EPCOT to become “more Disney”

[Missingmypooh]

Do you think disney doesn’t want to add more to the world showcase because that means more international cast? (I have ZERO back story for this, just throwing it out there. I know the international contracts aren’t super long. Like a year or so?)

 

[Marthasor]

Everyone seems to think kids are so bored with WS I think we should make them all third world countries and show our kids how people live in them. It could be interactive and educational. Might make more grateful kids.

“Billy you know that temper tantrum your threw over that Mickey balloon that you popped? How about a whole day in Somalia?”

Prior to sailing through the Galapagos, we drove with our DS (11 at the time) about an hour east of Guayaquil, Ecuador to Naranjito, through small rural towns and past Dole banana farms. Yes, viewing the actual world as opposed to the one put through the Disney wash-and-rinse cycle is very enlightening, IMHO.

 

[piccolopat]

Yea htey're basic but look nice and woudl be great in the UK area. Hopefully they would eventually add a Mary Poppins dark ride as well.

Well if they do Mary Poppins as a carousel or something like Enchanted Tales with Belle, I would vote for a dark ride in the UK based on Doctor Who. My recollection is that Disney bought Doctor Who a few years ago and some of it's merchandise was in one of the UK shops a while back.

 

[BrianL]

Well if they do Mary Poppins as a carousel or something like Enchanted Tales with Belle, I would vote for a dark ride in the UK based on Doctor Who. My recollection is that Disney bought Doctor Who a few years ago and some of it's merchandise was in one of the UK shops a while back.

Disney did not buy Doctor Who though they did have some merch in the UK Pavilion as it is such a typically British thing. Of course, they've made rides based on things they didn't own before, but I'd consider it a longshot.

 

[Eric Smith]

I like the idea of bringing the Matterhorn to Germany. 🏔

The Matterhorn is in Switzerland

 

[piccolopat]

Disney did not buy Doctor Who though they did have some merch in the UK Pavilion as it is such a typically British thing. Of course, they've made rides based on things they didn't own before, but I'd consider it a longshot.

Thanks for confirming. I did check back and saw that in 2014 Michael Eisner was interested in buying Doctor Who and doing something with it in Tomorrowland but ultimately went with the Star Wars franchise. I also found some April Fool's posts. I still would love to see a dark ride for Doctor Who somewhere.

 

[OSUZorba]

I think people are missing the boat here. Families with kids struggle at Epcot because they havent kept the park updated over the years, period. It has nothing to do with a lack of Disney IP.

My daughter has always loved Epcot, since she could talk she's asked to go there. It's biggest issue is lack of attractions, the attractions it does have are just fine without being more Disney. The drunkenness is also getting worse, which I really don't like.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I like the idea of bringing the Matterhorn to Germany. 🏔

The Matterhorn is in Switzerland

So...you don't want it moved?

 

[Lumpy1106]

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.

 

[drummerwife]

That's a good one - though it would need to be distinct from Test Track. I don't think they could put that style of attraction in that space anyway, but Autobahn does indicate speed - maybe just a relatively fast dark ride (something like Mr. Toad or Roger Rabbit) and a super-speed tunnel section could work.

Unfortunately, the Autobahn is becoming better know for speed limits and staus. When we were station there a few years ago I hated driving it because the traffic was so bad. I once spent over 3 hours in a stau and had a coworker who was stuck in one overnight!

 

[BrianL]

Unfortunately, the Autobahn is becoming better know for speed limits and staus. When we were station there a few years ago I hated driving it because the traffic was so bad. I once spent over 3 hours in a stau and had a coworker who was stuck in one overnight!

Well, maybe they could port over the new version of Snow White's Enchanted Wish from Disneyland - classic dark ride with soem new bells and whistles, though some of it cribs from 7DMT. It should have a pretty small footprint too.

 

[JC1984]

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 agree I think FW as we know it will never be the same. The intent of learning science and about ourselves and our planet are gone.

 

[Farro]

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 agree I think FW as we know it will never be the same. The intent of learning science and about ourselves and our planet are gone.

So I agree that it lost it's original focus, but is it all their fault?

When I visited Epcot in the early 80's, I was 9 and 10. There was no internet. I rode Horizons and I still remember the feeling of - oh my god, life is amazing, the future is going to be GREAT!!! I never heard of that stuff before.

Today, with all the technological advances (internet, video games....), there would be no way to capture that same feeling of excitement for the future, wonder at new "technology".
Kids today have so much at their fingertips, technology changes so fast, Epcot would be outdated again within a year.

Could they have more interactive/edutainment type attractions? Absolutely! But I think the heyday of Future World is long gone and I don't think it's something anyone could have stopped.

 

[JC1984]

So I agree that it lost it's original focus, but is it all their fault?

When I visited Epcot in the early 80's, I was 9 and 10. There was no internet. I rode Horizons and I still remember the feeling of - oh my god, life is amazing, the future is going to be GREAT!!! I never heard of that stuff before.

Today, with all the technological advances (internet, video games....), there would be no way to capture that same feeling of excitement for the future, wonder at new "technology".
Kids today have so much at their fingertips, technology changes so fast, Epcot would be outdated again within a year.

Could they have more interactive/edutainment type attractions? Absolutely! But I think the heyday of Future World is long gone and I don't think it's something anyone could have stopped.

I would prefer to leave the gaming thing out of it personally. There are kids and adults who are literally addicted to video games. So much more they could do other than games and keep it interesting for youngsters.

 

[Farro]

I would prefer to leave the gaming thing out of it personally. There are kids and adults who are literally addicted to video games. So much more they could do other than games and keep it interesting for youngsters.

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.

 

[JC1984]

Gotcha. And I agree with what your saying. It is the same issue with Tomorrowland. Hence why they eventually went to the steam punk (MK) and Jules Verne (DL) theme. Even those have lost popularity now. They need to do something for sure. Just don’t know what the answer is. Maybe I am wrong and IP will save the day but as a CM that helped open DCA to see what it has come today I am nervous and hope they do it classy.

 

[Eric Smith]

Gotcha. And I agree with what your saying. It is the same issue with Tomorrowland. Hence why they eventually went to the steam punk (MK) and Jules Verne (DL) theme. Even those have lost popularity now. They need to do something for sure. Just don’t know what the answer is. Maybe I am wrong and IP will save the day but as a CM that helped open DCA to see what it has come today I am nervous and hope they do it classy.

DCA is unquestionably better today than it was when it was opened.

 

[JC1984]

Gotcha. And I agree with what your saying. It is the same issue with Tomorrowland. Hence why they eventually went to the steam punk (MK) and Jules Verne (DL) theme. Even those have lost popularity now. They need to do something for sure. Just don’t know what the answer is. Maybe I am wrong and IP will save the day but as a CM that helped open DCA to see what it has come today I am nervous and hope they do it classy.

Granted DCA was a mess from the beginning.

 

[JC1984]

DCA is unquestionably better today than it was when it was opened.

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

 

[Yinn]

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.