Epcot? Im not feeling the magic...

[mjallemand]

This is the Epcot I miss. I still love the park, but it just doesn't hold the same appeal for me.

I went to WDW in 2004, which was my first time there since the mid-90's, and it made me a little sad. Journey Into Imagination was my favorite ride when I was a kid and the new version just doesn't add up. My other favorites were World of Motion and Horizons, and both were replaced by thrill rides. I know I'm probably in the minority, but I can't do thrill rides. They make me very ill.

Epcot is all about WS for me now.

I'd have to go with mid-90s, probably 1995 specifically. Honey I shrunk the Audience had opened two years prior, and Innoventions had just been refurbished, and namely was full of SEGA GAMES.

But in 1996 you've still got Horizons, Wonders of Life, and the original Imagination, World of Motion and Living Seas pavilions in place.

Only downside is the original Universe of Energy show would have still been and place, and while it's not terrible, by 1995 it would have shown its age a bit.

 

[jlevis]

We spend two days, at least, at EPCOT every trip. One in Future World and one at World Showcase. I don't have a favorite park; I learned a long time ago to take each park for what it is. Yes, I enjoy Test Track, Mission Space and 'soarin but EPCOT is not about rides and it shouldn't be. If I wanted Six Flags I'd go there. EPCOT should be taken at a leisurly pace taking in the sights, sounds, smells and textures. Could it be improved? Sure but be careful what you wish for.

 

[EsmeCullen]

I am kind of over Epcot. I liked it more as a child. It has a few cool rides like Test Track and Living Seas with Nemo, but thats about all that interests me about the park. Anyone remember Body Wars? That used to be my favorite ride there.

 

[MrRomance]

Whenever I go to Epcot I never get it, I just don't feel it's that worth it. I like the world showcase I admit but I just feel that where they have tried to make it seem too modern it's turned out kind of...well tacky.

Does anyone else feel abit let down by Epcot?

What do you think they could do to improve it?

I have to agree with the OP on this. I have never liked Epcot, in fact I'd go so far as to say I dread having to endure it!

The rides and attractions don't really appeal to me and I have yet to go without it pouring down with rain on me (just bad luck but still contributing to my dislike for Epcot!). There is no real draw for me.

I know that WDW is all designed to make us spend money, but it doesn't feel like it's just a money making racket at the other parks. Yes, there are places to shop and spend money at MK, AK and HS, but I don't feel that shopping is all they have to offer, but at Epcot, that's how it makes me feel...like it's just there to get me to buy stuff and they chucked a few rides in to make us think it's value for money!

For me, world showcase is a neat idea badly done. Essentially, it's nothing more than internationally inspired, circular strip mall. The only thing you can do is shop or eat! Does the UK look like the UK? NO! A pub, a red telephone box (which don't really exist anymore anyway!) and a store to buy tea and soccer shirts does not the UK make!

 

[maxiesmom]

For me, world showcase is a neat idea badly done. Essentially, it's nothing more than internationally inspired, circular strip mall. The only thing you can do is shop or eat! Does the UK look like the UK? NO! A pub, a red telephone box (which don't really exist anymore anyway!) and a store to buy tea and soccer shirts does not the UK make!

Please go back and read post #36. There is way more to see and do than shop in the World Showcase. However you need to take your time. If you rush thru it, you are missing out on what it has to offer.

 

[Mrs. Sojourner]

I agree that Epcot could be improved upon, but it is still hands-down our favorite park.

 

[disnut8]

We go to Disney World very frequently and always, ALWAYS, make Epcot our last park in the day. Why? Because we can unwind there. We might not even do a "ride" at all but just walk around World Showcase. And that's the best part of Disney World for us. I guess it's difficult to put into words what those walks mean to each of us but it's just being there is enough. My former boss asked me why I liked Epcot so much and I said it was all about people watching and walking around with my husband. She said "but you can do that at a mall". Well, no, not really. It's just being *there*. I never feel like I'm visiting Epcot. I feel like I'm *there*. Kind of hard to describe but that's the best I can do.

 

[beachmama3]

I haven't read through all the posts, so I am probably totally repeating what everyone else said, but we love Epcot.

We actually skipped Epcot on our first trip to WDW with children. I thought we would all be bored there. Thank goodness we went the next time! My boys LOVED it, even my youngest (they are huge fans of Test Track and World Showcase). I definitely agree that the magic is in the details.

If you have kids, do the Kim Possible (soon to be Phineas and Ferb) interactive game! Or try going during the Food and Wine festival, it was amazing! I personally can't wait to be back down there- especially for Maelstrom which is one of my favorite rides at WDW!

 

[UpstateMick]

Oh my, the Sega Dreamcast games at Innoventions! Now there is a memory!

 

[Bullseye]

Epcot is my favorite park. WS is my favorite place in all of WDW. Love F&W festival! Love WS lit up at night, very romantic

I could do without Captain EO; wish they would replace it with a "Meet the Robinsons" 3D adventure. Future world-keep moving forward
Also it's time to upgrade/change the Soarin movie. It's getting kind of grainy.

 

[Escapecar]

We love EPCOT, but I have to agree with this. Future World suffers from the same malady that Tomorrowland did a long time ago. When EPCOT opened there were awe-inspiring exhibits utilizing technical marvels. But technology in our everyday lives has outpaced what was amazing in those days. Future World still provides some entertainment, but much of the wonder and marvel has been diminished by these technologies becoming commonplace.

This hits the nail on the head.

I love the atmosphere/environment of Epcot, World Showcase is my favorite place to be in all of WDW.

But things are changing so quickly in real life that that you can't do an "educational" technology exhibit in Future World without it being out of date before it's earned back the investment. I'm not sure how Disney fixes this problem, but the fact that they've let the hopelessly outdated Captain EO run for longer than simple nostalgia or an MJ tribute would require makes me think Disney doesn't have enough good ideas, either. (Or they just don't want to spend the money to implement anything cool, which is also a strong possibility.)

There are attractions all through WDW that are best experienced with a sense of appreciation for the art and craft that the Imagineers put into creating them so many years ago - in MK alone, Peter Pan, Small World, and Carousel of Progress come to mind. I tend to think of them as something of a "WDW Living History" project, but there are plenty of other, more vital, attractions at MK to balance them out. However, it seems like too much of Future World fits into that category right now.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Please go back and read post #36. There is way more to see and do than shop in the World Showcase. However you need to take your time. If you rush thru it, you are missing out on what it has to offer.

I totally agree with this....you have to really stop and smell the roses to appreciate the real beauty that WS has to offer. I love to really take my time in each country to explore, shop, taste the different foods they have to offer, watch the performers, watch the movies, etc. I get why some people may not like Epcot but for my family it is one of our favorites and we make a point to go at least 2-3 times a trip. If you have kids, there are so many things for them to do too in WS...there is the KidCot stations and the KP Missions (soon to be P&F missions) and of course all the characters that come out in their countries that they are from. So if you ever decide to go back to Epcot, go over to either Mexico and get a Frozen Margarita or over to France and get a Grand Mariner slushy and just relax, have fun, and enjoy the surroundings .

Now as for FW, yes I think that they could update that area a bit but we love the rides and like to walk around Innoventions, go to Club Cool, watch the performers, and shop at MouseGears. But I wouldn't be too upset if they decided to update the buildings a bit .

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I love Epcot. Especially during the Food and Wine Festival. Future World has one of my favorite rides, Soarin, and I could spend all day wandering around World Showcase.

 

[John Paul]

Our favorite park! I remember my 1st trip there in 1994. I still remember specific sights, smells, and sounds. There are so many times I flashback to that day! Remember the reservation kiosks...the CMs would come up on the monitor to help you make reservations for dinner! Seems silly now but those things were amazing then!

 

[larryz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxC_a7qnGi8&feature=related

 

[HFBelle]

I have to agree that Epcot isn't one of our favorite.... granted we've gone with my four younger siblings each time, ranging in ages from 6 to 12. I know I'm one of the rare few, but Hollywood Studios is my favorite park. Theres so many interesting things to see, and so many fun things to do and shows to see. and places to eat! Im the only person I know who thinks so, but to each their own. Animal Kingdom is our least favorite, but we did enjoy it much more this last time after seeing the Festival of the Lion King.

 

[MichiganDVC]

It's my favorite park. If they want to improve it they can add more countries, and make sure each one has a bar.

Agree 100%. But not just beer stands (like Germany) but authentic B-A-R-S like La Cava in Mexico. How great would it be to sneak into a 10-20 person bar in Canada that always showed highlights of hockey?
And its not necessarily a place for people to go and get drunk (besides, La Cava? hello!!) because most people only have 20 minutes to stop in before they're on to something else. It would be a place for people to sit and experience the beer of the countries and the culture of drinking it.

 

[magicbob]

...makes me think Disney doesn't have enough good ideas, either.

Not able to come up with any ideas on how to improve the "Imagination" pavilion. Oh, the IRONY!

 

[Babbletrish]

I'd have to go with mid-90s... Innoventions had just been refurbished, and namely was full of SEGA GAMES.

Oh man. One of my weirdest Disney memories is that my younger cousin (funnily enough, the aunt of the cousin in my nostalgia dream) went to WDW for the very first time ever around this time period. The one and only thing she was looking forward to doing? Staying in Innoventions all day and playing SEGA games. Even back then, I was like,

And then recently I reminded her about this and she had utterly zero memory of it. (But she still loved the hilarious Garden Grill character meal we had!)

 

[DisneyFive]

Whenever I go to Epcot I never get it, I just don't feel it's that worth it. I like the world showcase I admit but I just feel that where they have tried to make it seem too modern it's turned out kind of...well tacky.

Does anyone else feel abit let down by Epcot?

What do you think they could do to improve it?

Don't worry you aren't alone. It is by far the 4th favorite park for our family also. If it wasn't for Soarin, the Seas area, and Test Track we probably wouldn't go at all.

I'm surprised by how many people love it, but as you can see MANY do, so it definately has it's appeal I guess. ...just not so much for us. It's a 1/2 day park for us (out of a 8 or 9 day stay)

Dan