Ice Station Cool & Other Epcot Rumors

[Sarangel]

From Screamscape:...a massive overhaul is planning for the Ice Station Cool area that will remove the free soda samples from around the world and be replaced by a new drink stand. According to the rumor source, the theme may be changed into something that was described as looking more like a dance club. In other news, we’ve heard that Test Track may also go down for a long rehab (at least a month or so) starting in Jan 2006 to allow for some resurfacing of the roads.

[OnWithTheShow]

I believe it will still have the free drinks, but it will be modeled after the rest of innoventions.

[ChrisFL]

It had better still have Smart Watermelon or I will be very upset.

[GOOFYFREEK]

What I understand to be happening is that it would be more like a SeaWorld and Busch Garden with the Beer sampling. So Coke would be able to promote there new products.

[sugermouse]

FRom what I understand, the pavillion will have two sections. When you first enter you will have the option of participating in the Coke versus Pepsi challenge. Get it right and you enter the section on the left. Get it wrong and you enter the section on the right. :rolleyes1

[paulh]

What I understand to be happening is that it would be more like a SeaWorld and Busch Garden with the Beer sampling. So Coke would be able to promote there new products.
what disney to give beer samples make me first in line
Paulh

[mitros]

Gee, I hope they don't get rid of beverly! :drinking1 :crazy2: :faint: :rotfl2:

[ChrisFL]

hehe, nice smiley sequence there, just about accurate too!

;)

[MickeyMousesGal]

I really hope that Test Track isn't closed in late Jan. or early Feb. because that's when my family and I go every year. I will be very disappointed and upset! That's one of my favorite rides at Epcot. If anyone has any more info. please let me know.


Jessica :sad:

[toddp3]

Gee, I hope they don't get rid of beverly! :drinking1 :crazy2: :faint: :rotfl2:

Best smiley sequence evah!!! (edit: and now part of my .sig)

My brother kept drinking and drinking Beverly... not because he liked it, but because he was trying place the taste. Personally I just place it in the garbage ;)

[freediverdude]

Beverly??!! EEEEEEK!! (running and screaming in terror)

[patsal]

This past week Test Track was down every time I visited the park--all fast passes were gone by 10 AM--on some days they were not even passing them out. Usually my family rides this 3-4 times on a two week vacation--we were only able to get it in once and even then it was down again immediately after our ride.

[Luv2Roam]

Living Seas rehab coming up shortly....

[mitros]

Based on......?

[Luv2Roam]

Straight from the mouse on the official Disney website. :)

Turtle Talk with Crush will not be operating August 21 through late November, 2005 however we recommend "Honey, I Shrunk The Audience" as an alternative during this time.


The Living Seas will not be operating August 21 through late November, 2005 however we recommend Living with the Land as an alternative during this time.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/refurbishmentslisting/index?id=EPCalendarRefurbishmentsListingPage&date=82005

[mitros]

Interesting, Wonders of Life closed, Living Seas closed, Test Track starting to have substantial breakdowns again as per other threads, Soarin' with looong and now evener loooooooooger lines, Ice Station Cool closed, maybe we can get discount tickets to Epcot????/ :rotfl2: :confused3

[manning]

Interesting, Wonders of Life closed, Living Seas closed, Test Track starting to have substantial breakdowns again as per other threads, Soarin' with looong and now evener loooooooooger lines, Ice Station Cool closed, maybe we can get discount tickets to Epcot????/ :rotfl2: :confused3

Reminds me when EPCOT first opened. The day we went in every ride broke down. At the end of the day while waiting for friends at TTC I went into guest relations and related my experience and thought we should have a refund. The breakdowns were not short, they were lengthy and frequent. Get this, the girl looks me in the eye and says "what do expect, it is EPCOT, an experiment." I looked her in the eye and said " you can experiment all you want but not on my money." Needless to say I got four free tickets.

[JeffH]

We checked out the line for Soarin' late Saturday evening (around 5pm), and we entered the Standby line to find it full almost to the 1st turn (the longest I've ever seen), yet the listed Standby time was only 45 minutes!!! This had to be a 75 minute line. In the past (in the morning), I've reported 60 and 45 minute posted wait times for 10 to ZERO (walked straight to the merge, then straight into the attraction) actual waits.
I can just see them giving an attraction timer card to someone after the rush of later day people entered the line with a no-so-threatening 45 minute wait...after a 75 minute wait in line, the card finally gets to the head of the line, where the computer finally adjusts the line time a calculated amount somewhat towards 75 minutes.
This is a ride where line cards DO NOT WORK. The way the line is, they (a human) could simply walk into the queue, check the length of the line, then set the time.
The last turn=10minutes
less than Half way down the trivia section=20-25 minutes
Trivia section full=45-60 minutes
section before trivia full=60-75 minutes
Que filled to opening=75-90 minute wait

Thoughts on closures
Sure hope they plan on opening Wonders of Life.
They better be getting the cabs back online
Updating the trivia screens (adding stools to sit on!!!)

[patsal]

I must admit with that much in need of rehab or in process of rehab, it would certainly stink to be stuck at EPCOT with one of those new non-park hopping tickets! Isn't EPCOT turning 25 next year? I would think they should be planning something for that event, but maybe not? :confused3

[GOOFYFREEK]

I must admit with that much in need of rehab or in process of rehab, it would certainly stink to be stuck at EPCOT with one of those new non-park hopping tickets! Isn't EPCOT turning 25 next year? I would think they should be planning something for that event, but maybe not? :confused3


Yes Epcot turns 25 next year. And rumored to have a new parade and a daytime water show. But only time will tell. Disney needs to get better leaks so enquireing minds want to know. :rotfl:

[discruisegirl90]

Soarin' lines can be VERY long. When i was there the line was 115 minutes long, but thanks to fastpasses me and my family rode soarin' 8 times on our trip and loved just as much each time.

What are they doing with the living seas and the wonders of life?

[MickeyMousesGal]

Does anyone know if Test Track will be closed in the near future (around Jan. or Feb.)?

Jessica :maleficen

[mitros]

I think it's a little early for that type of information to be released. I checked all the appropriate websites, and they do not go that far ahead. I think the only thing you have to worry about is the fact that Test Track has a tendencey to break down periodically, but you won't know that until you are there and it happens...... unfortunatley.

[DancingBear]

I can just see them giving an attraction timer card to someone after the rush of later day people entered the line with a no-so-threatening 45 minute wait...after a 75 minute wait in line, the card finally gets to the head of the line, where the computer finally adjusts the line time a calculated amount somewhat towards 75 minutes.
This is a ride where line cards DO NOT WORK.

Why would the cards work any less well in Soarin' than anyplace else?

Aren't the cards used for Disney to confirm the wait times from a given physical spot in line? So if the line shortened since the cardholder received their card, the computer wouldn't adjust the posted wait times as if the line was still the same length, right?

[DancingBear]

Disney's not making any commitments on their website, but I wonder if Wonders of Life will be kept open while Living Seas is closed.

[mantaz]

I have a friend who is manager of the test track area. If I can get in touch with him this week, I'll ask him if he knows anything about a refurb schedule.

Angela

[SoCalKDG]

Soarin' lines can be VERY long. When i was there the line was 115 minutes long, but thanks to fastpasses me and my family rode soarin' 8 times on our trip and loved just as much each time.

What are they doing with the living seas and the wonders of life?I've read that the Sea Cabs might be coming back to the living seas with a Nemo overlay to it(using new video technology similar to the subs at DL). An even bigger rumor is a Weather pavilion replacing Wonders and Stormrider being brought in.

[MickeyMousesGal]

I have a friend who is manager of the test track area. If I can get in touch with him this week, I'll ask him if he knows anything about a refurb schedule.

Angela

Thank-you soo much, mantaz!!!!! Thanks for asking the manager!

Jessica :flower: :flower: :flower:

[treesinger]

Getting the Sea Cabs back is a must. The Living Seas has seemed so lackluster without it. And correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't there less fish than there used to be?

[mitros]

Bringing the sea cabs back has always been a big thing with DW and myself. Your right when you say that the Living Seas are lackluster without them. It was a good third of the overall show. One third the movie, one third the Sea cabs, and one third the "aquarium" And I would sure like to know what the actual reason was for them shutting it down to begin with. There have been numerous rumors about that.
Also, your point of "less fish" rings true with us. We have been saying that for a while now. Just doesn't seem to have the hugh schools that they used to have.

[SoCalKDG]

And correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't there less fish than there used to be?Must be the restaurant next door. :teeth:

[treesinger]

If Living Seas ever shuts down, at least it could be used as the largest lobster tank in the known universe.

"I'll taaaaaaaake...THAT one. No no, the other one. No, two up and two to the left. Yes, that's the one!"

[treesinger]

Bringing the sea cabs back has always been a big thing with DW and myself. Your right when you say that the Living Seas are lackluster without them. It was a good third of the overall show. One third the movie, one third the Sea cabs, and one third the "aquarium" And I would sure like to know what the actual reason was for them shutting it down to begin with. There have been numerous rumors about that.
Also, your point of "less fish" rings true with us. We have been saying that for a while now. Just doesn't seem to have the hugh schools that they used to have.
I'm glad it's not just me. I seem to remember many schools of fish, fish everywhere. Now it just looks like a great big tank of water with no fish. I remember the first time DW and I went. It was DW's first visit and I really talked up Living Seas. The Cabs were gone (big bummer there) and then it seemed like most of the fish were gone. If ever WDW let me down, it was then. And Living Seas still lets me down.

[outstandinfarmer]

I used to like it how you could ride the cabs. Then we went one day and they were gone! So we go to look at the fish, and BY GEORGE!! SOMEONE STOLE ALL THE FISH!! After that, I don't even bother going to that exhibit anymore. I agree. . . very disappointed with Disney :sad2:

They may have to rename it from the Living Seas to just The Seas

"Hey, do you want to go check out the Seas exhibit? I hear it's the largest glass of water on Disney Property!" (It would probably taste better than the water they have down there now)

It makes you wonder if they are deliberately trying to reduce the fish population due to cost, or if someone is not doing their job and just doesn't care. I'd like to know.

[FrozenTundra]

Okay.... has something happened to the fish since May ? Cause when we were there the tanks were full of fish.

As for the Sea Cabs: Yeah, I want them back, but they really weren't THAT special.

[mitros]

You would have to compare what is there right now, {fish-wise} with what was there over the last 20 odd years. The place used to be literally packed with sea creatures. We loved to watch the movie, take the hydrolators "down" to sea base alpha, then ride the sea cabs into the fishFULL aquarium area. The Living Seas have taken a nose dive in the opinion of folks like my DW and myself.

[ShadowWind]

To me, it would be nice if they'd fix it where you can bypass all the craziness to get into the place like they used to have Transcenter, etc. I love the aquarium. I could sit there for hours and watch the fish and dolphins, but the whole hydrolator/movies, etc is just a pain in the butt IMO. It's great the first time you see it, the second or third time maybe, but it gets old after awhile. Not to mention it's not the easiest thing in the world to navigate an ECV in the first part of the queue.

As far as the seacabs, don't really miss them that much...Kinda like the idea of going through the tunnel there at your own pace.

[FrozenTundra]

Last Dec we waited at the exit of the Hydrolators - where people actually exit The Seas - and when the doors opened & the "elevator" emptied, we stepped inside.When the interior doors opened, we simply entered the Seas. A CM saw us do this and made us exit thru the hydrolator again. I was actually a little more then just mad but my DW just laughed it off.

[freediverdude]

Yes the last couple times I've been through, they did have a cast member standing next to the hydrolators. You would have to evade this person now in order to be able to get in that way. Maybe if the person was distracted by another guest or something, but it's probably not worth taking the chance.

[outstandinfarmer]

I agree about the movie, a total waste of time. I didn't like it one speckle fleck.

[treesinger]

Last Dec we waited at the exit of the Hydrolators - where people actually exit The Seas - and when the doors opened & the "elevator" emptied, we stepped inside.When the interior doors opened, we simply entered the Seas. A CM saw us do this and made us exit thru the hydrolator again. I was actually a little more then just mad but my DW just laughed it off.
I did this the last two times. I guess they're onto us now.

[dan-tot]

Beverly Um! Um! I like the taste. I don't see the problem?

Dan-tot

[kelljacques@aol.com]

Disney's not making any commitments on their website, but I wonder if Wonders of Life will be kept open while Living Seas is closed.


we were at epcot today and they were both closed!

[nuts]

A friend of mine use to do diving in the big tank. He told me the reason the fish population went way down is because one of the dolphins got loose into the tank and had a major snack before they could catch him. :confused3

[mitros]

Beverly is really gross, Beverly I hate the most! {hope you saw Charlie and the chocolate factory folks, otherwise the previous sentence will not make sense. :rotfl: }

[!@#$%]

I havent found ANY drink in Ice Station Cool that I didnt like INCLUDING beverly! YUMMY! They are good mixed together too! Any combination, Ive tried it! LOVE that place! Im really gonna miss it on my next trip! I dont know how they can possibly top it. A shorter stroller exit would be nice, but what they had is fine.
Oh yeah, I like the smileys combo too! Too funny.

[MickeyMantleMouse]

One of my favorite pasttimes at Ice Station Cool is to stand by and watch people's reactions to drinking Beverly...and they are almost always the same. It's too funny.

And I especially like taking someone to Epcot with me that's never been there before (or to Ice Station Cool) and enthusiastically recommending Beverly...then watching as they realize what kind of cough medicine they just drank! :rotfl:

[MickeyMantleMouse]

By the way... anyone hear the latest about when the new Ice Station (Club) will be open?

[Disney Girlie-Wirlie]

From Screamscape:

I'm glad to hear that there not taking it down altogether! The rumor I heard had the Ice Station gone forever! I was very upset about that! :earseek:

[sbelyo]

Is Beverly the one that tastes like medicine?

I'll have to agree with most and say I don't like it. The smart soda and the ginger ale are the best.

[toddp3]

Is Beverly the one that tastes like medicine?


To me it tastes more like how I imagine the floor of a movie theater were to taste if I were to lick it.

[JDietz40]

Gee, I hope they don't get rid of beverly! :drinking1 :crazy2: :faint: :rotfl2:

That's great, I tricked DS into trying beverly last time and that was about the reaction he had.


John

[Macca1111]

I have done SCUBA twice in the living seas, both times after the sea cabs stopped working (which is another thing I'm terribly sad about). The difference that three or four years has made in the fish population was astounding. This past time there wasn't a whole lot to do but play with the crowd. There were significantly fewer sharks and fish throughout the tank. I don't know what the reason is, but I'm glad that I wasn't the only one to notice. I can only hope with the success of Nemo that they will revamp the whole thing, adding more fish and bringing back the sea cabs. :fish:

[BEACHCLUBVILLAS]

Yes Epcot turns 25 next year. And rumored to have a new parade and a daytime water show. But only time will tell. Disney needs to get better leaks so enquireing minds want to know. :rotfl:


EPCOT opened Oct. 1, 1982. It will be 25 years old on Oct. 1, 2007. I know this because I was there when it opened and was on my honeymoon. I'd love to know what they have planned for their 25 year anniversary.

[jeanylaser]

On November 16, 2005 club cool is opening. :wizard:

[stemikger]

Me and my daughter were so upset last August when Ice Station cool was not open. We loved it so much the year before.

I would love to see something else like that.

[jeanylaser]

club cool is now open yesterday and i will see the new club cool tomorrow at epcot.

[peter11435]

club cool is now open yesterday and i will see the new club cool tomorrow at epcot.
While it was supposed to open yesterday, it did not. I don't know if it opened today or not.

[mitros]

Well, now that it has re-opened as Club Cool, we will all be able to get our Beverly "fix"! Yes, I'm kidding! {About the Beverly, not the opening}