Epcot changes coming?

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

As for Tom Fitzgerald it will take some time to see major things happen. But this does seem to be and indicator that they know that Epcot needs a rethink and refresh.

I absolutely agree...this is a positive sign.

 

[minniegirl19]

countries with rides would be great! i think there is room by morocco and canada if they cut down trees (don't know how well that would go over). if they added brazil i could only imagine what that pavilion would look like during tour group season we would probably just see flags in the air but I hope within the next 10 years fitzgerald can do something great to re vamp future world and hopefully two new rides at the very LEAST because epcot desperately needs something

 

[Pinocchio #1 Fan]

The problem with Future World is the same problem they have in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. It no longer reflects the future. I would love a new pavilion or two. Also, something needs to be done with the Imagination pavilion. The whole concept of Disneyland and WDW was harnessing the power of imagination. Really, this pavilion should be the star of EPCOT. I hate to be one of those guys who always says,"This is what Walt would have wanted." However, he stated, on many occasions, the value of a limitless imagination.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

I would personally like to see it made into a real health exhibit, with a playground in the middle for kids, exercise tips and programs, a true baby center with information about pregnancy for mamas or a how babies are made film(there was a beautiful one when the pavilion opened, and a m&g for characters in their sports outfits. Maybe tie it in with rundisney, popwarner, and cheer leading competions?

Love this idea.

I agree with the others that mentioned the World Showcase is fine as it is, Future World needs so much attention I'd actually prefer they don't do anything with WS and focus all their attention on FW.

Wasn't Tom Fitzgerald in charge of the California Adventure overhaul? If so Epcot is in good hands.

 

[bigskip]

Two things regarding previous posts in this thread..

1) Africa is not a country, it's a continent.
2) last time i looked Morocco was in Africa, and Epcot...

 

[mesaboy2]

Two things regarding previous posts in this thread..

1) Africa is not a country, it's a continent.
2) last time i looked Morocco was in Africa, and Epcot...

At least one PP referencing Africa may be alluding to "Equatorial Africa", a small loose collection of countries. That was a planned pavilion in WS at one time. Since we're being all smarty-pants.

 

[bigskip]

The PPs referencing Africa may be alluding to "Equatorial Africa", a small loose collection of countries. That was a planned pavilion in WS at one time. Since we're being all smarty-pants.

Fair play. It's just a little pet hate of mine

I think the continent of Africa is well represented at WDW, either something South American (Brazil is the obvious choice) or Austrailia, as others have said, but Australia would be a great fit for AK due to the unique wildlife there.

 

[mesaboy2]

Fair play. It's just a little pet hate of mine

I think the continent of Africa is well represented at WDW, either something South American (Brazil is the obvious choice) or Austrailia, as others have said, but Australia would be a great fit for AK due to the unique wildlife there.

Agreed.

 

[Turn the Page]

Heck bringing back Honey I Shrunk the Audience would be a HUGE improvement.

Didn't like EO back in the 90's and can't imagine why Disney brought it back for more than a short time to memorialize MJ. (but 4 years is Too long for a memorial)

Sing it sister.

 

[parkluvr]

In the future, expansions to Epcot may be a good thing, but for the time being I think the best first step to turning the park around is using the infrastructure they already have and just giving it a little TLC. As many have said the WOL pavilion is a ghost town. Without losing anything this pavilion could be made into any number of fabulous things. Ellen's energy is a decent ride, but when you walk into it you feel like your walking into one of those old rundown dollar movie theatres. When was the last time they changed the carpet or renovated the ride vehicles? Imagination, when Epcot opened was really a cool pavilion. The ride was much better than it is now and they had an entire "playground" after the ride where you could have fun doing different things. Today the "playground" has been downgraded to just a few items that are usually broken and overcrowded. I believe there are several thousand square feet in that building that are simply closed off and unutilized. When they renovated the ride in the Living Seas a few years ago I think they over simplified it to the point that it isn't even worth waiting in line for. I think with a few tweaks they could easily make the ride into something amazing. There are even some simpler things that could go a long way towards making the park more enjoyable. I read a trip report recently that talked about the village/train model in the Germany pavilion being rundown and polluted with garbage. Every time that I've been to the pavilion I've seen numerous children watching the trains and getting much enjoyment from a fairly simple and basic setup. I think if they got a crew of 4 or 5 people and took a couple of days they could renovate/clean/improve this "attraction" and return it to it's original glory.

 

[flicx]

Its nice to see they put a new imagineer on it. However Disney's lack of doing anything to this park is disturbing. I thought they were soon gonna change the name of the park to The land that time forgot!

 

[agavegirl1]

And so it begins.
Years 1 and 2 from announcement. Fan speculation, wish lists, grandiose ideas and even some fans creating their own detailed plans on what should be included.
Years 3 and 4. Concept art. Fans are disappointed that the scale of the project is so much less than what they, themselves have envisioned but are optimistic that "at least they are doing something". "If only the evil bean counters would loosen those purse strings and give the Orlando parks what they deserve".
Years 5 and 6. Actual construction. Value engineering begins and the scaled down concept is even more scaled down than before. Fans are still optimistic as the drool over each and every photo during construction.
Year 7. New attractions open, crowds are insane, fans are finally placated...for a while...by year 7, a whole bunch of other attractions are in need of a little love and there is now a new bunch of complaints. "Yes, the new Future World is great but they haven't added anything to MK since 2014.

 

[FPminusCommando]

Step 1: Do something with the Wonders of Life building
Step 2: Close Ellen (pretty please, with sugar on top!) and put something else there

Something like the Iron Man ride going into Hong Kong Disney would be interesting, if they changed the theming to match Epcot's (whatever that is).
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201310/3712/

 

[Planogirl]

Step 1: Do something with the Wonders of Life building
Step 2: Close Ellen (pretty please, with sugar on top!) and put something else there

Something like the Iron Man ride going into Hong Kong Disney would be interesting, if they changed the theming to match Epcot's (whatever that is).
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201310/3712/

Of course, they can't use Iron Man in WDW plus superheroes wouldn't fit well in Epcot but other than that I agree.

I like Ellen's dinosaurs. I would hope that the pavilion could at least keep that element.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

Two things regarding previous posts in this thread..

1) Africa is not a country, it's a continent.
2) last time i looked Morocco was in Africa, and Epcot...

Ewwww...........zing!

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

I remember reading a rumor years ago about a plan to have a "bullet train" type of thrill ride attraction in the Japan pavilion. I don't know where they would have the space for something like that(unless it was a simulator ride).

 

[scoobydooby]

Two things regarding previous posts in this thread.. 1) Africa is not a country, it's a continent. 2) last time i looked Morocco was in Africa, and Epcot...

I said an African country not Africa. If you're going to be snotty read the post properly. I didn't realise there was a rule on only one country from each continent. There's more than one country there from Europe already. Or perhaps you are one of those people who thinks Europe is one place?

 

[bigskip]

I said an African country not Africa. If you're going to be snotty read the post properly. I didn't realise there was a rule on only one country from each continent. There's more than one country there from Europe already. Or perhaps you are one of those people who thinks Europe is one place?

I never once said you referred to Africa as a country, that was someone after you, you did say another African county, i read that, and in no way was my post referring to you.

They have an Africa stall for food and wine, that i feel is named badly, as all it does is South African food, and perpetuates the "Africa is a country" misunderstanding that some people have.

And as i live less than 200 miles from you, I am fully aware Europe is a collection of countries, and The UK is one of those.

Sorry you feel i was being snotty.

And Mesaboy corrected me, as there have previously been plans for an "Africa" pavilion, that i did not know about

 

[MichiganDVC]

Two things regarding previous posts in this thread..

1) Africa is not a country, it's a continent.
2) last time i looked Morocco was in Africa, and Epcot...

As was posted before, I think they're referring to Sub-Saharan Africa...as Morocco is not culturally or linguistically tied to Bantu-speaking "Africa." And since 90% of African countries were created in the 1950s-60s and were previously large colonies and even larger empires before that, I'm not sure we could even choose just one "African" country for Epcot - again, meaning Sub-Saharan. And no, South Africa cannot count. It has largely been populated by Dutch farmers and then the British after them since the 1600s. I think when people think "Africa" for Epcot, they mean the DR Congo. And seriously, no way the Congo has a pavilion at Epcot. They don't even have a functional government.

And so it begins.
Years 1 and 2 from announcement. Fan speculation, wish lists, grandiose ideas and even some fans creating their own detailed plans on what should be included.
Years 3 and 4. Concept art. Fans are disappointed that the scale of the project is so much less than what they, themselves have envisioned but are optimistic that "at least they are doing something". "If only the evil bean counters would loosen those purse strings and give the Orlando parks what they deserve".
Years 5 and 6. Actual construction. Value engineering begins and the scaled down concept is even more scaled down than before. Fans are still optimistic as the drool over each and every photo during construction.
Year 7. New attractions open, crowds are insane, fans are finally placated...for a while...by year 7, a whole bunch of other attractions are in need of a little love and there is now a new bunch of complaints. "Yes, the new Future World is great but they haven't added anything to MK since 2014.

Spot on.

 

[bigskip]

I think when people think "Africa" for Epcot, they mean the DR Congo. And seriously, no way the Congo has a pavilion at Epcot. They don't even have a functional government.

How true, and even if they did have, it would change every 6 months, the central African countries are too much in a state of flux for anything to be based on them (mores the pity)