left. It was a buzzkill.

Yeah I agree, it needs to be fixed. They need to get more stuff in the front. I think they could move the festival stuff to the innovation buildings. I mean those are barely used right now. Then take the pavilion where they do festivals along with energy and create a whole land over there. Have it themed to some branch of science that is more future proofed. Then redo the imaginations pavilion. I think those two areas would be a huge help to the park and bring it back.

There is very little rides and I have to say I was slightly disappointed in the food. This lite version needs to find its identity. Either go all the way or not at all. Because there just is not enough variety right now. We did the food part and ended up stopping at Germany quick serve. My husband and I both agreed the best food we had all day was at Germany quick serve. Honestly I went to try the food and get my print. I wouldn't do that type of trip again, it wasn't worth it. I do like Epcot, but I went in March and April and it was boring going in May. We are going in June, but luckily have 4K soarin to look forward to. Then I am just doing an evening trip after work for Frozen. Then I will be done until Food and Wine.

 

[Mad Dog]

Yeah, I feel that way with Epcot. It's fine for the first day but it gets old really quick on subsequent visits. As I've said before, I think they need to get rid of the Future World theme. Just like the Disney Tomorrowlands, they aren't workable since technology moves too fast. So the Future becomes Yesterday before a new attraction even gets built. Cut the theme, take the losses, and retheme. Some of those present rides can still fit a new theme, so it's not necessary to take everything out. But it definitely needs a couple of new E or D attractions and a new theme for the front.

 

[snayberry]

Yeah I agree, it needs to be fixed. They need to get more stuff in the front. I think they could move the festival stuff to the innovation buildings. I mean those are barely used right now. Then take the pavilion where they do festivals along with energy and create a whole land over there. Have it themed to some branch of science that is more future proofed. Then redo the imaginations pavilion. I think those two areas would be a huge help to the park and bring it back.

There is very little rides and I have to say I was slightly disappointed in the food. This lite version needs to find its identity. Either go all the way or not at all. Because there just is not enough variety right now. We did the food part and ended up stopping at Germany quick serve. My husband and I both agreed the best food we had all day was at Germany quick serve. Honestly I went to try the food and get my print. I wouldn't do that type of trip again, it wasn't worth it. I do like Epcot, but I went in March and April and it was boring going in May. We are going in June, but luckily have 4K soarin to look forward to. Then I am just doing an evening trip after work for Frozen. Then I will be done until Food and Wine.

Not sure if I agree with you on the food part. I went during May for the Flower And Garden Festival, which has all the different food stands. I tried plenty of good stuff and I went hopping all around the different countries and trying all the different foods.

 

[IzzyB]

Yeah, I feel that way with Epcot. It's fine for the first day but it gets old really quick on subsequent visits. As I've said before, I think they need to get rid of the Future World theme. Just like the Disney Tomorrowlands, they aren't workable since technology moves too fast. So the Future becomes Yesterday before a new attraction even gets built. Cut the theme, take the losses, and retheme. Some of those present rides can still fit a new theme, so it's not necessary to take everything out. But it definitely needs a couple of new E or D attractions and a new theme for the front.

Agreed. I agree with someone else it should be a land of Discovery. So much could fit into that theme including the Sea and Land places. Which honestly I think those pavilions are fine for awhile. They have cleaned up the Sea a lot over the last year and it is looking much better. While I think it needs a refurb still, for now it is fine. They have bigger fish to fry.

Not sure if I agree with you on the food part. I went during May for the Flower And Garden Festival, which has all the different food stands. I tried plenty of good stuff and I went hopping all around the different countries and trying all the different foods.

The had some stands and some had good food. But when you are used to Food and Wine it is a huge letdown. It just doesn't have as many good stands as Food and Wine does. I did try an awesome Black Cherry Cider at the new Cider one. I would get that again in a heartbeat!

 

[snayberry]

Agreed. I agree with someone else it should be a land of Discovery. So much could fit into that theme including the Sea and Land places. Which honestly I think those pavilions are fine for awhile. They have cleaned up the Sea a lot over the last year and it is looking much better. While I think it needs a refurb still, for now it is fine. They have bigger fish to fry.



The had some stands and some had good food. But when you are used to Food and Wine it is a huge letdown. It just doesn't have as many good stands as Food and Wine does. I did try an awesome Black Cherry Cider at the new Cider one. I would get that again in a heartbeat!

Ah, see, I've never been to the food and wine festival. I should check it out.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Brian and I had a fun game this weekend called "relocate the festivals". We figured moving F&G to DAK would be a no brainer and a F&W in DHS could work if the basic conceit is changed slightly.

Point of this is Epcot's major problem are these festivals becoming the core offering for the park. When this occurs and the park is otherwise put on cruise control it is the festivals that draw in guests and satisfaction scores. Then the festivals get expanded to the point where the reason it attracts people (limited time, new offerings, etc) gets totally diminished. At that point the festivals reach a point of saturation and the actual core of the park is too old.

 

[IzzyB]

Brian and I had a fun game this weekend called "relocate the festivals". We figured moving F&G to DAK would be a no brainer and a F&W in DHS could work if the basic conceit is changed slightly.

Point of this is Epcot's major problem are these festivals becoming the core offering for the park. When this occurs

My only thing is I feel Epcot handles the large crowds it brings in for these festivals the best. I don't think DAK or DHS could handle the crowds. Epcot is just such a huge park with wide pathways that it works. I just think using the Innovation buildings 6 month of the year for festival stuff makes more sense. Then people know more about it instead of tucked into a corner. They could separate stuff a little better and I feel rides just wouldn't fit in those buildings. Then the other 6 months of the year either rent it out or put some temp traveling things. Short term sponsored items. There is so many empty useless buildings that are partway used for dumb things they just need to consolidate and come up with a good game plan.

 

[Nash]

I found that when I was trying not to spend money, there wasn't a lot for me on my trip last month. I went around 5:30p after a day at DAK and knocked out a good chunk of the attractions + eating dinner by the time Illuminations started. Hoping they can fill more out in the Future World part of the park.

 

[chewbacca1995]

The problem with Epcot is that there's so much wrong with it.

• Spaceship Earth finale
• Innoventions
• Odyssey (guest-accessible portion)
• WoL pavilion
• Energy pavilion
• LWtL AAs
• Imagination pavilion
• Mission: Space (feels half-baked)
• empty expansion pad between Land and Nemo (a Weather Pavilion would be great and help out Soarin')
• reduced streemosphere in WS
• Reflections of China
• Impressions de France
• All those empty expansion pads within WS (for new countries and new attractions)

MK has a decent lineup and the 50th to support it, AK should be the best Disney park in Orlando (and a genuine full-day experience to boot) once Pandora and RoL are open, and DHS has SWL, TSL, Muppets Courtyard, some new shows, a possible lengthy GMR revamp/refurb, and a possible Phase 3 to look forward to.

Epcot's future seems so bleak. :blank:

 

[Brian G.]

My only thing is I feel Epcot handles the large crowds it brings in for these festivals the best. I don't think DAK or DHS could handle the crowds. Epcot is just such a huge park with wide pathways that it works. I just think using the Innovation buildings 6 month of the year for festival stuff makes more sense. Then people know more about it instead of tucked into a corner. They could separate stuff a little better and I feel rides just wouldn't fit in those buildings. Then the other 6 months of the year either rent it out or put some temp traveling things. Short term sponsored items. There is so many empty useless buildings that are partway used for dumb things they just need to consolidate and come up with a good game plan.

He probably should have mentioned this, but we were playing the game as "Disney has to kill one park - which is it?" and settled on Epcot - since it now heavily relies on 2 festivals and Christmas.

 

[Mad Dog]

He probably should have mentioned this, but we were playing the game as "Disney has to kill one park - which is it?" and settled on Epcot - since it now heavily relies on 2 festivals and Christmas.

Kill a Park, sounds like a fun idea for a new thread.

 

[IzzyB]

He probably should have mentioned this, but we were playing the game as "Disney has to kill one park - which is it?" and settled on Epcot - since it now heavily relies on 2 festivals and Christmas.

Gotcha. I would be sad to see Epcot go. I do like some things in it.

 

[graspthesun]

I don't think EPCOT needs to die, but I wouldn't be opposed to Future World getting shut down for a complete gut and rebuild.