EPCOT to become “more Disney”

[Farro]

To me, Epcot was always the boring place. The educational place. As a kid I never truly wanted to go to Epcot. It's not until I got older that I started appreciating it and nostalgia hit.

But I think there's a balance to it. When I think of Epcot as a kid, I remember Journey into Imagination, where I got to play after the ride. I remember an area where I got to learn, touch, with science stuff. I don't remember anything about the world showcase, or...really anything else.

I don't see why they can't make something both interactive, educational and still use IP to make it family friendly. I think Nemo and the aquarium is a good example of that mix and my kids love it.

If I'm not mistaken, I think the Moana water feature was supposed to do exactly that? I think it was supposed to teach about...something...and have water elements you can interact with.
I have high hopes for this, I hope it turns out! (it won't)

 

[OSUZorba]

A Mary Poppins carousel would be a great addition to the UK pavilion!

I also love the idea of a river ride for Germany and a log flume for Canada (is there room there?)

Mary Poppins is the perfect IP for UK, because it's historically British.

I don't think a Germany river ride or Canadian log flume need IP, though, if they are done in a way to appeal to young and grown-up alike. Disney are very capable of achieving that if they want to.

The FernGully log flume .

 

[OSUZorba]

This thread has gotten a lot into the changes to WC, what about the Future World side? For me, this is where EPCOT has really taken a step (actually several steps) in the wrong direction. The early EPCOT had a very science-based focus. World of Motion explored the past and future of travel, Horizons took us a giant leap from where CoP leaves off, the Energy Pavilion showed us where energy comes from, The Seas took us underwater to explore marine life, the imagination pavilion gave us a peek into our imagination, the life pavilion took us into the human body in more ways than one. Now what do we have? The only things that has remained in its original concept is Spaceship Earth and Living With the Land. Not really sad to see Innovations torn down, but it never lived up to its intent - there was almost nothing innovative within its walls. I think that's really too bad. Granted it is not Disney's job to do it, but giving kids a fun way to get excited about STEM education is never a bad thing.

I think innoventions could've been more successful if they had partnered with companies, as opposed to demanding sponsorships.

 

[Eric Smith]

It’s attendance has picked up but really what identity does it have? When I think of DCA, I think of a US personally.

It doesn’t have a great identity, but that’s an issue from it being a flawed concept from the start.

 

[JC1984]

It doesn’t have a great identity, but that’s an issue from it being a flawed concept from the start.

Yes should of spent the money on WestCot and we could have another forum on that when it was out dated

 

[JC1984]

If I'm not mistaken, I think the Moana water feature was supposed to do exactly that? I think it was supposed to teach about...something...and have water elements you can interact with.
I have high hopes for this, I hope it turns out! (it won't)

Me too one of my favorite more modern movies. I would take Moana over Frozen any day.

 

[JC1984]

I posted a poll at the beginning so we can keep track of everyone’s answers. There are a lot of opinions. You can select more than one answer

 

[fatmanatee]

If I'm not mistaken, I think the Moana water feature was supposed to do exactly that? I think it was supposed to teach about...something...and have water elements you can interact with.
I have high hopes for this, I hope it turns out! (it won't)

Think the GotG attraction is supposed to have some educational elements as well, could have sworn I saw a quote from someone involved mentioning that they understand the purpose of EPCOT and that they'll honor that legacy.

 

[JC1984]

Think the GotG attraction is supposed to have some educational elements as well, could have sworn I saw a quote from someone involved mentioning that they understand the purpose of EPCOT and that they'll honor that legacy.

That would be excellent

 

[eMoneyBug]

Seems with more ride attractions and some refresh, it's great the way it is

 

[OSUZorba]

I'm indifferent about IP on rides, but hope they keep an epcot feels a MK feel. The fireworks is where I'm really bummed. I don't need another Disney greatest hits mash up. I really don't like that it's going to be a soundtrack and slideshow I could make myself in an hour, versus a soundtrack I could never do myself.

 

[BrianL]

Think the GotG attraction is supposed to have some educational elements as well, could have sworn I saw a quote from someone involved mentioning that they understand the purpose of EPCOT and that they'll honor that legacy.

I mean, they do still try to tie the attractions in with the science - Test Track and Mission: SPACE do have some elements of that. It's just that the opportunities are limited due to teh anture of the rides - as opposed to being a slow, 12 minute ridethrough, they lay the science on you in the pre and post shows. Nothing is wrong with that really. I had thought TRON would have worked well, with an exhibit about computers at the end, but GOTG I think is going to have some elements of that too. I think its fine.

 

[Moliphino]

No. I'm saying what's available to kids now (internet, video games, etc.) will hold a kid's interest more than riding a ride that shows us underwater in the future.
Back in the day going to Epcot was an exciting glimpse into the future. It's kind of irrelevant now. I can glimpse into the future with Google. I don't have kids, but I imagine they are much harder to impress these days. (unless toddlers)

Not that Epcot should have video games.

Video games would make it more like the Epcot of my childhood. I would get super bored in Innoventions while my sisters played video games for what felt like hours.

 

[Grasshopper2016]

I didn't go to Epcot until 2011, when I brought my kids for the first time. I was stunned at how many of the buildings in Future World were either empty, filled with souvenir shops, or seemingly slapped together on the cheap. We kept wondering where all of the rides and attractions were. Innoventions might have been great in the olden days --- I have no idea. But when we were there, it seemed almost embarrassing. There are hands-on children's science museums in most small cities that cover similar ground and are much better done. And the top children's museums in the country just plain blew it away. I was glad to see it go. And I'm very happy that new attractions and new concepts are being introduced in Future World.

 

[YeOswaldianSociety]

As a youth in the late eighties I was never bored by anything EPCOT offered. I cherish those memories and that’s what EPCOT will continue to mean to me on a personal level. I get how youth might be less then enthused with the general overall aesthetic of what it was but I find that if the right imagineers were brought to the project they could have produced attractions that appealed to all like the previous generations park did.

I’m aware this isn’t where we are and that the park is not returning to that. I’m also not against using IP to attract folks attention but I wish the spirit of a continuous evolving worlds fair was somehow fully entrenched in that decision making. A man and the boy that is inside of me will always dream for this but I know this is all for not.

 

[OSUZorba]

I didn't go to Epcot until 2011, when I brought my kids for the first time. I was stunned at how many of the buildings in Future World were either empty, filled with souvenir shops, or seemingly slapped together on the cheap. We kept wondering where all of the rides and attractions were. Innoventions might have been great in the olden days --- I have no idea. But when we were there, it seemed almost embarrassing. There are hands-on children's science museums in most small cities that cover similar ground and are much better done. And the top children's museums in the country just plain blew it away. I was glad to see it go. And I'm very happy that new attractions and new concepts are being introduced in Future World.

I also went for the first time as an adult in 2011 and had some of the same feelings. Upon returning, I've learned to enjoy Epcot more.

I think in some way Epcot was a victim of it's own success. When it was built, there weren't highly interactive children's and science museums in every town, there weren't aquariums in every metro, etc. I think EPCOT was likely the original inspiration and guiding light that started the trend. We used to have a place in Oklahoma City called Enterprise Square, I watched an old video of it a few months ago. Watching the video, I realized that they had really used EPCOT as the inspiration. It too failed as time caught up to it and it was no longer innovative and the subject got stale.

Basically, no one has figured out how to make a better magic kingdom, but I think lots of places have figured out how make a better EPCOT Center, sans major rides.

ETA: Body Wars also was completely knocked off, from a first of it's kind ride to inside every shopping mall in the country within a handful of years. Soarin' is also now being knocked off all over the place too.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Yea don't see any major additions soon but even something small could help. A Mary Poppins themed carousel would help that pavilion and be fairly inexpensive, and could fit in still if they ever go back to the Cherry Tree Lane expansion.

My thought was to blend a carousel with Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters. Why you are on carousel horses that start in a traditional carousel but then "break free" and do choreography to Mary Poppins music. Wouldn't take a huge footprint and would be unique

 

[TheMaxRebo]

If I'm not mistaken, I think the Moana water feature was supposed to do exactly that? I think it was supposed to teach about...something...and have water elements you can interact with.
I have high hopes for this, I hope it turns out! (it won't)

I think at least it was supposed to lean into the water cycle and the role of water in all life - part of why it was being located in between the Living Seas and the Land .... Not sure how interactive it will be though. But potentially will be a nice thing to explore and break up all the concrete, etc

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Think the GotG attraction is supposed to have some educational elements as well, could have sworn I saw a quote from someone involved mentioning that they understand the purpose of EPCOT and that they'll honor that legacy.

I think it is supposed to show back to the Big Bang and how the universe was formed and how things are this interconnected (and fits into how the Infinity Stones were created). Not sure how much "education" will be there but should be referenced.

I am also excited about how they have mentioned Peter Quill visited EPCOT as a kid ... Hoping for some smartalec comments from Rocket: "where the heck is Horizons? And that bearded guys with a purple lizard?"

 

[BrianL]

My thought was to blend a carousel with Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters. Why you are on carousel horses that start in a traditional carousel but then "break free" and do choreography to Mary Poppins music. Wouldn't take a huge footprint and would be unique

That could definitely be cool. Combine it with some nice background sets and you've got an idea.