Epcot to get major transformations

mcjaco · Dec 2, 2016

mom2rtk said:
I have been on the DIS for a while. I see a colossal shift in the past few years. The doom and gloom stuff used to be fairly infrequent. Now it's pretty common. I think you have to at least consider that there is more worthy of criticism these days.

Are they more worthy or criticism, or is it the interwebs forum mentality where negativity breeds responses, so it's becoming more prevalent?

I am no way a Disney apologist. I don't like a lot of the stuff they've done, but I also see the parks through my kid's eyes now, and they love them all. Just like I did at their ages. Nostalgia tends to color our world views.

mcjaco · Dec 2, 2016

lockedoutlogic said:
Let me ask you this purely hypothetical:

Let's say they had a half finished park...and let's say it's been that way for around 25 years...

Now let's say they decide to finally build a huge expansion with a Bigtime property in it...

But then decide to take 10-15% of the space and build some whacky tent/teepee type things that cost $200 bucks a pop so you can drink coke, bud and eat rice krispy treats while watching a fireworks show that they change - on average - every 18.67 years...

Now, that can't happen...no way...

But if it did, would not a little bit of a "gloom and doom" take be taken by a couple of dozen million visitors annually paying $5,000 + a week already be warranted?

Purely hypothetical...

In my world, I don't understand the whigged out desire to see fireworks, parades, and the need to ride Soarin'. The whole hub rebuild confused me to no end.

So hypothetically, I'm on the rides in said expansion with Bigtime property, while the loons are paying $$$ to sit in a tent.

ChipnDale79 · Dec 2, 2016

mcjaco said:
Are they more worthy or criticism, or is it the interwebs forum mentality where negativity breeds responses, so it's becoming more prevalent?

I am no way a Disney apologist. I don't like a lot of the stuff they've done, but I also see the parks through my kid's eyes now, and they love them all. Just like I did at their ages. Nostalgia tends to color our world views.

I went as a kid, a lot...then i took a break in my late teens and twenties. I loved disney then, still love it today.

My wife and i went on our honeymoon in 2008, we've been going annually, sometimes more than once a year, sometimes less since then.

As an adult with kids of my own, and paying for these trips myself now, I understand why disney is criticized. Quite frankly they've put themselves in the position to be criticized. there was a long time where not a lot was done to the parks, while the prices just kept going up and up and up, its taken a long time, but disney is finally putting new things into the parks.

They've marketed a Disney vacation to where you pay for almost everything up front, yet every week it seems like a new add on is added.

A lot of the criticism they are receiving is fair. In the theme park industry we should not be talking about expansions with completion dates of anything farther out than 3 years, other than a brand new theme park. But because they are so far behind on updates, due to them sitting on their hands, we're looking at 6-8 years of Epcot being done? It's absurd.

How do you have full pavilions shut down for 10 years (wonders of life), or Ellen's Energy Adventure that hasnt been updated in 20 years? You have a restaurant that's sitting right in between Future World and World Showcase that's been closed for 20+ years? Sure its used for events every now and then, but on a daily basis it just sits there empty, right in the middle of the park.

You know the worst part, even though this park has all of those problems, its not the worst one, and thats why DHS is getting the makeover first.

While making record profits, that's what Disney has allowed to happen in FL. The criticism is deserved.

jade1 · Dec 2, 2016

ChipnDale79 said:
I went as a kid, a lot...then i took a break in my late teens and twenties. I loved disney then, still love it today.

My wife and i went on our honeymoon in 2008, we've been going annually, sometimes more than once a year, sometimes less since then.

As an adult with kids of my own, and paying for these trips myself now, I understand why disney is criticized. Quite frankly they've put themselves in the position to be criticized. there was a long time where not a lot was done to the parks, while the prices just kept going up and up and up, its taken a long time, but disney is finally putting new things into the parks.

They've marketed a Disney vacation to where you pay for almost everything up front, yet every week it seems like a new add on is added.

A lot of the criticism they are receiving is fair. In the theme park industry we should not be talking about expansions with completion dates of anything farther out than 3 years, other than a brand new theme park. But because they are so far behind on updates, due to them sitting on their hands, we're looking at 6-8 years of Epcot being done? It's absurd.

How do you have full pavilions shut down for 10 years (wonders of life), or Ellen's Energy Adventure that hasnt been updated in 20 years? You have a restaurant that's sitting right in between Future World and World Showcase that's been closed for 20+ years? Sure its used for events every now and then, but on a daily basis it just sits there empty, right in the middle of the park.

You know the worst part, even though this park has all of those problems, its not the worst one, and thats why DHS is getting the makeover first.

While making record profits, that's what Disney has allowed to happen in FL. The criticism is deserved.

Criticism and competition, music to my ears. Keep it coming IMO. With 3 parks (EPCOT to now?) expanding (and US to) our visits will continue to keep getting even better. Last week was amazing.

ChipnDale79 · Dec 2, 2016

jade1 said:
Criticism and competition, music to my ears. Keep it coming IMO. With 3 parks (EPCOT to now?) expanding (and US to) our visits will continue to keep getting even better. Last week was amazing.

I agree, if people don't say anything, or keep going, nothing will change.

Even if you don't go to Universal, they are making your trip to WDW better because they are forcing them to spend money now.

lockedoutlogic · Dec 2, 2016

ChipnDale79 said:
I agree, if people don't say anything, or keep going, nothing will change.

Even if you don't go to Universal, they are making your trip to WDW better because they are forcing them to spend money now.

I agree with both of you...

But that stops when they build a bad product.

That can and should be rejected.

Everybody wants to thumps their chest about capitalism...well then a good product should succeed and a bad product can and should fail.

That is capitalism.

When they roll out a ripoff or cut corners...the duty as a consumer is to reject it....not spin "to each his own" in 1.2 billion elaborate/slanted ways.

JustinD · Dec 2, 2016

Big D-world fan. That is why I am here. Going to see their latest movie tonight with my wife and nieces.

That said, D-world has been neglected as they built huge parks around the world. I was there this spring and it was good, but HS and Epcot are far from great at this time. I was there before frozen opened, so that was one more hole in the park at that time.

They control the government so building permits are not a problem. Everything else is just spending the money. People here are big fans, and not happy. Lesser fans may not show up at all.

rteetz · Dec 2, 2016

This is the Epcot redo rumor thread. Enough about cabanas there is a thread for that.

manning · Dec 2, 2016

I own DVC. There are Parks? Thanks for telling me.

AMusicLifeForMe · Dec 3, 2016

Sorry if this has been discussed, but does anyone think the addition of the Tron Rollercoaster at Shanghai would be a great fit for Future World at EPCOT?

rteetz · Dec 3, 2016

AMusicLifeForMe said:
Sorry if this has been discussed, but does anyone think the addition of the Tron Rollercoaster at Shanghai would be a great fit for Future World at EPCOT?

It's been said it's not coming.

mikedoyleblogger · Dec 3, 2016

Lee Matthews said:
I assume that once pandora is open, Animal Kingdom will be left alone for a while. Disney Springs is pretty much finished. Magic Kingdom looks like it will give Tomorrowland a modest refurb in the next few years.

Once Star Wars and Toy Story are done with I assume they will then work on even further lands after the 50th anniversary.

When it comes to Epcot though, there's loads of IP which i think would make a good fit.

UP (exploring) Inside Out (emotions) Ratatouille (France) for a start would be great in Epcot

Except once Pandora is open, EE is rumored to go down finally for a long refurb to replace the Yeti. So that would mean continuing impacts at AK.

Lee Matthews · Dec 4, 2016

Thats a refurb i certainly would be ok with

DizDaD7 · Dec 4, 2016

mikedoyleblogger said:
Except once Pandora is open, EE is rumored to go down finally for a long refurb to replace the Yeti. So that would mean continuing impacts at AK.

Let's just put this mystery to rest...THERE is NO (BigFoot) Yeti....LoL :teeth:

At this point with it being non working for sooo long, I for one would hate to see a long refurb ( to fix that ) IMHO this isn't necessary to the whole experience of the ride..Does it help, when he is actually working, SURE. But not to the extent that I would want the ride to be closed down....No need causing any more conjestion over at Pandora, which I'm sure will be sure bedlam.. :confused3

PuppyJonathan · Dec 4, 2016

Am I the only one who didn't think the yeti was that impressive to begin with?

DisFanDad · Dec 4, 2016

mcjaco said:
Not dismissing as invalid. Just let's move a little more toward the middle. The doom and gloomers seem to be more heavily weighted on fan forums.

Not to poke too much fun, but ... really if you think thats true I am not sure how much you have been reading this board since 2007. Because the doom and gloomers generally get swamped here from what I have seen, by the fans and proponents of WDW / DL who will defend just about anything they do. At least, that's been my interpretation since I got here, same is true on the other boards that I frequent and have frequented for much longer. But I do like this place, some great discussions and great information.

I will say that I have seen a general uptick in some of the doom and gloom, but its still often drown out. And I'd argue there are some solid reasons why people might be more upset than in the past over what they are experiencing, seeing / hearing out of WDW these days.

DisFanDad · Dec 4, 2016

jade1 said:
Did you say drink Bud? If so I'm in.

Otherwise hoping they get a bit more creative than tents, hypothetically of course.

To express this in my language: "If <This ^^^^ >, then, WDW TAKE MY MONEY !!!!"

mcjaco · Dec 6, 2016

DisFanDad said:
Not to poke too much fun, but ... really if you think thats true I am not sure how much you have been reading this board since 2007. Because the doom and gloomers generally get swamped here from what I have seen, by the fans and proponents of WDW / DL who will defend just about anything they do. At least, that's been my interpretation since I got here, same is true on the other boards that I frequent and have frequented for much longer. But I do like this place, some great discussions and great information.

I will say that I have seen a general uptick in some of the doom and gloom, but its still often drown out. And I'd argue there are some solid reasons why people might be more upset than in the past over what they are experiencing, seeing / hearing out of WDW these days.

I'd agree with that. It the small majority (as it is everywhere nowadays), that is the loudest though.

dreiwhit · Dec 9, 2016

ChipnDale79 said:
While making record profits, that's what Disney has allowed to happen in FL. The criticism is deserved.

I absolutely agree with you. One thing that i'm going to add is that Disney needs to take some of their record profits and put them back into making the rides and transportation reliable. My family and I just got back after a 6 park day trip to WDW, and during that time, quite a few rides and the monorail broke down. I can never remember going to a theme park and experiencing that many issues. On another forum, I likened it to paying for a night in a 5-star hotel and finding out that the toilet doesn't work and the A/C works occasionally!

IMHO, I think Disney has forgotten that its the parks that have brought them to the dance.

piccolopat · Dec 9, 2016

Now that Frozen has taken over Norway, I would actually prefer to see character themed rides added to WS. These can be characters taking us on an adventure through that country rather than character movie storylines like Frozen but I think adding Remy to France would be a good start. (as long as they leave the movie alone!).

Epcot to get major transformations

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Just for that I have requested it

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