The Future of Epcot...

tmoo · Oct 5, 2015

Q-man said:
There is no space to build in Tomorrowland without tearing out present attractions.

Do Stitch and Laugh Floor technically meet the definition for 'attractions'?

DDLand · Oct 5, 2015

rteetz said:
You can go beyond the train tracks like space mountain.

They've also talked about building between CoP and Buzz Lightyear. Tomorrowland has a TON of space (no pun intended) without messing with existing attractions. And as @tmoo pointed out, there are attractions that people are so indifferent towards, it doesn't even matter if they ripped them out. That doesn't even include Autopia land, which if torn out could massively expand the sizes of both Tomorrowland and Fantasyland.

It makes the choice to add new attractions to Frontierland seem even more strange.

kbelle8995 · Oct 5, 2015

Epcot could use a good loving refresh. However the whole putting Frozenland into WS has me wary. I would like to see some of the Forward thinking of the original Epcot FW return. But the future is tough especially these days when we have such a rapid technology change.

Still despite the needed updates, Epcot is still my favorite park.

Q-man · Oct 5, 2015

DDLand said:
They've also talked about building between CoP and Buzz Lightyear. Tomorrowland has a TON of space (no pun intended) without messing with existing attractions. And as @tmoo pointed out, there are attractions that people are so indifferent towards, it doesn't even matter if they ripped them out. That doesn't even include Autopia land, which if torn out could massively expand the sizes of both Tomorrowland and Fantasyland.

It makes the choice to add new attractions to Frontierland seem even more strange.

Indy Speedway or the parking lot behind CoP and Buzz make more sense than bumping outside the rail. You can't tell you're outside the rail on SM as you're indoor. The piece of land north of SM is both outside the rail and across a water way as well as it would bump up against World Dr. thus it wouldn't be possible to keep the illusion of MK being it's own place.

DDLand · Oct 5, 2015

Q-man said:
Indy Speedway or the parking lot behind CoP and Buzz make more sense than bumping outside the rail. You can't tell your outside the rail on SM as you're indoor. The piece of land north of SM is both outside the rail and across a water way as well as it would bump up against World Dr. thus it wouldn't be possible to keep the illusion of MK being it's own place.

That shouldn't be a major issue, seeing as the Magic Kingdom Lake could be altered to make more room for future expansion and a new show building. They could follow much the same design as Space Mountain, and build a path under the access area. I agree that it's not as easy as to develop though. The most obvious one is right between Buzz and CoP. Autopia is very tempting, but holds a huge amount of nostalgia for many guests.

Now a Frozenland may be able to pull off a transition though...

cranbiz · Oct 5, 2015

That part of World Dr could be relocated if required. It's mostly used by CM's and service vehicles.the monorail beam to the barn is there but as it's a "futuristic" mode of transportation, having it in tomorrowland would not effect the theming. Most of that area is currently zoned as Resource Management/Recreation and could be built on.

[/IMG]

dwheaton · Oct 5, 2015

I actually wrote something today on this exact topic! My thought is that they're focusing on DHS and the Animal Kingdom during the next few years. Like others have said, Frozen will get attention next year plus the Soarin' film. I'm not clamoring for a new version of Illuminations, but I've heard a lot of rumors. I feel like one upgrade at either Wonders of Life, Energy, or Imagination would make a huge difference. I still love the park, but I'm not so optimistic.

Here's my article:

Growth vs. Maturity: EPCOT

Antasia · Oct 5, 2015

I love Epcot! I would like to see an update to Ellen's Universe of Energy and a reimagining of the old Wonders of Life pavilion. I think a weather pavilion would be awesome! Test Track, Mission Space, Spaceship Earth, and Seas with Nemo are all fine and need nothing IMHO. Innoventions looks like it is being worked on so that's good. The Odyssey needs to go or become something else...I always thought this spot would be a great Australia! Mexico is perfect the way it is and Norway is going through a fantastic reimagining! The African Outpost needs to go now that we have Animal Kingdom. United Kingdom needs a tea shop to enjoy some nice English tea and scones! Canada is nice but it always feels like there should be more shops as you climb the stairs. I would LOVE for all the countries to have themed rides. The Land pavilion seems like it is going through some work with Soarin' but it still needs some updating. CAPTAIN EO HAS GOT TO GO!!! I want to keep figment personally but the imagination pavilion needs to be reimagined! Sorry about going on and on but I kept thinking of things I would like to see done!

Donaldb112 · Oct 5, 2015

I really think that they should somehow add in the characters from Inside Out somewhere into Future World. They are almost made for an attraction!

I know World Showcase isn't a place for rides, but I wouldn't be mad seeing something like the Ratatouille ride come to the France pavilion!

Jake · Oct 5, 2015

Epcot just needs a lot of updating. "It was to be the future". But you have the long past. Living sea, can't understand that except looking at fishes. Living with the land. Needs major updating. EO, sorry he's dead for years. TT, MS good
EGE. Not worth sitting in the air conditioning. The country are the country's they have some good food,

JustCor · Oct 5, 2015

Here's my completely ridiculous, grossly expensive, and guaranteed to tick off a good deal of people, but also draw in tons more people idea:

Leave World Showcase as is, except maybe expand (if possible) to add a few more countries and restaurants. That's the easy part. Here comes the meat and potatoes. Be prepared to love or absolutely hate this idea.

Completely revamp the rest of Epcot into a massive extension of the Star Wars expansion at DHS. Redo Spaceship Earth into the Death Star. Turn the interior into a recreation of the hangar bay scene from A New Hope with vehicle props. Maybe have a section of the Millenium Falcon that you could go up into and tour around. Have a large cinematic screen where the hanger bay doors would be that would be able to play a loop of Imperial ships flying around outside to add to the atmosphere. Re-imagine Future World as Mos Eisley or Mos Espa, or a similar port with Star Wars themed shops and at least one big-draw Star Wars themed TS (or signature) restaurant and some CS options, and at least one bar/cantina with various animatronic and costumed aliens inhabiting some of the spots. Change Soarin' from a flight through California to a Snow Speeder flight through Hoth with some flying through the battles with the AT-ATs. Change Nemo to a ride on a bongo through the oceans and core of Naboo. Change Test Track to a speeder bike run through Endor. Add more character meets. Here's the big one: build a train that connects the Mos Espa in Epcot to Mos Eisley in Hollywood Studios. Have the train cars set up like the Harry Potter train at Universal, where each of the cars has enclosed areas that are mocked up like the cockpit of the Millenium Falcon, and the ride between the two parks is a cinematic adventure where you escape the port, outrun the Imperial fleet, jump into hyperspace, and eventually arrive at DHS in the Mos Eisley section of the Star Wars area. During the "flight" over, you're escorted by X-Wings and A-Wings that take out TIE Fighters and clear your departure and arrival points.

It would alienate a certain amount of people, to be sure. It would also drawn in a ton of Star Wars fans and become a mecca to all things Star Wars. The Falcon run between Epcot and DHS would potentially increase park hopper pass sales just for the access to that ride. Sometimes you gotta spend money to print money.

Brer' Bob · Oct 5, 2015

^I like the way you think! What about changing the countries to different Star Wars planets? That would go along perfectly with your fantasy idea!

Brer' Bob · Oct 5, 2015

JustCor said:
Here's my completely ridiculous, grossly expensive, and guaranteed to tick off a good deal of people, but also draw in tons more people idea:

Leave World Showcase as is, except maybe expand (if possible) to add a few more countries and restaurants. That's the easy part. Here comes the meat and potatoes. Be prepared to love or absolutely hate this idea.

Completely revamp the rest of Epcot into a massive extension of the Star Wars expansion at DHS. Redo Spaceship Earth into the Death Star. Turn the interior into a recreation of the hangar bay scene from A New Hope with vehicle props. Maybe have a section of the Millenium Falcon that you could go up into and tour around. Have a large cinematic screen where the hanger bay doors would be that would be able to play a loop of Imperial ships flying around outside to add to the atmosphere. Re-imagine Future World as Mos Eisley or Mos Espa, or a similar port with Star Wars themed shops and at least one big-draw Star Wars themed TS (or signature) restaurant and some CS options, and at least one bar/cantina with various animatronic and costumed aliens inhabiting some of the spots. Change Soarin' from a flight through California to a Snow Speeder flight through Hoth with some flying through the battles with the AT-ATs. Change Nemo to a ride on a bongo through the oceans and core of Naboo. Change Test Track to a speeder bike run through Endor. Add more character meets. Here's the big one: build a train that connects the Mos Espa in Epcot to Mos Eisley in Hollywood Studios. Have the train cars set up like the Harry Potter train at Universal, where each of the cars has enclosed areas that are mocked up like the cockpit of the Millenium Falcon, and the ride between the two parks is a cinematic adventure where you escape the port, outrun the Imperial fleet, jump into hyperspace, and eventually arrive at DHS in the Mos Eisley section of the Star Wars area. During the "flight" over, you're escorted by X-Wings and A-Wings that take out TIE Fighters and clear your departure and arrival points.

It would alienate a certain amount of people, to be sure. It would also drawn in a ton of Star Wars fans and become a mecca to all things Star Wars. The Falcon run between Epcot and DHS would potentially increase park hopper pass sales just for the access to that ride. Sometimes you gotta spend money to print money.

^I like the way you think! What about changing the countries to different Star Wars planets? That would go along perfectly with your fantasy idea!

rteetz · Oct 5, 2015

The DIS needs a board where people can talk about their ride/land/attraction ideas....

JustCor · Oct 5, 2015

Brer' Bob said:
^I like the way you think! What about changing the countries to different Star Wars planets? That would go along perfectly with your fantasy idea!

I kind of like it separate. I like the variety of food. My fear with going all planets is that it would just turn into the same generic foods that are just plated in funky ways and maybe dyed strange colors. Having a benchmark to measure against at least ensures some variety. I think that if I would do anything to World Showcase, it would be to expand the number of countries and then close down Small World at MK and build an updated version that travels through the countries in the World Showcase. I think it would tie in better in that setting than just some random spot in MK. That would free up that space to put something new at MK at the same time.

mcjaco · Oct 6, 2015

cranbiz said:
That part of World Dr could be relocated if required. It's mostly used by CM's and service vehicles.the monorail beam to the barn is there but as it's a "futuristic" mode of transportation, having it in tomorrowland would not effect the theming. Most of that area is currently zoned as Resource Management/Recreation and could be built on.

[/IMG]

That's a ridiculous amount of work just to add an attraction. Especially when there's space next SM.

If they changed EPCOT to Star Wars, I'd never go back. Terrible. Just terrible.

rteetz · Oct 6, 2015

mcjaco said:
That's a ridiculous amount of work just to add an attraction. Especially when there's space next SM.

If they changed EPCOT to Star Wars, I'd never go back. Terrible. Just terrible.

I agree. They also could just get rid of tomorrowland speedway.

Whatsthegoodword · Oct 6, 2015

wilkeliza said:
The imagineers who didnthe test track refurb will go to their graves saying it is not a Tron ride.

It was lacking in forethought to use the same colors/look of Tron in the TestTrack refurb, but it's not a Tron ride. ...and again, I'm not looking for a Tron ride. I think changing Life or Innoventions to a Tron themed trip through computing would be interesting. There's probably not enough there for a whole pavilion, thus Inventions would be perfect - if they don't do it on the cheap.

cranbiz · Oct 6, 2015

What I showed was to counterpoint the statement by a PP that MK can't expand because of World Drive.

I never said it was a good idea, I was just presenting the data that shows that there is space outside of the MK boundaries that is not conservation/wetlands for a Tomorrowland expansion and that World Drive could be rerouted to accomplish that.

7series · Oct 6, 2015

JustCor said:
Here's my completely ridiculous, grossly expensive, and guaranteed to tick off a good deal of people, but also draw in tons more people idea:

Leave World Showcase as is, except maybe expand (if possible) to add a few more countries and restaurants. That's the easy part. Here comes the meat and potatoes. Be prepared to love or absolutely hate this idea.

Completely revamp the rest of Epcot into a massive extension of the Star Wars expansion at DHS. Redo Spaceship Earth into the Death Star. Turn the interior into a recreation of the hangar bay scene from A New Hope with vehicle props. Maybe have a section of the Millenium Falcon that you could go up into and tour around. Have a large cinematic screen where the hanger bay doors would be that would be able to play a loop of Imperial ships flying around outside to add to the atmosphere. Re-imagine Future World as Mos Eisley or Mos Espa, or a similar port with Star Wars themed shops and at least one big-draw Star Wars themed TS (or signature) restaurant and some CS options, and at least one bar/cantina with various animatronic and costumed aliens inhabiting some of the spots. Change Soarin' from a flight through California to a Snow Speeder flight through Hoth with some flying through the battles with the AT-ATs. Change Nemo to a ride on a bongo through the oceans and core of Naboo. Change Test Track to a speeder bike run through Endor. Add more character meets. Here's the big one: build a train that connects the Mos Espa in Epcot to Mos Eisley in Hollywood Studios. Have the train cars set up like the Harry Potter train at Universal, where each of the cars has enclosed areas that are mocked up like the cockpit of the Millenium Falcon, and the ride between the two parks is a cinematic adventure where you escape the port, outrun the Imperial fleet, jump into hyperspace, and eventually arrive at DHS in the Mos Eisley section of the Star Wars area. During the "flight" over, you're escorted by X-Wings and A-Wings that take out TIE Fighters and clear your departure and arrival points.

It would alienate a certain amount of people, to be sure. It would also drawn in a ton of Star Wars fans and become a mecca to all things Star Wars. The Falcon run between Epcot and DHS would potentially increase park hopper pass sales just for the access to that ride. Sometimes you gotta spend money to print money.

You know it would never happen, and I for one am happy. A Star Wars land at DHS is more than enough. Epcot is an awesome place that only needs some fill in and refurb.

The Future of Epcot...

Mouseketeer

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DVC, AP, and former CM

Earning My Ears

Mouseketeer

DIS Veteran

Brer Bob

Brer Bob

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Kelp!

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Earning My Ears

Share this page